I bought a car that had been tampered with to pass the MoT - what are my rights?

Last year I purchased a car that subsequently failed its MoT on emissions due to various failed sensors which were being hidden by an EML light that had been very obviously tampered with. There is no way that the car could have passed emissions with the failed sensors in the state they were in. Looking back through the history, the car dealership that the vehicle was purchased from had owned the car for over six months before the MOT was renewed and I purchased the car a couple of months later. Is there any comeback, given how misleading the dealership was in selling on the car with a tampered EML?

Asked on 9 August 2018 by BahnStormer

Answered by Honest John
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations May 2008 (CPRs) incorporate The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 and contain a general prohibition against unfair commercial practices and, in particular prohibitions against misleading actions, misleading omissions and aggressive commercial practices. The Regulations are enforceable through the civil and criminal courts. The CPRs create an offence of misleading omissions which would not previously have been an offence if the consumer had not asked the right questions. So if a salesman knows a car has, for example, been badly damaged and repaired and does not tell the customer, he could later be held liable if the customer subsequently discovered that the car had been damaged and repaired.
Similar questions
I sold a car for £3000 with six months MoT. The buyer test drove it and was happy with it, even saying so in text exchange that evening. Now they have had it inspected and say the chassis and ball joints...
My wife has a 2012 Volkswagen Golf TDI 1.6. She specifically asked the Volkswagen garage not to apply the EA189 emissions fix when the car had its service and MoT. However, it appears that they have applied...
When I bought a used car recently, I asked about the MOT and was told it was done on the 7 October. I then asked about advisories and was told it had none. The car is three years old with 9750 miles and...
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer