Car bought April 2023 and having faults, what are my rights?

anorak257612

Hi, just looking for a bit of advice, sorry for the long post, I feel like a lot of the information is needed.

• I bought a 2013 Skoda Fabia from a dealership with the AA Dealer Promise on April 1st 2023
• I am paying for it on a four year finance plan
• Through the sales process I was told it came with a one month warranty where if I had any issues I would be able to take it to my local garage and they would cover the costs as I live around 25 miles away.
• On the same day driving it back I noticed a squeak which wasn't apparent on my test drive a week prior, and there was a window switch fault on driver's side door
• On the second day of having it I noticed the rear tyres were actually losing air relatively quickly, but dealt with this as I understood they were consumables
• The dealership, in which I was dealing with the manager, paid for me to take it to my local garage to get the window and squeak investigated and fixed.
• The squeak was caused by bad brake discs/pads and were cleaned, however the issue returned and my garage was under the impression it was because of cheap discs/pads
• At the end of April I noticed a coolant leak and it was pretty rapid.
• Dealership said they would not cover the brakes being replaced but would make a contribution as a gesture, but I could get the coolant leak diagnosed and repaired at my own garage.
• Just before taking it to get diagnosed I also noticed that my front two tyres were quite bald on the outer edges and I had actually lost control a few times
• My garage diagnosed it as a faulted radiator and needed replacing.

At this point it's been a month and I was not happy with the state the vehicle was in, considering it had just been given a clear MOT with no advisories, and had passed a PDI check. The manager had been avoiding my emails so I had sent a strongly worded email with all my issues and he got back to me advising to take the vehicle to him 20 miles away.

• I reluctantly took it down as it was quite far and I work full time on shift work, and I was told things could be resolved at my garage.
• I was told the squeak had been "sorted" and the radiator was replaced, but because the tyres were technically legal, they would not be replaced.
• I drove home and after I got back I noticed the squeak was still there, and after about 45 miles since I got it back, the red coolant light came on and there was no coolant in the reservoir.
• I was told by the manager at the dealership that I would have to take the vehicle back to them, which I can't do as the coolant leaks rapidly, and I don't trust the work of their repair team.

Where do I stand on this? From what I understand I only need to give them one chance to repair, then I am entitled to a refund, although is this different for finance? Can I make them cover the cost of repairs at my local garage where I know the quality is to a good standard?

Thanks for any help, and apologies for the long post.

Aylesbury_Duck

You could contact the finance provider and explain that you intend to reject the car.  You are responsible for getting it back to the selling dealer, though.

P.S. How on earth have you managed to lose control a few times on tyres that are legal?  Something's not right there, they're either completely bald and sliding in rain, or you're driving too fast.  Or there's something more fundamentally wrong with the suspension or wheels.

anorak257612

Interesting, thanks for getting back so quick. With the tyres its mainly been on roundabouts, definitely haven't been driving too fast, but from what I can see they are quite bald, "losing control" might have been a bit of an overstatement but it definitely didn't feel as it should and I didn't feel like I had full control over the steering.

I quite like the car, is there no feasible way of getting it repaired without having to take it back to the dealer? As I say I don't trust the dealer's repair garage but would love to keep the car if possible.

SaverRate

anorak257612 said:

Hi, just looking for a bit of advice, sorry for the long post, I feel like a lot of the information is needed.

• I bought a 2013 Skoda Fabia from a dealership with the AA Dealer Promise on April 1st 2023
• I am paying for it on a four year finance plan
• Through the sales process I was told it came with a one month warranty where if I had any issues I would be able to take it to my local garage and they would cover the costs as I live around 25 miles away.
• On the same day driving it back I noticed a squeak which wasn't apparent on my test drive a week prior, and there was a window switch fault on driver's side door
• On the second day of having it I noticed the rear tyres were actually losing air relatively quickly, but dealt with this as I understood they were consumables
• The dealership, in which I was dealing with the manager, paid for me to take it to my local garage to get the window and squeak investigated and fixed.
• The squeak was caused by bad brake discs/pads and were cleaned, however the issue returned and my garage was under the impression it was because of cheap discs/pads
• At the end of April I noticed a coolant leak and it was pretty rapid.
• Dealership said they would not cover the brakes being replaced but would make a contribution as a gesture, but I could get the coolant leak diagnosed and repaired at my own garage.
• Just before taking it to get diagnosed I also noticed that my front two tyres were quite bald on the outer edges and I had actually lost control a few times
• My garage diagnosed it as a faulted radiator and needed replacing.

