AVOID AVOID AVOID
AVOID, AVOID, AVOID – BUY FROM SZ Motor Group (Nottingham) AT YOUR OWN RISK
I purchased a 2019 Ford Ranger Wildtrak from SZ Motor Group in May 2025, and it has been the worst vehicle purchase I have ever made.
From day one, the truck had serious issues. The engine coolant warning light came on, and the vehicle repeatedly overheated. The gearbox also developed problems from fourth gear upwards, causing the truck to jerk and pull unexpectedly. Since then, the list of faults has only grown.
One thing I will say is that when you're buying a vehicle, they couldn't be nicer. They have the gift of the gab and make you feel confident that you're buying a quality vehicle from a trustworthy dealership. Unfortunately, in my experience, that all changed the moment I reported the faults. Once they had my money, the helpful attitude disappeared. My emails, letters and phone calls were ignored, and I was left to deal with serious mechanical problems on my own.
The vehicle has since been found to need:
- New gearbox
- New wet belt
- Engine head gasket
- Engine head bolts
- Crankshaft bearing set
- Piston ring set
- Engine block skimming
- Engine head skimming
- Engine removal and refitting
- Repairs for multiple leaks
- Extensive rust treatment underneath
- Repairs to a coolant leak
- Blocked coolant pipe
- Damaged cylinder head requiring replacement
For a 2019 vehicle, the condition has been completely unacceptable.
Within six weeks of buying the vehicle, I contacted SZ Motor Group for the first time to report the faults, while the vehicle was still covered by the six-month warranty. The most disappointing part of this experience was the after-sales service. In my experience, the warranty was effectively worthless. My emails, letters and phone calls were ignored, leaving me with no option but to take legal action.
The court process lasted nearly 12 months. During that time, there were missed mediation appointments and hearings, which caused lengthy delays. It was an incredibly stressful and frustrating experience. After almost a year, I finally recovered my money through the legal process, and enforcement action was close to being required before the matter was resolved.
Because of the vehicle's condition, I have been unable to drive it for around 11 months while it sat on my driveway awaiting repairs. The financial cost has been enormous, and now the repair bill has grown even further following a full inspection.
The latest inspection confirmed that, in addition to the gearbox issues, the engine requires major internal repairs. These are not the kinds of repairs anyone should expect after purchasing what was supposed to be a roadworthy vehicle.
Based on the serious defects that have since been identified, I do not believe this vehicle was of satisfactory quality when it was sold to me. In my experience, it has been unsafe to drive, which is why it has remained parked on my driveway for around 11 months. Given the extent of the faults and the repairs now required, I do not believe it was worth anywhere near the price I paid for it.
I am now gathering all of the expert reports, invoices, photographs and other evidence to begin a second legal claim in relation to these newly discovered defects, which I believe were present when I purchased the vehicle.
If anyone from SZ Motor Group is reading this, I hope you are prepared for round two. I believe you sold me a vehicle that was not of satisfactory quality, and I intend to present all of the evidence before the court.
I am also reporting my experience to Trading Standards and raising concerns through the appropriate consumer protection channels, as I believe this matter deserves further investigation.
This has genuinely been one of the most difficult and stressful experiences I have ever had as a customer. I would not buy another vehicle from SZ Motor Group, and based on my own experience, I strongly recommend that others do their research very carefully before considering buying from them.
Based on my experience, I do not believe this company should still be trading. I hope that by sharing my experience, other potential buyers will think carefully before purchasing a vehicle from this dealership.
Please avoid this dealership. My experience has cost me over a year of stress, court proceedings, and extensive vehicle repairs. I sincerely hope no one else has to go through what I have experienced.
23 lipca 2025
Opinia niezależna