Problems after buying a car from a dealer.

[FastEdd11e]

Simple question but I'm not over this topic.

We bought a 2008 Outlander from a used dealer last week. It's developed a lot of clunking and knocking from the front.
The dealer isn't responding to email so I will call tomorrow.

Are we able to return the car for a full refund or are we stuck with negotiating repairs?

Frankly I don't trust them to make a safe repair. Can we insist on a refund?

Thanks in advance.

[Canon_Fodder]

Yes you can reject for a full refund if a fault has become apparent so soon

Read up on the Consumer rights Act 2015 for more info - it's pretty clear

[FastEdd11e]

Thanks

As you said, pretty clear.

Is there a tried and tested method/approach with this type of situation?

[Ryyy]

May be worth having something sent to them in writing for a bit of back up if needed? Signed for letter/email with read receipt? If it escalates further/no solution happened its there to show you gave them chance to rectify the issue.

[QJumper]

I think it will depend on what's wrong with the car, and how it was described by the dealer at the point of sale.

CRA says: " if a fault renders the product not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described, then the buyer is entitled to reject it within the first 30 days."

So, it would depend on whether the fault made it not fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality for a 14 year old car. After that, and before 6 months, the dealer has an option to repair.

All you can do now is wait till you can speak to the dealer, and see what he says.

[Canon_Fodder]

FastEdd11e said:

Thanks

As you said, pretty clear.

Is there a tried and tested method/approach with this type of situation?

Here's a template letter OP

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/let...

[steveo3002]

so no time ago you trusted them fully to sell you a good car , but now you cant possibly trust them to fix it

could be the most simple 30min fix and good as new (or not)

[FastEdd11e]

Canon_Fodder said:

FastEdd11e said:

Thanks

As you said, pretty clear.

Is there a tried and tested method/approach with this type of situation?

Here's a template letter OP

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/let...

Thanks again.
The letter is rather a blunt object but it does give me all the means I can use. A softening of the wording will be my first step..

[Canon_Fodder]

Yes indeed - I agree, tailor the wording and tone to your particular circumstances.

Good luck!

[stevekoz]

Give them the opportunity to rectify it.

Have you had it diagnosed yet? Clunking/Knocking could be a number of things?

Its an Outlander so assuming its a workhorse?

The sway bar links are common on these and its an easy job. They are known to go.

But knocking could be tie rods, sway links, end links, ball joints. Lots of things that are really simple to go and likely to need replacing on any car around 2008. Did you test drive the vehicle when you bought it? Was it knocking then?

Did they offer you any sort of warranty on the purchase?

Sounds like you maybe panicking that you've spent your money on something that you now feel may be a wrong'un, but honesty, any used car in that price range/year is going to be a gamble. You don't want it to go wrong in days, but when it does, yes it s a pain, but it isn't necessarily the dealer having done anything wrong.

Go see them. Get them to drive the vehicle. Be polite and ask them to rectify it.

IF then they don't want to help and play silly beggars about it, just again, be polite and say you are in your rights to refuse the vehicle and return it as long as you've made them aware in the 30 days. I've been down this route when an engine blew up on a car i'd owned for several hours (headgasket). But i gave them every opportunity to fix it first.

[123DWA]

piddy44 said:

I don't think it's as simple as quoting the CRA & expecting a full refund on a 14 yr old vehicle. I'm almost certain they'll offer to look at it & repair it. Very unlikely you'll get a vehicle that old that doesn't need a couple of things sorted by the dealer.

Anyway, why would you want to reject it? Buyer's remorse?

as mentioned many times previously the CRA is not a magic wand.

[Sheepshanks]

FastEdd11e said:

It's developed a lot of clunking and knocking from the front.

If they've "developed" then that implies the noises have appeared since you bought the car.

[Canon_Fodder]

Sheepshanks said:

If they've "developed" then that implies the noises have appeared since you bought the car.

That doesn't make any difference to the OP's position

[FastEdd11e]

Sheepshanks said:

If they've "developed" then that implies the noises have appeared since you bought the car.

They clunking wasn't noticeable on the test drive.
Anyhow, they have agreed to pay for an inspection so we will see what that brings up.

This is why there are legal protections for buyers. Not all of us are encyclopedia's of knowledge and we rely on traders to be fair minded.
The dealer has been fine so far and all is moving along politely.

Emails relaying everything are sent and noted.