Car problems: your questions answered
Buying, owning and selling cars should be painless. When it isn't, we step in. Read our most recent cases here.
Car ownership should be painless and enjoyable, but occasionally things go wrong. Most of those faults are rectified without too much trouble, but sometimes they're not.
Every week, we take on a reader's case, helping them to solve their car buying problems or car ownership frustrations.
Read on for our most recent cases, so keep checking back to see if there's anything that affects you.
If you'd like our assistance with a problem, you can get in touch with us via Twitter or Facebook or contact our consumer desk via email or on 0207 907 6217.
or speak to a range of industry bodies listed at the bottom of this page.
Latest story: Ford Focus RS sat-nav waits 'a year' for update
Audi
Audi typing error in V5C delayed sale by months
Reader left fuming over sub-standard Kwik Fit A4 repairs
Maintenance row after leak blows Audi TT's stereo
Audi pays up following warranty row over rust
Late Audi S4 service wrecks warranty
Two-day-old Audi A1 in brake fault shock
Should you switch your dash cam off at a dealer?
Audi comes good on old Audi A6 misfuelling issue
Shock at repair bill from Audi Q5 turbo
BMW
Owner considers legal action over faulty BMW X5
Did faulty parts cause BMW 1 Series engine failure?
Dispute over Distance Selling money-back guarantee on BMW X3
BMW demands payments after owner’s death
Owner left frustrated as BMW i3 won't charge on timer
Insurer and BMW go head-to-head over fault
Citroen
Citroen C4 Cactus air-conditioning woes
Citroen Grand Picasso repair row
Secret history of approved used Citroen C4 Grand Picasso
Ombudsman rules in favour of Citroen Grand C4 Picasso owner
Driver queries dealers' diagnoses after £3k bill
Dacia
Rusting Dacia Duster takes months to repair
Rusty Dacia Duster owner bailed out by dealer
Fiat
Faulty traffic updates leave Fiat 500X owner in a jam
Fiat Panda owner loses cool over new heater costs
Owner demands action over 'sub-standard' Fiat Doblo
Ford
Cover confusion over approved used Ford
Crossed wires over Ford Mondeo servicing history
Owner's loyalty rewarded over Ford S-MAX steering fault
Ford KA owner in limbo as Ford and dealer row on rust
Ford gets in gear after Ford Fiesta auto clutch dispute
Owner faces warranty woe over rusty Focus
Ford Focus RS sat-nav waits 'a year' for update
Honda
Customer cancels Honda Civic Type R after unexplained delay
Frozen wipers blow engine computer on Honda Civic
Honda CR-V owner discovers faulty SUV was rejected before
Owner discovers crash damage on 'new' Honda Civic
‘Brand new’ CR-V was actually display model
Hyundai
Rethink from Hyundai after rusting row on i10
Owner wins battle over nearly-new Hyundai i30
Lightning strikes twice on Hyundai i30 blocked diesel filter
Manufacturer picks up the tab for faulty Hyundai ix35 repair
Mystery of 'missing' Eco mode on new Hyundai
Jaguar
Owner in long wait for Jaguar XF hot seat
Jaguar XJ 'melts down' after software update
Jeep
Owner has problem with ignition on Jeep Renegade
£16k to replace engine on £17k Jeep Patriot!
