In September last year we had a 40,000-mile service on our Chevrolet Tacuma. The Chevrolet garage we bought it from and always go to advised me to get the cam belt replaced, which I agreed to. On 1 January our engine failed because the tensioner pulley broke, making the cam belt slip and causing extensive damage to the engine. We had to pay (under protest) for the car to be fixed because we need it, but we don't feel responsible because from all the advice and information I've got since this happened, the garage should have replaced the whole kit, not just the belt.

They are claiming Chevrolet’s policy is to change the belt only, but this is a Daewoo engine known to have tensioner failure problems. Trading Standards say I have a good case as they didn't exercise "reasonable care and skill" with our car and advised me to complain to Motor Codes Ltd, which I am about to do. If that doesn't work, T.S. told me to take the Chevrolet garage to court. Do you think we have been treated unfairly? We are £700 out of pocket and now we don't feel like we can trust our car.