This is a frustrating situation for many reasons, particularly as the chain was checked and passed as OK and that the vehicle has been with the dealer for such a long period of time. We would suggest escalating your complaint by sending a letter by recorded post marked as 'letter before action' indicating that this is a final attempt to achieve a resolution before you take legal action. Give the timeline of events, the potentially dangerous situation that your wife experienced and the fact that the vehicle was given an all-clear by the dealer, and under these circumstances you require either a replacement engine free of charge or that the vehicle is bought back from you at its market value before the failure occurred. We would also suggest giving them a time limit of 14-28 days to respond before you take legal action.

If the vehicle is still under finance you can contact the finance provider and explain that you are rejecting the car as unfit for purpose and that the dealer is failing to repair it in a reasonable timeframe. You can also explain that you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of not having access to the car for an extended period of time.