Rejecting a faulty/dangerous car to Arnold clark

Smoggyuk

Hello, long time lurker seeking some advice!

Long story short, I purchase a Peugeot 208 GTI on PCP finance early August last year. It's now been in my ownership for 5 years as the sole driver.

The car is probably in a better condition when purchased as I've detailed every inch of the car, I've even had the wheels fully refurbished and bought an OEM spare with a PS4 tyre for good measure!

The car is an excellent daily and is great fun to drive. I've bought my last 5 cars from arnold clark, once a year! As I enjoy switching them around.

Sadly, the vehicle presented an oil warning and service light within 30 days. It was minor and could be related to this type of engine. Took it into AC and an experienced Peugeot mechanic diagnosed this as a "known" issue. Quite laughable tbh.

Anyways, I got them to redo the oil and filter for good measure. This got rid of the problem. I wanted to keep the car as it's a great peace of kit!

Now comes the big problem. Early November on the way to work my car shutdown completely at a maccies drive through. I waited a good 2 minutes and started the car back up. Numerous service lights appeared and it was in full limp mode. I got it up to work as its half a mile away. I have the full autocare and warranty plan with AC so got my included AA recovery to come to work to diagnose the issue. I got the full codes from the AA in my emails. The car was brought back to the dealership and they had it for 2/3 weeks as it required a new wiring harness! Bear in mind they didn't have any courtesy cars for that day, I was stranded and had to get a lift to and from work.

Got the car back eventually and it was tip top over christmas.

Sadly, last night the car tried to murder me on the drive home from work. I was in peak time traffic going 30 mph under a dark viaduct in the dark of night. The car lost traction briefly and then began to shutdown its electrics, the dash disappeared, centre console went and my lights too. As the car was rebooting the vehicle locked the steering as I was casually veering in to incoming traffic. A harsh break would have allowed the idiot behind me to rail through my rear as he was tailgating.

Awkwardly after sitting in the wrong lane for 30 seconds to stop the adrenaline the car came back to life, it looked like 2 reboots and Peugeot logo flashed twice. Surprise, surprise another warning error stating ESP/ASP failure, seek repair immediately. Service light on and the traction control light on.

I got it to limp home yet again, this is while the breaking system was acting sporadic.

I've got pictures of the lights, but of course I was driving so I had no time to video or document.

At home, the car was okay when parked. I turned it off and what do you know! No service lights.

I want this car gone, I'm willing to get another car from AC. What's your take and how should I handle this?

Smoggyuk

I cant edit, I meant 5 months!

AdrianC

No, you have no automatic right to rejection after five months. They have a right to repair.
Since it was a used car, you have a warranty, but aftermarket - it may cover the issues. What do the Ts & Cs say?

It's clear that the issues haven't been present since the time of purchase - the fact you've had five months use before any issue reared its head shows that.

Smoggyuk

Haven't they already had the chance to repair with the previous electrical fault? Its clearly a linked problem.

AdrianC

Smoggyuk wrote: »

Haven't they already had the chance to repair with the previous electrical fault? Its clearly a linked problem.

Is it?

Four months ago, you had a warning light relating to an oil sensor.
Two months ago, you had the car shut down at low speed, perhaps stationary. It was driveable afterwards, albeit in limp mode. They diagnosed the issue and replaced part of the loom.
Now, you've had a different set of electrical shenanigans that have shut the computer systems down while travelling along.

They don't sound related. They may be, but "Well, I think they probably are because they're vaguely similar" isn't sufficient.

neilmcl

AdrianC wrote: »

Is it?

Four months ago, you had a warning light relating to an oil sensor.
Two months ago, you had the car shut down at low speed, perhaps stationary. It was driveable afterwards, albeit in limp mode. They diagnosed the issue and replaced part of the loom.
Now, you've had a different set of electrical shenanigans that have shut the computer systems down while travelling along.

They don't sound related. They may be, but "Well, I think they probably are because they're vaguely similar" isn't sufficient.

They don't have to be related. If there is any fault that would require a second attempt at repair then the buyer is entitled to exercise their final right of rejection.

Smoggyuk, whilst you are entitled to reject the car you do need to bear in mind that after 30 days as this is a vehicle the seller is entitled to deduct an amount for the usage you've had from it.

Smoggyuk

Just had an ODB on it. Codes are very similar and I've counted 4 codes that are the same during the first repair.

AdrianC

neilmcl wrote: »

They don't have to be related. If there is any fault that would require a second attempt at repair

If the issues are unrelated, then it's not a second attempt at repair. It's a first attempt at repairing a different issue.

neilmcl

AdrianC wrote: »

If the issues are unrelated, then it's not a second attempt at repair. It's a first attempt at repairing a different issue.

No, that's totally wrong I'm afraid. It's not the number of attempts to fix one fault, it's the number of repairs on the goods as a whole.

AdrianC

Smoggyuk wrote: »

Just had an ODB on it. Codes are very similar and I've counted 4 codes that are the same during the first repair.

What are the codes?

There's a lot of generic codes that'll pop up with any computer-related issue - in combo, they're basically the computer saying "I don't know what's going on!"

Smoggyuk

I've got turbo Watergate and computer management failure codes.

I work in the computer industry and we refund desktops, laptops and all in ones if the customer rejects the goods within 6 months. The fault does not have to be linked to the original as per consumer rights.

This of course counting an initial repair or "one opportunity to repair".