Car's head gasket blown after 4 atmeppts to repair - do I have a claim?

thatkears

Hi all, hope everyone is keeping well, am looking for some advice if I may be so bold.
I bought a used car (65 plate, 23k miles) just over a year ago from a dealership nearby, since November the car has had issues with running hot and/or over-heating. When this has happened I've taken it back to the dealership asap and, as I bought a 12 month warranty with the car, have had the issue "fixed". Each time I've driven it away the car has been fine for a period of time, then the same issue has occurred again.
The car is now in with the dealership again and this time I've been told that the head gasket has blown and requires replacing. This is going to cost £1900!.
It's my opinion that the same issue has not been properly diagnosed/fixed since the first occurrence, and me driving the car under the assumption it was fixed has caused the blown gasket (i'm rubbish with cars, but I do know that a car that constantly overheats is susceptible to a blown gasket).
Does anyone have any advice for any action I can possibly take? Can I reject the car as faulty, even though 12 months have passed? Can I claim the car is faulty and get a refund or compensation? 
Any help would be brilliant!
Thanks in advance, Andy.

custardy

What car is it?
Did they replace the head gasket previously?
Do you know/have invoices for exactly what work was carried out on it previously?

thatkears

It's a Vauxhall Insignia 1.4L Manual 5 doors SRI NAV TURBO. They have not replaced the head gasket before. First time it went in they found the expansion tank was cracked and leaking coolant. This was replaced. The next couple of times they have run pressure tests and found leaks in the piping, again leading to coolant loss and eventual overheating.

The_Rainmaker

How many times did you check your coolant level in the intervening period from your first issue yo your last?

jimmo

I had a similar problem with a 60 Reg Insignia 1.8.

According to the water temperature gauge the engine never actually overheated but, at random times, there was significant and sudden loss of coolant. It could go for weeks without a problem then I could drive for 3 miles from cold, stop for 10 mins. Top up needed = 2Litres.

The problem was eventually solved by my trusted local independent when they replaced the pattern part expansion tank and cap with  genuine Vauxhall ones. No problem for over a year now.

Well worth a try before shelling out for a head gasket.