Deposit left on car. Dealership can’t locate service history

[CK11]

Try and keep this as short as possible
Wife went to view car on Friday. Test drive done, discussed couple of minor things needing done to the car etc. Everything agreed etc
It was mentioned to dealer about service history and she was told Mazda keep everything digital and he would sort that out.
Car is exactly 3 years old with I think 45k
Small deposit left on car Saturday morning

Comes to light today Mazda have no records of any servicing, dealer is going to some further checks and contact previous owner etc

Have we the right to not proceed and get refund on deposit?
Would it bother you ?
Car is in very very good condition, close to mint

[jamoor]

I'd expect to be refunded if they can't find the service history.

[Sir Bagalot]

Does it have just one owner?

Yes, it would bother me. I now someone who has a nine year old Mazda from new and has never had it serviced by Mazda but after every annual service they call Mazda up and get the details logged onto the digital service history. If I was buying and it hadn't been serviced by Mazda themselves then I'd also want to see service receipts etc

Edited by Sir Bagalot on Monday 27th May 17:26

[Turbojuice]

Dealer should be able to instantly locate the car's service history. The fact they can't would tell me the car doesn't have any history. This doesn't necessarily mean the car has never been serviced, but more likely it has been serviced but the dealership who serviced it (possible the same one?) was negligent and didn't update the records and the previous owner didn't care and chase them up to correct it at the time.

The car will be fine but once you come to sell it anyone who is a potential buyer, either private or a dealer via a part ex, will highlight the lack of service history and you will struggle to shift it without taking a hit.

If I was you i'd get my money back and walk away. They promised to provide the history as part of the deal, but have failed to do so.

[Jamescrs]

I would say lack of proven service history devalues the car by a fair chunk and I would think you are within your rights to pull out of the purchase as they cannot prove it has ever been serviced.

[mike74]

Sir Bagalot said:

Does it have just one owner?

Yes, it would bother me. I now someone who has a nine year old Mazda from new and has never had it serviced by Mazda but after every annual service they call Mazda up and get the details logged onto the digital service history

So you could get it serviced at any old back street garage (or at least claim to) and just one quick call to Mazda claiming that you've had it serviced and they'll happily log it on the digital service history record?

[CK11]

Sir Bagalot said:

Does it have just one owner?

Yes, it would bother me. I now someone who has a nine year old Mazda from new and has never had it serviced by Mazda but after every annual service they call Mazda up and get the details logged onto the digital service history. If I was buying and it hadn't been serviced by Mazda themselves then I'd also want to see service receipts etc

Edited by Sir Bagalot on Monday 27th May 17:26

Yes 1 owner. It’s not for sale with a Mazda dealer btw but a very large dealership with various other franchises

Il wait to hear back what they say or what they can find out with previous owner etc before proceeding. Should hopefully know tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest

[E65Ross]

mike74 said:

Sir Bagalot said:

Does it have just one owner?

Yes, it would bother me. I now someone who has a nine year old Mazda from new and has never had it serviced by Mazda but after every annual service they call Mazda up and get the details logged onto the digital service history

So you could get it serviced at any old back street garage (or at least claim to) and just one quick call to Mazda claiming that you've had it serviced and they'll happily log it on the digital service history record?

I suspect they'd require proof of service, and proof that genuine Mazda parts have been used. Same, I think, as what BMW do.

[and31]

I’d want my deposit back-as said above,you may have problems when you try to sell in the future.

[anonymous-user]

what where the conditions of the deposit?

[CK11]

Service history was one of them inc the replacement of a couple of pieces of trim , tank of fuel, and warranty

[Decky_Q]

I have a regular customer with a mazda and I have filled in service details in a generic service record book they have bought, but never updated the online record. It would be plausible that many people do this, and this car has been serviced at an independent who hasn't updated the mazda online either.

Have a look under the bonnet, is the oil filter rusty? Is the air filter blocked up with crap?

[M_A_S]

Every reputable garage should be updating the Digital Service Record on every vehicle that requires it, it's s basic requirement. I'm a sole trader mobile mechanic and I do it, it's not rocket science.

What's the registration OP? I can check Mazda's records.

[CK11]

Decky_Q said:

I have a regular customer with a mazda and I have filled in service details in a generic service record book they have bought, but never updated the online record. It would be plausible that many people do this, and this car has been serviced at an independent who hasn't updated the mazda online either.

Have a look under the bonnet, is the oil filter rusty? Is the air filter blocked up with crap?

Garage I ‘was/am’ buying car from already done their own service on it so can’t check those.

[quinny100]

Has the car ever been on a private plate?

Get the VIN number and go and ask a Mazda dealer yourself, nicely, ideally in person.

If you find the history go and ask the selling dealer for a discount for the missing history.

[ZX10R NIN]

This if it had a private plate, it'll explain the lack of history but if that's not the answer I'd either get a refund or tell them to find something similar within their group.

[Mercury00]

mike74 said:

So you could get it serviced at any old back street garage (or at least claim to) and just one quick call to Mazda claiming that you've had it serviced and they'll happily log it on the digital service history record?

You have to show them the invoice for the service done. They even have an app for uploading proof of service.

[Lester H]

I would be concerned, in view of the mileage, though much less so about main dealer history. The car supermarkets often sell vehicles with no service records, or indeed empty ones,but this usually means that they have gone slightly over the due date while acting as hire, courtesy or “demonstrators” I doubt they can any longer do the “One elderly lady going to church “ cliche - why would she have a Mondeo? But here we are looking only at 13,500 instead of 12k etc.... easily remedied. However the gap on the Mazda is too great to ignore. Have to wonder if the ‘back seat never sat on’ and ‘motorway miles’ have died along with “ First to see will buy “ !

Edited by Lester H on Saturday 15th June 18:49