I have just taken my Fabia VRS in for a service to be told that the above have split after only three years and just under 34,000 miles. I just don't accept that this can be down to wear and tear on a three year old dealer serviced car with low miles and I am also baffled as to know why the dealer didn't tell me that they were on their way out when I had the MOT done with them back in April. The car was back in warranty then. I am going to write to Skoda Customer Care with complaint as the dealer couldn't care less. If this isn't resolved I am not going near Skodas again:(

I know this seems to be a common fault but are Skoda good at coughing up. I'd imagine it is a job that would cost several hundred pounds.

wack the cupra ones in and you wont have to worry again

Have thought about doing this for a while,,,, is it really worth it ??

It's a well known issue, and people on here have defected to othe brands,

due to Skoda not sorting it out under warranty :(

It's a well known issue, and people on here have defected to othe brands,

due to Skoda not sorting it out under warranty :(

I want to know whether I have a claim for good will seeing as the car as the warranty only ended in April and nothing was mentioned about these split bushes then. I will write to Skoda of course and, if necessary take action in court as the car is imaculate and has a full dealer history. Why was this problem not picked up on MOT in April. I have only done about 3k since then. Also found out that my offside headlight is not sealed properly and full of condensation. Car has needed a new radiator in its time and took about five times to cure the leaking seals. I am going to write to Skoda and say I will not touch the particular dealer or onof their cars unless they at least contribute to the cost.

You mention Cupra bushes, are you talking about Leon Cupra bushes? Also is there a danger in driving the car in this state? I am absolutely furious as dealer said they will email a good will but can't see igoing through. Where is this much lauded 100% customer delight JD Power Sh and one T. It has destroyed my confidence in the car and the dealer. Guys at the South East meet said I might have a case and Sharky went through similar crap if I remember rightly.

Very unhappy bunny and I found the attitude at Sherlodge and customer care leaves a lot to be desired. Any other Skoda dealer in Kent with a decent attitude?:confused: If not the car's got to go. Off to write that letter now.

Edited 6 December, 200817 yr by Matt Bodycombe

TBH the car is over three and a half years old and no longer in warranty. I would be surprised if Skoda offered any good will - worth giving it a go.

Is it really worth forgetting about over three and half years of presumably happy motoring over a little fault..? I'd of thought not. Get the Cupra ones fitted by another dealer and move on

Fit Cupra consul bushes to rear of wishbone with powerflex at the front, job done. The car is not unsafe as it stands as the rear wishbone cannot come out of the split bush. However, it will be free to flex more than usual, so KPI and Camber angles will vary under cornering, so go easy.

This problem is worse on the VRS due to the weight of the engine. Good luck hounding SUK and the dealer, I wouldn't bother. Buy the bits and have a trusted independant fit the bits. If you use one that can do 4 wheel alignment, they should be good.

Skoda is **** still same crappy brand im thinking, i wish i bought 308 hdi sport now, i well regret.

my faults leaking seals soakin inside of car

condensation in light

bushes

500 quid to service the piece of ****

brakes are ****

fuses go to often

interior bobbles and frays(poor quality)

noise from dashboard above stereo

all in 1 year safe to say i wont buy a skoda again (leopards never change there spots)

basically everyone has the same faults yet the useless ***** dont sort.

rant over sorry for that folks but im mighty ****ed with mine and basically stuck with for another year.

