In September 2024 I purchased a used SEAT Arona 21377 mileage, registered 30/03/2022, from a SEAT main dealer 60 miles from my home. On 26/2/25 (outside 30 days but within 6 months) the vehicle developed a fault and was taken to my nearest SEAT main dealership 5 miles from my home. Mileage was 23,604. After inspection we were advised the car needed a new engine because of a Crank Thrust Washer problem. This garage however refused to honour the warranty claiming the vehicle had been serviced twice at a Seat dealership outside the manufacturers’ guidelines on time & mileage. The original dealer claimed the other garage were being pedantic and promised to honour the warranty but insisted I get the vehicle to them at a cost to me of £336 for recovery from one garage to the other. I also incurred costs to travel by train to Crewe to collect a courtesy car. The original SEAT dealership has agreed to reimburse the recovery cost but have yet to pay this despite two emails requesting they do so. They have also been asked to cover the train cost but have yet to agree to this. SEAT customer care were informed of the issues on 26/2/25 and have opened a case but have yet to provide any form of response. They have been sent a message on 23/3/25 chasing up a response and posing three questions 1) Why was the warranty declined by my local SEAT dealership. 2) What will happen if a further warranty claim arises. 3) Why was a car sold that did not have satisfactory service history which led to the warranty being declined by my local Seat dealership.

My questions are: 1) Under the Consumer Protection Act 2015 are we entitled to recover our costs for the recovery of the vehicle and collecting the courtesy car. 2) Am I entitled to request a replacement vehicle rather than accept a repair. The garage claim they get once chance at repair and only if that fails can I request a replacement or money back (less usage costs). My reading of the Consumer Protection Act is that I can request Repair or Replacement with the garages having a get out only if either of the remedies is impossible or disproportionate compared to the other. My argument is that it's not disproportionate for a main dealer to source a replacement similar vehicle (age, mileage & spec). I have agreed to neither remedy yet but the original SEAT dealership are currently going ahead with fitting a new engine regardless.

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks