New Ford Fiesta no wheels

Sterlingtimes

My son slid in his new Ford Fiesta six weeks ago on the ice and hit a concrete post. The car has been repaired under his insurance but the wheel was "condemned".

Now Ford is absolutely unable to source a new wheel. Solus (Aviva-owned) told us it may take weeks to source a wheel.

My son wants to know whether he has any legal recourse to Ford where they are totally unable to provide a new wheel and cannot schedule a replacement. This behaviour surely leaves the car purchaser vulnerable. It's a poor advert for buying a new Ford. I have spoken to Ford directly who confirm the story that no wheels are available in Europe.

worried_jim

Knock yourself out-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xford+fiesta+wheels.TRS0&_nkw=ford+fiesta+wheels&_sacat=0

lammy82

No, manufacturers are not legally required to provide spare parts for their vehicles. You are right that scarcity of parts does not give a good impression for prospective buyers, but this is not a legal matter.

KeithP

Look at it another way...

Your son has three nearly new wheels which are as rare as hen's teeth.

Sounds like a marketable commodity to me.

neilmcl

What model of Fiesta is it, are these wheels a special option?

stuartJo1989

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

My son slid in his new Ford Fiesta six weeks ago on the ice and hit a concrete post.

I like to tackle the root problem by suggesting that your son reads this.

I sort of get the feeling that a new tire would not be required if he had done so

marlot

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

...Now Ford is absolutely unable to source a new wheel. Solus (Aviva-owned) told us it may take weeks to source a wheel...

Wow. THat's rough.

Maybe suggest to Solus that they fit a steel wheel as a temporary measure to get the car on the road, and swap it when the alloy comes in to stock?

agrinnall

I am going to "get trigger happy" on you as I think in most cases a slide on ice is unlikely to be due to to negligence (lack of skill, yes, not having winter tyres, possibly, but that's not negligent).

stuartJo1989 wrote: »

...the very likely possibility that OP's son was negligent.

shaun_from_Africa

stuartJo1989 wrote: »

(before people get trigger happy, I am raising a valid point in that the whole situation arose due to the very likely possibility that OP's son was negligent.

The law may have a different view.
https://www.digbybrown.co.uk/solicitors/clients/defender-successful-with-a-black-ice-defence

stuartJo1989

agrinnall wrote: »

I am going to "get trigger happy" on you as I think in most cases a slide on ice is unlikely to be due to to negligence (lack of skill, yes, not having winter tyres, possibly, but that's not negligent).

Well, driving in icy conditions is going against the Highway Code (hence why I posted it). More so if you know that you lack skill. So yea, I'd argue that negligence can play a bit part in crashing when driving in icy conditions*

*That being said, Shaun's link is very insightful RE: black ice and potentially debunks my whole "res ipsa loquitur" doctrine. So with that in mind I apologise to the OP for my earlier posts, as it may not have been applicable here.

Sterlingtimes

The problem was that it was a brand-new Ford model. After many weeks a new wheel has now been secured from the European factory.