Manufacturer Stop Drive Recall , delays with repairs and subsequent issues as a result

We bought a used vehicle in 2024 and in 2025 were issued with a stop drive recall by the manufacturor due to a major airbag safety issue.

As requested we booked our vehicle in with one of their authorised dealers - they are another manufacturor but his dealer is listed as authorised on their behalf to carry out the recall repairs.

Prior to the vehicle immobilistion we had a new battery fitted as part of our routine maintenance as advised by our mechanic and our car was starting and driving fine.

Our vehicle was booked in with the authorised dealer in late August for mid September for the recall and then cancelled by them 24 hours prior due to a lack of parts with no time frame given.

The original manufacturor provided us with a hire care due to the delay. The authorised dealer finally received parts just before Christmas and our car was recovered by a third party recovery company ( due to it being deemed unsafe to drive) to the dealer.

When the recovery truck arrived the battery was flat and they jumped it and drove it on the recovery truck.

Upon arrival at the dealer 25 miles away the dealer said it would not start again and required a diagnosis and repairs to enable the airbag recall to be carried out as they could not drive it into the workshop in their words.

We authorised the diagnosis but asked them to come back to us before carrying out repairs. They took a further two weeks from my authorisation to diagnose and said in their words that the battery was completely dead due to an extended period of non use. They gave us a quote which we felt was exceptionally high in comparison to what we had paid for a new battery elsewhere a few months prior.

We do not feel that the battery issue is our responsiblity as it has arisen as a result of the stop drive recall and delays with repairs, we waited over 3 months for parts.

We have asked the dealer as the authorised agent to supply and fit the new battery at their own cost. They refused and are now saying they can complete the airbag recall repair even though the battery is dead, which contradicts what they said initially.

I am getting nowhere with the service manager and wish to escalate this matter. I have contacted the original manufacturor directly also.

The dispute over the battery liability has not been resolved yet and the dealer has said they will go ahead and change the airbag anyway ( which previously they said they could not do as it could not be driven into the workshop )

I emailed the dealer to advise that I did not give my consent to this airbag recall until the battery issue had been reviewed through their internal complaints procedure via the general manager and customer services.

Can any advise what my legal rights may be in relation to this matter.

This is not a warranty issue

Many thanks