Right to Reject

jimbo2108

Good morning,

Just after some advise. I have tried to reject a car under the consumer act. However, the dealership have advised I can't reject the car as they are completing repairs….

Just a back story.

Purchased the vehicle on 17th June 26 and within 2 days developed faults -

Air con not working (got it regassed myself due to the heatwave, found it had no gas nor aircon oil in it).

Knocking sound from front right spring

Rattle under acceleration

Carbon build up on underside of oil cap (petrol car)

Clutch pedal seems high

They advised me that they couldn't see the car until the 10th July, so I took it in then. I took a technician out with me to show him the faults, and he believed the knocking to be a cracked spring. The next day I got a phone call saying the car is ready to pick up, I went to store and they advised they couldn't find any faults. I took another technician out who drove the car round and said he didn't even need to take me out as he knows its a cracked/snapped spring, so I left the car again.

Got another call on 23/07/2026 advising the car was ready to pick up, went down again and they had it up on the ramps and couldn't find any issues again. Took a technician out again and within 300yards he advised it was a snapped spring. Incompetance at its best, how can a technician come out and advise there is a problem, but when it goes into the workshop there isn't.

I formally rejected the car on the 24/07/2026 and was advised I can't as they are completing the repairs (they have had 3 attempts….). I'm wanting to reject under the short term rejection, however the 30days have passed. I have looked and seen that the consumer act pauses when it goes in for repair is this correct? I would like to know the best way to proceed from here.

Also, I took out warranty which i'm paying for monthly, if they eventually accept my rejection, should this be included in the refund payment?

born_again

Age, mileage etc of car?

jimbo2108

Nissan Qashqai 67 plate (2018) and 65k miles. Been serviced each year with a full service history.

Mildly_Miffed

8yo car, and a list of very minor issues that would all have been apparent on pre-purchase inspection and test-drive…?

A suspension knock from one corner could be any of several bushes and ball joints - a broken coil will be apparent from looking up into the wheelarch with a torch. Or not.

jimbo2108

Agreed minor issues, however they have had 3 attempts at a repair. The technician grabbed the coil and said it was cracked so not sure why they cant find a fault. With regards to the rattle under acceleration they have no clue what the issue is. At this point in time, I'm concerned by the workman ship and what other faults may be hidden?

Just to add, one technician advised I couldn't drive the car away as it was unsafe to drive.

MasterG83

What do you mean concerned by the workmanship, which workmanship? With regard to other faults "hidden" such as what?

Here's a brief insight into how dealers work. A car is purchased to sell, the sales team ask the workshop to do a multi point check based on the manufacturers criterea.

The workshop report back to the sales team as to what needs fixing, or not, to bring the car up to brand standards and what can be left, the dealer wants to make money on it so being presented with a big bill in sales will mean its unprofitable and either sent to auction or sell at a loss or smaller profit.

My point is that anything serious wouldn't happen, the cost would prohibit the sales team from prepping it so it would be traded out.

Mildly_Miffed

So the car is actually with them right now?

Then the process is clear.
Leave all keys and paperwork with them.
Letter Before Action, demanding the money.
If no reply to that within a reasonable time (specified in the LBA), then launch the claim.
2018 Squashqow is very likely to be <£10k, so it's a simple process. https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

Aldrich22

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82082284#Comment_82082284

I cannot imagine it was sold with a broken spring, that would make it unroadworthy?

MeteredOut

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82082372#Comment_82082372

Yeah, no garage would ever do that!

jimbo2108

Hi,

Well we heard the knocking from the spring (in reverse only) when we got home, as we didn't reverse on the test drive. I'm only going by what the technician told me. Just to add - the last MOT picked up it needed track rod ends and arm ball joints (Nov 25) and was advised this was done, however this may be the knocking noise experienced?

'

• Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
• Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
• Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
• Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

'

Mildy miffed, the car is with them right now, I have a courtesy car through them, so looking at dropping the car back off with them and starting the process.

You mentioned checks to dealer specs, they didn't pick up on the aircon not blowing cold even though their checks said that it was working, so I believe the pre-check hasn't been done properly (Trade centre uk).

paul_c123

You have a short term right to reject, I think you already knew that though. The fact they are attempting repairs is tacit acceptance there is a fault with the car. Don’t know how you can force them though, pragmatically.