Can I reject my secondhand diesel because the DPF light keeps coming on?

I’ve recently bought a used car on finance with a deposit of £1000. On day three of having the car (less than 50 miles later), the engine management light came on. I rang the dealership and took it in. They ran a diagnostics and the problem is with the diesel particulate filter (DPF) amongst other things. They hooked it up to a laptop and did a forced regeneration and the light went off. I took the car home and less than 50 miles later, the engine management light came back on again. I had another diagnostics done and it's coming up with the exact same problems as before. I’m well within my 30-day warranty, so does a dodgy DPF mean that the car isn’t ‘fit for purpose’, and where would I stand if I chose to reject the car?

Asked on 20 January 2018 by Kayla Knight

Answered by Honest John
Yes, you can reject the car for a fundamental fault that preceded your ownership of it under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and under previous case law, in particular Clegg v Olle Andersson (trading as Nordic Marine) House of Lords 2003: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights

At the very least the DPF needs to be chemically cleaned out of ash that would mean sending it away to a company such as Ceramex, but there may be other problems with DPF regeneration. Hoping you get your money back, don't buy another secondhand diesel. Get petrol this time round.
Similar questions
I bought a 2006 Hyundai Tucson in October 2017. The engine warning light was flashing when I test drove it and I was told that this was the DPF. I was aassured it would be fixed and it was okay when I...
I have a 2008 BMW 3 Series Touring 3.0d. I do 20,000 miles per year on A roads, at high speeds, and change the oil and filter very regularly. A diesel particle filter warning light has now come on. Why...
The DPF on my 2009 Jaguar XF was professionally cleaned after going from amber to red. The car had done high mileage (104,000), so I was kind of expecting it. 13,000 miles after the clean, it went straight...
 

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