KUALA LUMPUR: The National Consumer Complaint Centre (NCCC) has received thousands of complaints about second-hand vehicles, including engine damage and water leakages that cause coolant fluid to mix with engine oil.
As a result, the vehicle's engine needs to be replaced at a high cost, but second-hand car sellers refuse to take responsibility for the damage.
NCCC senior manager Saral James Maniam said these were common complaints from victims who had purchased problematic cars.
As a partner of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca), the centre helps consumers resolve issues by acting as intermediaries between consumers and traders.
"Not only do buyers end up with 'defective' vehicles, but some victims purchase cars that were previously involved in serious accidents or have tampered odometers showing lower mileage," she said in a Metro Ahad report.
"Victims feel cheated when they are forced to bear repair costs. Their claims are often ignored by the sellers."
Saral added that victims are often confused about how to resolve these situations.
"Is remaining silent or sharing the issue on social media enough to solve this? There are steps that can be taken to address fraud in vehicle sales," she said.
She explained that consumers who are deceived after purchasing a used car have the right to accurate information about the vehicle's condition, including accident history, actual mileage, and maintenance records.
"If the seller provided false or inaccurate information, victims can file a compensation claim.
"Claims can be made at the Tribunal for Consumer Claims, where the claim limit has been raised from RM20,000 to RM50,000."
Saral also advised consumers to check the vehicle's history using local apps and to take the car to a trusted workshop for a thorough inspection before making a purchase.
One common tactic used by some sellers is to conceal the vehicle's history, including accidents or serious damage, from potential buyers.
To make these fraudulent tactics harder to detect, sellers alter original vehicle information, including accident history, mileage, and maintenance records.
This dishonesty is the main reason many second-hand car buyers end up deceived when their vehicles experience various damages and mechanical issues.
A used car seller, who wished to remain anonymous, said many individuals fall victim to second-hand car scams due to a lack of caution.
"The most common fraud involves the vehicle's mileage or odometer reading. Some sellers tamper with the odometer to make it appear the car has been used less or has lower mileage.
"We often hear salespeople claim the car was owned by a woman and rarely used for long trips."
He explained that buying such cars is risky and could lead to frequent malfunctions and rapid deterioration.
"As a result, buyers may end up spending more on repairs, regretting their decision to purchase a car that was extensively used by its previous owner.
"In general, the higher the mileage, the lower the resale value of a vehicle. It's best to ensure the mileage is not too high and is within a reasonable range."
He also noted that used car buyers often face high repair costs just a few months after purchase.
"An odometer may show less than 70,000 km, but a further inspection may reveal it's closer to 200,000 km. No wonder the car breaks down often," he said.
Another common fraud is selling second-hand vehicles at unusually low prices.
"This tactic lures buyers without them realising the car has been in a serious accident or has had multiple previous owners," he said.
He emphasised the importance of thoroughly inspecting both the exterior and interior of the vehicle, looking for any damages or defects.
Most importantly, he advised checking the condition of the vehicle's engine.
"If you're unsure, bring a mechanic to inspect the engine and avoid being deceived.
"Also check the vehicle's basic equipment like wipers, turn signals, headlights, tail lights, high beams, brakes, horn, air conditioning, radio, seat belts, spare tyre, and glove compartment," he added.