Independent inspections can safeguard car buyers
A Malaysian man is seeking justice after discovering his 'certified pre-owned' vehicle had a history of major structural damage. He is navigating the Consumer Claims Tribunal to resolve the dispute after initial civil court efforts failed.
Why it matters
It highlights the importance of independent vehicle inspections and consumer protection mechanisms in the used car market.
PETALING JAYA: What began as a plan to trade in his continental car for another vehicle turned into an eight‑month battle for justice for Lim Jing Xuan.
A self‑employed father from Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Lim, 35, discovered in July 2025 that a used vehicle he bought in 2020 for RM83,000 had a hidden history of two major accidents, serious chassis damage and extensive structural repairs before it was presented to him at a car dealership in Batu Pahat, Johor, as a “certified pre-owned car”.
Lim discovered the deception when the car, first registered in 2019, was rejected when he offered it at an online used car marketplace to trade in, with the car trading company informing him the reason for the rejection.
“Apparently, under the previous owner, the car’s chassis was also damaged during the accidents. But none of this was ever disclosed to me,” he said.
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