is Audi fire risk a good reason to cancel my lease?

If your car has developed a fault, or for consumer advice, turn to Honest John by emailing honestadvice@telegraph.co.uk

Underground line

I have a leased Audi A4 TFSI and received a letter stating a recall is due, because of a problem with the starter/alternator. It warned against leaving the car in a garage or an underground car park, as in a worst-case scenario it could catch fire. I’d want to garage my car at home and also park it in my employer’s underground parking. Audi finance said my dealer should be able to provide another car in the meantime. My dealership said it would look at my car, but it would be at least two weeks and I wouldn’t be issued with a courtesy car. Am I within my rights to cancel the lease with Audi Finance? Al

This will be safety recall R/2020/138 which affects 34,982 cars. The fix is that the starter/alternator must be replaced. I agree with you. If you are deprived of the use of your lease car for the reasons you give, then you can demand that the supplier provides a replacement until your car is satisfactorily repaired or suspends the lease payments on it and compensates you for the insurance and VED for that period. Send a letter to the dealer principal and to Volkswagen Financial Services stating this. Send it by Royal Mail Special Delivery, keep a copy and the certificate of posting, use the reference code to check it was delivered. Keep all documentation if you need to prove you attempted to resolve the matter reasonably without going to law.