Volvo owner discovers undisclosed accident history of used car purchased in Tampere

A Volvo purchased for €53,000 by Marko Santanen from Tampere turned out to be a previously damaged vehicle, a fact he discovered by coincidence. Santanen acquired the car used from a Finnish dealership in 2021, and it had been imported from Germany. After purchasing, repairs were made to the car’s charging device, which unexpectedly revealed that the vehicle’s computer memory contained references to an accident.

He later sought further information through the CarVertical service, which compiles vehicle history from insurance companies across various countries. The report confirmed the car had been severely damaged in a crash. It appears that the vehicle was initially registered in Belgium before being transported to Poland, where repairs likely took place, and subsequently registered in Germany before being sold as a “German car” in Finland. The dealership failed to disclose the vehicle’s accident history.

Due to the crash, the warranty for the battery and bodywork has lapsed, which is a significant issue considering that Santanen owns a costly hybrid vehicle. He is now demanding a return of the purchase.

Incidents involving used cars and undisclosed accidents are on the rise. The number of disputes reported to the Consumer Disputes Board has tripled since 2010, often concerning mechanical issues or undisclosed accident repairs. The increase is attributed to various factors, including online car purchases and increasingly complex technology.

Consumer advocates emphasize that sellers should disclose accidents, and while it is not mandatory to mention accident history in advertisements, buyers should receive this information prior to finalizing any deal.