Faulty S-MAX - What are our options?
We recently bought a 2007 S-MAX and was told it came with a three month warranty from a third party company. The dealer assured us the car was free from faults and would be fully serviced before we took possession.
We bought the car quite a long way from our home (90 min drive) and as we neared home the dashboard computer information disappeared. All you could see was a red line. This now happens every few days with no rhyme or reason.
The dealer was very unhelpful and told us to bring the car back for their mechanics to look at it, but at a three hour round trip and being heavily pregnant and no offer of a courtesy car this wasn't possible. He then stopped taking our calls.
We went direct to the Warranty company who were helpful and on their advice took it to a Ford dealer for a diagnostic. This has shown that there is a panel fault, and this was first triggered 23 miles BEFORE we purchased the car. Meaning the warranty is not valid, as the car had a pre-existing fault. The cost of repairs may be £350 if loose wiring, or £850+ to replace the whole instrument panel.
What legal options do we have now against the car dealer, who we feel have sold us (knowingly or otherwise) a defective car with a worthless warranty?
We bought the car quite a long way from our home (90 min drive) and as we neared home the dashboard computer information disappeared. All you could see was a red line. This now happens every few days with no rhyme or reason.
The dealer was very unhelpful and told us to bring the car back for their mechanics to look at it, but at a three hour round trip and being heavily pregnant and no offer of a courtesy car this wasn't possible. He then stopped taking our calls.
We went direct to the Warranty company who were helpful and on their advice took it to a Ford dealer for a diagnostic. This has shown that there is a panel fault, and this was first triggered 23 miles BEFORE we purchased the car. Meaning the warranty is not valid, as the car had a pre-existing fault. The cost of repairs may be £350 if loose wiring, or £850+ to replace the whole instrument panel.
What legal options do we have now against the car dealer, who we feel have sold us (knowingly or otherwise) a defective car with a worthless warranty?
Asked on 7 April 2016 by wherescathie
Answered by
Honest John
Your pregnancy is not the dealer's fault. Nor is the fact you live 90 minutes away. But the problem with the car is down to him, so if you can't drive the car there and back you will have to get someone else who is insured to drive it to do that. He has to fix it and if he doesn't you can reject the car and get your money back. Nothing to do with the warranty insurer because the fault pre-existed your purchase of the car and the warranty. Law here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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