My car’s engine failed on the motorway and I almost crashed but I only got £3,000 compensation – it’s a joke

Q) MY Land Rover’s engine failed on the motorway and the firm will only pay £3,000 of the £21,000 repair cost.

When I bought the car in December 2022 for £36,000, I also bought an extended warranty that says I can claim up to the value of the car.

I have now been told the warranty will only pay £3,000 maximum per claim, and that my car is too old to warrant a gesture of goodwill. 

As the engine failure was no fault of my own, surely Land Rover should cover all the costs of fixing my car?

Anne Butcher, Norwich

A) YOU were thrilled when you bought your 2017-plate Land Rover discovery for £36k in December 2022 with just 44,000 miles on it. 

You got the car through a Land Rover dealership and bought the best warranty available, which said it would cover up to the full value of your car.

But then in May this year, your vehicle’s engine suddenly failed on the M11 motorway, nearly causing a very serious accident.

There had been no warning signs on the dashboard in advance and you have no idea what caused it. 

But that was only the start of your problems.

When you reported the incident to Jaguar Land Rover and tried to claim on your warranty, the firm said it would pay £3,000 towards the repair costs.

But now you’ve have been quoted £21,000 for the repairs, meaning you need to top up the remaining £18,000.

You’ve checked your warranty small print over and over and can’t figure out why you aren’t covered in full. 

You don’t believe the engine failure was caused by anything you did. In fact, a number of drivers with the same Ingenium 2.0 engine have reported problems similar to yours.

But you told me Jaguar Land Rover argued that it only manufacturers the cars and then sells them onto retailers, so your complaint should be with the garage, and that you can contact the motor ombudsman for help.

You attempted to complain to the motor ombudsman, but it said wait times were over six months and you can’t wait that long without a vehicle.

Thankfully, when I spoke with Jaguar Land Rover, it immediately agreed to investigate your case and reopened it.

It has been a lengthy investigation, but I’m pleased to say the firm has now agreed to cover your whole repair cost and has now provided a courtesy car until yours is fixed. 

The firm has been in touch to confirm this and said it’s pleased to provide this resolution – and you’re thrilled. 

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