Inconsistent Odometer Readings on NCT Cert

Pedro000

Hi Folks. I just run into a problem with my car, which I returned to the dealer several times for another repair. ..
Issues started in June, just after I bought my dream 2008 car . I paid a sum of 3500 for a used car which was advertised as nearly 167k km on the dash. I thought it is worth to pay more than average for low mileage car with warranty. Car since day one had battery drain problem and after a few days, I had a hose blown on a motorway with coolant leaving the system and causing the car to stop due to overheating. I managed to get a refund for towing from the dealer and replacement car. After a few days, my car was back on the driveway I started to drive as every normal user. Wasn't long to next incident when driving to Limerick when I found check engine light on the dash, 200 km from Dublin. I pulled to the nearest garage and mechanic told me that injector is faulty on cylinder 2. I was at the beginning of my three-day trip so I tried to fix all on the way. I purchased injector from the scrapyard and drove to the nearest garage to replace the part. I was so surprised that after connecting the computer we discovered the same problem with injector on cylinder 4. At this stage, I decided to contact my dealer as the issue was unclear to me. Again I got very good support - replacement car to continue my trip. My car was examined in that location by third party mechanic which also found a problem with battery drain and did something with alternator.
After another few days, I was called to collect my car from dealer's yard where it's been told to me that they can't find any errors in ECU and I can drive as normal. In case of breakdown they promise to send someone to tow me.
After two weeks time, I had exactly the same problem with check engine and limp mode 160 km away from Dublin. The dealer asked me to drive back home which I could only manage on speed 70km/h on fifth gear. Any revs over 2000 rpm caused the return of the problem.
Again my car spent almost a week in their garage and I had a replacement car to satisfy my needs.
Unfortunately, this time situation was explained that they couldn't reproduce the problem so they don't know what to fix. I was annoyed with the lack of competencies in this matter and I asked to do anything with this as the problem returned and waiting fo reoccurrence is just a matter of time . The time, where all the issues will be on my head again ( call to the insurance company to transfer insurance, waiting for another replacement car, the stress of driving of unfixed car). I got the car back with fuel filter being replaced... That was a joke - I made a seal before last return and some marks on bolts to see if parts are being moved/replaced. Nobody even touch the filter in the garage!
I was driving my car which had hiccup from time to time, something like fuel starvation.

I just returned from my 3 day city break which I planned to not to use the car for airport lifts.
As you probably suspect problem returned with drained battery. Engine won't start again.

I am in bits again. The dealer will pick up the car tomorrow for checks but I don't believe in his words anymore. Having 50 cars in the car-park I suspect, he will swap the battery from another car and say that was battery problem ( by the way I already have 3rd battery fitted ). I haven’t received any invoices for repairs or parts being replaced by dealer since I bought my car.
I have checked the invoice and found my car is on warranty (engine+gearbox only) for another 3 weeks. When looking at the NCT certificate I found something which surprised me -
odometer readings for the last three checks were inconsistent: Second reading(after two years from the previous one) is smaller.
Odo 2015 - 123474 mi
Odo 2017 - 150207 km
Odo 2018 - 167568 km
Between 2015 and 2017 my car lost around 450 000 km.
Now I suspect my 08 Ford S-Max 1.8 tdci was clocked.
I already purchased annual tax on this car and made small investments (windscreen wipers/ cabin and air filter ) . Now I am not feeling safe to drive this car anywhere further that walking distance from home.
I am considering return of the car to dealer as I have a feeling all these repairs is just playing on time to miss the warrant period and get rid of the problemous car from the garage.
I don't actually know what my rights in this scenario are. I thought my car had 160k km as the dealers ad stated. What would you do in my place?
Thank you for the reading

punisher5112

How has it lost 450k km?

NCT does that all the time where they input the wrong mileage or kilometres symbol.

That wouldn't worry me but has the car been basically sitting up a year...

Does the car have keyless entry or keyless start?

colm_mcm

Any chance they recorded the km reading as miles at 125?

punisher5112

colm_mcm wrote: »

Any chance they recorded the km reading as miles at 125?

Happened me, me never copped it but not worried as have all certs and can show the mistake.

Del2005

I would be rejecting the car as not fit for purpose. They need to replace it or refund you.

punisher5112

Del2005 wrote: »

I would be rejecting the car as not fit for purpose. They need to replace it or refund you.

They haven't stopped fixing so they must be given the chance to rectify.

colm_mcm

A €3500 08 SMax is going to be a ball either way. Not victim blaming.

Pedro000

punisher5112 wrote: »

How has it lost 450k km?

NCT does that all the time where they input the wrong mileage or kilometres symbol.

Hi. I just accidentally put one more zero. My calculation came from the miles to kilometers conversion.

punisher5112 wrote: »

Does the car have keyless entry or keyless start?

This S-Max 08 has a key and a central locking remote

Pedro000

Del2005 wrote: »

I would be rejecting the car as not fit for purpose. They need to replace it or refund you.

By doing this should I provide any evidence ? Simple not fit for the purpose is acceptable reason ? I have no records from other garages , just spare injector with 70E invoice..

Pedro000

punisher5112 wrote: »

They haven't stopped fixing so they must be given the chance to rectify.

How does that affect my warranty period ? Can they stop fixing my car after three week time ? I already used my one month cover from my insurance for driving replacement car. Next change to policy will cost me 50E for each tranfer

colm_mcm

Del2005 wrote: »

I would be rejecting the car as not fit for purpose. They need to replace it or refund you.

It’s not a mobile phone, it’s a 11 year old car being sold for less than 10% of its original price. The OP has rights but I dint think rejecting the car is one of them.
If there are multiple issues, they have the right to do multiple repairs.

Pedro000

colm_mcm wrote: »

If there are multiple issues, they have the right to do multiple repairs.

What next if they just keep the car in the car-park or juggling with battery leaving the customer in a loop of breakdowns? I'd count the third time when the battery problem is being addressed and two times being left with without any fix when car stopped on the motorway. Anyone can tell, how to exit this loop?

Del2005

punisher5112 wrote: »

They haven't stopped fixing so they must be given the chance to rectify.

They car has been back multiple times. The first repair should be permanent.

Del2005

colm_mcm wrote: »

It’s not a mobile phone, it’s a 11 year old car being sold for less than 10% of its original price. The OP has rights but I dint think rejecting the car is one of them.
If there are multiple issues, they have the right to do multiple repairs.

We've older cars than that that have zero issues. Luckily the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services act do not mention how much it costs or how old it is. If a trade sells to a private buyer then they have to stand over it.

It could be the same problem with multiple synthoms.

Del2005

Pedro000 wrote: »

How does that affect my warranty period ? Can they stop fixing my car after three week time ? I already used my one month cover from my insurance for driving replacement car. Next change to policy will cost me 50E for each tranfer

The warranty is in addition to your consumer rights. Read citizen's information about 2nd hand purchases from business and the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services act for your rights. If in doubt ask in the consumer issues forum, a lot of posters here are in the trade.

Casati

I’d like to know what garage that is as they seem to be great, providing you with a replacement car free of charge is not something they have to do, nor is the cost of towing. On such an old car you will be v lucky if it’s perfect

If you accuse them of clocking the car I would not be expecting a warm response from them

millington

Did you do a Cartell check to see if theres a mileage discrepancy? Is there service history with the car matching the current mileage?

I would expect the NCT cert to be a mistake by the tester. I've often seen it happen.