KIA Carens - Electrical fault still under warranty. Want a replacement car!

paddyrush83

Hi Group, this is my first post so bear with me!
So I have a 65 plate Kia Carens, I have had it for over 4yrs and bought from a Kia dealer. All warranty and service history in place, so over the last 2yrs I have had a real issue with the battery draining when it’s been left for anywhere from 3 - 6 nights. It is worth saying that it is very inconsistent with when it drains, it can be fine for months and then happen every couple of weeks!
so far Kia have had work all done under warranty including replacing locking mechanisms, replacing battery twice, re-wiring tow bar along with checking numerous times to confirm the problem is fixed.
After the last confirmation it was repaired a couple of months later it has happened again. So I let Kia know last week and I dropped the keys off with the paperwork and told them I don’t want the car back as I have lost confidence!

My question is... have you or do you know of anyone returning a car under warranty and if there is any legal cases to support this. I have said I am happy for them to replace with a like for like but clearly this depends on what stock they can get.

Please any help greatly appreciated! I just can’t put up with not knowing if my car will start every time I go to use it!

Many Thanks

Paddy 

Stubod

..if you have had it for 4 years it is extremely unlikely you will get a replacement...

paddyrush83

Why do you say that Stubod? It is all under warranty for another 2yrs and the car isn’t reliable and they are unable to confirm if any repair will sort it as they are unable to locate the fault. so maybe I am thinking to logical but surely it would go back to central KIA?

Grumpy_chap

Rejecting the car after 4 years is not going to happen.

Did you buy the car new or second-hand / pre-reg?  65 plate could now be 5 years old, but you say you had the car "over 4yrs".

What is the finance position on the car, or is it now owned outright by yourself?

You have the option to trade the car in, and that would be similar to returning the car to Kia, with a deduction for the beneficial use obtained I suppose...

What outcome did you really want by your action of " dropped the keys off with the paperwork and told them I don’t want the car back". 

• Would you be happy if they scrap the car and give you nothing? That would meet your stated aim of not having the car back
• Do you want a full refund of the original purchase cost?  (That is how the post reads.)

If you have a sensible desired outcome, people may be able to suggest how that can be achieved.

paddyrush83

Hi Grumpy_Chap,

Sorry I wasn’t clearer, will try and clear it up:
I bought the car 2nd hand it was about 5months old.

It is owned outright, so no finance.

It could be PX (£8k) which has been offered but I would obviously loose out and the only reason I am looking to change due to the electrical issues with the vehicle which after 2yrs can’t seem to be repaired, the vehicle still has another 2yrs warranty on it too. 

So what I would like as an outcome is for them to provide me with another vehicle matching the spec of the current one. Alternatively as from looking around a like for like would retail at £10k - £11k, so this would be an alternative I would be willing to discuss if that value could come off a newer or better spec model.

I hope this clarifies it a little more.

I really just wonder if there is any experiences of cars under warranty that can’t seem to be repaired and what options there has been.

ossie

Are you sure you not that you have something plugged in as Sat Nav or Phone charger draining it  (mine was a phone wireless charger). Alternative have a modern jump start battery pack in boot for £50 from Amazon .

paddyrush83

Hi Ossie,

No everything has been been checked and checked and checked. The dealership have had the car in for weeks on end over the last 2 years, they have told me it has been fixed 3 times only for it to happen again so, they too have had no joy locating the fault, also more difficult as it is intermittent too.

The have spoke of potentially needing to remove all wiring and replacing it however I can’t see that being cost effective, it may have just been a throw away comment.

I could have a booster pack but not something I should need to do on car that is less than 5yrs old and still under warranty.

greyteam1959

I would get in touch with Kia UK & make a strongly worded complaint to them.
Obviously the dealership is not really competent enough to sort your problem.
Also get into the Kia forums & see if this is a common fault.

Stubod

...your only option may be to get a part exchange with another car from the same dealer and "hope" they offer you a reasonable part ex price?

Grumpy_chap

Is it possible that it is just the battery is knackered and you need a new one?

noitsnotme

Grumpy_chap said:

Is it possible that it is just the battery is knackered and you need a new one?

Opening post says battery has been replaced twice!