Car Warranty

Cerberus1

Hi- We recently purchased a New Car from a UK Wide Vauxhall Dealer- prior to the purchase we flagged to the dealer that there was a note that the Car we were buying may have been involved in an accident. This was immediately shut down by the salesman and we were assured that prior to collection the car would be serviced and inspected.

We collected the Car mid January 2026, we have had NO accident or damage caused. We started to notice little glitches with the performance and items on the Dashboard, so at the weekend just passed we flagged our concerns to the dealer- the Car has a 4 year warranty remaining on it. We were told to bring the car to the dealer and they would inspect it, we did this yesterday.

The dealer now says that having inspected the Car- they believe it has been involved in an accident as they can see some re-spray work, that we caused the accident and therefore our warranty would be void. Furthermore having left the Car which was supposedly fully inspected by their service team. we now have 2 x warning lights about an Emissions issue that were not there before we took it to the dealer and an issue we had flagged about a gauge on the dashboard, we now have no gauge at all- this has dissapeared completely. What are our rights here or what should we do as next course of action. We have NOT had any accident in the car in the 3 x months we have had it.

Ayr_Rage

How old is this "new to you" car?

Where did you find this "note" that the car may have been in an accident?

Who is providing the warranty?

PTP123

With it being a new car the dealer will be easier to deal with than if it was used.

I'd ask them for a refund. With the statements they've already made re the previous damage I can't see them fighting it

user1977

Presumably this wasn't a "New Car"?

Cerberus1

It was brought as a used car- 74 plate. It is an MG so comes with a 5 year warranty - it had a previous owner so we have 4 x years left of the warranty. The dealer is the one holding the Warranty. We can't remember where we saw the flag about a possible accident but I think it was know to the dealer they just didnt tell us and sold it regardless- but we can't prove this of course. Now they blame us for the damage BUT if it had been serviced like they said before we collected the Car then surely the same service team would have picked this up?

Okell

Do you want the car fixed or do you want a refund?

PTP123

What is the type of damage? If it's had a door painted because someone bashed it then that's fair enough. Most used cars have paint at some point

visidigi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982553#Comment_81982553

Run a https://www.vcheck.uk/ on the vehicle.

See if that throws up any markers that prove something happened before you bought it - as I wonder if you did this or an HPI check prior to buying it which is where you saw it.

Cerberus1

The Dealer didnt elaborate yesterday on what the damage is, all they said was it was clear that they could see a RE-Painting at the front of the car suggesting we had been in an accident and caused the damage. We Haven't.

They are saying it is our fault- when it is not- and that our warranty would now most likely be void as a result. They clearly have done something in the service bay yesterday as we have a Warning Light on the Dash that has not appeared up until we drove home yesterday.

We want the Car fixed properly, an apology as a minimum from the dealer for basically saying we have caused the damage but I would also like to know what actions we could take under our consumer rights.

visidigi

officially within the first 6 months of purchase its up to the seller to PROVE you did the damage, not on you to prove you didn't. The pre-delivery inspection should also be complete and accessible if asked for (and assuming MOT history doesn't throw up any major clues to possible damage).

Ayr_Rage

Exactly how and where did you find the information in bold below?

Hi- We recently purchased a New Car from a UK Wide Vauxhall Dealer- prior to the purchase we flagged to the dealer that there was a note that the Car we were buying may have been involved in an accident.