Hi All,
I have a 2001 Skoda Fabia which developed the "infamous" piston ring problem at a very low mileage < 30K. I bought this car from a Skoda dealer second hand - and it had done 13K at the time. This was back in 2005.
Now, my car has done 80K - and it has been in for numerous sensor changes and work to "investigate" the engine management lights. I discovered in 2007 that this model suffers with this problem from my non-Skoda affiliated independent garage - who had contacted somebody who dealt with Skoda's a lot and was able to pass on the bad news.
I now want to sell my car but the engine management lights are on again - and I know it will cost me in excess of £350 to get a Skoda garage to "turn them off".
Who, like me feels aggrieved that this has happened? My main issue is that this seems to be a problem that is widely acknowledged and often talked about on this site - and it seems that the real villains of the piece (Skoda) never admit liability for this issue.
I have written to them - back in 2007 and they have denied that there is an issue with this engine... but this is quite obviously a smokescreen - because SO many people suffer with the issue. I believe that Skoda knew about this issue when they sold the car to me in 2005 - and if they did they are guilty of mis-selling.
I bought a Skoda because I believed that the Volkswagen engine was reliable (and Skoda was a little bit cheaper than a VW). This is the ultimate betrayal - because I have walked into the sort of problem that I was trying, desperately, to avoid.
I would like all people who suffer with this problem to write to me. Piston Rings should not go on any engine before 100K miles and even then - I would expect other problems long before the Piston Rings malfunction. Moreover, piston rings should not go on a VW engine after 30K miles. VW & Skoda have built their reputation on their engines. I believe Skoda are guilty of manufacturing an engine which has a crippling design flaw. The fact that they do not admit to it - is only because there's not enough of us who are prepared to do anything about it.
Reply to this post if you are in the same position as me. We will take it from there. Watchdog. Solicitors whatever it takes - but we need a lot of people to make the case as convincing as possible. I want some answers from Skoda.
