Running a business making vegan desserts, Pushkar Gogia needs a refrigerated van to distribute his goods across Melbourne.
He spent around $24,000 to buy a second-hand vehicle from Automax in 2020.
Mr Gogia said within three months the engine "was totally kaput".
"We're delivering to our customers, and the van just sort of died," he said.
"We were absolutely devastated."
Mr Gogia initially complained to the dealer Automax but said there was no response.