Ongoing issue with used car

iamnotasoldier

Hi 

I am sure this issue will have been covered many times, so apologies if it's well covered ground - just looking into what others experience & knowledge is.

I purchased a used 2017 plate Vauxhall Corsa SRi from a large car retailer in May 2021. Within a week or so, the engine management light randomly came on, but with no other symptoms or issues. It was fixed, in an associated "sister" branch, Vauxhall main dealer, just along the road from where I purchased (the branch where I purchased said better to take it to the main dealership, as they have the full diagnostic equipment - make sense). The repair was an O2 sensor, fixed FOC as cover by warranty. 
Fast forward to Aug 2021, car developed an engine management problem again - light on & also now, as loss of power sometimes. Long story short, fixed again, this time at the dealership where I purchased it, again O2 sensor but the "other" O2 sensor. Fixed again FOC but told it was done as "a gesture of goodwill" (I was ready to argue re the right under Consumer Rights & it's 6 months etc - not required & left it at that)

Fast forward to now - car has again developed an issue with engine management, though the symptoms are slight different - no loss of power but the car has trouble starting if left for longer periods, trouble idling when it does start - very "lumpy" - and does this randomly when sitting idling sometimes, "Service ESC" keeps coming on for no reason then clears when turn car on & off. Took to independent garage - O2 sensor again ! 

Any thoughts on what recourse I have ? Parts themselves covered by part warranty ? If not, still got a claim that it was an existing fault when I purchased the car ?

forgotmyname

Existing fault on a part that was fitted after purchase?   You didnt purchase or contribute to the parts so unlikely to be a warranty.

Have you had the car serviced by them since purchase?

iamnotasoldier

Existing fault on a part that was fitted after purchase?   You didnt purchase or contribute to the parts so unlikely to be a warranty.

I wasn't sure if parts such as these have warranty ie guaranteed against fault for 1 year, regardless of who paid for it ? If not, Well I don't know whether the fault was already there - 3 sensors within a year so either something is faulty, isn't being repaired correctly or they are curing a symptom rather than root cause. 

MalMonroe

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you would have been within your rights to return the car for a full refund last May, as the problem first occurred within a week or so after purchase.

Irrespective of any warranty.

Now this matter has been dragging on and there's still no satisfactory solution in sight. Your car is still not fit for purpose almost a year after purchase - and it's not even old. 

There's some info here from Citizens Advice -

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/buying-or-repairing-a-car/problems-with-a-car-repair/

Here is what the Motor Ombudsman says -

https://www.themotorombudsman.org/knowledge-base/what-is-the-consumer-rights-act

I think you have been messed about (and been remarkably patient) since the fault first occurred. If it were me I'd now be wanting my money back so I could go elsewhere and buy a decent vehicle. 

Just for good measure, here's what this very site advises -

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/

Especially 'Other Key Need-to-knows' - click on 'Second-hand or 'on sale' doesn't mean second-rate'.

iamnotasoldier

MalMonroe said:

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you would have been within your rights to return the car for a full refund last May, as the problem first occurred within a week or so after purchase.

Irrespective of any warranty.

Now this matter has been dragging on and there's still no satisfactory solution in sight. Your car is still not fit for purpose almost a year after purchase - and it's not even old. 

Thanks for the links - will come in useful if they try to brush me off. Spoke to them yesterday & I am awaiting a call back from the Service Manager, but the Sales Manager was like "we could give you a good deal on getting another car", which I thought was cheeky !
Yeah I don't think I am being unreasonable to expect a car that cost over £7000, was only 4 yrs old & had done just over 20K miles to be in good working order. I understand things go wrong but a HUGE dealership like this should be aiming for better customer service than this. 

Will keep you all posted & thanks for the input.