There’s nothing like the feeling of buying a brand new car. The smell of the leather interior, the new car smell, and that sense of accomplishment as you drive off the lot. But what if your brand new car has problems? What Are Your Rights if a New Car is Faulty?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, if a vehicle goes wrong within the first 30 days of ownership, you can reject it for a full refund. If a fault develops after those first 30 days but within the first six months, the dealer gets one chance to fix it.
Fortunately for car owners dealing with a faulty car, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 exists to protect consumers.
If the dealer is unable to resolve the problem, you’re entitled to a full refund, or a partial refund depending on the amount of use the vehicle has received.
What Are my Rights After Buying a Faulty Car After 30 Days?
If your brand new car has problems after 30 days, but within six months of purchase date – don’t worry. Contact the car dealer you purchased the vehicle from and request the problem be fixed or the vehicle replaced.
When it comes time for repairs, the dealer has one chance to fix your car. If they don’t succeed, you are entitled to a full refund or partial refund. However, this depends on how much usage the vehicle has received.
Vehicle usage will be taken into account when determining how much can or cannot be refunded.
What Are my Rights After Buying a Faulty Car After 6 Months?
Even if you buy a new car with all of its parts in perfect condition, there’s still the chance that something will go wrong within six months.
This means it is your responsibility as an owner to prove when and where any manufacturing defects appeared so they can be fixed free of charge by the manufacturer.
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to get an independent expert to examine the car or component. Make sure to request a detailed written report about whatever is wrong with the vehicle.
Maintain Detailed Records
If you’re ever in the unfortunate situation of having a car issue, make sure to document everything that goes wrong. Keep an accurate timeline and take photos so there’s no confusion later on. Contacting your local dealership immediately is vital; write down any and all correspondence with them as well.
It’s important to contact the car manufacturer so they can open a case for you.
What’s not covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015?
The Consumer Rights Act cannot be used to reject a car if you’ve simply changed your mind about buying it. The dealer is not required, and therefore does not have any legal obligation, to rectify components that wear out due only with normal use – such as tires or brake discs.
What if the Car Dealer Doesn’t Agree There’s A Problem?
Meeting with the dealership manager and bring documentation with you to corroborate your claim that you’ve been wronged.
You’ll want to be as polite and respectful with the manager when presenting your case. However, since you already signed the contract, there aren’t many options available if they refuse to honor your request.
If the dealership manager denies your request, you may also choose to take the following actions:
- Contact your state attorney general’s office to discuss your options.
- File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
- Hire an attorney to sue the dealership.
- Leave a bad review on the dealership’s website.
- File a complaint with your state’s consumer protection agency or the FTC.
Final Thoughts: What Are Your Rights if a New Car is Faulty
Brand new car has problems? Good news is the Consumer Rights Act protects consumers from faulty goods and services.
If you’ve purchased a car with a fault, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 may be able to help you get your money back. Or provide compensation for any repairs that are needed.
Be sure to maintain detailed documentation of all correspondence and be persistent, even if you feel like giving up.
Tell us in the comments below, have you had to deal with a faulty new car?
Last Updated on February 23, 2023
Loves anything with a motor and wheels.
Christopher is an internet technology expert and mechanical engineer. When he’s not at the local autocross event, he can often be found working on one of his cars. He loves nothing more than taking something apart and putting it back together again. Email me direct, or learn more about us
Cecil sullivan
February 22, 2023 at 7:16 pmI am dealing with a faulty 20014 4xe Jeep three months after I bought it and still without the vehicle fixed as to date. I am frustrated!
Christopher
February 23, 2023 at 4:06 pmCecil, we have heard these have issues with the electric drive only mode. Is that the issue you are experiencing?
Christopher
March 1, 2023 at 10:07 amCecil, there is now a class actoin lawsuit of this issue. See this post for more info: Jeep eTorque Woes: Owners Seek Justice in Lawsuit Against FCA
Jana
March 8, 2023 at 8:43 pmDo I buy the car I ordered….They were bringing it to me from dealership. First there was a factory recall. After recall addressed with software update I got a call that the AC stopped working. They are saying as of right now that it is the compressor. Should this be a Huge Red Flag? Help!!! To buy or not to buy.
Christopher
March 9, 2023 at 10:19 amHi Jane. Is this a new car or preowned? If new, yes I would cancel the order. If preowned, what type of warranty does the car come with? Also, what are the stipulations for cancelling the purchase due to mechanical problems?
Zoe
March 9, 2023 at 10:26 pmMy jeep wrangler that’s not even 12 months old and has no more then 9k miles, is now in for repair for the 3rd time in 3 months and reported different faults each time. The latest is now 3 weeks in and after initially a sensor issue, it’s now had a whole new cam belt and parts replaced. I love the car but not at the cost and now overall 5/6 weeks in without it
Kelley Stein
March 15, 2023 at 8:13 am2023 Chevy Tahoe. A month after purchase, all dash lights came on. Took to dealership- they kept for a week and “corrected” all the problems. Fast forward three months, same problem with all the dash lights, had on star run diagnostic check “An issue has been detected in the Fuel Management System used to maintain, control and monitor fuel consumption”, “a misfire condition has been detected” and also “An issue has been detected in the Exhaust Emissions System which monitors and controls exhaust gases released into the air from the engine. If the vehicle is continually driven with this light on, the emission controls might not work as well, the vehicle fuel economy might not be as good, the engine might not run as smoothly and could lead to future repairs”.
Beyond aggravated. What are my options? The dealership is 40 miles away, do I force them to come pick up the car so there’s no further damage caused? Do I start to push for them buying the car back? Just very disgusted.