anita saunders
a month ago
Inspected 3 times and still they failed to spot a serious fault.
Bought the Volvo V40 in Nov 18. Right engine, right specification and right colour. Told that it was only just in. Seemed OK on the test run. A few days after its purchase I felt that something was wrong. Turning left felt different to turning right. I asked for it to be checked even though it supposedly had a comprehensive pre-sales inspection. No fault found. A couple of months or so later I again raised my concerns. Again a clean bill of health.
March, and time for the first service. I had bought 2 services when I purchased the car. Upon collection in the afternoon I was greeted with “Good after noon Mr ***** when did you have an accident?”. “Sorry what was that?” I replied. I was told that the car had clearly been in an accident. The undertray had been replaced and there was clear damage to the subframe. I reminded her that for 4 months I had raised concerns over the handling and perhaps the two were linked. It was agreed that the car required further inspection and she would arrange a courtesy car as a replacement.
After 4 weeks I phoned Volvo and asked when the inspection would take place. They had forgotten to contact me. Shortly afterwards I took the car in for 4 days. Volvo contacted me and asked if they could keep the car for a further 2 days so that a Senior Manager would be available when I collected the car.
During the time since the service I did some homework. I found that car was sold to a Hire Company in March 18. It was sent back to Volvo at the end of July. From that date until November it sat in a Volvo compound. So the 12000 mileage was not accrued over 8 months but 5, i.e. it was a high mileage vehicle. The 2 front tyres were replaced early in the rental period. (Anything to do with chassis damage!)
Saturday morning my partner and I met the Sales Manger and another Manager. Very apologetic. They confirmed that there was serious damage to the subframe which had not been repaired and that I had been right all along. The car was not fit for use and I could have it repaired or a replacement would be found. “Replacement please” I replied. I asked how it was that this damage had not been seen on the pre-sales and on 2 further inspections. There was no answer.
Eventually another car became available which matched the specification of the first car. Although I had purchased 2 services I have just been denied a free service as it was a different car. I suggested, to no avail, that having had to change the car was through no fault of my own. Made no difference.
Would I purchase another car from Volvo (Poole)? Almost certainly not.
F