Used-car dealers unlikely to accept flood-damaged vehicles, says group

 

Several cars were submerged in floodwaters as high as 2m in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Most used-car dealers are unlikely to accept vehicles damaged by floods, even at reduced prices, said a motor vehicle association.

The Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association Malaysia (FMCCAM), which consists of independent motor vehicle dealers, said many owners will attempt to sell their cars damaged by the recent floods in Kuala Lumpur, but they would face reluctance from dealerships.

“Car owners will attempt to sell off their vehicles, as was the case when Taman Sri Muda and other parts of the country were badly affected by the floods last year.

“But dealerships are thorough in their inspection and will know if a car is flood-damaged. Most will not accept the vehicle as it will be more trouble than its worth,” FMCCAM’s Federal Territories and Selangor branch vice-president Lim Keat Hin said.

He told FMT the cost of repairs for such cars varied based on their year, make and model, but it could easily amount to more than RM10,000 for older vehicles and up to RM80,000 for higher-end cars.

Even if the cars were to be repaired, dealerships would still be wary of issues persisting down the line, he said, adding that dealers did not want unsatisfied customers who had been sold “problem cars”.

Several areas in Kuala Lumpur had been hit by flash floods on Monday, including Jalan Kuchai Lama, Jalan Air Keroh-Air Panas in Setapak, Jalan Leboh Ampang, Taman Salak Selatan and Taman U-Thant along Jalan Ampang.

In Jalan Kuchai Lama alone, the fire and rescue department said floodwaters were as high as 2m and that an estimated 12 cars had been submerged.

Meanwhile, Shyan Wong, the owner of a workshop in Petaling Jaya, said she was hesitant about accepting flood-damaged cars for repair.

“When it comes to flood-damaged cars, there is a lot of uncertainty over the electronic parts and the engine control unit,” she said.

“We may need to wait for parts and if there are none, would owners be willing to leave their cars in workshops for such a long time?”

Wong said it was a risk for workshops to accept such cars for repairs because it came with a level of liability.

“More issues are likely to arise during the repair process, which will only increase the bill,” she said. - FMT