Faulty Land Rover- electrical issues- garage now not trading

Hannahrush

Sadly, I am literally at my wits end with the vehicle I purchased from Optimum Vehicles in York

Let me explain the history….

 29/10/2022 – Car purchased and finance agreement with Alphera started.

 12/12/2022 – First fault. Optimum directed me to Blackstar warranties. Car was collected and repaired by optimum. I was told there was an issue with the Battery and the terminal that required replacing. Optimum carried out the work with this.

 19/01/2023 – Second fault occurred with the car. Again, another electrical issue. Darren, a technician from Optimum arranged for the car to be collected and subsequently repaired for a second time.

 04/04/2023 – Third fault occurred with the vehicle. Optimum instructed Black Star to contact me (which they did). The vehicle was sent for a diagnostics at a Garage in Oldham, as instructed. The car was then again taken away for repair.

 13/02/2024 – Fourth fault occurred. Blackstar instructed the car to go for a further diagnostics, to which over 30 faults were found on the vehicle. Blackstar advised they couldn’t repair and to take the car to a Land Rover specialist to which I refused. Optimum then agreed to take the car in for repair again.

 It was at this stage I wished to reject the vehicle Paul Sanderson, MD at Optimum offered the chance of an asset swap, something he said he spoke to Alpera about.

Between February 2024 and 09/10/2024 I was chasing an update on the asset swap, to which there was no progress (still, with a fault vehicle).

Again, there were back and forth between March and April, we were at an impasse over the value and resolution. Therefore, for me to pursue the next steps formally I requested a SAR request to have all documentation to take forward with FCA and the ombudsman. 

23/04/2024 – My personal details were then shared, externally to a ‘Malcolm Graham’ at legalsolutions4u, without my consent or knowledge. 

10/10/2024 – Optimum then advised they now had a master technician and wanted to take the vehicle in again for repair. Between 10/10/24 and 14/01/2025 there were a number of failed collections and chasers from me to have the car collected. It was finally collected on the 14/01/2025.

 14/01/2025 – 28/01/2025 – The vehicle was with Optimum for the Fifth repair. The car was then returned to me on the 28/01/2025.

 29/01/2025 – A 6th fault then occurred and optimum are offered to collect on 12/01/2025 for a 6th repair.

After two weeks at their garage the car came back to us and within a day the engine light was back on, side sills stuck and also now the car thinks the bonnet is open so the car alarm goes off all the time!

After now chasing the garage for a week on this the MD has emailed me today to say they are currently not trading and they will update when they can!

As you can imagine, I am extremely unhappy about the quality of the vehicle. 

I no longer want this vehicle due to the constant, ongoing, electrical issues that have been responsible for all faults. Please note, I have the ‘receipts’ and evidence for each of the above. 

To purchase a vehicle for this amount and to have 6 faults in 2.5 years is wholly unacceptable and I reject having a further repair. I no longer want this vehicle before something more serious/dangerous happens.

My main concerns at present, is still that all faults are electrical and cause safety concerns. If the power of the vehicle was to go off whilst driving, it’s a huge safety risk for me and my young family.

Any advice on where i stand now with this as previously the FCA told us to deal with the garage we have continued to do so but are now not getting anywhere and now the garage isn't trading.

Thanks

DE_612183

was the vehicle new in 2022?

DE_612183

if you check companies house there has been a lot of changes in the last couple of months including a number of "charges" dded against the company - which obviously will need to be paid before anyone else.

Also Paul Sanderson and his wife were removed as persons with control in December 2024

born_again

Hannahrush said:

Sadly, I am literally at my wits end with the vehicle I purchased from Optimum Vehicles in York

Let me explain the history….

 29/10/2022 – Car purchased and finance agreement with Alphera started.

 12/12/2022 – First fault. Optimum directed me to Blackstar warranties. Car was collected and repaired by optimum. I was told there was an issue with the Battery and the terminal that required replacing. Optimum carried out the work with this.

 19/01/2023 – Second fault occurred with the car. Again, another electrical issue. Darren, a technician from Optimum arranged for the car to be collected and subsequently repaired for a second time.

 04/04/2023 – Third fault occurred with the vehicle. Optimum instructed Black Star to contact me (which they did). The vehicle was sent for a diagnostics at a Garage in Oldham, as instructed. The car was then again taken away for repair.

 13/02/2024 – Fourth fault occurred. Blackstar instructed the car to go for a further diagnostics, to which over 30 faults were found on the vehicle. Blackstar advised they couldn’t repair and to take the car to a Land Rover specialist to which I refused. Optimum then agreed to take the car in for repair again.

 It was at this stage I wished to reject the vehicle Paul Sanderson, MD at Optimum offered the chance of an asset swap, something he said he spoke to Alpera about.

Between February 2024 and 09/10/2024 I was chasing an update on the asset swap, to which there was no progress (still, with a fault vehicle).

Again, there were back and forth between March and April, we were at an impasse over the value and resolution. Therefore, for me to pursue the next steps formally I requested a SAR request to have all documentation to take forward with FCA and the ombudsman. 

23/04/2024 – My personal details were then shared, externally to a ‘Malcolm Graham’ at legalsolutions4u, without my consent or knowledge. 

10/10/2024 – Optimum then advised they now had a master technician and wanted to take the vehicle in again for repair. Between 10/10/24 and 14/01/2025 there were a number of failed collections and chasers from me to have the car collected. It was finally collected on the 14/01/2025.

