Bollcat

Hi all - believe it or not this is still not resolved. I haven’t had the money refunded for the inspection nor have they given me a copy of the original works they have done or the subsequent repairs when it came back damaged again. I have given them a 2 day ultimatum to respond and will then share the headline issues with all of the members on the forum so they know to avoid this dealership at all costs. They have been an absolute disgrace and at the heart of it is ineffective management at the branch which ‘allows’ these practices to go unchallenged. Thanks all BC

Hi all, Again apologies for the late reply but it's been a bloody turgid affair to get to the point where I had my car returned to me today. Sounds like great news (which it is.) but... So, I submitted the independent report requesting a courtesy car and the Dealership promptly replied - 'We reject its findings and don't agree with it'. They were still of the opinion that the only way the damage could have been caused was by 'user error' despite how clear the report had been - that came directly from the Workshop manager at the dealership. They rejected the reports findings that this fault was present at the 'point of sale' outright. At this point my family were trying to coax me down from the ceiling by offering me various sedating medications and a G&T to calm me down. In all seriousness I was pretty despondent to be honest. Anyway, I tried something I've never done before and got the e mail of the CEO of the particular Dealership I was dealing with and e mailed them directly and explained the situation. To their credit his Executive Assistant phoned me within 5 minutes and was brilliant. She assured me that she would contact the Branch Manager and that they would be in contact with me within the hour. The Branch Manager did indeed contact me within the hour and clearly had been 'briefed' as he was almost too nice. He apologised and said that he was unaware of the issue at his branch and this was the first time he'd been made aware of the situation - that in itself was a pretty big warning sign for me. Although I'm a Paramedic I manage a big team and I NEVER like surprises, so I'd definitely want to know why there was this issue brewing that my team had not briefed me on. Anyway, he then informed me that although the dealership Head mechanic disagreed with the report, as a gesture of goodwill they would complete the repair under warranty, refund the cost of the independent inspection and provide me with a courtesy car. Great news. It took another 4 days to get the courtesy car, I still haven't had the request for my bank details to make the payment for the inspection and when I spoke to the Service manager again (4 days later) he was still saying that the Head mechanic didn't believe the report. Thanks to another forum member he PM'd me with some very useful information which I'll paste below: "HI, Just seen your post about clutch issue with the Kamiq, did you get it sorted in the end? Depending on what gearbox you have fitted and the date the vehicle was made this may help, The Information is from a Skoda tech webinar from September 2020. hope it helps, Vehicle specification  Model: Octavia III, Scala, Karoq, Kamiq, Fabia III  Engine: 1,0 TSI (EA 211) in combination with the manual gearbox MQ200  Complaint/Fault symptom  Clutch slips, smell of burning from the clutch area  After having been removed, the clutch is found to be burnt or degraded/fallen apart Technical background/Cause  Due to anticorrosion protection applied to the flywheel and the clutch, the friction value increase is much more slowly. This may lead to premature clutch failures.  Despite optimizing measures (plate lining of the clutch S308, the diaphragm spring of the pressure plate with temperature stability and decreased rpm in the transport mode), the premature heat overload of the clutch still sporadically occurs.  The clutch failures occur in the range from 10 km to several thousands km depending on how the vehicle is operated.  Measure/Production change  Parts without Anticorit have been fitted to the vehicles since CW 20/2019 (except for Fabia III, where the measure has not been implemented yet). After I sent this, would you believe it the Service manager contacted me and said that the engine mentioned in the above report corresponded to the one I had in my Kamiq and the damage, was, after all, caused by this manufacturers fault - he then asked me where I got the information from. It took every inch of my willpower not to chuffing explode. However, I dug deep, confirmed everything was being repaired and replaced and that it would be ready the next day. So, on Weds 16th June I went to collect the Kamiq from the dealership and brought it home. It drove perfectly. That is until I got to a set of traffic lights and had to stop to suddenly realise that when the engine was in idle there was a profound vibration coming through the steering wheel and the seat. I genuinely thought for a second that I was going nuts. I continue the drive as I'm nearly home, stop the car and ask my wife to get in and start the Kamiq up. Hey presto about a minute later she says WTF is that vibration and judder? Thank you Lord - it wasn't just me. I get straight on the phone to the Service manager who if I'm being completely honest did everything he possibly could (bar calling me nuts) to convince me that it would settle down. I point blank refused to accept that and asked him to read out to me the road test result and quality control report after the fix to the gearbox and clutch before the Kamiq was released back to me. Conveniently, he didn't have access to them. So, he arranged for a courtesy car to be delivered to my home address the next day and he would take away the Kamiq to get it looked at. 2 days later I hadn't heard anything (there's a pattern here....) so I called him and he confirmed that a high pressure pump had failed which was causing the juddering. They'd ordered the part and would have it fixed by today and get the car returned to me - which they did. After all the grief I'd gone though with this dealership they didn't even road test the bloody thing before they returned it to me?! As I keep saying I'm not a mechanic but this has to be a quality control issue surely? Time after time on these forums people talk about shoddy technicians and poor customer service. The car is back and well, it's different. It drives perfectly well, there is no judder but the old car just purred when it was in idle - it's a 1 litre petrol engine after all. Now, it's just that bit noisier and louder on acceleration. Is it something I can send back? No, but it's not the same. I hoping some of you will be able to reassure me that it'll settle down. Well, they still haven't asked for my bank details so they can refund me the cost of the inspection and despite 2 requests they haven't sent me a single copy of a list of the actual works carried out which my lease company are, not unreasonably, wanting. The bloody car didn't even come back with a valet!??!? Yes, a cursory sponge was put on the outside but the inside was filthy. If I was the service manager I would have had it come back looking like it had stepped off of the production line. So, there you have it. I will write back to the CEO and give them my experience. It won't be in the format of a complaint but it will be from the perspective of a very patient and reasonable service user that was treated like crap from day one, took the intervention of the CEO's office to intervene and even then they continued to **** it up. One last piece of advice please - it still stinks of a burnt clutch from the outside. It's fine when I get in the car but from the outside it still smells. Is that normal for a replacement clutch or just a hangover from the original smell when the thing was knackered. Lastly - thank you. Thank you to all of you that have taken the time to post and send me advice and encouragement. It's the internet at its best and I'm very appreciative of you all. Best BC

