A new car does not always guarantee trouble-free motoring, according to the European Consumer Centre.
The ECC received 25 per cent more queries about cars last year than in 1999. Of the 1,099 queries, the single biggest issue was new-car breakdown. This accounted for 25 per cent of all car-related queries. This year's figures show that the ECC received 71 queries about cars in January with 29 (40 per cent) relating to new-car breakdown.
While the increase in queries may be partly due to increased car sales, ECC manager Ms Tina Leonard said: "There is a huge range of problems, ranging from cars not being as described - for instance, no power steering or 1999 specifications rather than 2000 - to new cars breaking down."
One consumer bought a new car which was fine while the sun shone. But, once the rain fell, it lost power - the sunroof leaked and fuses blew. When the customer left it at the garage for repair, it was returned with an additional 400 miles on the clock. But the problem still hadn't been fixed.
Other problems the ECC has encountered with new cars include the clutch going and the garage refusing to repair it, chipped paint, more leaks, rusting and roof bubbling.
Ms Leonard said: "If you buy a new car and it has a problem then you are entitled to a repair which must render the car as if new. If the repair doesn't work or solve the problem or you're waiting a long time, then you are entitled to a replacement or a refund."
She said resolution could be costly because consumers might have to employ a solicitor.
Mr Alan Nolan, deputy chief executive of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), said: "We have not heard about an increased percentage of new cars breaking down. New car sales were up 30 per cent last year. We would have heard if there were huge amounts of unrest."
Consumers who bought cars from a member of SIMI could use the free dispute-resolution service. SIMI first tried to resolve the problem through mediation and would then refer the matter to a tribunal, which could issue a recommendation. Recommendations were binding on SIMI members but not on the consumer, Mr Nolan said.
However, the society issued binding recommendations only in relation to the way the car had been sold, for instance, if the VAT reduction was not passed on.
"If the dispute is to do with the fitness of the car, the issues are too complex to issue recommendations. We try to resolve them by mediation and if that doesn't work, the consumer can go to arbitration or to court," Mr Nolan said.