Brand New Citroen DS5 - plenty of faults and bad paint job

Brand New Citroen DS5 - plenty of faults and bad paint job

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mbrad26

Original Poster:

72 posts

137 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Hello and thank you for your time

After much consideration and a crazy amount of courage I have decided not to buy a Seat Leon Touring FR but a brand new Citroen DS5 2.0 HDI manual. Very soon this proofed to be a huge mistake.

The car was purchase by finance, PCP. The OTR price of the vehicle was 17000 pounds, heavily discounted from 25000 pounds. This big discount of 8000 pounds made me choose this car. Big mistake. The Conditional Credit Agreement was signed on 17-04-2014.

Also relevant is the fact that this was a distance selling purchase. This vehicle was advertised via AutoTrader home page and all the correspondence between me and the dealer (***************** - Stourbridge) was via phone or email.

I have recorded each phone conversation with dealer representatives, I kept the email correspondence between us and also I have detailed and relevant video recordings about how the car behaves.

Friday (21.03.2014) I took delivery of a brand new Citroen DS5 which I bought with finance by PCP provided by Barclays Partner Finance. As soon as I drove the car from the dealer I've noticed Steering and Braking faults with the car. The most obvious defect was the fact the car suffered from a bad wheel alignment, the steering wheel stayed all the time lean to the left and the car was pulling constantly left, no matter of the camber of the road.

I immediately turned to the dealer to report the issues with the car. The dealer briefly inspected the car and they told me that they used some kind of brake spray to clean the brakes and also test drove the car and informed me that the car is fault free. This seemed very weird to me because no spray cleaner in this world will cure a bad wheel alignment but I was too tired to argue (been travel for 4h by train to reach Dealer's location)

I've set up again on the road and I noticed that nothing has really changed with the car's issues, obviously.

When I arrived home (more than 140 miles away) I have contacted the dealer by phone explaining that none of the problems with the car have been fixed. I've been told that on Monday (24.03.2014) I will be contacted by the Dealer's Service Manager who will discuss with me this matter.

Nobody contacted me and I decided to take the car to an independent and reputable tracking specialist. The wheel alignment job print out clearly shows that the car's tracking was off.

This was not the only problem with my brand new car.

Here is full list of faults:

1. Bad wheel alignment and tracking causing the vehicle to constantly pull to the left.
2. Steering wheel was off centred, it stays leaned towards passenger side.
3. Steering wheel vibrates at motorways cruise speeds 60 – 70 mph.
4. Steering wheel shakes under braking.
5. The car is very unstable on uneven and slightly bumpy roads, especially when braking, causing the car to change trajectory towards incoming traffic or pavement.
6. The steering wheel is twitching and jerking back and forth every time the front wheel goes over small bumps and cracks on the surface of the road, also causing the car to change trajectory towards incoming traffic or pavement.
7. Miss coloured front bumper – painted in a different shade of grey.
8. Rattling noise coming from the right hand side rear passenger door.

Tuesday ,25.03.2014, morning I've contacted the dealer and told them that I'm willing to return the car to them so they can have a full check of the car. They agreed to bring the back to them, which I did.

They kept the car for one and a half day before calling me to come pick up the car. They did offer me a courtesy car with almost identical mileage, a Citroen C3 which drives flawless.

I went back to the dealer to pick up the car and noticed that there was an improvement to some of the issues but most of them were still not fixed. There was no more steering wheel vibration at motorways cruise but still the steering wheel was shaking under braking sometimes.

This steering shake under braking was pointed out by me to the dealer Service Manager ****** when we test drove the car together but he informed me that this was normal because of the road condition which I strongly rejected. He also tried to convince me that the steering wheel jerking and twitching from left to right was absolutely normal. I've explained to him that maybe this is normal with an used car with many miles on the clock but not with a brand new car with 3 miles on the clock.

Every time my car goes over small bumps and cracks on the road the steering wheel is abruptly twitching and shaking back and forth, making the car to suddenly change direction to the left or right very rapidly. I have tried to explain to the dealer that this is not normal or safe but he disagrees with me.

On 31-03-2014 I phoned the Dealer and Informed him that I want to reject the car. I’ve been informed that they have to speak with Citroen UK. Later that day they come back to me and told me that they opened a case with Citroen and also informed me that I have to book in the car with another Citroen dealer for an independent opinion, if this can be considered independent opinion. I agreed with that and on 01-04-2014 the car was with my local Dealer *************** Southampton.

One of the mechanics has test drove the car with me and immediately noticed that the car was pulling left in a very strange way. He also noticed that the steering wheel is twitching and jerking every time the front wheels go over small bumps and cracks on the road. He told me that they have to check the air pressure, disk brakes and something like connecting the steering rack to a device that will tell if the wheel alignment of the car changes while driving the vehicle. This part is very technical for me.

Later that day they called me to tell me that I can take the car back. They gave me a job report that says that while the car was pulling left when during the test drive, they couldn't find anything wrong with any of the steering and suspension components so the car is OK at the moment of the testing.

On the evening of 01-04-2014 I emailed a formal Complaint Letter to the Dealer. On 02-04-2014 I have received an email confirming that they have received the letter.

On 03-04-2014 I have noticed that the front bumper is painted in a noticeable different shade of grey then the rest of the car!!!!!

Here are some video links to my YouTube channel:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26371319@N02/sets/72...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDvNjn3Ais

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9di-go9u-A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2YOyYslUY0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZAhTatjGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyjTSxxifGg Citroen C3 - driven on the same roads - steering rock solid no jerkines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7-kQOyh_II

This is the story so far.

Is the steering behaviour normal for a new car or I'm just to demanding?

Do I have enough evidence to go with the car back and reject it?

