In a recent decision by the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal, a used car dealer was ordered to cover the full cost of replacing a compressor in a customer’s hybrid car. Tribunal president Hafez Zalkapli emphasised that it is the dealer’s duty to ensure the used cars they sell are in good working condition.
According to The Star, the claimant, N. Kalaivane, was awarded RM7,500, which the dealer must pay directly to a workshop in Taman Daya, Johor Baru, for the compressor replacement and associated services.
Kalaivane and her husband had purchased a German-brand hybrid car from a dealer in Kajang, Selangor, in February 2024. Despite the dealer’s promise to service the car before delivery, the air-conditioning system failed shortly after she returned to Johor Baru.
After struggling to get the dealer to address the issue and several failed attempts to have the car repaired locally, Kalaivane had no choice but to bring the case to the Tribunal.
The tribunal’s ruling brings a resolution to her complaints, setting a precedent that dealers must be held accountable for the condition of the cars they sell.
