Consumer Law and Faulty Car Part DCCD Control Unit out of Warranty

penguincat on 27/02/2021 - 01:22

Hello

I am wondering what consumer laws exist when buying a 2nd hand car from a dealer.

The person I live with bought a Subaru WRX STI Premium 2014 MY2015 in 2017 from Keystar Subaru with around 18,000kms.
It has a faulty part on it from the factory which doesn't get replaced during any servicing.
The part in question is called a DCCD control unit. Which is a part that detects faults and issues with tires as well as operates the AWD system.

The DCCD control unit in the car is "too sensitive" causing the car to enter 'protection mode' making it front wheel drive only.
With a notice in the manual: When the AWD light flashes safely pull over call a flatbed tow truck. Do not to drive and take it to a dealership for inspection.

The car's owner has taken to the tire fitters (Bob Jane) on multiple occasions for checking and rechecking balancing etc. Always got nope it's perfect. All inflated the same all perfectly balanced.
Also have taken it to Subaru dealerships for them to look at. Subaru claim "nothing is wrong" and where charged $180 for the privilege.

https://uk.subaruownersclub.com/forums/topic/23044-awd-warni…
It only ever appears after the tires are changed from the factory ones and only ever in some of the affected Manufacturer Year 2015.

Subaru Australia haven't exactly cared to replace the DCCD unit even when the car's owner has offered to pay. Which I'm not really all that sure that they should have too? As this should be a consumer law thing isn't it or are cars completely different when it comes to known problems?
When they bought the car they where given the original balance of warranty ~2 months and a extra year for a $44,500 car so has expired.
If there is a known fault from all around the world does it have a consumer protection guarantee?
The car only has only done around 33,000kms. So it isn't exactly a car that has driven to the moon and declared end of service life.

Is this a thing for fair trading? QCAT? Or just find some other business that can be bothered to replace it?
Since Subaru don't appear to actually care.

Thank you :)

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Comments

  • MrHyde on 27/02/2021 - 06:29
    +3

    Under the ACL, used cars less than 10 years old and 160k on the odometer must have statutory warranty of 3 months or 5000 Kms.

    Looks like you were provided with that and that time has elapsed.

    Your path of least resistance might be to get the unit replaced by an independent motor mechanic

  • JimmyF on 27/02/2021 - 08:47
    +1

    It has a faulty part on it from the factory which doesn't get replaced during any servicing.

    So 2nd owner on a 7 year old car purchased 4 years ago? Sorry no consumer rights for you. Your 2nd hand dealer warranty rights are well and truly gone.

    Just because it's a not a serviced part, doesn't mean it will work forever. The car is 7 years old, time to pay for a repair.

    It only ever appears after the tires are changed from the factory ones and only ever in some of the affected Manufacturer Year 2015.

    Have you taken each tyre off and measured tyre circumference to confirm they are the same? You might have a out of whack tyre.

    • solidussnake on 27/02/2021 - 10:24

      They still have statutory warranty after the manufacturer warranty has passed.. for cars electronics TVs etc..

      • JimmyF on 27/02/2021 - 12:27
        +1

        They still have statutory warranty

        On a used car, that has come and gone

        https://www.qld.gov.au/law/your-rights/consumer-rights-compl…

        The car is now 7 years old and the fault is only just popping up.So doesn't sound like a issue out of the factory, as its been happily working for 7 years.

        The OP googled and found some issues a long time ago in another country relating to tyres being changed.

        It only ever appears after the tires are changed from the factory ones and only ever in some of the affected Manufacturer Year 2015.

        So is it really a 'fault' with the car or a issue with the tyres? If Australian cars received these same units as the UK, then you would have many more cases of this issue by now.

        If its a one off issue, then that is just a part that failed and its part of the joys of owning a car.

        OP needs to confirm the circumference of THEIR tyres. Maybe they have a odd one which is throwing up the error..

        Also have taken it to Subaru dealerships for them to look at. Subaru claim "nothing is wrong" and where charged $180 for the privilege.

        Did this fault only start when the tyres had been replaced? If so, then what Subaru said is most likely true. No fault with unit, maybe the incorrect tyre sizes fitted?

        OP What did Subaru say the error was that caused the light to flick on?

        The fact that the dealer doesn't want to replace the unit when the OP is paying, is a sign that they don't really think this is the issue. So wondering what they say is the fault.

        What will you do OP if you replace the unit an the issue is still there? Then what?

        • penguincat on 01/03/2021 - 14:42

          Sorry for the wait. :)

          OP What did Subaru say the error was that caused the light to flick on?

          All they did after 6 hours was say "no error codes found" "we where unable to recreate the fault." "Your car isn't a MY2015* so this notice wasn't applicable to you."
          Nothing about well only North America and UK cars where only affected. As Oceania cars where made elsewhere (which they where). Only just an outright lie that the car wasn't that MY.

          Did this fault only start when the tyres had been replaced?

          Yep which was June 2019 which was when the issue first appeared.
          The WRX STI was just considered the fun weekend car until only recently. As the main car has had a stuffed radiator and sump plug issue. So the Subaru got promoted to daily car.
          That's why it only has 33,000kms on it after 6.5 years.

          OP needs to confirm the circumference of THEIR tyres.

          Done done done.
          It's been done back in 2019 and 2020 by Bob Jane and 2021 by Subaru.
          Bob Jane discovered in 2019 very early on that one tire was larger due to it being inflated more by 3psi but corrected it but the AWD light issue never went away.

          Subaru In January mentioned something about (tire rolling diameter?) being out by 1/6th of a inch but the tolerance is meant to be much more then that. But other then that they all passed their respective tests and requirements. Hence the we found nothing wrong.

          What will you do OP if you replace the unit an the issue is still there? Then what?

          The car's owner has suggested they would.
          Buy another set of tires earlier then planned. Even though Subaru have given them a pass.
          Buy a custom DCCD kit and change it over. Convert it to rear wheel drive only.
          Sell it buy something else or just buy a roll of tape to cover the light.
          Possibilities are endless. :)

          I just find it strange that there is zero videos or reported problems for AWD error lights in MY2014 or MY2016. Also strange that no one ever said yep got the replacement sensors and issue has gone/didn't help or yes new tires helped. Just I haven't gotten any help from the dealership.
          Seeing as the problem didn't exist then existed then went away in the space of 3 MYs. Does seem like it's something on the car from the factory vs a bunch off faulty tires.
          The supposedly faulty sensors where for early MY2015 only car was made in July 2014.

  • SF3 on 27/02/2021 - 09:07

    If there is a known fault from all around the world

    If that is that case, it should be a recall from the manufacturer. However manufacturers are not known to be proactive on this unless something severe happens…

    Wait for a DCCD-gate.

  • solidussnake on 27/02/2021 - 10:23

    Write to Subaru head office and quote consumer Law and what's wrong with it provide pictures or even drive it to the stealership with the error message, I've seen Holden captiva 2012 models still get fixed under warranty as the end of this year (full transmission replacement etc) regardless if it's the second or third owner they just have to get authorisation from head office if they refuse you can take them to small claims court

  • [Deactivated] on 27/02/2021 - 15:21

    What size rim + tyre re running on the STi?

    • penguincat on 27/02/2021 - 17:24

      Stock rims and Michelin pilot sport 4 245/40r18.

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