Turbo failure whilst towing a caravan - who should pay for the repairs?
I purchased a used 2006 Kia Sorento 2006 a few months ago. The car cost £10,995 from a Kia dealer and had 70,000 miles on the clock. We took out a HP agreement as the dealer gave six months warranty on the car and roadside recovery in the UK.
In August we took our caravan to France and on the last day towing the turbo failed on the car (75,000 miles). We did not have any continental breakdown cover and in total (repairs, recovery costs, caravan storage, ferries, taxi, trains etc) we spent £3200 on getting the car back to the UK.
The warranty company have paid out £1000, the dealer has offered £750, but no more. Should I take the offer or take Kia to court?
In August we took our caravan to France and on the last day towing the turbo failed on the car (75,000 miles). We did not have any continental breakdown cover and in total (repairs, recovery costs, caravan storage, ferries, taxi, trains etc) we spent £3200 on getting the car back to the UK.
The warranty company have paid out £1000, the dealer has offered £750, but no more. Should I take the offer or take Kia to court?
Asked on 6 October 2013 by PJM42
Answered by
Honest John
Yes. Towing with a turbodiesel overheats the turbo. So you have to be very careful to idle the engine for at least two minutes whenever you stop or the rad hot turbo carbonises the oil on it which is its only means of cooling and lubrication. It may also be that the combined rig was overloaded. So there is no guarantee of a small claims court win on this one. You might still win. You might not. Law here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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