What should I do about my faulty Meriva?
I bought a secondhand Opel Meriva (2005, 1.4) last year. Its history shows that, just before I bought it, the steering column had been replaced. There was a power steering "issue" last year (failure making turning impossible, EPS light flashing). Diagnostics were run and seemed to pass all, nothing more was done and the problem only appeared again over the past week with the power steering failing and the EPS light coming on.
When this happens on a motorway it's a very scary thing! The car is under warranty until end January 2015 so obviously I want to get everything done that's possible prior to that expiring (and the NCT will be due then too). Of course the dealer I bought this from is fobbing it off as not a big deal, but I can clearly see from wider reviews that this is a major problem in Merivas dating 2003-2008. In some cases I see that even when the steering column is replaced it doesn't solve the problem, but in any case I think better to do this anyway as a first step.
I will go to my garage about this on Monday but I need this to be taken seriously by them. The two things I have going against me here however is that A) I essentially know nothing about cars so can be easily hoodwinked by jargon and B) I'm a woman - so how could I possibly even understand? ;-)
Please help me out here would you - I've a baby due in about eight weeks and it won't be good if the power steering fails on the dash to the maternity ward!
Miriam Ryan (Dublin)Nov 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Mirian,
There's just nothing good about any of that. Bad enough that it happens at all, worse still that you're coming to the end of your pregnancy - as you say, you just don't need that kind of hassle.
The problem is a recurrent one on the Meriva, and seems to stem from a good old manufacturing fault. As far as I can tell it dates back to at least 2011, but in spite of repeated calls from owners and even a stinging piece on the BBC consumer show Watchdog, General Motors has failed to issue a recall for the problem.
For the moment, the best thing I can suggest is that you press your Opel dealer to give you a loan car, NOT A MERIVA, for the duration of the rest of your pregnancy, so at least you have peace of mind. Some car dealers like to try and duck the issue, but under the good old Sale Of Goods And Supply Of Services Act (otherwise known as your statutory rights) you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. Clearly, if the steering column has already been replaced, repairing it hasn't worked so you're looking for one of the other two.
If you feel up to tackling the dealer, then simply don't let yourself be fobbed off. Stand your ground in the dealership and don't be afraid to kick up a massive fuss. After all, can you imagine worse publicity for any business than to have a heavily pregnant woman, in tears, talking to local and national media about the issue? If they try spinning your head with tech-talk, just put your hand up and say "I don't care about the technicalities, I paid for a car that would work and I want this one to work, or a suitable replacement." Keep using that phrase and don't back down whatever you do.
In fact, let us know when you're planning to go in and perhaps one of the CompleteCar.ie team could come with you as backup. In a consumer-centric world, where recalls are in the news every day, this kind of behaviour is utterly unacceptable so don't you go accepting it.
Please do let us know how you get on.
Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser@neilmbriscoe