funex

Brief update on dealer position, bit of an annoying tangent whilst I actually try and resolve the issue : “ ‘brand’ have instructed us the car is outside goodwill parameters and case is closed.” Leaves me with a marooned engineless car sat on their premises: ”you will appreciate we are not a car park or compound .... your car will incur storage charges of £xx per day unless removed” So after fobbing off a customer on to each other and not communicating on the engine failure, dealer and SUK are now in contact to shut down any gesture of goodwill or assistance. So, categorically a 6 yr old car with below average miles and full service VAG service history is beyond goodwill, end of. Buyers beware. Galling they also see fit to be patronising whilst their customer looks a £7k bill in the eye. #simplyappalling #drivenbydenyingdesignfaults

Agree this is most likely the case - the stonewalling feels like first-line blocking and doesn't compute with their (vwfs) ongoing interest in the goods. Will review the HP contract terms alongside relevant acts and ombudsman rulings on related cases, take advice and weigh up chances of resolution / remedy. Thanks again.

Thanks for the feedback, I'd read of your experience in the Guardian article back in summer when our engine self-ingested and I was reading up this topic in full (took up more of our holiday than hoped). Persisting and will post outcomes here in due course for benefit of others as / when appropriate.

Thanks for the feedback here. We purchased approved-used from a dealer less than 3 years ago (car was 3 yrs old then and on 20k miles - not had a heavy-duty life) and on a Skoda/VWFS HP agreement with a year or so left to run.. I am tenaciously pursuing with Skoda themselves at this point rather than being fobbed back onto either the supplying or fault-diagnosing dealers (with whom we have no history and who have both been fairly helpful with advice so far). I get the sense there is a pre-determined script designed to feign ignorance of the issue - you'd think they'd see opportunity for positive publicity and media in actually resolving outcomes for their customers - basic customer retention really. Hey-ho.

Update on exactly 6-year-old 60k miles Yeti 1.8TSI - engine failure back in June. Obviously out of warranty but felt a polite appeal apt and worth a try. Skoda customer relations tried closing the case twice. Kept on with it and eventually trailered car to retailer at SUK’s suggestion to properly diagnose what AA and independent engineer had already said. Skoda workshop confirmed chain tensioner failure causing engine lock up thanks to valves and pistons colliding. Remedy : complete new engine required at £5.1k. Informed SUK who confirmed nil contribution and proceeded to close the case - ‘final position’. Retailer and HQ now both fobbing us and themselves off by saying the other should be dealing with it. Absolutely hopeless and meanwhile I’ve got an unusable car needing repairs totalling more than its repaired value - basically a write off they say - bad luck. Gee thanks. In the week autoexpress gives yeti it’s No.1 used car award. Unless that is you got a lemon like ours. #drivenbybeingtotallyindifferent #simplyrubbish

Bit late to the party perhaps but our Yeti 1.8 TSI succumbed last week at exactly 6 yrs and 60,031 miles - happened in a car park without warning on start-up, turned over noisily but smoothly while refusing to start. Recovered to garage, who diagnosed timing chain slip and valve-to-piston contact. Car has full book of Skoda / VW stamps. Since we bought it at 3 yrs and 19,000 miles (dealer used-approved) we've continued with dealer servicing (on included plan while it lasted) and kept oil topped up with the correct spec. It's a looked-after and otherwise brilliant car, but we're looking at a new engine or get rid. Will update on outcome of contact with dealer/SUK customer care.