Cancelling car lease due to car fault

alanpl46

I am eleven months into a 3 year lease of a Seat Leon FR. I have had problems with the car from the start. Mostly software issues, which have usually been resolved after taking the car to the local dealer, however the local dealer is not overly helpful, due to the fact that I didn’t get the car from them. I am not entitled to a courtesy car when the car is with them being fixed.
I recently (yesterday) had to undertake a 12 hour 600 mile journey back from Paris, with no infotainment system. Meaning no satnav, music, radio or phone. The dealer tells me this morning that it is an issue with some VAG cars, and that there is no fix yet. Only a method of doing a factory reset. The car also has another problem where the headlight flash is too slow (it is a mechanical movement within the light) meaning that you can’t flash the lights. I was told that this was fixed at the last visit to the dealer, but it hasn’t made any difference.
would I be able to ask the leasing company to take the car back and cancel the lease due to the number of issues? Without penalty?

flashg67

I'd expect the leave company to look at such things on an individual basis so only by asking will you know for sure. They may have contacts with the manufacturer to get the issues sorted anyway. Is it a personal lease? If so you'll have recourse to the FCA after you've exhausted the lease companies' complaint procedure. With the poor availability of cars at the moment it might take a while to get another one if you do cancel the current lease! 

Grumpy_chap

The OP might find this thread interesting
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6328092/issues-with-wifes-nearly-new-car-what-are-our-rights/p1

MCNAV

Hi Alan, I would ask your lease company if you can "reject the vehicle". I had a brand new Range Rover Sport for a year, 3 weeks in I had to get the boot repaired as it wasn't closing, then every 2-3 weeks onwards I had a new issue to report. Eventually after having the car a total of about 11-13 months, they gave me a full refund, with 8% interest on my money I had paid to them. I walked away in slight profit.

Your rights with a vehicle are something like this (I am not entirely sure, so please seek legal advice, I am no expert or adviser): if you have complained about an issue in the first 6 months, and they attempt repair but fail, you can reject the vehicle in the first year. After the first year, it becomes a bit more difficult as you would need to prove these faults where there from the start. Which sometimes is easy if you have photos/videos or even repair invoices.

The dealership won't help you with this, as they have sold the car to your finance company. So it's the finance company you have to speak to. It will be stressful, as they will try and find any reason not to pay out, or try and tempt you with "one final repair". From the moment I wanted to reject the vehicle to the moment I got my refund (which ended up being around £19K in total), was about 4 months. So it's not a quick decision from the finance company.

All the best!! 

SaverRate

Whilst this may not help your situation now, All VW group garages (including SEAT) can give you a courtesy car if you car is in their service department, although at the moment there may be a few weeks wait for to get a slot with a courtesy car.
I’ve recently taken my wife’s polo in for a warranty issue and they gave her a courtesy car - we didn’t buy it from the garage.
My grandparents took their Leon in for a warranty issue and they also gave them a courtesy car - they didn’t buy it from the garage. 

Anthony147

alanpl46 said:

I am eleven months into a 3 year lease of a Seat Leon FR. I have had problems with the car from the start. Mostly software issues, which have usually been resolved after taking the car to the local dealer, however the local dealer is not overly helpful, due to the fact that I didn’t get the car from them. I am not entitled to a courtesy car when the car is with them being fixed.
I recently (yesterday) had to undertake a 12 hour 600 mile journey back from Paris, with no infotainment system. Meaning no satnav, music, radio or phone. The dealer tells me this morning that it is an issue with some VAG cars, and that there is no fix yet. Only a method of doing a factory reset. The car also has another problem where the headlight flash is too slow (it is a mechanical movement within the light) meaning that you can’t flash the lights. I was told that this was fixed at the last visit to the dealer, but it hasn’t made any difference.
would I be able to ask the leasing company to take the car back and cancel the lease due to the number of issues? Without penalty?

You can of course attempt eleven months in to reject the car but based on what’s written you will have quite a fight on your hands.

You can let the finance company and Seat Uk know the issues you’ve had and see if that gains traction.
The most likely outcome is it’ll be fixed or a replacement car found -

It’s very unlikely they’ll cancel the lease and let you walk away if that’s actually what you want to happen and if they do it wouldn’t be without penalty a third of the way through.

ian16527

HarryDavies01 said:

Whilst this may not help your situation now, All VW group garages (including SEAT) can give you a courtesy car if you car is in their service department, although at the moment there may be a few weeks wait for to get a slot with a courtesy car.
I’ve recently taken my wife’s polo in for a warranty issue and they gave her a courtesy car - we didn’t buy it from the garage.
My grandparents took their Leon in for a warranty issue and they also gave them a courtesy car - they didn’t buy it from the garage. 

My local Skoda garage now charge £20 per day for the courtesy cars,

When I was waiting for my car to be serviced I was talking to a taxi driver with a brand new Octavia with a similar problem, although it disabled his aircon as well. This was his 4th time trying to get it sorted so its a known problem

SaverRate

ian16527 said:

HarryDavies01 said:

Whilst this may not help your situation now, All VW group garages (including SEAT) can give you a courtesy car if you car is in their service department, although at the moment there may be a few weeks wait for to get a slot with a courtesy car.
I’ve recently taken my wife’s polo in for a warranty issue and they gave her a courtesy car - we didn’t buy it from the garage.
My grandparents took their Leon in for a warranty issue and they also gave them a courtesy car - they didn’t buy it from the garage. 

My local Skoda garage now charge £20 per day for the courtesy cars,

When I was waiting for my car to be serviced I was talking to a taxi driver with a brand new Octavia with a similar problem, although it disabled his aircon as well. This was his 4th time trying to get it sorted so its a known problem

When I take my Audi to Inchcape (not under warranty) they initially say it costs £20 per day but then never charge me for it when I pay the bill! Maybe it depends which dealership you take it to? 

Penelopa.Pitstop

I rejected 8 months old Cupra based on software faults and lack of fix for them. I sent detailed document with all faults, when they occurred, that there's no fix, etc. It took 10 days to get positive answer from VWFS (Finance company). The longer you keep the car, the less money you will get back.

I suggest sitting down and writing good document with all faults, attempts to fix them by dealer, etc and then send it to finance company requesting rejection. And then wait for their answer. You're saying 11 months in, so not sure what will be their offer, maybe return of initial deposit and termination of lease.

I got initial payment back and 25% of 8 monthly payments, which was good enough for me. It costed me around £1100 to drive brand new car for 9 months (waiting for plate change and collection). I was happy to get rid of the car and stop thinking what won't work next time I drive it.