Hi Warrior193, Wino and motr1912, Thanks all for your advice. I sent the report to the dealership and Skoda customer services asking for a courtesy car as a start point and they haven’t even acknowledged the email (I put a delivery and read receipt confirmation). Unfortunately I didn’t take the legal cover option when I got my car insurance but I do have a very good friend who is a solicitor who will act on my behalf if it gets that far but I sincerely hope it doesn’t. BC

Hi all, Sorry I haven't replied for a while but have waited until I received the independent vehicle inspection which came through today. In short it confirms what I knew from the start - there was a manufacturers error with the vehicle from the point of delivery. Here's the verdict: Conclusion / Opinion: In the engineer's opinion, being based on evidence written, reported, and observed during this assessment of the above defects, the following can be concluded: From the details provided in the report brief, the engineer understands that the vehicle became stuck in first gear whilst stopped at a red traffic light, when the driver could move the vehicle, it was driven to a safe location and recovered into the repairer who have removed the gearbox and clutch components. The engineer can confirm that the clutch friction plate has disintegrated on one side, the debris from the disintegrated friction plate has caused the clutch pressure plate to disengage incorrectly, forcing the clutch release bearing and fork into the gearbox casing locking it to the casing preventing full clutch release and preventing gear change operation. The wear identified on the gearbox casing clearly indicates that the clutch release fork had been fouling against the casing, this would have affected the clutch application and release operation, possibly causing premature clutch slip not controllable by the vehicle operator. From the debris inside of the gearbox bell housing and clutch wear noted on the other side of the clutch friction plate, excessive wear has been occurring for some time. The wear on the gearbox casing and release fork suggests this has been fouling from the vehicles build date, the low recorded vehicle mileage would also confirm the fault was present at the point of sale. So, I feel good that I stood my ground and got the report done, BUT now I'm lost as what to do next. I've just shared this with Skoda and the Ombudsman so I'm waiting to see what they come back with. I'm not mechanically minded AT ALL and the technical terms are beyond me. My question is what next? To me it reads as though there a substantive problem with vehicle and doesn't sound like an easy fix. Indeed, is it a fix or is it inherently knackered...? What should I reasonably expect from Skoda now? It's been over two weeks since this happened and I've been without a vehicle. I'm a paramedic and have been very fortunate that my neighbour has lent me her car a couple of times and my crewmate has also picked me up (miles out of their way bless them) and I'm still struggling to get to and from work. Is it reasonable to be asking for a courtesy car (at no charge to me) whilst this gets sorted out which will invariably take time...? Any advice appreciated. Thanks all BC

