When I purchased my 2013 Fiesta at the end of January, I noticed:

• Driver side puddle light not working
• Central arm-rest lid, 1 broken hinge

On the 5th March I took the Fiesta in for it's 2nd year service, I made them aware of the issues above. Upon collection later that day, I was advised that the issues were not rectified and I was to bring the Fiesta back in for the "warranty repairs" (there was NO mention of me having to fork out for these repairs) Anyway i've dropped the Fiesta off this morning, all is good there. I've just received a phone call back and i've been told that the "driver side puddle light" is repairable under warranty. However the "central arm-rest lid's broken hinge" isn't repairable under warranty.

I then challenged the guy, and said why wasn't I told any of this when I had the service? As I was told to bring the Fiesta back on the 31st for the warranty repairs, plus was advised that they would need to Fiesta for 2 days - as the whole middle console needs to be taken out, for the new arm-rest console to be fitted. He said the master technician has inspected the repairs, and deemed it "not under warranty" I then went on to ask how much for the repair, he quoted over £150 for the part +VAT +fitting!! You can only imagine what I told him to do

Which dealer ?

Ashton Gate, Bristol

I use Days Ford here in south Wales & they're faultless t.b.h. ( so far ) !

Don't mean this in a bad way, but if you noticed it when you purchased it you should of

1. Made them aware and get them to fix asap as its a new vehicle your purchasing

2. Not left it until your service because for all the technician knows uouve broken it since.

If the hinge is damaged it isn't warranty as someone has been too hard opening/closing it etc.

So In my opinion that isn't the dealers fault, but out of good will if you purchased the car from there Id tell the manager your situation and hope he understands and does it for free or discounted.

What makes me laugh is (and I won't forget this), that when I collected after the service - the guy mentioned "They tried fixing the arm-rest hinge with a screw, but that didn't work. So you'll need to bring it back in for the repair" with no mention of a potential cost for me to pay. It was all deemed as "warranty repairs" and now they've changed their bleeding mind.

Don't mean this in a bad way, but if you noticed it when you purchased it you should of

1. Made them aware and get them to fix asap as its a new vehicle your purchasing

2. Not left it until your service because for all the technician knows uouve broken it since.

If the hinge is damaged it isn't warranty as someone has been too hard opening/closing it etc.

So In my opinion that isn't the dealers fault, but out of good will if you purchased the car from there Id tell the manager your situation and hope he understands and does it for free or discounted.

The car was purchased with cash, from a buyer on Gumtree. Of course I didn't check over the arm-rest lid, I was looking at the bodywork/wheels/engine/etc (the important things). The fault wasn't discovered until a few days later, when I actually opened the arm-rest to start storing bits n' bobs.

Well you've just answered yourself, the guy you bought it from broke the armrest hinge and unfortunately it isn't warranty. The confusion also being the technician wouldn't tell you that as it isn't his job, they've made the phone call to inform you. I'm afraid that's part of buying privately, you don't get a dealer cover or the dealer repairing things like that before its re-sold to someone like yourself.

So looks like no matter where you go, you'll be paying for the repair unless you leave it as it is.

A private buy puts you on thin ice with dealer as far as the armrest is concerned i.m.o.

Well I suppose I can live with it, but i'm just slightly annoyed. For the simple fact upon taking her in for the service, and making them aware of the issues. They obviously "attempted" to fix the arm-rest (hence I was told a "screw" didn't work), which means they should have told me there and then - that there will be a cost involved for the repair. Not leave it until I take it in, then call me back several hours later to tell me the arm-rest repair isn't deemed a warranty repair. Understand where i'm coming from?

Yeh I understand your frustration on that view and I admit the dealer should of made you aware before any work was attempted/carries out etc. But in common sense, it hasn't failed its been damaged so isn't going to be warranty and that's part of buying privately. Its one of them things you have to suck up im afraid as part of buying privately to save some money, dealers charge more for that reason. If anything is wrong you can get it sorted. They won't sort something and be out of pocket when it isn't a car they've sold.

All Fords, up to 3 years old, new or used, come with Ford's LIMITED 3 year warranty, subject to it being serviced e.t.c.

Not on damaged parts, only a dealer would repair these faults to sell or if you've purchased a used car they will repair it. Won't repair one bought privately as they haven't sold the car so only have to cover manufacture warranty items which they claim back the cost for from ford.

All Fords, new or used, come with Ford's LIMITED 3 year warranty, subject to it being serviced e.t.c.

Indeed, as the driver side puddle light is being repaired under Ford's warranty.

That's what I mean by LIMITED.

So unfortunately it's pay to repair or ignore the fault.

Personally don't think the dealer has done a great deal wrong. They've repaired your puddle light, just communication about the armrest obviously wasn't the best

Try another dealer, you never know your luck. If you had purchased from a dealer and this fault developed, you could have demanded a repair free of charge under the Sale of Goods Act. This would be regardless of warranty issues.

You purchased privately so cannot enforce those rights sadly. Unless of course the person you bought it from buys and sells cars in the course of a business.

Try another dealer, you never know your luck. If you had purchased from a dealer and this fault developed, you could have demanded a repair free of charge under the Sale of Goods Act. This would be regardless of warranty issues.

You purchased privately so cannot enforce those rights sadly. Unless of course the person you bought it from buys and sells cars in the course of a business.

Hit the nail on the head, that sums it perfectly.

... just communication about the armrest obviously wasn't the best

Very much indeed!

So have you been charged any thing for them to attempt repair with a screw?

So have you been charged any thing for them to attempt repair with a screw?

No, the attempt with a screw was done when I took it in for the service (beginning of the month). It wasn't until today I received a call back (after leaving the vehicle with them), stating if I want the repair - i'd have to pay for it. As you can imagine, I kindly told them "No Thanks!!"

This screw lark makes me wonder... because they say they "attempted" to repair when I took it in for the service. If this wasn't a warranty repair to begin with, why did they even attempt to repair it in the 1st place. Either a gesture of goodwill, or the sales person was pulling my leg. As it's completely strange to why on this occasion, they're now saying this isn't a warranty repair.

Get what I mean?

Get what mean, they should have told you when you took it in for servive it wasnt covered, the 3 year warranty isnt the same throughout that period anyway, alot of exclusions after first12 months , so may not have been covered regardless of damage or manufacturer defect.

Not sure on what exclusions they are.

trouble is thers got to be good comunication from receptionist to workshop controller to tech, then back again, sometimes whats required and covered by warranty or not can get mis communicated,

And your at the end of that comunication.

But , I still agree with you , you should have been told what was and wasnt warranty.

I guess the moral of this story is if you take your car in for repairs/warranty, to ask the dealer if the repair is covered under warranty or if not why not and how much?

But you shouldn't need to ask, it's good practice (and customer service) to inform the customer upfront of any costs that maybe involved. Not to wait until almost 4 weeks later, and then decide to tell them - over the telephone.

Plus I was told to bring the Fiesta back (after having the service) for the "warranty" repairs.