A pair sells their practically new Mercedes-Benz for $135,000 to a vendor at an enormous loss after seat belt issues.

The couple, who purchased a seven-seater Mercedes-Benz for $135,000, felt they’d no selection however to promote it again to the dealership at an enormous loss after persistent seat belt points.

The Dunedin couple, who didn’t want to be named, misplaced a “important sum” and felt they needed to settle for the wholesale provide as a result of the automobile was due for a health warrant, had persistent seatbelt issues and believed their three-year guarantee was about to run out. .

The couple’s 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 400d is equivalent to the Oakland proprietor Mrs. Feng, who has returned the $175,000 Mercedes-Benz to the store 20 occasions in two years.

Feng’s third-row seat seat belt has additionally damaged thrice and is at the moment awaiting restore.

The couple, who’ve 4 kids underneath the age of 8, had been shocked to learn Ms. Feng Fei’s story Herald on Sunday Final week she mentioned it “completely damage us as a result of it was precisely what we went via.”

“We purchased the seven-seater as a result of we had been anticipating our fourth baby however ended up having to drive two vehicles in all places to suit four-seaters.”

The primary two occasions the seatbelt broke, the again seat was unusable till the half arrived about 2 months later. The couple mentioned the third time was the catalyst for promoting the automobile again to the dealership.

The automobile was due for a health warrant and so far as the couple knew their three-year guarantee was about to run out.

They mentioned the half was anticipated to reach after a warrant was to be issued for the automobile.

“We did not need to be caught with a automobile and not using a guarantee, and we could not get a WOF due to the fixed seat belt issues,” mentioned the lady.

The couple purchased the automobile from Armstrong Mercedes-Benz in February 2022. It was traded in and was 18 months previous.

“We acquired residence, folded the again seat and located one of many buttons on the left facet the place I put the seatbelt smashed,” mentioned the lady.

Quick ahead a 12 months and the couple mentioned their seatbelt acquired squashed two extra occasions.

Attempt to determine the reason for the harm and watch the seat go up and down.

On one facet the buckle moved with the seat within the seat belt path however the facet that was broken wouldn’t transfer and was pressed into the folding mechanism.

“It was like steel on a automobile seat.”

The automobile was additionally a part of a Mercedes-Benz recall involving the third row bench seat – the identical third row seat because the damaged buckle.

The recall noticed a minimum of 60,000 SUVs recalled because of a producing defect within the third-row seat-locking mechanism.

A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson mentioned Ms Feng and the Dunedin husband’s vehicles had been inspected as a part of the recall however weren’t defective.

After a 12 months of fixed issues, the Dunedin couple determined to promote the automobile earlier than the guarantee expired.

the Herald on Sunday I’ve since came upon that the automobile had an permitted two-year guarantee that was added to the automobile’s historical past electronically, that means it was lined till March 2025.

The couple mentioned they by no means knew about it and had been even supplied an prolonged guarantee for $1,800 from the company.

A part of the explanation they bought the automobile, they advised the dealership, was as a result of the guarantee was about to run out.

“If we had recognized it was nonetheless lined,” mentioned the lady, “we might not have bought it to the agent so rapidly and at such a loss.”

Armstrong Mercedes-Benz purchased the automobile from the couple at a decrease wholesale worth.

“We do not even need to say what we misplaced as a result of that was exhausting sufficient but it surely was an enormous quantity,” mentioned the lady.

“The subsequent day he was on Commerce Me for $116,000, we completely could not imagine it.”

“Promoting it to them was not an answer, it was an absolute nightmare.”

The couple spoke to a lawyer about their choices however mentioned it was very disturbing and had “robbed us of peace for months”.

“We simply wanted to maneuver on and we additionally wanted cash to purchase one other automobile.”

After the sale, the couple purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser, the identical mannequin because the automobile they’d earlier than Mercedes-Benz.

“It is an eight-seater and we have by no means had a single drawback with it.”

A Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman mentioned the corporate is dedicated to making sure the protection of its prospects and takes compliance very significantly.

“We’re conscious of this buyer’s expertise and every of their points has been addressed and corrected,” mentioned the lady.

“We’ve performed an investigation into separate points these prospects skilled, together with what could have prompted exterior harm to the buckles of the seat belt in query.

“We’re happy that we acted appropriately and in the most effective pursuits of the client, on condition that what occurred to the seat belt buckles was not deemed to end result from any defect in materials or workmanship.

“We will affirm that the automobile continues to be underneath guarantee till February 2025.”

Armstrong Mercedes-Benz Dunedin has apologized to the couple for the confusion over the guarantee expiration date.

The corporate mentioned that “no particular buyer documentation was supplied to verify the March 2025 guarantee expiration date” however as an alternative the two-year guarantee was electronically uploaded to the automobile’s historical past.

The spokesperson mentioned the knowledge supplied “falls in need of the customer support requirements we set ourselves and consequently we’re reviewing a few of our buyer communications”.

Armstrong Mercedes-Benz Dunedin additionally mentioned it had no document of a 3rd breakage in its service historical past.

Nevertheless, the Herald on Sunday I noticed a textual content from the couple to the Armstrongs — dated a month after they mentioned they broke it for the third time — asking when the seatbelt half would arrive.

Jessica Walker, from Client NZ, mentioned Ms Feng and her husband Dunedin are protected underneath the Client Ensures Act. Below this legislation, items, together with motor automobiles, should be match for goal, Acceptable in look and end, free from minor defects, protected and sturdy.

“Given the continuing issues with Mercedes-Benz, it’s clear that these warranties haven’t been honored and due to this fact the purchaser is entitled to a refund, restore or substitute,” Walker mentioned.

“Nevertheless, if the defect is irreparable or giant, they’ve the best to refuse the automobile and demand on a refund.”

Client NZ mentioned that regardless that the automobile was bought to the dealership, the Dunedin couple might nonetheless make a declare in Motor Dispute Tribunal for the distinction between what the vendor paid for the automobile and what they initially paid.