 14/01/2025 – 28/01/2025 – The vehicle was with Optimum for the Fifth repair. The car was then returned to me on the 28/01/2025.

 29/01/2025 – A 6th fault then occurred and optimum are offered to collect on 12/01/2025 for a 6th repair.

After two weeks at their garage the car came back to us and within a day the engine light was back on, side sills stuck and also now the car thinks the bonnet is open so the car alarm goes off all the time!

After now chasing the garage for a week on this the MD has emailed me today to say they are currently not trading and they will update when they can!

As you can imagine, I am extremely unhappy about the quality of the vehicle. 

I no longer want this vehicle due to the constant, ongoing, electrical issues that have been responsible for all faults. Please note, I have the ‘receipts’ and evidence for each of the above. 

To purchase a vehicle for this amount and to have 6 faults in 2.5 years is wholly unacceptable and I reject having a further repair. I no longer want this vehicle before something more serious/dangerous happens.

My main concerns at present, is still that all faults are electrical and cause safety concerns. If the power of the vehicle was to go off whilst driving, it’s a huge safety risk for me and my young family.

Any advice on where i stand now with this as previously the FCA told us to deal with the garage we have continued to do so but are now not getting anywhere and now the garage isn't trading.

Thanks

How old was the car when purchased & what mileage? 
How many miles have you done in the 2.5 years?
How was it purchased given the mention of FCA. As FCA only deal with financial & Insurance matters.
Warranty co Blackstar warranties do not appear to be FCA registered. So they are not using a insurance backed warranty.

If the company fold, then you maybe out of options. 
Which given the 3 charges against them at the moment
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06484557/charges

TBH, that does not matter, as in 2.5 years nothing serious has happened. So you need to take that part of the argument out.

Hannahrush

DE_612183 said:

was the vehicle new in 2022?

No it wasn't new

born_again

Hannahrush said:

DE_612183 said:

was the vehicle new in 2022?

No it wasn't new

So what age & mileage was it?

As this does effect your Consumer rights, as they are tempered by age & mileage of the car.

Which Land Rovers do not have the best history on the electrics.

Hannahrush

DE_612183 said:

if you check companies house there has been a lot of changes in the last couple of months including a number of "charges" dded against the company - which obviously will need to be paid before anyone else.

Also Paul Sanderson and his wife were removed as persons with control in December 2024

I've been on there this morning and Paul is still an active director and also with control still 

Hannahrush

Age of car is 2018- we bought it 2022
think mileage was 66,000 and it's currently at around 85,000
purchased through Alphera on PCP
i've raised the comment about safety and power as that was what one of the first two faults were...... it just died whilst i was driving it - to me that's a safety concern

Tucosalamanca

I would suggest this is fairly typical Land Rover ownership?
Occasional weeks without faults, rather than the occasional fault.

How long do you think the dealer should keep repairing the vehicle?
I'm honestly surprised that the dealer engaged with you for so long, particularly when it isn't the same recurring fault.

From Google AI (which I don't consider factually but many other sites will confirm similar)

According to most reports, a Land Rover can generally be considered reliable for the first 3 years, with many stating that issues tend to arise more significantly after the warranty period ends, making it a reasonable timeframe to keep one before potential major repair costs could occur; however, compared to other brands, Land Rovers still tend to be considered below average in terms of overall reliability. 

Key points to consider:

• Within warranty period:

  Most Land Rover owners report experiencing minimal issues within the first 3 years of ownership, as this falls within the standard manufacturer warranty period. 

Beyond warranty:

Once the warranty expires, the likelihood of expensive repairs increases due to Land Rover's reputation for complex electrical systems and potential mechanical issues. 

DE_612183

Hannahrush said:

DE_612183 said:

if you check companies house there has been a lot of changes in the last couple of months including a number of "charges" dded against the company - which obviously will need to be paid before anyone else.

Also Paul Sanderson and his wife were removed as persons with control in December 2024

I've been on there this morning and Paul is still an active director and also with control still 

Strange - I can see that - but there is also a filling history for "cessation" so not sure whether it hasn't been processed yet, or he's been added back on...

Hannahrush

Tucosalamanca said:

I would suggest this is fairly typical Land Rover ownership?
Occasional weeks without faults, rather than the occasional fault.

How long do you think the dealer should keep repairing the vehicle?
I'm honestly surprised that the dealer engaged with you for so long, particularly when it isn't the same recurring fault.

From Google AI (which I don't consider factually but many other sites will confirm similar)

According to most reports, a Land Rover can generally be considered reliable for the first 3 years, with many stating that issues tend to arise more significantly after the warranty period ends, making it a reasonable timeframe to keep one before potential major repair costs could occur; however, compared to other brands, Land Rovers still tend to be considered below average in terms of overall reliability. 

Key points to consider:

• Within warranty period:

  Most Land Rover owners report experiencing minimal issues within the first 3 years of ownership, as this falls within the standard manufacturer warranty period. 
• Beyond warranty:

  Once the warranty expires, the likelihood of expensive repairs increases due to Land Rover's reputation for complex electrical systems and potential mechanical issues. 

They've probably engaged with us because they sold it to us with a tracker and it transpired it doesn't have one and was removed and also because it's been faulty since we bought it. I get what you are saying about LR being notorious for faults but that doesn't mean i should be expected to pay for a car i purchased that's been faulty since purchase without raising an issue about it