Help do I have a case against Citroen!!

nikkimabs

Hi
I was wondering if anyone out there could help me....19months ago we bought a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso from Citroen Slough, since we bought the car it has not done excessive mileage it is still under 32000 and the car is an 07 plate. But already we have had to pay out over £1500 in repairs - water pump and cam belt replaced, all 4 tyres replaced within 3 weeks of having the car, exhaust replaced, boot lock replaced (as boot kept opening while driving).
The last straw has come this weekend when we have found out the head gasket has gone!!
We can't afford to replace the car as we have negative equity in it...
Does anyone know what i can do, I have tried Consumer Direct and Trading Standards both of whom keep pushing me towards Citroen and nobody really wants to help!!!

passatrider

If you bought the car on finance then you may have some redress through the finance company - not sure but someone will be along shortly with some info hopefully.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Cam belt and water pump are changed on mileage/age so he you'd done your homework first you'd have known they needed changing. Why didn't you check the tyres when you bought it?

Strider590

All that stuff shouldn't go wrong on a car that age/mileage.....

Importantly, where was this work done?

It sounds me like if this work was genuinely needed, then car has not been serviced correctly and at suitable intervals, head gasket failures at 32k are rare even on a Rover/MG......

If the service book was full of stamps, I'd suspect foul play on behalf of the garage (eg stamping the service book to create a false service history). ESPECIALLY if the stamps are for a garage MILES away from the previous owners.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Tyres within 3 weeks, did you inspect the car at all?

Water pump and cam belt...not due so prsumably the water pump failed and the fixing garage replaced the cambelt at the same time...correct?

Head gasket... when the water pump failed did you let the car overheat?, result CHG failure.

Complete? xhaust needing replacement does sound unusual for Citroen, what's the story there?

The only real failures i see so far are the water pump and and rear lock, the water pump must have gone only just out of warranty, did you ask Citroen for a contribution?...not as they ever stand by their product once the warranty expires but it never hurts to ask.

A bit more explanation needed to make sensible judgements..

blue_haddock

nikkimabs wrote: »

Hi
But already we have had to pay out over £1500 in repairs - water pump and cam belt replaced

May not be due on mileage but quite possibly due on age

nikkimabs wrote: »

all 4 tyres replaced within 3 weeks of having the car

Did you not inspect them for condition prior to purchasing the vehicle?

nikkimabs wrote: »

exhaust replaced

Whilst not a service item they do only have a limited life span which can be reduced by the vehicle only doing short journeys

nikkimabs wrote: »

boot lock replaced (as boot kept opening while driving).

Vehicle is out of warranty and some things will require repair/replacement once a vehicle is 5 years old.

nikkimabs wrote: »

The last straw has
come this weekend when we have found out the head gasket has gone!!

See above - things can and do go wrong on cars. If you want worry free motoring buy a brand new car with a warranty

nikkimabs wrote: »

We can't afford to replace the car as we have negative equity in it...
Does anyone know what i can do, I have tried Consumer Direct and Trading Standards both of whom keep pushing me towards Citroen and nobody really wants to help!!!

Just because you have negative equity in the vehicle does not mean it is a case for trading standard - i have read nothing in your post that would make the car a lemon, its merely a 5 year old vehicle that requires maintenance just like all cars do.

This is why trading standards have pointed you back to the manufacturer and why citroen have no interest in helping out. The vehicle is out of warranty and so you are liable for the maintenance and repair of the vehicle.

nikkimabs

The car was bought from the Citroen Head Office in Slough and was checked by themselves before it was bought by us...we where given the service history but only after me chasing them for it for 8months and in that time the brand new tyres that had been put on the car had gone wrong (not covered under warranty) a rear seat wouldn't collapse (fixed under warranty and has now gone wrong again!!) the boot lock wouldn't stay shut when driving (not covered under warranty).
It was then just after warranty that the major problems started with the water pump etc....all repairs where carried out at Citroen dealerships with genuine parts.
I have no problems in accepting maintance on a car, but the latest mechanic admitted himself that the car shouldn't have had this many problems at this age....the car is well looked after and serviced regularly.
It is now the fact that Citroen are now saying that parts they replaced to fix problems in the past 6months aren't under any warranty so they have to be replaced again!!!
As for buying a new car, if i could afford it I would!!

blue_haddock

nikkimabs wrote: »

the latest mechanic admitted himself that the car shouldn't have had this many problems at this age....the car is well looked after and serviced regularly.

Ever heard of a friday afternoon car?

fonzy8

As earlier poster said, if bought under finance there may be some comeback through finance company you can get. Not sure if you used credit card for initial buy - but with the number of problems you had early on after buying - check whether you can back claim any section 75 credit card protection as goods didnt seem fit for purpose! Citroen unlikely to help as you have been recommended, since car is second hand. Good luck!! Keep us posted on any comeback since you've got me a bit worried now as I've just bought a lowish mileage car about the same age :-(

Whatever previous emails say when a used car is bought these days cars can go wrong unexpectedly! You can do your best to get things fixed quickly, but there may be inherent faults that arent found whether mechanically minded or not. And its pretty much down to the electronics (those diagnostic machines) that tell the mechanics what to do in dealerships! Local garages generally check parts so some undiagnosed problems may be uncovered.... If you havent done so far, try an independent garage.

As you bought a Citroen from a Citroen dealer, I am surprised the quality of what you got and the warranty was that bad - they've just ruined their reputation. The last Citroen I bought in 2003 is still going strong, but had a couple of issues in the first few months which the dealer fixed, but the dealer went bust in 2007 or so. Whether that was because cars were bad or he was just too helpful I dont know...

nikkimabs

I have looked online at other forums and have found that the here seem to be a number of 07 plate cars the same as mines having the exact same problems. They have decided not to take it any further as they have been hitting a brick wall with Citroen...
Unfortunately, i don't have a credit card and used my Visa Electron to pay the initial deposit for the car

passatrider

nikkimabs wrote: »

I have looked online at other forums and have found that the here seem to be a number of 07 plate cars the same as mines having the exact same problems. They have decided not to take it any further as they have been hitting a brick wall with Citroen...
Unfortunately, i don't have a credit card and used my Visa Electron to pay the initial deposit for the car

If you payed by Visa debit card then you may have some comeback under the Visa Chargeback scheme. Google it for info as I have to go out now.

Good Luck!