VIC Used car faults need advice

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Darren Drew

Member
20 September 2019
1
0
1
I bought a 2012 ford ranger from a dealer 2 weeks ago they had the car done for rwc and since driving it for 2 weeks the motor has a oil leak the rear shocker is leaking oil and the dash cluster there are some globes out behind the dials and I cannot see the fuel gauge or temperature at night and drivers seatbelt does not retract , under consumer law is the dealer required to fix these problems as I consider them as a road worthy item and are faulty the dealer supplied the road worthy I paid $22000.00 for the car and it has done 253480klms ...
 

Victa

Well-Known Member
25 October 2016
17
2
74
Yes, all are warrantable items and depending on your state legislation for the sale of used motor cars, there may be a statutory warranty also, but the consumer guarantee warranty overrides that anyway. Be polite but direct, put it in writing advising that you would like these rectified. Failing that, lodge a complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria for assistance.
 

Scruff

Well-Known Member
25 July 2018
925
135
2,389
NSW
Requirements for an RWC include no oil leaks and working seatbelts (which includes retracting properly).
While an RWC requires all external lights to be working, I don't think it covers internal lights.

The problem you have is that you noticed this after driving for two weeks, which means that the dealer will likely claim that the problems weren't there when the RWC was issued.
If it came with a warranty, then that would be the way to pursue it. Otherwise, you can try to push it as a roadworthy issue, but there's no guarantee you will get anywhere.

Here's some personal experience that may or may not be of help in the future...

$22,000 is far more than I would ever pay for a 7 year old car with 250,000+kms on the clock. If you're willing to buy second hand without warranty, you will always find much better deals at auctions ("real" auctions, not eBay). Ex-government cars often go at a slightly higher price, but are usually the best value for money. They usually come with the original owner's manual and service history - and the owner details in the manual will often indicate which department or agency the car came from. You can use that info along with the service history to help decide whether or not you want to bid on it. Best of all - no salesman feeding you BS about the vehicle's history or condition.

The last one I bought was an 8yo Futura wagon with 214,000kms - original owner was Broken Hill Council and I paid $4,000 for it. I've had it for years now and it's the most reliable car I've ever owned.

(In years gone by, I would have recommended avoiding ex-police cars - they often have lower kms, but they're "hard" kms if you know what I mean. But that doesn't seem to be as much of an issue these days, so it basically comes down to personal preference.)