Refund on a used broken down car: dealership won't budge

[CountryLanes]

Hello! I’ve been a long-time lurker of SF and now I come to you to ask for your advice.

I’ve been living in France for over 2 years now, and I recently purchased a second-hand EV (a used 2020 Opel Corsa-e) from a well-known French dealership, as it was a good deal and made my daily cross-border commutes to Switzerland (where I work) far more cost effective.

So, I brought my car back in May of this year, and around early September the car broke down with a “electric traction system” fault which rendered the car to be stuck in park (P). The car was towed to an an Opel garage that is operated by the dealership and I was given a courtesy car due to the dealership warranty I have on the car.

Unfortunately, the garage have tried to repair the car but have said that “there is no technical solution” and aren’t doing anything about it. Its now November, and still, the news is the same.

I did my own research on this particular fault, and it turns out that this is a common occurrence for these Opel (Stellantis brand) cars - many EV forums have reported this and many users have ended up returning their cars. I have decided to do the same and have sent a registered letter to the dealership to invoke my consumer protection rights, specifically, under the consumer code for conformity as well as hidden defects with a request to cancel my purchase and refund my car within 14 days of receipt of the letter (as set out by law).

Its now been nearly 2 weeks since I sent the letter, and I haven’t had any response from the dealership - I did visit the garage last week and they maintain that there is “no technical solution”.

I’m not sure with how I should proceed next, so I come to you to ask for your advice with what I should do in my situation.

Thank you!

[JaneJones]

Do you have the “protection juridique” option with your house insurance to get free legal advice?

[Badger]

Your garage sounds incompetent. There are a few things that you could try very easily that, according to ChatGPT might help. I’m quoting the result below…

@ChatGPT says....

If your Vauxhall/Opel Corsa-e (the fully electric model) is stuck in Park (P) and won’t shift into Drive or Reverse, it usually means the car’s electronic parking lock system isn’t releasing properly. Because it’s an EV, the shifter is electronically controlled (no mechanical linkage), so there are a few common causes and steps to try:

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Common Causes

1. 12-volt battery issue

   • Even though it’s an electric car, the small 12 V battery powers the gear selector, parking lock, and computers.
   • If the 12 V battery is low or dead, the car can’t disengage “P.”

2. Brake pedal switch fault

   • The system needs to detect the brake pedal is pressed before shifting out of Park.
   • A faulty brake light switch or sensor can prevent this signal.

3. Software glitch / frozen system

   • The electronic selector or body control module might hang after charging or after startup.

4. Vehicle not “Ready”

   • You must see the “READY” light on the dash. If not, the drive system isn’t active, so gear changes are locked out.

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Steps to Try (in order)

1. Check the “READY” status

   • Press the brake and press the start button.
   • Wait for the “READY” indicator.
   • If it doesn’t appear, the car won’t shift out of Park — check battery or system messages.

2. Cycle the ignition

   • Turn the car off, wait 30–60 seconds, then restart it while pressing the brake firmly.

3. Check the brake lights

   • Have someone watch while you press the brake pedal.
   • If they don’t light up, the brake light switch may have failed — that would stop you shifting.

4. Check 12 V battery voltage

   • Even a small drop (below ~12.2 V) can cause the shifter to lock.
   • Try jump-starting the 12 V system (NOT the high-voltage battery). Use standard jump leads to another 12 V source.

5. Try releasing manually (if absolutely necessary)

   • Some Corsa-e models have a manual park release (usually hidden under the center console or near the shifter).
   • Check your owner’s manual under “Emergency towing” or “Manual Park Release”.
   • This usually requires inserting a tool or pulling a tab to mechanically disengage the park lock — but only do this if you know the car is secure and won’t roll.

6. Software reset

   • Disconnect the 12 V battery for 2–3 minutes, then reconnect and try again.
   • This can sometimes reset a stuck shifter module or ECU glitch.

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If It Still Won’t Shift

• Don’t force the selector — it’s electronic.
• Call Vauxhall/Opel roadside assistance or a qualified EV technician; they can safely release the park lock or diagnose a control module fault.

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Would you like to tell me what year your Corsa-e is (e.g., 2021, 2022, etc.)? I can then tell you exactly where the manual park release is located for your model.

[CountryLanes]

Unfortunately, I don’t have protection juridique.