VIC Get Refund for Defective Volkswagen Car?

[Neysa]

Hi,

A family member purchased a used car 5 weeks ago from a second hand Volkswagen dealer in Victoria.

2 days after collecting the car the battery had to be replaced. 4 weeks after collecting the car the water pump had to be replaced. This work was carried out by the Volkswagen service centre at their cost. 1 week after that, an engine warning light came on, at which time we called the Volkswagen service centre and they advised us not to drive the car, and arranged for it to be towed to the service centre.

We have now been advised that the car requires an engine replacement, which Volkswagen are willing to pay for. However we no longer want to keep the car as we believe it to be severely defective and unreliable.

The car is a 2009 Volkswagen golf, with 46,000km on it. We paid $13K for it.

We have asked the dealer for a full refund, but they are insisting on repairing the car, and have started repairs without my authorisation.

We want to push for a refund, but are not sure if this is likely.

Please help!

 

[Lance]

Hi Neysa,

It sounds really frustrating and I know when you have lost faith in a vehicle and you just want to be done with it. This blog might give you some useful information :

Faulty Second Hand Car? Your Options as a Buyer - Legal Blog - LawAnswers.com.au

I would consider contacting consumer affairs Victoria but be aware the may deem the dealership is doing what is required by repairing the vehicle.

 

[rapidTiger8]

That’s a really tough situation and since the car has had multiple major faults within just a few weeks, you’re absolutely within your rights to request a refund under Australian consumer law because a vehicle that needs a full engine replacement so soon after purchase can clearly be considered not of acceptable quality. Even if the dealer wants to repair it, the law generally says the buyer can choose a refund when the fault is major, so make sure you put your request in writing and reference the repeated failures and safety concerns while keeping all invoices and correspondence. If they refuse, take it to Consumer Affairs Victoria or VCAT where cases like this are commonly resolved in the buyer’s favour, especially when the issues appear immediately after purchase. It’s similar to why people trust specialists for sensitive jobs such as a Bentley luxury car battery change Dubai because with high-value items you expect reliability, transparency, and proper handling from the start.

 

[rapidTiger8]

Hi, it sounds like you’ve had a very frustrating experience, especially with a car that has shown multiple serious issues in such a short time. Given the battery, water pump, and now engine problems, it’s reasonable to consider the vehicle unreliable and defective, and you may have grounds to request a full refund rather than just repairs. It’s important to document everything, including service records and communications with the dealer and Volkswagen. You could also mention that for future reference, services like Fiamm car battery service Sharjah can provide reliable battery support, but in your case, the repeated major faults suggest the dealer should honor a refund request rather than force repairs. Consulting consumer protection laws in Victoria or seeking advice from a local legal advisor could strengthen your case.