In July last year at 10 months old my new Land Rover Defender was returned to Lancaster Land Rover in Reading due to a number of rust and paint issues, namely repainting of rusting door sills, repainting a rusting front door around the door handle, replace corroding windscreen hinges, respray the rusting chassis, respray the rusting axles, replace the rusting rear step, replace the rusting front bumper, replace the rusting front and rear mud flap hangers, replace certain rusting steering components, replace corroding door mirrors and attend to a number of water leaks.

In March this year, the car was again returned to Lancaster Land Rover as corrosion was returning and repairs were again made to the rusting rear cross member (which took two attempts) and another new rear step was fitted. I have also raised concern with the dealer and Land Rover about returning rust to the windscreen hinges which looks like it is heading into the bulkhead, rusting side steps, rusting underside especially the chassis around the dumb irons, rusting axles as well as rusting side steps.

I have corresponded with Land Rover "Customer Services" on both occasions, frankly their response is both slow and uninterested in finding a permanent solution. It seems a quick fix is enough in their book.

I have also put up with numerous visits over rattles, leaks, failing wipers, failing indicators and niggles in general but these have generally been resolved. It is the rusting problem which remain outstanding.

Having given both Land Rover and the dealership ample opportunity to resolve the rust problem without long term success I have asked Land Rover to send the car to a specialist rust proofing company like Before n After but they refused. They propose to do what they did in July 2011 which if the last effort is anything to go by will last less than a year.

Aside from selling up and buying Japanese (the underside of my neighbours 6 year old Mitsubishi L200 is in better condition than my Defender and he works on a farm) what would you do in my shoes?