“Avoid Arnold ckark st helens. Absolutely appalling company. I bought a car last year £10000 +. They persuaded me to buy a 2 year warranty and 2 year service & mot plan.
Had my mot 2 days ago and it passed, I asked them while it's in to check the rear window wiper not working.
So the same mechanic who do the mot,said its a broken wire in the tail gate and that it's wear and tear so not under warranty. He charged me £82 for checking that wire. He than said do you want me to replace the wire for £131.
How is a wire inside a tail gate a moving part and therefore wear and tare.
Will never go near them again.”
“My elderly parents purchased a car in July 2025. Unfortunately, the service and quality of the vehicle have been far below acceptable standards, especially given the loyalty my family has shown to Arnold Clark over many years.
To summarise the key issues:
1. The initial sales experience was poor. The car was purchased for £6,000, yet when I insured it, the insurer advised a valuation of only £4,500.
2. When I queried this discrepancy shortly after purchase, I was told there was no cooling-off period because my parents had paid a cash deposit, leaving them with no option but to keep the car.
3. Despite being driven only around 2,000 miles since purchase, the vehicle has experienced multiple serious failures.
4. Within one month of purchase, the car broke down. Arnold Clark replaced the battery free of charge, which we appreciated, but this was only the beginning of the problems.
5. A few days ago, the car broke down again. The AA recovered it to a garage where an oil filter issue was identified and replaced.
6. However, within four miles of leaving the garage, the car began smoking heavily. The AA attended again and advised my dad that he believed the engine had failed.
This is entirely unacceptable for a vehicle that has been driven so minimally (2000 miles to be factual) and purchased less than 8 months ago.
I contacted Arnold Clark and spoke with the Sales Manager, who confirmed he would ask the Service Manager, to call me. I had to chase up as I did not receive a phone call!
What makes the situation even more disappointing is my parents’ long-standing loyalty and significant spend with Arnold Clark, most recent purchases were:
1. A Toyota £22,000 purchased Jan 2024
2. A £25,000 car purchased in June 2025
3. The above vehicle £6,000 purchased in July 2025
Total spend: £53,000 with Arnold Clark in the last 2 years.
Given the repeated mechanical failures, the low mileage, the financial impact, and the poor customer experience, we expect this matter to be handled as a priority due to the safety concerns and the loyalty shown to the business.
I’ve had to chase for a response, the General manager Alex just repeated the same message. No understanding of customer loyalty or the fact that a car has been sold and now needs a brand new engine!!!
They have completely dismissed it and wanted my father to pay to get the car towed to Arnold Shark, then charge to look at the car and then they MAY decide to help out!
The engine has failed after 8 months and 2000 miles!!!!!!
Arnold Shark are sharks and I would NEVER recommend this company to anyone!!!!!!!”
“If I could give 0 stars, I would.
Extremely disappointing experience with the Arnold Clark Linwood SEAT/Skoda service centre. My car has been in for warranty repairs for several days, and I have been repeatedly told it would be ready “tomorrow.” This has clearly not been the case, and I have yet to receive a clear or honest explanation for the delay.
Communication has been poor throughout. I have had to chase for updates myself, only to be given vague responses and shifting timelines. There appears to be little regard for the inconvenience caused to customers.
To make matters worse, I have been left without a courtesy car while my vehicle remains off the road, despite relying on it daily and continuing to make finance payments.
This level of service is unacceptable. Customers deserve transparency, realistic timelines, and basic support when their vehicle is in for repairs—none of which have been provided here.
Based on my experience, I would strongly advise others to think carefully before using this service centre.”
“I bought a car from AC in 2023 MG3 vtech 1.5 lux. Within 8 months I had to get a new clutch.
I was a bit disappointed but the car registered low mileage and seemed a good buy Now still have it Now worth 900 Hope to get shot of it soon”
“Recently took the car into Vauxhall Sighthill for a recall regarding the timing chain and add blue system. I have owned the car for over 2 years now and never had any problems with engine management lights whatsoever!. They had the car for around 3 hours and returned it to me, saying that's it all done!
