Cost of Dealer Head Gasket Replacement

[smkwalker]

Hello all

Bought a Ford Fiesta 05 plate last November with no Warranty from a dealer back in November. Last Saturday it blew a head gasket.
Under the Consumer Rights Act it says you have 6 months from the date of purchase to report a fault with the car which would deem the car unfit for purpose as long as it's not considered "fair wear and tear" what I would assume is things like brakes, tyres, clutch etc.

The dealer has offered to carry out the repair but only if we foot, £300, half the cost the repair according to them.

So my question is should they be footing the whole bill and not us seeing as it's still within 6 months of buying the car. I would assume that a head gasket shouldn't come under "fair wear and tear"

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Here's a link to details about the act https://www.theaa.com/car-buying/legal-rights

[Jonno02]

Tough one. It is a 12 year old car. But a (total of) £600 bill 5 months after purchase is a sore one.

[TooMany2cvs]

smkwalker said:

Hello all

Bought a Ford Fiesta 05 plate last November with no Warranty from a dealer back in November. Last Saturday it blew a head gasket.
Under the Consumer Rights Act it says you have 6 months from the date of purchase to report a fault with the car which would deem the car unfit for purpose as long as it's not considered "fair wear and tear" what I would assume is things like brakes, tyres, clutch etc.

The dealer has offered to carry out the repair but only if we foot, £300, half the cost the repair according to them.

So my question is should they be footing the whole bill and not us seeing as it's still within 6 months of buying the car. I would assume that a head gasket shouldn't come under "fair wear and tear"

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Here's a link to details about the act https://www.theaa.com/car-buying/legal-rights

No, it's not just a blanket "ooh, everything that fails within six months is the dealer's problem unless it's worn". It's much, much subtler than that. The six month date moves the burden of proof on the presumption that a fault was present at sale. Even if a fault was present, then the question is whether it's reasonable for goods of that age/price/apparent condition.

It's a 12yo car that you've had for five months.
Head gaskets rarely "just go" - they're usually blown by external circumstances, usually a lack of coolant or overheating.

The failure clearly wasn't there when you bought it.

The supplier is being more than fair in covering half.

[anonymous-user]

Bite their hand off at half the £!!!

[Krikkit]

TooMany2cvs said:

Head gaskets rarely "just go" - they're usually blown by external circumstances, usually a lack of coolant or overheating.

Not necessarily true, but the rest of your post is spot on. Some cars are just prone to HGF (see unmodified Rover K-series as an extreme example).

[TooMany2cvs]

Krikkit said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Head gaskets rarely "just go" - they're usually blown by external circumstances, usually a lack of coolant or overheating.

Not necessarily true, but the rest of your post is spot on. Some cars are just prone to HGF (see unmodified Rover K-series as an extreme example).

Even then, they're usually prompted by a lack of coolant.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Krikkit said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Head gaskets rarely "just go" - they're usually blown by external circumstances, usually a lack of coolant or overheating.

Not necessarily true, but the rest of your post is spot on. Some cars are just prone to HGF (see unmodified Rover K-series as an extreme example).

Not since MLS gaskets, and using liners that don't sink.

I'd agree on outside influences. Detonation, overheating, the usual suspects and £300 to change a HG inc parts is peanuts these days.

[confused_buyer]

It is a bloody good offer - bite their hand off. You'd have no chance of getting anything if you went legal.

[Lozw86]

That's very good of the dealer to offer on such an old car, think yourself lucky

[750turbo]

Krikkit said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Head gaskets rarely "just go" - they're usually blown by external circumstances, usually a lack of coolant or overheating.

Not necessarily true, but the rest of your post is spot on. Some cars are just prone to HGF (see unmodified Rover K-series as an extreme example).

Oh Dear Krikkit, what have you done...

"Norris" will be back soon with a multi nested post of how you are so wrong, and how how is an expert at everything...


(Same as usual)

[smkwalker]

Thanks for the replies. Just a bit surprised that it's happened that's all. It also had to have welding done on it recently too at the end of February which they carried out but we paid for after it failed that on its MOT. It had an oil leak on a couple of its advisories in the past but didn't show on the most recent one before buying it. At 12 years old we wouldn't expect it to be trouble free but seems a lot to have gone wrong within the past 5 months since buying it. Spoke to citizens advice about it and they seem to think we might be on the correct side of things thinking this but it's nice to hear other people's views on here as well

[roofer]

750turbo said:

Krikkit said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Head gaskets rarely "just go" - they're usually blown by external circumstances, usually a lack of coolant or overheating.

Not necessarily true, but the rest of your post is spot on. Some cars are just prone to HGF (see unmodified Rover K-series as an extreme example).

Oh Dear Krikkit, what have you done...

"Norris" will be back soon with a multi nested post of how you are so wrong, and how how is an expert at everything...


(Same as usual)

Only once he's googled it mind...

[Black_S3]

roofer said:

Only once he's googled it mind...

He usually pops up with a decent answer to most things.... Lets not bully him off here like BV.

[anonymous-user]

you could argue that the HG is a part that wears, so might not have been faulty at time of sale. take the money and run, make sure they check the head as well.

[Slidingpillar]

Indeed, head gaskets don't usual blow for the fun of it - there is usually a reason.

[HustleRussell]

Very surprised that the dealer is willing to pay 50%

Also very surprised that a 2005 Fiesta has needed welding due to corrosion

[grumpy52]

HustleRussell said:

Very surprised that the dealer is willing to pay 50%

Also very surprised that a 2005 Fiesta has needed welding due to corrosion

Many of that year have been welded ,usually rear of the cills especially on the nearside .

[andymc]

HustleRussell said:

Very surprised that the dealer is willing to pay 50%

Also very surprised that a 2005 Fiesta has needed welding due to corrosion

really? its a ford of that era and they're notorious for it, i very much doubt the fault was pre-existing as it would have let go by now, its a used car and you do have to pay to fix things

[andymc]

smkwalker said:

Thanks for the replies. Just a bit surprised that it's happened that's all. It also had to have welding done on it recently too at the end of February which they carried out but we paid for after it failed that on its MOT. It had an oil leak on a couple of its advisories in the past but didn't show on the most recent one before buying it. At 12 years old we wouldn't expect it to be trouble free but seems a lot to have gone wrong within the past 5 months since buying it. Spoke to citizens advice about it and they seem to think we might be on the correct side of things thinking this but it's nice to hear other people's views on here as well

whats went wrong? the welding and head gasket? how much was the car?

[HustleRussell]

grumpy52 said:

HustleRussell said:

Very surprised that the dealer is willing to pay 50%

Also very surprised that a 2005 Fiesta has needed welding due to corrosion

Many of that year have been welded ,usually rear of the cills especially on the nearside .

andymc said:

really? its a ford of that era and they're notorious for

I knew Fiestas up to 2001 were notorious for rusting, same as mk1 Kas etc, also I had a 2003 Mondeo which was rusty around the door bottoms… But I sort of assumed that Ford had sorted it out by the time the Mk5 Fiesta came along.