In May of this year I purchased a 2007 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso from a Lexus dealer in the north-west for £8800, financed by Lexus. Included in the price was a comprehensive 12-month warranty. About a month later I started to notice problems with the rear pneumatic suspension. I called the dealer and was told to take it to the nearest Citroen dealer (Chapel House in St. Helens). I did not have the warranty details at this point. The fault was diagnosed as worn suspension air cushions and they needed replacing. I now understand that this is a common fault.

As I did not have the warranty details, phone calls took place between Chapel House, the Lexus dealer and the warranty company AON. The work was carried out. A day or so later the suspension warning light come on again, but the suspension seemed fine. I took the car back to Chapel House. A faulty sensor was diagnosed and this was reset. About a month ago I started to notice that the suspension was starting to look faulty again and there was a groaning noise from the rear. It gradually got worse. I informed Chapel House and the vehicle was booked in for 6 September. I thought it may have been the airbags again. I was informed on 8 September that in fact it was the suspension compressor. I gave them my warranty details as I had now received them. I was informed the following day that this component wasn’t covered by my warranty and they hadn’t been paid for the work previously done.

I then called the Lexus dealer. He was baffled, but it turns out that the warranty doesn’t state that pneumatic suspension is covered, nor does it state that it isn’t. I mentioned the six month period that you often write about, during which the selling dealer is liable for the repair. The dealer says that as he carried out a 120 point safety check on the vehicle before I picked it up they have covered their legal obligations and the 6-month period isn’t valid because of this. As I write they are trying to find a solution to help me, but I am in limbo as the car has now been off the road for over a week, is not in a drivable condition and the estimate for the work is over £600, which at this moment in time I haven’t got.