Well, about 10 minutes into the journey home, the engine failure sign came on I telephoned them and reported this. They replied that there had been a few issues in the past with this, that there might be a need for adjustments to the software, and asked if I could bring it back in, which I did at greater time and expense to myself, as I live around 40 miles away.
They had it for a further 2 hours and concluded that it had nothing to do with the so-called update, and there must have been an underlying issue there all along, even though it had been on a diagnostic machine in the past, which showed NO faults whatsoever! THEY came to the conclusion that it must have been a coincidence that it happened 10 minutes after they had been pottering around with their so-called upgrade. The chances of this are very slim to none, but Vauxhall will stand by that excuse because they have no other reasonable one to offer. They asked if I would like to pay them to further investigate the problem, which in their opinion could be the DPF or a sensor Which would have thrown up an engine management light long before now if that were the case, Which I obviously declined they clearly caused, this problem but won't or refuse to take ownership I refused to let them go near it looks to me like a hard upsell in my opinion. I am now having this matter checked by competent, unbiased mechanics to get their professional evaluation of this debacle.”
“I sincerely appreciate Mrs. Zamora Lisette for her dependable support. She resolved my withdrawal issue promptly and ensured the entire process was smooth and stress-free.”
“Broken promises and poor aftercare - never will I visit an Arnold Clark branch again
I purchased a CUPRA Born from Arnold Clark Winsford in November 2025 on a PCP agreement, and unfortunately the experience after signing the paperwork has been extremely disappointing.
At the point of sale, I was assured that my EV charger installation would be completed within two weeks of delivery. In reality, it took approximately two months. During that time, I was left without a proper home charging solution and had to repeatedly use rapid charging stations, incurring over £235 in additional charging costs.
I was also told that any shortfall in installation costs would be £199. The actual additional charge was £337. This was not what had been explained at the time of purchase.
Communication throughout the process was poor. I had to repeatedly chase updates myself and even suggest that they provide a temporary 3-pin charging solution while waiting for installation. Promises were made by senior management, including reimbursement of rapid charging costs, but these have not been honoured.
What has disappointed me most is not just the initial problems, but how the complaint has been handled. There has been little acknowledgement of the inconvenience caused or the financial impact on my family, and no meaningful attempt to put things right.
Buying a car, particularly on finance, should come with confidence in the dealership’s aftersales support. Unfortunately, that has not been my experience here.
I would strongly advise prospective customers to ensure all promises are confirmed in writing and to carefully consider the level of aftersales support they may receive.”
“Holly, (on service reception desk at Jordanhill branch Glasgow) was exceptionally pleasant and helpful. She even offered me a very welcome coffee. She also managed the de-brief when I went to collect the car at the end of the day , once again in a friendly efficient way. Thank you - that courteous attitude make all the difference.”
“Purchased a used car one week ago but it developed a fault of suddenly losing power. Took it back and wanted to unwind the sale and purchase a new version of the same car. Unhelpful, is being very kind, dit was like talking to a robot, although We would probably get more sense, cooperation and satisfaction out of a robot. Disgusted with their non service. Their so called Product consultants are all smiles at the sale but when it comes to problems they suddenly morph into the old dodgy used car salesman . Had to cancel the new car from Arnold Clark because Arnold Clark would not comply with normal good customer service. 1* is too many.”
“⭐ 1 Star – Avoid at All Costs
I’ve never experienced anything as shocking as my recent purchase from Arnold Clark. The car I bought turned out to be clocked by over 80,000 miles. That alone is outrageous, but it didn’t stop there. The vehicle had multiple faults from day one:
No internal lights
Suspension issues
Bald tyres
Fake service history
Fake MOTs
When I raised these issues, they initially offered me £500 compensation, only to withdraw the offer when I refused to spend that money on another Arnold Clark vehicle. That says everything about their priorities.
