spearmg

After many years of Skoda ownership Skoda UK have forced me into a situation where I have had to part/ex my Octavia. I have dealt with Underwood's Skoda in Colchester for many years and have had at least three new Skoda's from them. Sadly Skoda UK have withdrawn their dealership despite the fact that they have a very large showroom which they claim to be the biggest in the country. This means that the journey to have my car maintained is now impractical. This is a great shame as all the tech gremlins in my Octavia SEL First Edition had been fixed and I was really enjoying the car. This website has been most useful with sharing the issues that did arise. Sad to go but goodbye.

Despite my previous post I am appalled at the notification I have received today. Apparently from 31st March 2023 Underwoods Colchester will no longer be a Skoda dealer. This is not, apparently, a decision of Underwoods so it must be a decision of Skoda UK. The only problems I had with the dealer were not of their making but rather of Skoda's and the poor it on the initial run of Octavia 4's. After many years of Skoda ownership this may result in me looking for an alternative marque when I next change my car.

It seems to me that I am relatively lucky. I took delivery of my Octavia in September 2020. I did not have the problem with the ACC suddenly braking but I did have issues with KPH/MPH. These were resolved last December. I had also paid for High Beam Assist but that didn't work. Eventually it was fixed at the beginning of March. As far as I can tell everything is now working correctly. I have received a monetary offer of compensation and am currently waiting for the cheque to arrive!

Skoda UK have told me that technical have said that HBA, for which I paid last June can be added to my car and that I need to get the dealer to make the necessary changes. The Dealer was most unhelpful initially telling me that it couldn't be done. I have now asked Skoda UK and the Dealer to talk to one another to resolve the issue. Really not good enough.

I got my car back Monday afternoon. The High Beam Assist still isn’t working. I have been told it can be fixed remotely. Strange thing is the option doesn’t show in Shop although my payment does show up in Skoda Connect. I fear another argument ahead.

So the Saga continues! My car went to the Dealer's for the software upgrade on Thursday now that the new control unit had arrived with them. High Beam Assist, for which I have paid, was not working so they were going to look at that as well. They asked to keep the car overnight so they could work on it once darkness had fallen. Surprise surprise, Friday morning I get a call to say that the entire infotainment system had crashed. They referred to Skoda Technical who advised another unit needed to be replaced and is now on order due to arrive Monday morning. Apparently Skoda knew that this could occur but had not advised their Dealer's of the potential problem. To add insult to injury the Dealer had not allocated a courtesy car for me. They did at least find one from another marque in their dealership but I am currently driving a Vauxhall Corsa! It's horrible!

I have paid for HBA but it doesn’t work. The car is due some updates and the dealership is going to see if it works after those. If it doesn’t I will be demanding a refund.

My car , and others on this forum, have had new virtual dashboards installed. This seems to cure the most prominent issues. My car also needs some software updates but the Dealer has to order a new 'control unit' - whatever that is. I did receive a call from Kate Laws yesterday enquiring as to progress and she has undertaken to chase the Dealer regarding this matter.

My car has been in today for a new virtual dashboard. That has solved the kph/mph issue and the satnav now works in miles. Hoorah! Only taken 14 months! Sorry haven’t looked at the system information details yet. Disappointingly I was advised that there were also recalls for software updates. Although these take a couple of hours I said to go ahead as I was already there and it would save a return visit. They then discovered that control unit was faulty and needed replacement before the updates could be carried out. I did express my dissatisfaction with the lack of any support from the dealership but I didn’t get any positive response. I suspect this will be the last Skoda I buy.

I have this morning received a call from the Service Manager at my dealer advising me that they have received a new 'Instrument Cluster' from Skoda. I take it they mean a virtual dashboard. The car is booked in for 22nd November for this to be installed. Just hope it works! Disappointingly this is the first contact I have had from the dealership regarding this matter despite them being copied in on some of the emails.

Unfortunately the email address I receive contact from is: executive [email protected] Seems a bit generic to me but possibly worth a try. Every email arrives with a case reference number starting SD. So if you have ever had one of those it's probably worth quoting. Sorry I can't be more help

I have been seeing these posts but had not heard from Kate Laws for two weeks. So I fired off a reply to her last email to me. Within 30 minutes I had a phone call from Kate. Apparently the necessary component is on order and the dealer will be in touch once it has arrived. The only trouble is that the dealer seems to have a long lead time for a booking.

Things seem to be getting worse. My last email from Kate Laws was on 14th October. I sent a reply mentioning compensation. This was acknowledged on 20th October since when nothing.

Further to my post on Wednesday I did receive a call from Kate Laws yesterday. The message was that they have one car that has the KPH/MPH issue fixed. The inference was that they are awaiting clearance from Skoda to roll out the fix.

Last week I received the usual phone call from Kate Laws which ended with the promise of a further call today. I actually received an email which was just a reiteration of previous emails. This is so disappointing when we know through this forum that progress is being made. I have had my car a year now and am becoming quite exasperated that Skoda have not sorted this. I fired off a reply to this effect straight away.