Part on long-term back order

lcc86

I've been waiting since June for a part that's on back order. In the meantime I haven't been able to drive my car, tax and MOT have now run out and insurance due to run out. Vehicle is still under warranty, main dealer is covering the cost of a hire car but my car is starting to get mouldy inside and when I run the engine (diesel) it's smoking so I'm worried about the vehicle having more problems when it does eventually get back on the road. 

While I'm really grateful for the hire car, I don't understand how the part can be on back order for so long. When I call the dealer all they say is that they're still waiting. Should I contact their head office and make a bit more of a fuss? I hesitate to say complaint as I have the hire car but I'd like to get my own car back on the road.

dipsomaniac

Interested to know the part number?

Flight3287462

What car?

I had trouble sourcing a partn a couple of year's ago and sourced it from Germany at a fifth of the price.  Try making enquiries in their home market?

clive0510

what car is it, and also what part is it?.

clive0510

clive0510 said:

what car is it, and also what part is it?.

also if you can get me the reg number, I'll see if I can help. not till monday though.

izzitme

I have recently had my 5 year old car bought back off me by the manufacturer.

This was due to a part for the electronic parking brake not being available as the parts factory in China shut down during COVID & had not reopened.

The faulty part meant that my car failed the MOT so the UK head office, after an email to the chief executive, agreed to the buy back.

Is this a possibility for you?

lcc86

Not sure of part number but is an airbag srs unit for a Peugeot partner. Have seen them for about £500 online secondhand. Not sure if they'd buy back as I bought secondhand (but still under warranty). Perhaps its something I can ask them. What I don't understand (and Perhaps someone can explain) is why a part for such a new vehicle which shares a platform with others is on such a long back order.

izzitme

Mine was bought second hand as well, & not through the dealer network. It was also out of warranty (just).

They admitted that it was not a regular thing to do but felt it appropriate as the car was only slightly over 5 years old & didn't think that I should be out of pocket due to their supply problem.

My local dealer told me that the buy back was a possibility as there were around 150 cars across the country with the same problem & the manufacturer didn't want to risk the bad publicity!

I couldn't understand why the part was not available anywhere in the network as it also shares a platform with other vehicles (& manufacturers).

k12479

lcc86 said:

What I don't understand (and Perhaps someone can explain) is why a part for such a new vehicle which shares a platform with others is on such a long back order.

There was a huge recall of airbags made by one of the suppliers affecting about 70 million vehicles (Google 'Takata airbag recall') which has been ongoing for several years and keeps on giving, with a new group of vehicles identified last month. There are only a handful of companies making airbags and so supply has probably been constrained for some years trying to supply both new vehicles and replace all those affected by the recall, exacerbated by Takata going bankrupt, no doubt further exacerbated by general post-COVID supply chain issues.

Keep_pedalling

My daughter is in the exact same position, in her case it is an engine fault on a 6 year old Kia. She has a hire car but is getting pretty fed up after nearly 5 months.

lcc86

k12479 said:

lcc86 said:

What I don't understand (and Perhaps someone can explain) is why a part for such a new vehicle which shares a platform with others is on such a long back order.

There was a huge recall of airbags made by one of the suppliers affecting about 70 million vehicles (Google 'Takata airbag recall') which has been ongoing for several years and keeps on giving, with a new group of vehicles identified last month. There are only a handful of companies making airbags and so supply has probably been constrained for some years trying to supply both new vehicles and replace all those affected by the recall, exacerbated by Takata going bankrupt, no doubt further exacerbated by general post-COVID supply chain issues.

Thanks I wasn't aware of this but it does make sense, although it doesn't seem to stop them pumping out new cars! I'll give then a call on Monday and see what further information I can get from them.