What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Not what it steamed

I bought a 48k mile 2002 FIAT Punto from a second-hand dealer two weeks ago for £2,200. I also bought 3-month warranty. After one week I needed to put engine coolant in. I checked the oil and it was fine. On Tuesday my wife drove it to Bath and the coolant warning light came on as she drove into the car park. On the way back from Bath the engine started smoking badly, lost power, etc, etc. Someone who stopped and helped her said that there was no oil and that the head gasket had gone and that we should demand a replacement car. "It'll never be the same again." I spoke to the dealer that sold the car on Tuesday evening and they said that they'd get it taken back to their local garage who would have a look at it. The car has only just been collected this morning, after a number of phone calls to the selling dealer. The dealer is now saying that we have to sort it out through the warranty company, who will then pay us back the cost of the repairs. So my questions are: Do we have any right of exchange? Do we have to deal with the warranty company or should the dealer sort this out? What would be a reasonable outcome?

Asked on 25 April 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Small claims track at the county court. If you paid a fair retail price
the dealer has to prove that the fault was not already developing at the time of sale. If he can't, he is liable. The car wasn’t cheap enough for him to get off on the grounds that it was so old enough you could expect it to be faulty. All the law in Consumer Rights: Rejecting a Duff Car in the FAQs at www.honestjohn.co.uk
Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
    Select a few terms below
Similar questions
Two months ago I bought a 2006 Grande Punto from a local FIAT dealer. It was 1 owner and low mileage 18,000 miles. I paid extra to have warranty cover for 15 months. I have just had the most dreadful noise...
On Saturday, 6th March, I bought a 2001 'Y' reg VW Polo with 1.4 16v engine and 59k miles on it, from a fairly local dealer. I paid £2,700. On the Monday, I 'phoned the dealer to check when the timing...
Last May I mailed to ask your advice concerning a car and warranty purchased from Carshop Northampton and the subsequent misery experienced by my husband and myself when we came to claim under the warranty...
Related models
Well-equipped. Good-looking and roomy hatch that's fun to drive. Five-star crash test rating.
 

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