Surrey John, J.R. ,Warrior193 & Wino - genuine thanks from me for taking the time to post. Some great advice and insight into some mechanical issues I can look up. As a Medic I do 'bodies' but I'm a hopeless mechanic Thanks also for letting me know that the inspection is a good idea. I'll keep you posted. Take care all BC

Hi all, I'm hoping very much that no one else has had the same issue I'm having but would really value some advice. On Monday my 1.0 TSI clutch failed. It is leased and I received it on 14th December 2020. At the time the clutch failed it had 2721 miles on the clock. It was towed by the AA to a Skoda dealer under the Skoda Assistance banner. I assumed everything would be taken care of.... This morning I was called by the dealership to say that the clutch plate was 'burned' and that there was no manufacturing error and therefore it was caused by driver error and is not covered under warranty. I was quoted a repair bill of £1,171.48. I'll be honest I was gobsmacked. In terms of background I am 48 and have been an NHS Paramedic since 1996 and hold advanced driving qualifications (inc. IAM Roadsmart Advanced Driver). My wife (who also drives the car) is also an NHS Paramedic (I won't say how long for.....) and also holds advanced driving qualifications. To put it bluntly - we both know how to drive a car. I explained our background and experience to the Skoda technician who couldn't be less interested. There was no manufacturing fault and it was driver error. I told him I would call back as I was not a happy Skoda bunny and needed some thinking time. So, I thought the situation through. There were absolutely no signs of any problems at all with the vehicle (indeed I love it) . On Monday I had stopped at a set of lights, put the gear into neutral and put on the manual handbrake. The lights changed and I tried to put it into first gear. It wouldn't go in and when I tried, it made a hideous noise. Instant horn blowing from behind me so I put on the hazards. I tried again to get it into first and it went in with a 'clunk'. I released the brake gave it some gas and... nothing. The engine revved but no movement. After trying again (with more frustrated drivers behind me) the car did move but wouldn't come out of first. I was in a dangerous position at the junction and so drove it for approx 200 yards until I could pull over into a safe space. Called Skoda Assist who sent out the AA. The AA responder could smell the stench and he said the clutch had gone. The car was then towed to the dealership. I've had the car for less than 6 months, it has 2721 miles on the clock (but it's not covered by the manufacturers warranty) and furthermore it's 'my' fault. So, I've registered a dispute and engaged a VOSPA accredited independent vehicle inspector to attend the dealership (which has cost me £199) and instructed them not remove any parts or take any further action on the vehicle. Can someone advise me if they think there's any additional action I should do whilst I wait for the report? Is the inspection worth it? Has anyone else had a similar issue and how did it pan out? I honestly can't get my head round how a) it's not covered given the mileage and length of time I've had it and b) that I'm being blamed for something I haven't done. I contacted the leasing company and they completely washed their hands of any part in this and have told me it's entirely down to me and Skoda. Is that also right? I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me some advice or point me in the right direction. Thanks Bollcat