Buyer beware – Sold unroadworthy car, five-week refund battle, then re-listed!!
I would advise potential buyers to exercise caution with this dealer.I recently purchased a Kia Sportage (NK68 EUW) from them, for £11,595. Within 24 hours of the sale, I identified faults including an inoperative windscreen washer, which became apparent during normal driving conditions and was later confirmed by an independent garage. I reported this immediately, but the dealer refused to repair the issue or cover the cost. An inoperative windscreen washer means a vehicle does not meet roadworthiness requirements, and as such the vehicle was in an unroadworthy condition at the point of sale.I exercised my statutory right to reject the vehicle within the required timeframe. However, the process was not straightforward and took approximately five weeks from my formal rejection to receiving a refund, leaving me without a car and having to hire one at my own expense. During this period, the dealer acknowledged in writing that the issues could be addressed under warranty. However, before any work was carried out, the vehicle was independently inspected again and found to have excessive corrosion on the underside, likely requiring structural work within a couple of years. The dealer insisted I return the vehicle to his location for a refund, which would have required either driving an unroadworthy vehicle or paying over £200 for transport. After further pressure and the prospect of legal action, he eventually agreed to collect the vehicle, but then refused to pay the garage invoice for the agreed work, despite having been provided with it in advance.I was also concerned by the subsequent handling of the vehicle. It was collected, driven back to the dealer’s premises, put through an MOT the same day, and re-listed for sale the following day. Given the issues identified during inspection, I question whether these could have been properly addressed in such a short timeframe. The dealer had been made aware of these concerns prior to re-advertising the car. As of 21 June 2026, the vehicle remains advertised for sale on the dealer’s website, despite the concerns raised prior to its re-listing. Based on my experience, I would strongly recommend that any prospective buyer arranges an independent inspection before purchasing a vehicle from this business.
