A brand-new Peugeot electric vehicle stopped working within two weeks of delivery, and months later, it still cannot be charged. The owner, identified as AS from Woking, is paying £450 per month for a car that has been unusable for over two months.
Timeline of Failures
The dealer postponed the initial repair appointment by a month due to being too busy. Peugeot Assist, operated by the RAC, eventually collected the car for warranty repair, but it never reached the dealer. The RAC claimed the dealer refused to accept it because it was still too busy. The owner made 36 calls to Peugeot and the RAC and sent multiple emails, but no one could locate the car or respond.
Resolution Attempts
After the Guardian's consumer champion intervened in late January, the RAC located the car within a day. It had been stored after being refused by the appointed dealer and was later delivered to a different dealer. The RAC paid the owner £250 for failing to keep them informed. However, the saga continued. In early February, Peugeot promised compensation and a courtesy car, but the courtesy car never materialised. The owner collected the car in early March, only to find it could not be charged, the boot did not open, the driver's window opened and closed automatically, and the remote locking was faulty.
Ongoing Issues and Legal Rights
Peugeot arranged a spare part, but the dealer insists the car be brought in, which is impossible since it cannot be charged. The owner tried to rescind the lease contract with Leasys, but Leasys refused, arguing that the dealer said the car is drivable and another repair is planned. Leasys did not respond to requests for comment. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, customers have the right to reject faulty new vehicles if an attempted repair fails or is not carried out within a reasonable time. Since the owner has a credit agreement with Leasys, the case falls under the Financial Ombudsman Service. The consumer champion has advised the owner to complain to the Ombudsman.
