F**king Rant Incoming……..

[Guido]

I’m a really straight forward kind of guy. What you see is what you get. What I don’t stand for is shit service. My car went back to Lotus to have a few niggles ironed out. If it could be fixed by tightening or adjusting then no problem. However, when something needed replacing, forget it!!  It’s not covered by Lotus warranty and has been rejected. So after less than 3 months of ownership, I am looking down the barrel of a few grand for a new headlight where some of the LED lights have failed (running lights & indicator lights). I’m now forced to battle with the dealership to get it sorted. 

Right now, Lotus warranty isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. I didn’t go down the private sale route for the extra peace of mind buying from a dealer gave me!!  I wish I hadn’t bothered. It’s worth f**k all. 
 

I read a lot about how other people are left frustrated by the Lotus experience when they encounter problems  and reach out for help from the dealer network.  Add me to the list!  

This had better get resolved or I’m going feral!! 
 

Rant over…… and relax 🧘‍♀️ 

 

Edited July 10, 2024 by Guido

[Roland]

Hi,

I believe with 6 months if brought commercially you are protected bt the Sale of Goods Act, it would be worth checking it out.

Roland

[PaulH]

Yes, I agree.  Never mind the warranty you have the "Consumer Rights Act 2015".  We need Duncx to be online and reply as I think he is very knowledgeable about this subject.  Here's some information about this.  I believe that within the first six months you have the right to reject the vehicle if there are problems of this nature.

[LotusDave]

Unfortunately, it's not just a Lotus experience thing, it's a car dealership experience thing. I personally have experienced this across many different car brands.

I've been stung, which is why I will never buy a new car again. With a used car, you expect to have to fix stuff, and that's why you pay less for used.
Sorry you have to put up with that kind of treatment. Kinda ruins the fun out of owning a car like that.

If possible, might be worth taking it to another dealership for a second opinion.

Edited July 11, 2024 by LotusDave

[Guido]

What grates me more than anything is unless you meet then head on and not take “No” for an answer, you get nowhere. 

Fortunately, I can be an absolute tw*t when needs be. 

Edited July 11, 2024 by Guido

[Dave-hp]

4 hours ago, Guido said:

I’m a really straight forward kind of guy. What you see is what you get. What I don’t stand for is shit service. My car went back to Lotus to have a few niggles ironed out. If it could be fixed by tightening or adjusting then no problem. However, when something needed replacing, forget it!!  It’s not covered by Lotus warranty and has been rejected. So after less than 3 months of ownership, I am looking down the barrel of a few grand for a new headlight where some of the LED lights have failed (running lights & indicator lights). I’m now forced to battle with the dealership to get it sorted. 

Right now, Lotus warranty isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. I didn’t go down the private sale route for the extra peace of mind buying from a dealer gave me!!  I wish I hadn’t bothered. It’s worth f**k all. 
 

I read a lot about how other people are left frustrated by the Lotus experience when they encounter problems  and reach out for help from the dealer network.  Add me to the list!  

This had better get resolved or I’m going feral!! 
 

Rant over…… and relax 🧘‍♀️ 

 

Is this the Exige you bought recently from them? Didn't they do some work on it, (rad and fans) taking the clam off?

Did they disturb the lights when they did the work???? 

Might want to try that angle.....

[Guido]

7 hours ago, Dave-hp said:

Is this the Exige you bought recently from them? Didn't they do some work on it, (rad and fans) taking the clam off?

Did they disturb the lights when they did the work???? 

Might want to try that angle.....

Already have!!

[LotusDave]

If it's internal LED related, unlikely to be damaged by clam removal. It's just a supplier warranty issue, plain and simple.

Which is why it's baffling they don't fix it?!?!?

This is how it works.

1. Dealer removes part and tests on bench (to make sure it's not any other part of the car causing the issue)

2. Orders new part via Lotus cars (under warranty)

3. Lotus Cars (not Lotus dealer) reimburses the Lotus dealer, now Lotus cars is out of pocket.

4. Lotus Cars sends part to supplier of the light and they pay Lotus cars for the failed unit under warranty, now light supplier is out of pocket

5. With this specific issue, the light supplier would likely review and get a warranty claim against the DT2 supplier who supplied the internal LED pack itself.

6. Now DT2 supplier is out of pocket . . . not you, not the dealer, not even Lotus cars.

So why would they not warranty it? It's maddening.

[Jonathan E]

Sorry to hear, I’ve had my issues with Lotus previously so feel your pain it’s a really shitty place to be.

On what basis are they declining a warranty claim?, the led’s are a known issue, I’d be interested to hear why they’re not covered?

[Guido]

The car is 2013 model so they are probably thinking the light is 10+ years old. With this logic, the warranty won’t cover anything as everything on the car is 10+ years old!!! 
 

I’m still bubbling now!!!  Waiting for a call from them this morning. Hopefully with some better news!!

 

[Jonathan E]

If they’re giving a warranty then age of the vehicle shouldn’t come into it, although the length of warranty tends to be shorter depending on the vehicle age. I understand consumables being excluded, but a light unit isn’t a consumable, it could even be argued that it’s essential to the safe operation of the vehicle(indicator). I’m sure you’ve checked the T&C’s very closely, does it exclude such parts?. Is the warranty underwritten by a third party? they might help, or if a finance company is involved they can be helpful. Also, there is an ombudsman for such warranties but in that case the dealer has to be signed up to have any affect.

Fwiw, I once bought a brand new Elise and after 2 months the paint started to fall off it in large chunks. Lotus field engineer told me that the paint wasn’t covered under the 12 month warranty and refused to do anything about it. Needless to say I thought differently. It took a long time to get a satisfactory solution but with a lot of research, and much help from several experts within the Lotus Community along with the threat of legal action I eventually got the car replaced. 
Hopefully your solution will will be easier and quicker🤞

Which dealer did you buy it from?

[Dave-hp]

6 hours ago, Jonathan E said:

If they’re giving a warranty then age of the vehicle shouldn’t come into it, although the length of warranty tends to be shorter depending on the vehicle age. I understand consumables being excluded, but a light unit isn’t a consumable, it could even be argued that it’s essential to the safe operation of the vehicle(indicator). I’m sure you’ve checked the T&C’s very closely, does it exclude such parts?. Is the warranty underwritten by a third party? they might help, or if a finance company is involved they can be helpful. Also, there is an ombudsman for such warranties but in that case the dealer has to be signed up to have any affect.

Fwiw, I once bought a brand new Elise and after 2 months the paint started to fall off it in large chunks. Lotus field engineer told me that the paint wasn’t covered under the 12 month warranty and refused to do anything about it. Needless to say I thought differently. It took a long time to get a satisfactory solution but with a lot of research, and much help from several experts within the Lotus Community along with the threat of legal action I eventually got the car replaced. 
Hopefully your solution will will be easier and quicker🤞

Which dealer did you buy it from?

Its a good point. Bulbs go, but an LED cluster built into the headlight is hardly a consumable, or one that would be simple wear and tear.  It could be laziness on the dealer part, unwilling to go down the route LotusDave has highlighted. 

[Guido]

**Update**
It’s sorted!!  They have managed to get Lotus to agree to pay for a replacement unit. I still feel as though they think I should be grateful that they have sorted it as they still said the repair wasn’t covered by the warranty.

I’ve got to take the car back when the part lands but I’m happy with the outcome. It just shouldn’t have even been an issue IMHO. 

Onwards and upwards. 

[Jonathan E]

Good to hear that they are sorting it👍

[smithpaulg]

it certainly takes the edge of the experience, glad its sorted!