car dealer problems NEED ADVISE!

bargaingirl

Basically 2 years ago bought a car which was 11 months old and cost £15,500, within 2 weeks we noticed mechanical issues air con didnt work and parking sensors were broken, these were fixed but when we tried the cruise control we found that to be faulty too!Set it at 60mph and it excellerated to 95mph and it would not switch off it was fixed but same problem reaccurred 8 months later (we now dont use the cruise control). The air con has failed 3 more times, the battery need replacing as did the key fob twice! the air con has failed so badly now that it needs to be totally repalced this is estimated at £3000. Ford head office suggested that we go back to the dealer and reject the car as it has had so many problems, I have quoted the sale of goods act and consumer regulations but they aren't listening, trading standards are aware but cannot intervene as it is a civil matter and not criminal. We have no confidence in the car and had we been aware of our rights earlier we would have acted sooner

Can anyone help cant afford solicitors!!!!

jonesMUFCforever

I have quoted the sale of goods act and consumer regulations but they aren't listening, trading standards are aware but cannot intervene as it is a civil matter and not criminal.

This is unbelievable IMO
I would contact CAB and get a second opinion about what trading standards have told you.
Do you have legal assistance either with your motor or home insurance? If you do it might be worth ringing them to see where you stand and a letter from a firm of solicitors might make them sit up and take notice.

jobbingmusician

Reject the car! I am by no means a car expert but read Honest John on the Saturday Telegraph. Look on http://www.expat.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?menuId=2776&menuItemId=-1&view=DISPLAYCONTENT&grid=P8&targetRule= and see if you can find anything about rejecting cars - or email him. But do it quick - I don't know the time limits on this but would imagine it's a lot easier if you do it within a year of purchase, than just after a year.....

Good luck........

$17mma

bargaingirl wrote:

Basically 2 years ago bought a car which was 11 months old and cost £15,500, within 2 weeks we noticed mechanical issues air con didnt work and parking sensors were broken, these were fixed but when we tried the cruise control we found that to be faulty too!Set it at 60mph and it excellerated to 95mph and it would not switch off it was fixed but same problem reaccurred 8 months later (we now dont use the cruise control). The air con has failed 3 more times, the battery need replacing as did the key fob twice! the air con has failed so badly now that it needs to be totally repalced this is estimated at £3000. Ford head office suggested that we go back to the dealer and reject the car as it has had so many problems, I have quoted the sale of goods act and consumer regulations but they aren't listening, trading standards are aware but cannot intervene as it is a civil matter and not criminal. We have no confidence in the car and had we been aware of our rights earlier we would have acted sooner

Can anyone help cant afford solicitors!!!!

You are aware that the dealership may pass the buck to the manufacturer and the manufacturer has no obligation to repair or replce your car as their sale of contract is with the dealership and not you....

I advise you to write to the Department of Manufactuerers and Motorists ( cant remember their full name) the are a government agency set up to protect consumers from this type of thing and all manufacturers and dealerships are answerable to these people, they can fine manufacturers and close down dealerships :eek: . They will investigate on your behalf and believe me when your vehicle manufacturer gets a letter from them they will stand up and take notice!

It will be a long journey to getting your car replaced ( if you are lucky) a clause that most manufacturers use is "we will repair your car" this could take yrs.. I had a case that was going on for 2yrs until the manufactuerer i was working for finally decided to replace it. They would rather spend thousands of pounds, more than what the car is worth repairing it rather than replacing it ( bad for brand)

Ford are right as you are not directly their customer they need you to reject the car with the dlr before they can intervene and write to Ford stating that you have done this.. forget the phone calls and put everything in writing and make sure you CC the dlr Principle. We had to advise customs to do this all the time for legal reasons..

Will see if i can remember that Gov agency and get back to you.

bargaingirl

thanks for all your advise, I have written 5 times to dealer!!Will certainly contact dept of manufacturers.

Legal cover on house insurance doesn't cover Contract disputes TYPICAL!!

$17mma

SMMT!!!

Society of Motorists Manufacturers and Traders!!!!! I think....
good luck...

UK_Doug

Which Dealership was it?

UK_Doug

A few things to cover for you. Firstly if all the repairs you had done were at a the same ford dealership then they are liable for those repairs and there is a warrenty associated with that. Within the first three years some of the problems are under warrenty. though not many by the third year.
If you bought the car through Ford direct then it comes witha two year warrenty for repair but if the faults have reoccured then they should still be covered.

Firstly i assume you have contaced the FORD directly, who are not directly responsible. They have sold the car to a dealer and is the dealer who is reponisible, outside of warrenty issues. However there is a "reasonableness" accociated with that too and they will help eventually, but you are still better off going through the dealer.
You can als ogo to a different dealer to get the car checked and for advice and to" dish the dirt" explain what happened and they will advice you if they can.

I had a dispute with a the largest Ford dealership Dagenham motors. They are owned by Polar Motor Group. If you dont feel that the dealership is helping ask which group they belong too. The way i dealt with it was to phone the Group's head office and ask to speak to their regional director for dealerships. Explain what has happened to him and ask him to resolve it. If you dont feel conftable with that then write a letter to the Director of that group. One i had it on a regional level things moved much better.

If they have stated in writing anything illegal then you can also go back to ford with this. Lastly after trying the dealer's group again phone up Ford head office and ask to speak to the director of dealer operations. Though that is a very long way round to go.

MarkyMarkD

$17mma wrote:

SMMT!!!

Society of Motorists Manufacturers and Traders!!!!! I think....
good luck...

SMMT are not a government body set up to help the public, but the opposite - a manufacturers' and dealers' organisation who aren't going to help you at all.

bargaingirl

UK Doug

The dealership is CD Brammals. Ford head office have offered to pay 75% towards the costs(that is not the point though why should i fork out anything for an on going issue) also if the car is that unrelaible then who is to say something else is not going to go wrong and I would not feel comfortable selling the car on knowing that it has had that many problems

MarkymarkD yep i found that out yesterday when I called thier help line number, but they did have some useful info on how to complain but I have done all that, I am going to compose another letter on Monday but I know they will just fob me off again!

tonys_3

If you are a member of the AA or RAC,they have legal departmentsthat will give you free advice over the phone.Failing that try Citizens Advice that will also give you free advice as to how to proceed.