One dealer told us Fiat has stopped making replacement parts, meaning our four-year-old is now obsolete.”įiat produced the part as soon as we got in touch. We called Fiat/Jeep dealers in the US, Italy and Albania on the off chance it might be in stock, but no such luck. “According to Fiat UK, the manufacturer needed an order of 200 parts before it could be produced, and it could take up to a year. “After five weeks, the dealer notified us that there was a production problem and our order had been cancelled,” she says. Mercedes blamed “global supply issues”.Īnitre MacDonagh’s Jeep Compass was also stranded when a replacement for a defective oil part could not be sourced. Without lights, it couldn’t pass its MOT.”Įllis’s car was repaired a week after the Observer intervened. “Raising a complaint to Mercedes-Benz UK customer services yielded no response. “The dealer ordered a replacement last October and, come May, could give me no date on when it might become available,” he says. Mark Ellis was left with an unroadworthy Mercedes for seven months after a headlamp unit failed, leaving him without lights or indicators. Several readers who had waited months because a crucial part could not be sourced found it could be summoned as soon as we questioned the delays. However, our investigation suggests some drivers are being fobbed off by manufacturers who are prioritising sales over repairs. Added to this, there’s a Europe-wide shortage of mechanics and HGV drivers to install and transport the parts. Two-thirds of vehicle components are produced in China and the Middle East, where lockdowns hit supply and demand, while Ukraine is critical in the manufacture of semiconductors. A shortage of courtesy cars, caused by the same manufacturing issues, means those in rural areas are effectively immobilised.Ĭar manufacturers blame Covid and the invasion of Ukraine for disrupting global supply chains. Several who have contacted the Observer have been forced off the road for months with no update on when their vehicle can be repaired. Insurers are writing off vehicles because of indefinite repair delays, according to the National Body Repair Association, which estimates that drivers are having to wait five weeks longer than the pre-pandemic average to book cars in. Joad is one of thousands of drivers left in limbo because of a global shortage of car parts. The company apologised and paid compensation. Late last week, after queries from the Observer, Aviva said the part had finally arrived and her repair had been prioritised.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |