Thread: Car Breakdown - Who's Liable for the Bill?

My wife and I recently purchased a car from a well known Main Dealer in Scotland which was an hour's drive from home.

It's approximately 18months old, with just over 21k miles on the clock and so still has the remaining 18 months Manufacturer's Warranty. According to the service booklet, the car was stamped to say it was given its routine service just a handful of miles before we bought it (although judging from the fact the engine oil is jet black and we had to have the handbrake tightened after buying it, I have my doubts as to whether this might just be a cursory stamp - but I've no way of proving it)

After covering less than 1000 miles since our purchase 6 weeks ago, the car has broken down (on Friday 13th last week as it turned out) and had to be recovered on the back of a low loader to a Main Dealer of the car's same make within a few miles from home.

At the time of the Breakdown, my wife was in it with our 3 children and so didn't have the luxury of having it taken to the dealer from where we bought it, which was also a main dealer of the same make.

The Dealer where the car was recovered to is undertaking an examination as to the cause of the problem, and suspects it may be the gearbox, but he can't be sure until the full investigation is complete (should be in the next 48 hours).

Meantime, and a matter of a couple of hours of the breakdown occuring I phoned the supplying dealer to inform him, and was met with such a couldn't care less attitude, with him adding that (and without him knowing the exact cause) we would be covered by the balance of the manufacturers 3 year warranty. He assumes that it is a warranty issue!

If the problem does turn out to be a Waranty Claim, then all well and good (or not so good I guess), but at least the Manufacturer will cover the cost.

My issue is, in the event that it's a non Warranty problem, I will be liable for the cost of the repair.

Having covered less than 1000 miles since buying the car, I'd be grateful for any feedback on whether I'd have a case for asking the supplying dealer him to pay the Bill.

I have since contacted the supplying dealer in writing to inform him / confirm my conversation from Friday after the breakdown, but the email doesn't go so far as to ask him to cover the cost, which would only apply if it's a non warranty issue. Without knowing the full picture myself at this stage, I didn't feel inclined to make that request at this stage.

Thoughts & feedback would be most welcome.

Thanks

Originally Posted by drivingoverlemons

My wife and I recently purchased a car from a well known Main Dealer in Scotland which was an hour's drive from home.

It's approximately 18months old, with just over 21k miles on the clock and so still has the remaining 18 months Manufacturer's Warranty. According to the service booklet, the car was stamped to say it was given its routine service just a handful of miles before we bought it (although judging from the fact the engine oil is jet black and we had to have the handbrake tightened after buying it, I have my doubts as to whether this might just be a cursory stamp - but I've no way of proving it)

After covering less than 1000 miles since our purchase 6 weeks ago, the car has broken down (on Friday 13th last week as it turned out) and had to be recovered on the back of a low loader to a Main Dealer of the car's same make within a few miles from home.

At the time of the Breakdown, my wife was in it with our 3 children and so didn't have the luxury of having it taken to the dealer from where we bought it, which was also a main dealer of the same make.

The Dealer where the car was recovered to is undertaking an examination as to the cause of the problem, and suspects it may be the gearbox, but he can't be sure until the full investigation is complete (should be in the next 48 hours).

Meantime, and a matter of a couple of hours of the breakdown occuring I phoned the supplying dealer to inform him, and was met with such a couldn't care less attitude, with him adding that (and without him knowing the exact cause) we would be covered by the balance of the manufacturers 3 year warranty. He assumes that it is a warranty issue!

If the problem does turn out to be a Waranty Claim, then all well and good (or not so good I guess), but at least the Manufacturer will cover the cost.

My issue is, in the event that it's a non Warranty problem, I will be liable for the cost of the repair.

Having covered less than 1000 miles since buying the car, I'd be grateful for any feedback on whether I'd have a case for asking the supplying dealer him to pay the Bill.

I have since contacted the supplying dealer in writing to inform him / confirm my conversation from Friday after the breakdown, but the email doesn't go so far as to ask him to cover the cost, which would only apply if it's a non warranty issue. Without knowing the full picture myself at this stage, I didn't feel inclined to make that request at this stage.

Thoughts & feedback would be most welcome.

Thanks

Sounds similar to my story here! You might get some advice from that- 6 days is a bit different from 6 weeks, but still well within 6 months.

If it is a diesel not uncommon to have black oil very soon after an oil change.

Thanks for that Flying Scot. Forgive my ignorance, but what's the implication of 6 months?

The dealer should put problem right irrespective of warranty; see sale of goods act; vehicle must be of merchantable quality with no major defects.

Originally Posted by drivingoverlemons

Thanks for that Flying Scot. Forgive my ignorance, but what's the implication of 6 months?

From memory the earlier a fault occurs it is the better but 6 months is the tipping point from dealer having to prove fault wasn't there to the onus being on you proving something. Someone might be able to expand on that.

Thanks Conniff. It's a Chevrolet

Anyone know how it's possible to determine that a used car is of "satisfactory quality" as surely this is subjective.

Just a query and not really related to the post but perhaps might need a sticky.

Originally Posted by heliosuk

Anyone know how it's possible to determine that a used car is of "satisfactory quality" as surely this is subjective.

Just a query and not really related to the post but perhaps might need a sticky.

Independent report by mechanic? It is subjective hence lawyers make money.

DOL, which dealer did you buy car from?

Just wanted to let all those valuable contributors have an update on the situation, which has been resolved.

1) The Vehicle Manufacturer, Chevrolet, has rejected the warranty claim from the main dealer where the car is on a ramp in bits at the moment.

2) After my asking them to re-visit the investigation at my own request, Chevrolet has again stood by their decision on the verdict of wear & tear / driver problem (thats after only 21k miles from new and 800 since I bought the car at 18 months old from new).

3) At the same time as being in contact with Chevrolet, we have also updated the main dealer's Head Office in Glasgow whom we bought the car from 6 weeks ago - Peter Vardy. Following a call to them at about 5.50pm on Tuesday 17th, we got a phone call back from them yesterday to advise that they were about to give authorisation to the repairing dealer for all the work to be carried out at Vardy's expense.

4) The Chevrolet dealer where the car is awaiting repaired has ordered the parts and we expect to have the car back on Friday.


Thanks to all those above who have contributed and so helped me avoid a bill to the tune of £1500.

Hang on, this is Daewoo (of old). Their warranty, even if it DID apply - isn't transferrable (unless you've seen in print that it is). My Matiz only had a warrantry that covered the initial or first owner.

For cases when a warranty DOES apply - this can mean that the affected PARTS are replaced free of charge, but NOT any consequential issues of the fault OR the time charged by the service centre - so the implications of cost isn't solely totally free/pay for everything.

Buzby, It sounds like things have changed since the former Daewoo days. Section 5 in the Vehicle Warranty booklet for the Chevrolet I own quotes - "If you buy a used Chevrolet car, any remaining period of the new car warranty will be transferred to you"

Dood to hear! One less problem then!

One final update for you all.

The car has been fixed and we got it back on Saturday - all ok !!

The supplying dealer authorised the work and agreed to pay the full bill at their expense.

Thanks to you all for your contributions.