Watchdog weighs into car row

A couple who ran into problems with a Mercedes-Benz SUV can still make a claim with the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal despite selling the car back to the dealership where they bought it, according to Consumer NZ.

The watchdog says a claim can be made for the difference between what the dealer paid them and the $135,000 they originally splashed out, reports the Herald on Sunday.

It was reported the couple, who did not want to be named, purchased a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 400d from Armstrong’s Mercedes-Benz Dunedin dealership in February 2022.

They felt they had to accept a wholesale offer, which was below the price they originally paid, because the car was due for a warrant of fitness, had persistent issues with a third-row seatbelt buckle, and they believed the vehicle’s three-year warranty was about to expire.

However, the Herald on Sunday reports the car had a two-year certified warranty added to the car’s history electronically, which meant it was covered until March 2025.

The couple said they were not informed about this. The dealership later apologised for the confusion over the expiry date and said there was “no specific customer documentation provided to confirm the March 2025 warranty expiry date”.

Jessica Walker, a Consumer NZ spokeswoman, told the Herald on Sunday the couple are protected under the Consumer Guarantees Act, under which goods must be fit for purpose, acceptable in appearance and finish, free from minor defects, safe and durable.

“Given the ongoing problems with the Mercedes-Benz, it’s clear these guarantees haven’t been met, so the buyer is entitled to a refund, repair or replacement,” explains Walker, pictured.

“However, if the defect can’t be repaired or is substantial, they’re entitled to reject the car and insist on a refund.”