Bought a car from a dealer and discovered several faults. What should I do?

Goudy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81971720#Comment_81971720

You could knacker that new battery in less the 12 minutes, I know, I've done it. In a week anything could have happened to what is effectively an older battery in a used car.

Legally, it's whether the car was fit for purpose. Now this will be a bit of a sliding scale, there's a difference in meaning when comparing a new car with a rusty wreck out of a barn somewhere.

New means it should be fit until these life limited parts need replacing.

Rusty wreck is fit for complete restoration.

A used car is somewhere between the two depending on age and mileage.

If it comes to a claim in court, it's a civil matter and outcome is based on probability rather than beyond reasonable doubt. This probability goes both ways.

How probably is it a battery in a used car of X years fails within X amount of time? Was if fit for purpose when you bought it and what time frame is reasonable for a battery in a car of that age?

So the court ask you "what this 7% is, volts or amps?" and why do you think it wasn't fit for purpose at the time of sale.

How probably was it the handle was broken before you bought the car?

None as you said it broke within 24 hours of buying it. So how do you know is wasn't fit for purpose when you bought it?

It's a part of the car you manually operate over and over again, often many times a day, so how are you going to swing the probability it was knackered before you bought it or it should have lasted longer no matter how you used it?

Unfortunately, your dealer is right and believe me, he'll know he's right. These are consumable or perishable items that have a working life or are parts of the car that are prone to user damage. He won't break any sweat with letters and threats of court.

paul_c123

I still thoroughly recommend checking a car properly BEFORE you buy it, rather than after.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6665078/bought-a-car-from-a-dealer-and-discovered-several-faults-what-should-i-do

What recourse you have is none.

There i was a post a few weeks ago from someone who paid for repairs and took the dealer to court for the money. He lost the case.

you say 'he thinks you need a new door card' Why does he think thst?

Have you priced the work at any other garage?

PTP123

Has the door handle actually broke or is it the mechanism behind?

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81971713#Comment_81971713

There is no way it needs a complete brand new door card, just because the handle has failed. The handle isn't even part of the door card, and a new door card won't come with a handle.

Give us more detail.

Even then £275 in labour to swap the door card and fix a screenwash leak…?

paul_c123

Within 30 days you have a short term right to reject but it seems the dealer doesn't recognise this (or, doesn't acknowledge the faults are 'faults'). Repair - you would need to give the dealer a chance to diagnose and repair, rather than go solo then try reclaim it - if that happens, the dealer would need to authorise the spend (its his money you're spending).

So the only recourse now is legal action (ie take them to court). If you progress a repair out of your own money (it would certainly quantify your losses) you may not get all of it back. Your repair quote does sound way higher than I'd expect for the description of the faults you have given, after all.

jimjames

Even then £275 in labour to swap the door card and fix a screenwash leak…?

Maybe from a Skoda main dealer, would explain the prices and also the list of items needing replacement. I had similar when my car went in for warranty work and was given a list of "serious issues". The list was suddenly no longer a serious problem when I pointed out that I'd bought the car from them a few months earlier!

Sandwich

This is the broken handle FYI. Apparently needs a whole new card. Door works fine other than this.

Car is 100k 2017 Kodiaq. I’m not expecting a new car experience, but this has all happened within a week of buying, and it’s a dealer, not a private sale. I haven’t degraded the parts due to ‘wear and tear’ in a week.

Alanp

find a good independent garage and get it fixed if the price is reasonable, if you like the car then just move on and chalk it down to experience

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81972701#Comment_81972701

Oh, the ARMREST!

The interior handle is the shiny thing above it, next to the speaker grille…

9yo, 100k mile car? It's not unreasonable to expect various minor interior foibles. My first question would be whether that's actually broken, or whether a fastener of some kind has merely come adrift, meaning an hour of labour and near-zero parts cost…

Looks like it's a common issue and an easy fix.
https://www.kodiaqforums.co.uk/threads/broken-handle.4109/#post-33938