Customer service was absolutely useless. They showed zero interest in resolving the situation, so I hope they don’t bother replying with the usual “please contact customer services” line, because I already tried — and they didn’t care.
This has been a terrible experience from start to finish. In my opinion, the whole operation feels like a complete scam. I would highly recommend avoiding Arnold Clark if you value your money, your safety, or basic honesty.”
“I purchased a car online from Arnold Clark in July last year, and unfortunately this has been one of the most stressful and disappointing experiences I have ever had with a car dealership.
From the outset, the vehicle had multiple faults, including:
A cracked windscreen
A broken motor on the left wing mirror
Faulty speakers
Faulty steering, which pulls from side to side while driving
Despite numerous inspections carried out by Arnold Clark, I was repeatedly told that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, aside from the windscreen crack, which they did eventually acknowledge.
Following advice from the sales manager, Jack, at the Preston branch, I arranged for an independent inspection to be carried out by Kia. This inspection identified all of the faults I had raised from the beginning, and several parts were repaired or replaced under warranty. This confirms that my concerns were valid and should have been taken seriously much earlier.
Due to the ongoing issues, I submitted a vehicle rejection complaint with my finance company, Volkswagen Financial Services. Six months later, this is still unresolved. I am appalled to discover that Volkswagen Financial Services have now closed my complaint without my consent and without issuing a final response email, which is completely unacceptable.
I contacted Volkswagen Financial Services again today, as I am fully aware of my consumer rights and want my finance agreement properly reviewed. I was advised that Ray had closed my complaint, despite the fact that he spoke to my partner in December and stated he would call me back the following week — a call which never happened. I was also told today that there are no notes on the system from the December call, despite us having call logs to the relevant number and being advised that calls are recorded.
During today’s call, I was initially told that Ray was not in the office, only for this to later be contradicted when the advisor admitted that he was. The call then ended abruptly when the phone was put down on me. This level of conduct is shocking.
I have since emailed Volkswagen Financial Services stating:
“You closed my complaint without my consent and without issuing a final response.
This breaches FCA DISP rules.
Please provide your Final Response letter immediately so I can refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.”
What makes this situation even worse is that not once have Arnold Clark Customer Services contacted me directly. I have received no calls, no emails, and no meaningful follow-up at any stage. I have been left entirely to chase both the dealership and the finance company myself.
I have a 10-year-old daughter, and I am still being forced to drive a vehicle with dangerous steering issues. The car pulls me from side to side on the road, which is extremely unsafe. I find it utterly disgusting that safety concerns involving a child have been treated with such disregard.
I have had to use multiple days of annual leave, as well as cover fuel and mileage costs, just to attend inspections and chase an issue that should never have been dismissed in the first place. Communication throughout this entire process has been virtually non-existent.
I have never had an issue with Arnold Clark before, which makes this experience even more disappointing. I am appalled by the conduct of both Arnold Clark and Volkswagen Financial Services, and this experience has completely put me off ever using their services again.
Consumer Rights Position:
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, vehicles must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. A vehicle with ongoing steering faults clearly fails to meet these standards. As the car was purchased on finance, Volkswagen Financial Services are equally liable under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Closing a complaint without issuing a final response breaches FCA DISP rules and leaves me no option but to escalate this matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
I would strongly advise others to think very carefully before entering into any agreement with Arnold Clark or Volkswagen Financial Services.”
“Charging my car at Arnold Clark Anniesland. Brilliant and fantastic customer service, so welcoming and a great coffee counter, clean toilets. Greeted at the door by the loveliest staff ever..... Marion. Thank you.”
“Terrible service from Arnold Clark who also don't like dealing with complaints. From the day I picked up my car i had issues which should of got picked up on their comprehensive pre delivery inspection like they advertised, for the whole 60 day warranty i was chasing them up and going back and forth taking days off and wasting my time, I received emails regarding my issues now nothing not even a phone call or good will gesture, take you money and run that's Arnold Clark so before you buy from them read the reviews and think about the aftercare they don't provide especially dealing with complaints.”
