An inspector and a car dealer have been left in a bind after a case about a rusty Subaru ended up in the Norwegian Consumer Complaints Board.
An inspector approved a Subaru that was so rusty that it was illegal to drive. "New inspection" is a word that often appears in car advertisements. In other words, as a kind of seal of quality.
But today, just because a car has been inspected is not a guarantee of anything. And certainly not a flawless car. Several cases of car inspection fraud have come to light in recent years.
Most recently, an 18-year-old Subaru Forester with extensive rust damage was sold by a used car dealer.
This is what Motor.no writes based on the complaint case.
In the ad, the dealer described the car as "well-maintained and beautiful" with "complete service history from a brand dealer."
A man from Trondheim bought the car, which had just 114,000 kilometers, for 57,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately 38,000 Danish kroner).
Three months after the purchase, and four months after the inspection, the car was examined at a workshop. Pictures revealed extensive rust in the older Japanese car.
– This rust damage would definitely have led to us not approving the car. This is extensive rust damage, the car repair shop said.
The Subaru was later examined by a brand dealer, who concluded that the car was "totally kaput at the rear". Neither the brand workshop nor the first workshop understood how an inspector could have approved the car with the extensive rust damage.
In a report, the first repair shop described the rust damage as severe. The repair would cost more than the car was worth. In fact, the owner was advised to scrap it altogether.
The used car dealer, Forus Bil in Sandnes, acknowledged that the rust was not good. Still, the dealer believed that the car should be saved. Or at least that an attempt should be made.
When Kober wanted to pick up the car again, he was told that the rust damage was too extensive and could not be repaired.
It is unknown which inspector approved the Subaru with the rust damage. When the inspection was carried out, the car was owned by Subaru dealer Hellesto Bilpaviljongen.
The buyer complained about the car purchase to the Consumer Complaints Board and was successful. The car purchase was cancelled, and Forus Bil had to repay the purchase price with interest. The Consumer Complaints Board referred to the garages' statements and pointed out that rust damage occurs over time.
Forus Bil explained that they sold the car in the belief that it did not have extensive rust damage. Shortly before Christmas, the car dealer paid back the purchase price, which amounted to 38,000 Danish kroner. The story does not say whether the driver has since bought another Subaru.
