Car Problem

[carproblem74]

Hi all,

 

I bought a used car from a dealer that isn't in my immediate area however we previously have bought a car from them so thought they were ok. I bought the car on the 8th April and was driving it on 11th April when the power steering failed. The Ford garage I took it to to originally said it needed a new power steering pipe however when fitting it have realised there is also a problem with the power steering pump. To have it fixed will cost aroung £620.

 

The dealer is himming and hahing about the warrenty not covering this problem. A friend told me that nevermind warrenties there is a piece of legislation that protects my rights. Can anyone offer me any help or advice?

 

Thanks in advance.

[MARTIN3030]

Welcome to the site.It is a criminal offence to sell a vehicle that is an unroadworthy condition.

There are some things that are considered to count as unroadworthy,steereing and suspension,braking,and chassis are some of those.

Trading standards will usually take up these cases but there is a timeframe.

When was the vehicle last mot'd ?

I suggest that you put something in writing immediately to the dealer asking for written response that they are not going to fix it within the warranty.

Also in the meantime can you give us details of the make and model/year etc as our members may know if there are known faults with the components.

Sometimes hoses that have perished or deteriorated,may indicate other problems.

If that is the case,it should have been picked up on the MOT if that was recent.

[carproblem74]

Hi thanks for the welcome and informative post. The car is a Ford Fiesta 56 Reg. It has just had an MOT and Service done.

 

The pipe had a small hole in it.

[MARTIN3030]

Sounds like it lost fluid then which contributed to the pump failure.

You would expect the PSP fluid resevoir to have been checked on a service.

Also there should have been a vis inspection on the MOT.

I think you need to be asking a few questions.

[carproblem74]

I will be! It's all so annoying and caused extra stress I don't need. Is there a letter template anywhere on this site for complaints of faulty goods?

[MARTIN3030]

I think in this instance it should be written to address the problem at hand.

Templated letters have their place,but are often ignored.

I can help you with a letter no problem.

Its a long weekend so likely nothing happening until Tuesday.However,I know most car sales/traders,remain open on bank holidays so there is another option I think you can use so you are not losing time here.

The letter can be hand delivered and ask for a signed receipt.

It will help to get the finer details that enable a good letter.

 

1.The date of purchase

 

2.The date you found the fault

 

3.The date you contacted them to ask about it

 

4.the date the Service/Mot was done and if it was the same trader.

 

5.how you made payment for the car.

 

6.How communications were done about the complaint-ie phone/letter/emails

 

7.How you came to buy the car-was it advertised-or did you go on spec.

[rebel11]

Thread moved.

[carproblem74]

Thanks for all your help Martin.

[ArtisanUK]

Sounds like it lost fluid then which contributed to the pump failure.

You would expect the PSP fluid resevoir to have been checked on a service.

Also there should have been a vis inspection on the MOT.

I think you need to be asking a few questions.

Such as whence you too may buy pre-stamped MOT test certificates?

[sailor sam]

Any warranty is irrelevenat within this timescale. SOGA would state that the car was sold 'not fit for the purpose' and as such the seller has an obligation to rectify at no cost to the OP. Having said that the seller MUST be given that opportunity. If he refuses the OP then has the option of rejecting the car and asking for a full refund but he neds to act quickly as time is on his side at the moment. As Martin suggests, a written request to rectify within 7 days must be sent by recorded delivery asap.

[ArtisanUK]

Another idea would be to have the car checked by a VOSA inspector - if the testing centre could apparently miss a developing fault with the power-assisted steering, they may have missed other faults too.

 

That's assuming it was tested.

[carproblem74]

I have just checked online and it was Mot tested so it is genuine. I have sent a letter requesting the dealer pay for the car to be fixed. Thanks for all your replies.

[ArtisanUK]

I have just checked online and it was Mot tested so it is genuine. I have sent a letter requesting the dealer pay for the car to be fixed.

Perhaps the mechanic's guide dog was unqualified?

[MARTIN3030]

I have just checked online and it was Mot tested so it is genuine. I have sent a letter requesting the dealer pay for the car to be fixed. Thanks for all your replies.

 

Good-keep us informed.

Just one thought-were there any advisory notes listed on this or the previous Mot ?

[carproblem74]

Nope no advisory notes at all. It could just be one of those things however the dealer is still liable to pay! Thanks again for all your help.

[MARTIN3030]

ok

[carproblem74]

Perhaps the mechanic's guide dog was unqualified?

 

 

I notice it was MOT tested at the dealership place. Is it normal for a place to both sell, service and MOT is it seems dodgy to my cynical head!

[heliosuk]

Another idea would be to have the car checked by a VOSA inspector - if the testing centre could apparently miss a developing fault with the power-assisted steering, they may have missed other faults too.

 

That's assuming it was tested.

 

Get real artisan. It could have been right at the time of inspection. These parts are subject to sudden failure without any warning. In fact last week I had to investigate exact same issue on virtually identical parts on a car with 25 miles on it having gone through a series of tests far tougher than an MOT.

 

Follow Sailors advice, that is the correct way to deal with the issues here. The amount quoted seems somewhat high though.

[sailor sam]

Get real artisan. It could have been right at the time of inspection. These parts are subject to sudden failure without any warning. In fact last week I had to investigate exact same issue on virtually identical parts on a car with 25 miles on it having gone through a series of tests far tougher than an MOT.

 

Follow Sailors advice, that is the correct way to deal with the issues here. The amount quoted seems somewhat high though.

 

Thank you for your confidence in me Helio! For a moment, I thought it had slipped a little!

[heliosuk]

Not at all Sailor.........it's the constant referall to the 6 month quote and an assumption. Too easily challenged as it is indeed an assumption. Going into legal action on this basis is fool hardy as is quoting it and leads to many tears as we have seen. Perhaps it would be better to add a proviso that it is easily challenged and unreliable and not a sound basis to launch a legal action.

 

As I continually bleat, SOGA is not the be all and end all of consumer problems, it's too woolley in the case of used cars or even any car come to that and needs very careful application such as the forum has seen!