Do I have a leg to stand on?

[Dot Dot Curve]

Even as I start this topic I don't think I do, but would like to get your opinion.

Quick back story.

Bought an 11 plate car in January 14 with ~35k on the clock. I have done ~1k miles since then. In those miniscule 1k miles it has had replaced:

1. New clutch.
2. Drivers side front wheel hub.
3. Clutch cable.
4. Both front passenger and driver windows/motors.

I've just had it back and within an hour the drivers side window/door is now rattling like crazy at the slightest bump in the road.

I am just getting sick and tired of it. I have owned the car for ~3 months and it has been in the garage for ~2 months of those 3 months. More time than I have spent driving it.

The car was bought on HP. Is there any way I can go back to the dealer and essentially either trade it for a working model or just get shot of it really at minimum loss to myself?

I absolutely love the car and it is one for life. I haven't made a decision yet even if I could do what I want to, but I am just getting a bit tired of not having a car and still paying for it.

Garage is shut so can't speak to them until tomorrow and latest issue appeared after hours.


tl;dr Bought car, has had a stload of problems within my 3 months/1k miles of ownership. Can I get out of it/trade it in for a working model?

[Jim AK]

Not nice for you OP but is it possible clutch cable was why the clutch went, or vice versa? Rattly window sounds like they didn't refit something correctly when they sorted the motor & the hub was just 'one of those things'.

Not sure how you stand with SOGA or getting HP company to help but I'm sure someone more clued than me will be along to help.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[Liquid Tuna]

Those are some quite major (IMO) repairs/consumables on a 3 year old car with only 35k on it. I've never had a car as new as that (mine are all sheds) so can't compare, but I'd expect a minimum of 100k miles on a clutch, wheel hub etc. I wouldn't be expecting electrical failures at 3 years either.

What car is it? and what did you pay?
What type of dealer is it (big dealership, small trader etc)?

I too would be pissed off with all these things going wrong on a 3 year old 35k miler. The problem you have is that a clutch is a consumable as far as a warranty goes. So is a wheel bearing perhaps.

I'd probably go back to the dealer and try and speak to them calmly and ask if they think these failures are reasonable?

[Dot Dot Curve]

Jim AK said:

Not nice for you OP but is it possible clutch cable was why the clutch went, or vice versa? Rattly window sounds like they didn't refit something correctly when they sorted the motor & the hub was just 'one of those things'.

Not sure how you stand with SOGA or getting HP company to help but I'm sure someone more clued than me will be along to help.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Cheers mate.

The clutch due to 4th gear crunch, something about the synchro. The clutch cable was done after that and it was because it made a loud squealing noise during use.

I know the rattle is due to that and these thing happen. It was more of a I am pissed off and need to get it out of my system type post I think, and damn I feel better now, BUT any advise about the topic is very much appreciated.

I don't think I will really get rid of it, I genuinely love the car, spend ages finding the perfect one (all the features I wanted), but you never know.

[Dot Dot Curve]

Liquid Tuna said:

Those are some quite major (IMO) repairs/consumables on a 3 year old car with only 35k on it. I've never had a car as new as that (mine are all sheds) so can't compare, but I'd expect a minimum of 100k miles on a clutch, wheel hub etc. I wouldn't be expecting electrical failures at 3 years either.

What car is it? and what did you pay?
What type of dealer is it (big dealership, small trader etc)?

I too would be pissed off with all these things going wrong on a 3 year old 35k miler. The problem you have is that a clutch is a consumable as far as a warranty goes. So is a wheel bearing perhaps.

I'd probably go back to the dealer and try and speak to them calmly and ask if they think these failures are reasonable?

I also forgot I had rear passenger side brakes done due to a high squealing noise as well.

Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 and £10,500.
Dealership is a major dealer (not sure if I can name on here, rules and all that, etc.)

Thankfully all, but the window motors went wrong within the last month of the warranty, so I didn't have to spend, but it worries me it could happen again. I have heard the clutch can be bad on the 200 though.

The window motors were "water damage" so not under warranty (extended due to all the problems). Quoted ~£950.00 for both. Managed to bore and harass Renault into paying most of it due to this being a major fault in the Scenic/Megane. So I only forked out ~£150.00.
I have definitely got lucky with the funding, but that isn't the issue, it is the fact that a car which passed its MOT and was serviced 3 months ago has all of a sudden had all of these problems.

[The Moose]

Do they give you alternative transport when it's in the shop?

[Dot Dot Curve]

The Moose said:

Do they give you alternative transport when it's in the shop?

I have only had 1 courtesy car for 1 day which was for the windows as we were told my Renault to book it in under my mums name.
As I am under 21, I would have to get my own insurance and an outside courtesy car.

I believe the longest I went without car was around 2 and a half weeks.


Garage (different place from dealership I bought it from have been amazing might I add) - no issues there.

[MondeoMan1981]

If you have given the dealer sufficient attempts to rectify the faults and the car is still not fit for purpose, then you can reject the car via your finance company.

I had recent issues with a nearly new car, and advising my finance co that I was considering rejecting the vehicle miraculously resulted in the car being spot on upon its return from the dealer....

[Dot Dot Curve]

MondeoMan1981 said:

If you have given the dealer sufficient attempts to rectify the faults and the car is still not fit for purpose, then you can reject the car via your finance company.

I had recent issues with a nearly new car, and advising my finance co that I was considering rejecting the vehicle miraculously resulted in the car being spot on upon its return from the dealer....

How does that work out if I didn't go back to the dealer to fix it?

Namely because it was under warranty and my local Renault garage (major dealership) is 5 minutes away, compared to the 60miles to the garage I bought it from.

[MondeoMan1981]

Dot Dot Curve said:

How does that work out if I didn't go back to the dealer to fix it?

Namely because it was under warranty and my local Renault garage (major dealership) is 5 minutes away, compared to the 60miles to the garage I bought it from.

Not sure if that has an impact - did you buy it from a Renault dealer? If so that may go in your favour - bought from Renault, returned to Renault. Otherwise could look like you have bought a faulty car and you are trying to get it fixed via the warranty rather than returning it as unfit.

The trip to return can be a ballache, my dealer was 45 miles away and I had it back at them 3 times.

Speak to your finance company, you'll probably find them quite helpful, I know I did - they wrote to my dealer's head office outlining my concerns and what actions I planned to take if the issues weren't addressed.

[Dot Dot Curve]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Not sure if that has an impact - did you buy it from a Renault dealer? If so that may go in your favour - bought from Renault, returned to Renault. Otherwise could look like you have bought a faulty car and you are trying to get it fixed via the warranty rather than returning it as unfit.

The trip to return can be a ballache, my dealer was 45 miles away and I had it back at them 3 times.

Speak to your finance company, you'll probably find them quite helpful, I know I did - they wrote to my dealer's head office outlining my concerns and what actions I planned to take if the issues weren't addressed.

Bought from Ford unfortunately. Car was a trade in.

I'll call them as well tomorrow.


Thanks!