I've done a little bit of research and found out that others have been successful in rejecting their cars. http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/citroen-c3-picasso...

Thank you


Edited by mbrad26 on Saturday 5th April 17:49


Edited by mbrad26 on Sunday 6th April 20:26


Edited by mbrad26 on Monday 7th April 23:04


Edited by mbrad26 on Tuesday 8th April 17:38


Edited by mbrad26 on Tuesday 8th April 18:06


Edited by mbrad26 on Tuesday 8th April 18:07


Edited by mbrad26 on Tuesday 15th April 17:52

Mercury00

4,098 posts

155 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
I have nothing to offer you in the way of advice, but I hope you manage to get things sorted.

Test driver

348 posts

123 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Buying French is Russian roulette.

Boobonman

5,645 posts

191 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Brand new Citroen, with your own money? Woah.

I suppose the least you could expect is that it works properly.

steveo3002

10,494 posts

173 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
terrible colour match suggests its been damaged , wonder if theyve belted a kerb or such while moving it about the dealers


Mercury00

4,098 posts

155 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
It may be worth asking to move this thread to the SP&L section of the forum a that is more for legal matters and consumer rights etc.

Sir Bagalot

6,463 posts

180 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
DS5... nice car but also a brave choice when you have the likes of the Mondeo around.

Nothing wrong with a French car, I just found that it was difficult to find someone decent who knew how to keep then running properly outside the dealer network.

You will always get a slight difference in paint colour on the bumpers as the base material is different. You normally really have to study pictures to see it but if I'm honest the difference in colour stands out like a sore thumb in your pics.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
That bumper definitely looks a different colour.

Does the wheel suddenly kick left like It appears in the video?

Have you got a printout of the geo? If not you need one...

I'd say most of the driving problems are down to alignment.

sebhaque

6,402 posts

180 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Might be worth editing some of those photos on your Flickr to take out personal details like your address, email and possibly your VIN.

mbrad26

Original Poster:

72 posts

137 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for your replies.

I know very well that there are other options around, but the DS5 was my choice. There isn't one brand considered to be fault free, all of them have their own stories.

The front bumper is made from the same material as the rear one yet only the front bumper has a different shade of paint.

From what you've seen on the vids is the steering OK, is this what is to be expected from a brand new car? The wheels size is 17" with 225/50/r17.

Thanks guys





WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
The steering is not OK IMO, it always kicks left. Can you get someone to safely video it on the wrong side of a deserted road to eliminate the camber effect?

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Sounds like its been pranged.

mbrad26

Original Poster:

72 posts

137 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
That bumper definitely looks a different colour.

Does the wheel suddenly kick left like It appears in the video?

Have you got a printout of the geo? If not you need one...

I'd say most of the driving problems are down to alignment.
Yes I have print out and is available on flickr. The wheel alignment is perfect.

folos

900 posts

141 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Damaged while in transit and repaired quickly on the cheap?

Edit: just saw your pics, the colour difference is disgraceful for a brand new car

My bet is they dropped it off a truck and smashed the front end into the ground

Edited by folos on Saturday 5th April 17:30

Shambler

1,184 posts

143 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Contact your finance company and tell them you are not happy with the car. I would imagine you are well within your rights to reject the car as you have not yet "accepted" the car.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
I always feel it is beneficial to at least try and buy a car from a local garage if you can, not ideal taking it a four hour journey away to be looked at every time it has a fault, made this mistake a couple of times, learnt my lesson.

I hope you get the problems fixed to your complete satisfaction. The DS5 seems a nice car.

Shambler

1,184 posts

143 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
That bumper is shocking, I would say there is a good chance the car has been accident damaged and hence the problems. I would reject the car. Good Luck.

mbrad26

Original Poster:

72 posts

137 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
Shambler said:
Contact your finance company and tell them you are not happy with the car. I would imagine you are well within your rights to reject the car as you have not yet "accepted" the car.
All-ready done that. They told me that that they raised the issues with the Dealer under section 75 of Consumer Credit Act 1974 but they close it because the Dealer can't do anything elsesmile. This was before discovering the miss coloured bumper.

I've contacted them again (both Finance Company and Stourbridge ******* Dealer) with the new issue and so far I have no news from any of them.

I understand that for me to be successful in rejecting the car I have to take the car back to the Dealer and leve it there along with all the documentation and the keys. I'm willing to do just that but what if they refuse to take it back? Can I just leave it there?

Cheers

Edited by mbrad26 on Tuesday 15th April 17:53

mbrad26

Original Poster:

72 posts

137 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
The steering is not OK IMO, it always kicks left. Can you get someone to safely video it on the wrong side of a deserted road to eliminate the camber effect?
As long as the road is straight and no inclination left or right the steering is perfectly fine. I can feel a little vibration through the steering wheel but I guess is just the surface of the road.

The problems with the steering only appear when the front wheels goes over bumps an cracks. Is just like bump steer - in my opinion.
also under braking on rough surfaces the steering is twitching and jerking, and the car pools hard left or right.

Campo

10,773 posts

196 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
quotequote all
If you can afford it, it may be worth have a proper inspection from an independant garage. Get them to put it up on the ramps and check the whole underside for damage.

Plastics are often a slightly different shade to the body parts but that front bumper looks like its been resprayed in the wrong colour.

I'd also suspect the car has been damaged coming off the ferry or transporter and subsequently bodged up to sell on.

It really shouldn't snap to the left like that when braking. Perhaps it has a braking fault - weak caliper on the drivers front? MOT station can do a brake test for you.

Edit - also tyres can make a huge difference with tramlining - are the pressures all correct and tyres undamaged (no bulges etc on the inside?)