Voluntary termination and repair costs

Golden_Glow90

My car was bought on a 4 year lease and came with a 3 year manufacturer warranty. It had its 3 year service and MOT in January and since then I’ve had problems. First, the service light couldn’t be turned off after the service and then when the diagnostics was run on it, the data on the car was wiped. It took 5 days and £300 to fix and it had only been out if warranty a matter of weeks. Now, the catalytic converters has gone and I’ve been quoted £900 for repair. To me, this isn’t something that should go on a nearly new car. I bought a brand new car this time around to avoid expensive repairs.

Is there any way to avoid paying for the repair and risk the next 7 months with potentially more problems? Can I hand it back now (voluntary termination) or will they check for faults like that?

neilmcl

When you VT a vehicle you have a legal responsibility to hand it back in a reasonable condition, therefore any fault that's outside normal wear & tear you will be liable for.

motorguy

Golden_Glow90 wrote: »

My car was bought on a 4 year lease and came with a 3 year manufacturer warranty. It had its 3 year service and MOT in January and since then I’ve had problems. First, the service light couldn’t be turned off after the service and then when the diagnostics was run on it, the data on the car was wiped. It took 5 days and £300 to fix and it had only been out if warranty a matter of weeks. Now, the catalytic converters has gone and I’ve been quoted £900 for repair. To me, this isn’t something that should go on a nearly new car. I bought a brand new car this time around to avoid expensive repairs.

Is there any way to avoid paying for the repair and risk the next 7 months with potentially more problems? Can I hand it back now (voluntary termination) or will they check for faults like that?

You cant VT a lease car? Or do you mean PCP? (very different things)

nobile

If you have bought the car, who are you going to hand it back to??

Golden_Glow90

Sorry, it’s a PCP. I know I can VT the car and I understand it should be handed back in reasonable condition but the cat shouldn’t need replacing after 3 years and 35000 miles. Usually it would fail an MOT or at least have an advisory if it was on its way out yet it passed the MOT 4 months ago. Is there some way to show that this must have been a fault from the start? We’ve taken it to another garage to get a second opinion and they said the same, that it should t go that quickly and I should get onto the dealer to fix it but the dealer says no, it’s fair wear and tear, but if it’s fair wear and tear then I should be able VT it without repairing and it says it will only charge for repairs that are deemed beyond fair wear and tear. I’m so confused and worried I’m going to be much out of pocket.

flashg67

Haver you had dealer servicing? If so, approach the dealer/manufacturer for a 'goodwill' gesture - many will contribute if asked

JP1978

Ask dealer to fix free of charge under good will - if they dont, they may say its 'not unreasonable for a car of this age etc' - get that in writing and use as defence when you VT the car and they say its not in reasonable condition....... :-)

Job Jobbed ;-)

Golden_Glow90

Unfortunately I haven’t had dealer servicing. We moved shortly after buying the car and the dealer is now 160 miles away.

Money_Grabber13579

So who did the servicing? Another main dealer closer to you or an independent?

Golden_Glow90

It was serviced by an independent garage because the dealer branch closest to me is still 20 miles away from me. It didn’t say anywhere in the finance agreement or manufacturer warranty that it needed to be serviced at the dealer. Does this mean I have no choice but to repair it and pay it all myself?

dld2s

As long as the Independent used manufacturers parts you should be fine