With complaints about defective second-hand cars
forming the bulk of cases it has seen in each of the past five
years, the consumer watchdog has come up with a list of car parts
potential buyers should get checked before signing off on
deals.
Developed after consultation with motoring industry
players, such as the Automobile Association of Singapore and
Singapore Vehicle Traders Association, the checklist can be
downloaded from the websites of the Consumers Association of
Singapore (Case) and SgCarMart.
Noting that disputes can be difficult to resolve if the
condition of the vehicle at the time of purchase cannot be
determined, Case said both buyers and dealers could protect
themselves better by turning to the checklist.
For instance, dealers should check the
air-conditioning, tyres, and lights, among other parts, and walk
buyers through during the inspection of the car pre-sale. Case
urged dealers to bring in an independent third-party to run the
checks so as to better protect themselves should disputes arise
subsequently.
The second half of the checklist is for professional
evaluation centres, for parts such as fluid levels, suspension
systems and the engine.
According to Case, the engine and gear box are most
commonly reported to be defective.
Last year, Case received 2,916 complaints on the
motorcar industry, of which 1,477 were on defective good. This is
an increase from 2015's figure of 2,907 complaints on the motorcar
industry, of which 1,245 were on defective goods. About three in
five of cases taken up involved pre-owned cars, said Case.
In the first two months of the year, there were 221
complaints on defective goods in the motorcar industry, forming
more than half (53 per cent) of complaints on motorcars.
Case said that roughly seven out of 10 consumers who
approached them for help had not sent the car they fancied to a
professional evaluation centre for checks before they paid up for
it.
Under the Lemon Law, which came into effect on Sept 1,
2012, a car dealer has to prove that the car was not defective at
time of delivery, if any defect was found within six months of
delivery.
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