He bought a used SUV from a Volvo dealer.
asserted
He → buy → dealer
He regrets trusting their inspection process
Automobile Protection Association says certified pre-owned vehicles often not inspected
When Ashton-Vitaly Evdosin bought a certified pre-owned Volvo last fall, he trusted it had gone through a rigorous inspection.
asserted
it → regret → inspection
But on the day he drove the SUV home from the dealership, he noticed a clunking noise coming from the rear suspension.
asserted
he → drive → suspension
When he brought it back, a rear shock was leaking.
asserted
shock → bring → it
A few weeks later, the warning light for the parking brake came on.
asserted
light → warn → brake
Evdosin had the 2021 XC60 Recharge towed and the problem was traced to a broken wire.
asserted
problem → have → wire
Most worrying — the check engine light kept coming on.
asserted
light → come → ?
After having the SUV towed and checked over in April, the light switched back on just as he was leaving Volvo Mont-Royal.
asserted
he → have → Royal
He returned it immediately.
asserted
He → return → it
In the year since Ashton-Vitaly Evdosin bought his 2021 Volvo XC60, he estimates he's had it towed four times for various issues.
asserted
it → buy → issues
He was told the electric motor that powers the rear wheels, known as the ERAD, had "catastrophically failed."
asserted
that → tell → ERAD
The repairs took over a month because the dealership was waiting for backordered parts.
asserted
dealership → take → parts
Evdosin said none of the problems he's run into were flagged in the dealership's inspection report.
asserted
he → say → report
He doesn't understand how Volvo could have certified the SUV in the first place.
uncertain
Volvo → understand → place
"What I want Volvo to do is to take accountability and deem this vehicle unfit to be sold, because I don't think they should have let this vehicle out of the dealership," said Evdosin, who is a university student.
asserted
who → want → dealership
What does 'certified' even mean?
asserted
certified → certify → What
A car being advertised as a "certified pre-owned vehicle" means — in theory — it has gone through a detailed inspection at the dealership.
asserted
it → advertise → dealership
"You're given kind of a health check-up on the car," said George Iny, executive director of the Automobile Protection Association.
asserted
Iny → give → Association
The inspection is supposed to spell out what is working on the car, and what needs to be repaired immediately or down the road.
asserted
what → suppose → road
But in some cases, Iny said the inspection is not done.
asserted
inspection → say → cases
"Dealers tell us privately, 'We don't want to do the inspection in case we can't sell the car,'" he said.
asserted
he → tell → car
He’s not surprised Volvo hasn’t cancelled Evdosin's sale.
asserted
Volvo → ’ → sale
"The car would practically have to implode before they would consider taking one back," said Iny.
asserted
Iny → have → one
Depending on the manufacturer, certified pre-owned cars are typically less than five years old.
asserted
cars → depend → manufacturer
In Quebec, Iny said an auto dealer has to provide a mandatory full-coverage warranty on the vehicle for either one, three or six months after the sale, for all vehicles with less than seven years or 120,000 km.
asserted
dealer → say → years
Iny said franchised dealers also offer warranty coverage that goes beyond the legal warranty, usually for six months to two years after the sale, depending on how much the dealer or consumer pays.
asserted
dealer → say → much
Jesse Caron, who is an automotive expert at CAA Quebec, says this cost isn’t always included in the advertised price, and can cost the consumer up to $2,000, depending on the car.
asserted
cost → say → car
He recommends consumers ask for the dealership's inspection report and get a CARFAX, which tracks past accidents, ownership changes and the service record.
asserted
which → recommend → accidents
Caron encourages people to get a second opinion and have the vehicle checked over by another mechanic.
asserted
vehicle → encourage → mechanic
If previously undetected problems are found or the suggested repairs can be done cheaper elsewhere, the consumer can see if the dealership is willing to lower the price.
uncertain
dealership → find → price
Owner wants sale cancelled
asserted
sale → want → ?
Evdosin did not get an independent inspection done on his vehicle.
asserted
inspection → get → vehicle
He said the fact the car was certified by the dealership gave him a false sense of security.
asserted
car → say → security
After he complained to Volvo, the company offered him nearly $1,800 — equivalent to about three monthly vehicle payments.
asserted
company → complain → payments
Evdosin bought the SUV for $50,000.
asserted
Evdosin → buy → 50,000
Evdosin declined the offer and sent the company a legal demand letter.
asserted
Evdosin → decline → letter
His complaint was escalated to Volvo's legal department for review.
asserted
complaint → escalate → review
He hasn't heard from them since July.
asserted
He → hear → July
After the manufacturer's warranty expired a few months ago, he had to use his extended warranty to repair both hydraulic struts when the tailgate stopped opening.
asserted
tailgate → expire → struts
"They said it was a wiring issue," said Evdosin.
asserted
Evdosin → say → ?
…and 32 more, not listed.
The Aporia