“Bought a brand new car from this dealership. Less than a month of ownership and there is an issue with it that is making it unsafe to drive and unfit for use. As you can see the car has done less than 800 miles.
On Monday Arnold Clark central 60 day warranty team booked it in with this dealership, confirming to me the dealership would collect the car and provide me with a courtesy car for the duration it was away. They told me the dealership would be in touch to confirm, when I hadn’t heard from them I called them back Tuesday to then receive this email:
Dear …….
I have spoken to my manager and he confirmed that, as this car is new and still under manufacturer's warranty, Citroen would have to organise and cover the recovery of the vehicle. They would also be able to organise a replacement vehicle for you. Our courtesy cars are not available for long term hire and never guaranteed.
He also mentioned that there is a Citroen recovery button on your vehicle, which, if pressed, will send out the recovery team to your location. It is located in the roof next to the rear view mirror (but not the SOS button) - if this helps.
I am very sorry for this inconvenience and I understand your frustration completely. Unfortunately, this is the process to follow and for the manufacturer to organise. I would suggest getting in touch with the Citroen customer care team on 0800 093 9393 to see if they can help you with this.
Absolutely diabolical they are taking no accountability whatsoever to help me in any way after selling me the car and I am now left with an unsafe car!
This dealership are obviously only interested in income and now customer service.”
“I bought my ds3 crossback from arnold clark Birtley Site. Within 3 months it failed to start most days, cut out completely mid drive on busy roads, terrifying 😳 the sent an AA van to tow it back to them and even he coukdnt start it. They called me next day to collect saying it was repaired, new battery. I told them no way is this fault a battery, but im a woman so wouldn't listen. Took it home, next day none starter again, AA back out and towed back to them. Insisted on a refund, to be told the mechanic can't find any faults therefore its fine and refused refund??? Despite 3 reports from 3 AA mechanics stating car is in need of repair and dangerous to drive. Now dealing with head office complaints dept. Im not giving up getting my money back. Will never use them again.”
“Bought a Mazda cx30 from the Nottingham AC in August .On the way home the fault light came on . Took it back to AC who said it needed to go to a dealership in Mansfield. They had to order the part so I had to take it back several weeks later, leave the car overnight and pick it up the next day.All inconvenience to us. AC also said they would order a set of mats from Mazda and they would take 2 to 3 weeks to arrive. After several phone calls to AC and them saying they would get the salesperson to ring us back , no one ever did. Even called in to AC but still no joy.
We are now in January and I’m guessing we shall never see the mats.
Sales person was very good at his job and we were taken in by his sale pitch but will not be going back to AC to buy a car.”
“Bought a car from my local ac showroom ( vauxhall)
I bought an mg went back due to fault in reverse camera was told I had to take it to a ac branch that deals with mg why sell cars of different makes when your local. showroom will not fix the problem”
“Beware Beware Beware Beware Beware
After some nice person scraped my wheel are trim on my OMODA 5
I went into my local Arnold Clark branch
In Newcastle Uopn Tyne
They were very helpful in looking at my car for part required ‘
That’s were it all ended
Very poor level of service from here
Ordered required part at the beginning of sept , told if in uk would be 2 weeks
If was from OMODA China would be end of month that’s September !!!!!
Got phone call end of September saying
Should be here Soon !!!!
Waited till end of October still no part !!!!
Visited AC told it should be here soon
Another phone call still not here
We are now in October still no Part
Visited AC Same excuse !!!
AC Said they would ring me in. Few days
Guess what happened Yeah no phone call !!!!
We are now in December visited AC told
Same old story !!!!
This brings me to today 29 Th Dec
Guess what again no part
This is nearly 4 months
Asked for a refund answer no !!!!
Still no further forward
Will be sending e mail to The CEO
The Story continues !!!
Will keep you updated”
