Problems with new car - Final fee due. Options?

SJ08

Hi All,

In April 09 we bought a new car on finance and the final payment of £4k is due this April.

We've had a few problems with it and twice had the petrol leaking into the car, which Ford have fixed both times as it's still under warranty, but we are now very concisous on taking the car on long journeys as when it happens it fills the car with a petrol smell and makes you very faint - not ideal going down the M1!

When we talk to Ford in April our ideal option is to change the car (same model) but if they don't allow us can we re-negotiate the final fee due?

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Any advice and options much appreciated.

forgotmyname

Take it back and tell them to fix it properly.

Shocked you had waited so long to get a fix.

Inactive

forgotmyname wrote: »

Take it back and tell them to fix it properly.

Shocked you had waited so long to get a fix.

Agreed, it's a good job that you don't smoke, petrol fumes are highly volatile.

Kilty_2

.... so they've fixed it but you don't believe they have?

victor2

The financing is completely separate from the car itself. I don't believe you can use that as any form of leverage. But, if there is a problem with the car it should be sorted under warranty. In my experience, Ford have been very good with warranty work. Tell your dealer it needs sorting and you need a courtesy car while it's done. The main difficulty could be demonstrating the problem unless you can recreate it. Make sure they know you still have the problem. When it next occurs, take the car to the nearest Ford dealer you can find and get them to see the problem and verify it exists, so you have some proof from another party.

SJ08

forgotmyname wrote: »

Take it back and tell them to fix it properly.

Shocked you had waited so long to get a fix.

Apologies if my post wasn't clear. We have twice had petrol leaking into the car and both times we've taken it back to get it fixed immediately.

I asked them the first time to fix it properly yet it happened again, this is why I wondered if we were entitled to change the car?

SJ08

Kilty wrote: »

.... so they've fixed it but you don't believe they have?

Yes, exactly. They said the first time it was a one-off and it's fixed, but it happened again. They have fixed it again but what's stopping it from happening again.

Inactive

SJ08 wrote: »

Yes, exactly. They said the first time it was a one-off and it's fixed, but it happened again. They have fixed it again but what's stopping it from happening again.

There is nothing to stop it from happening again, but there is also nothing to stop it happening in any car.

SJ08

victor2 wrote: »

The financing is completely separate from the car itself. I don't believe you can use that as any form of leverage. But, if there is a problem with the car it should be sorted under warranty. In my experience, Ford have been very good with warranty work. Tell your dealer it needs sorting and you need a courtesy car while it's done. The main difficulty could be demonstrating the problem unless you can recreate it. Make sure they know you still have the problem. When it next occurs, take the car to the nearest Ford dealer you can find and get them to see the problem and verify it exists, so you have some proof from another party.

Thanks victor2. My experience with Ford's warranty work is good too, except for this issue.

They are aware of the issue because we've taken it back to our local dealer twice to fix.

bigjl

You have two options, keep the car, pay the final balance and make sure they fix it.

Or you can trade it in and get a new car that doesn't have this problem.


What would you have done if the car didn't have this problem?


When you say petrol was leaking into the car, do you mean the smell of petrol or actual petrol, if so how did the petrol leak in and from where?


The fact that the car had a warranty claim doesn't make any difference to you trading the car in, but it may not be sensible to try and negotiate the final payment when they may just offer you less for the car as you say it has a major safety issue.


As has been said the finance company aren't really interested in the fault, they want their money, you are in a contract, so if you where going to trade in then do so, I don't think there is any way of getting a financial benefit from having a car that has had a petrol smell in the cabin twice in two years. The situation would be wifferent if it still smelt of petrol, but you say they have fixed it.

forgotmyname

Cant see petrol leaking into the car, The lines dont usually run through the cars, They all run underneath
with sealed ventilation systems.

Possibly a vent pipe. Easily fixed but harder to trace, I guess its harder these days as you cannot send in a
trainee with a match/lighter. H&S gone mad? lol