US-sourced tool causes long delay on Jeep fix
Kia
Kia in rust admission on six-year-old Venga
Land Rover
Approved used Evoque arrives with host of flaws
Range Rover Sport owner compensated for long repair time
Rugged Land Rover's axle snaps 'on pothole'
Massive £900 bill for Evoque speaker cover
Months to sort out squeaky Range Rover Evoque
Lexus
Warranty claim honoured on 10-year-old Lexus RX
Mazda
Owner left stunned by CX-7's £12k repair bill
Driver baffled by Mazda CX-5 intermittent stop/start
Mercedes
Owner rages over wear to artificial leather seat in Mercedes ML-350
Errors in PCP payment administration for Mercedes E-Class cause credit score chaos
Mystery of the shattered sunroof on Mercedes C-Class
Owner calls a halt over Mercedes C-Class autobrake glitch
Mercedes gives up on A-Class' radio problem
Dealer doubles back on on Merc warranty repairs
MG
‘No faults’ on new MG3 that left owner stranded
MINI
Dealer and maker can’t agree over MINI Cooper D paint defect
Mitsubishi
Corroded Active Yaw Control pump on Mitsubishi Lancer X
Misfuel leaves ASX owner with £3k bill
Nissan
Nissan Leaf driver stumped by app connection failure
Owner left fuming by rusting Nissan Navara
'Advanced' Nissan sat nav in Pulsar is three years out of date
Nissan quotes £1,240 for DPF fix costing £62
Nissan Juke ignition problem resolved
Body blow for Nissan Leaf as repair causes damage
Nissan under fire over Qashqai belt bust-up
Replacement screen causes Qashqai chaos
Peugeot
Peugeot can’t crack the code to fix stricken RCZ
Peugeot takes wrong turn over faulty sat-nav
Dealer refuses to match Peugeot's service plan
Renault
Owner rails at Renault over new SUV's paint
Costs spiral as petrol courtesy car replaces EV
SEAT
SEAT Ibiza's damaged fusebox takes five months to diagnose and fix
Skoda
Skoda Fabia MirrorLink misery reflects badly
Citigo finance deal turns sour over disputed bill
Skoda Yeti owner wants a time out on slow parking sensors
SsangYong
Buyer panic as SsangYong dealer loses franchise
Subaru
Wi-Fi interference disrupts Subaru Levorg keyless system
Suzuki
Suzuki Vitara signal failure puts nav traffic alerts off course
Tesla
Owner bemused by Tesla's power shortfall
Toyota
Toyota stands firm over GT86 torque steer issue
Toyota refuses to help on Avensis door crack
Kit confusion as Toyota Auris shakes up specs
Squirrels make a meal of Toyota Aygo
Lightning strikes twice on faulty Toyota Verso engine
Halfords denies blame after Toyota Avensis brake glitch
Vauxhall
Clutch failure raises question on warranty
Vauxhall Antara can't be rejected despite recurring rust
Dispute over bubbling paint on Vauxhall Astra GTC
Vauxhall Astra VXR engine failure and gearbox problems
Action respray after Vauxhall Astra paint mismatch
Vauxhall Antara owner's rage over 'mystery recall'
‘Driving style’ blamed for early Vauxhall Cascada oil change
Vauxhall owner raging after mysterious Corsa fire
Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf R owner left in limbo as power loss fault can't be replicated
VW Golf £1,145 adaptive cruise glitch fixed for just £46
VW Tiguan owner left frustrated by 'unclear' servicing plan
Dealer can't explain how Volkswagen Amarok drove itself
Volvo
Volvo steps in to help owner reject XC90
Breakdown Cover
RAC 'repair' causes over £1,200 of new damage
Finance
'First of many' dealers facing finance fraud KO
Hire cars
£105 hire car bill after out-of-hours damage
Insurance
Persistence pays off for hit and run victim
Useful contacts
The following could provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m).
Legal
AA: 0906 010 1300 (p)
RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m)
Which?: 01992 822 800
Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506
Used car inspections
AA: 0800 085 3007
RAC: 0800 085 2529
Technical advice
AA: 0870 606 1619 (m)
Driving licences
DVLA: 0300 790 6801
Car registration/history
HPI: 01722 422 422
AA: 0800 316 3564
DVLA: 0300 790 6802
RAC: 0800 975 5867
Problems with dealers
Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825
Retail Motor Industry Federation: 0845 839 9205 (m)
Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510
Problems with car manufacturers
Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825
Financial problems
Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567
Safety concerns/recalls
DVSA: 0300 123 9000
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