At this point it's been a month and I was not happy with the state the vehicle was in, considering it had just been given a clear MOT with no advisories, and had passed a PDI check. The manager had been avoiding my emails so I had sent a strongly worded email with all my issues and he got back to me advising to take the vehicle to him 20 miles away.

• I reluctantly took it down as it was quite far and I work full time on shift work, and I was told things could be resolved at my garage.
• I was told the squeak had been "sorted" and the radiator was replaced, but because the tyres were technically legal, they would not be replaced.
• I drove home and after I got back I noticed the squeak was still there, and after about 45 miles since I got it back, the red coolant light came on and there was no coolant in the reservoir.
• I was told by the manager at the dealership that I would have to take the vehicle back to them, which I can't do as the coolant leaks rapidly, and I don't trust the work of their repair team.

Where do I stand on this? From what I understand I only need to give them one chance to repair, then I am entitled to a refund, although is this different for finance? Can I make them cover the cost of repairs at my local garage where I know the quality is to a good standard?

Thanks for any help, and apologies for the long post.

Firstly, you brought a 10 year old car on a 4 year finance plan?

Personally I would reject the car, you have given them chances to repair now. You would most likely have to make arrangements to get it back to them though. 20 miles isn't far neither is 45 miles really. You need to tell the finance company your rejecting the car as they technically own the car at the moment so you reject it back to them not the garage. 

They can also knock off money for your use and mileage to date. 

You chose a garage that in your mind is far away. You should have chosen a closer garage if your reluctant to return it to them. 

macman

The distance to the retailer is not relevant .If you want them to repair it, or you want to reject it, you need to transport it to their premises at your own expense. No, you can't make them repair it a a garage of your choice, it's up to them. Once a first repair has failed, you can request a refund or replacement, or further repairs. If you reject it  and request a refund, the value will be adjusted based on the use you have already had of the vehicle.
I too am baffled that you would buy a 10 year old car on 4 years finance. At 14 years it'll be near end-of-life, and you'll still be paying for it.

Aylesbury_Duck

anorak257612 said:

Interesting, thanks for getting back so quick. With the tyres its mainly been on roundabouts, definitely haven't been driving too fast, but from what I can see they are quite bald, "losing control" might have been a bit of an overstatement but it definitely didn't feel as it should and I didn't feel like I had full control over the steering.

I quite like the car, is there no feasible way of getting it repaired without having to take it back to the dealer? As I say I don't trust the dealer's repair garage but would love to keep the car if possible.

I'd reject it.  As others have pointed out, it sounds as if it's a poor deal financially so this is a good opportunity to unwind it, take a small loss for use to date, and get a better car and deal elsewhere.

How can you quite like a car that doesn't feel under control when steered?! If you don't feel in control of the steering on what two garages have said are road-legal tyres, there's almost certainly something more fundamental wrong.  It sounds like an expensive shed, take this opportunity to get rid of it.

TELLIT01

Were the tyres bald or with low tread when you purchased it?  If so questions need to be asked about how it passed an MOT.  If the tyres were OK (legal) at the time of purchase it suggest the tracking was a long way out, as that is the only reason I can think of for them to be bald in the space of a month.  Have you hit any potholes or the kerb since purchasing the car?  Losing control of a car when driving at normal i.e. safe speeds for the conditions in not normal, and to lose control 'a few times' suggests the car shouldn't be on the road.  Get it back to the dealership and let the finance company know about all the issues with it.

sheramber

If you want to stick to a Fabia Return the car and buy another one at a better garage. There are usually plenty available.

anorak257612

Thanks for the information guys, I ended up obliging with what they wanted and took it to them and everything got fixed. Now however after having the car back a week I'm having issues with the clutch where it is very heavy intermittently.

I was advised by the garage that because it is out of their 30 day warranty I would have to cover the cost of repair myself, however I have only had the car for just over 2 months and having to fix this already doesn't seem fair considering the checks that were supposedly done prior to purchase. What are my options?

Thanks

TELLIT01

Probably the realistic options are to pay yourself and/or take them to the Small Claims Court, or whatever it's currently called.  You accepted the 30 day warranty at time of purchase.

macman

Forget the dealer warranty. Enforce your rights under CRA 2015.
The dealer warranty does not reduce or cancel your statutory rights, so they're just talking nonsense. Since you have owned it for less than 6m, the fault is presumed to be pre-existing.