I don't agree if the weight of the Diesel engine puts extra strain then they should have fitted stronger bushes as orignal spec (what Cupra are we talking about by the way the old/new Leon). I have also had condensation inside the light mentioned at this service and the dealer said that it was due to poor servicing but because the warranty was out guv they couldn't do anything. Also the car is driven gently and doesn't do huge miles, why should I have to put up with a car with potentially dangerous handling? I have owned FIATS and 106 Peaugeots and put 80-90K on them with nothing going wrong with suspension bushes. Due to the fact that this problem has been mentioned time and agan here I would suggest it is a design fault and not fit for purpose if they fail with less than 34K on the clock on a cherished, fully dealer serviced car. Also why wasn't the deterioration picked up by the dealer when the car was MOTd in April( just before the warranty ran out hmmm). I have heard all about these so called little jobs endng up costing £200-£300 pounds and in the present situation I am not made of money. I have no intention of hounding anyone but Skodas advertising makes a big thing about customer delight and VW build quality. My experience has been anything but delightful with the car losing all its water needing a new radiator just after picking it up and then the rear door seal leak fiasco. It's a good car but if this supension problem is as common as it seems then it should be sorted out. What made things worse is the silly blonde bint at the dealer thought the whole thing was funny. DISGUSTED is the word. I think I will be changing for a Ford (brother in law works for them) sooner rather than later.:thumbdwn::thumbdwn::thumbdwn::(:(:(

MK4 Ibiza Cupra (same platform)

And tbh April was what 7 months ago, bushes could have been ok then.

The bushes are a common issue with the car (VW, SEAT also suffer the same thing) but are no worse that the llower wishbone bushes on Mondeo, Escort or Fiesta for example so best of luck looking for a Ford without any issues. They can't fit the Cupra bush to all models as not everyone appreciates the slightly harsher ride so comprimises have to be made, a voided bush in this instance is the compromise.

Headlights get condensation in them as they aren't a sealed unit (cant be or the plastic lens would deform due to heat). Ford, Vauxhall, SEAT suffer with the same issue its down to current design and as far as i know none of them have changed them under warranty with any sucess.

I think my bushes may be on the way out and im on 43k :( so some uprated powerflex ones will be ordered and fitted in the new year

I love my Skoda.. fitted uprated bushes when i first got it

buy an Escort and see how quickly you need wishbones on that !!!

Exactly why I said what i did..lol.

Wife has one, can do em quick now

a just found out my bushes need done. I've already got the cupra bushes (only cost £16!) ordering the powerflex front bushes and anti-roll bar bushes when a get paid. Gona do them all at once and then thats it out the way!

My car lasted to 53k its an 04 plate and is on coilovers

6LL 407 183 is the part code for the cupra bushes if your buying them

Rubber parts like suspension bushes should be seen as a consumable, I have needed new bushes and boots on every car I owned at some point so it's not specific to the marque by any means.

Right then I'm confused. What is the difference between Cupra bushes and powerflex bushes etc etc. Which one is a front carrier bush? Are powerlex available at SEAT,Is the mark four version of the Ibiza the one that has just been replaced? I thought the sporty one of those was called FR: Oh well... I'm sorry but no other car I have owned has had that happen at only 30 odd thousand miles and that includes old FIATS and Peugeots, nor have their headlights filled with condesation. I've emailed HJ from the Telegraph and, considering the mileage reckons I should push for contribution to cost.

I'm thinking of getting a Focus becasue I am fed up with paying through the nose. My brother in law works for Ford and I can get big concessions with the servicing. The attiude of the dealer is the biggest let down and makes the whole boast about top dealer satisfaction sound like a joke!

What is the damage for getting this sort of job done at an inependent and who is good in the Kent area. Is the independent VW specialist GDA in Maidstone any good?

Edited 6 December, 200817 yr by Matt Bodycombe

The Cupra bush replaced the voided console bush. Powerflex don't do a replacement for this bush, they do however to a replacement for the front bush. The Cupra was above the FR in the MK4 range and yes we are now on the Ibiza MK5.

Thanks for the advice but all this is making my head spin I have just been told that it is the carrier bushes. Is the replacement for this a SEAT Cupra carrier bush and is this what I have to ask for in my local SEAT dealer. Aso what would be the labour to fix this, would the mechanic have to take the suspension apart? And yes I am ****ed off that such a lightly used and well maintained car is causing grief like this, I have't seen condensation in headlights since my grandads old Lada:( The dealer is crap too with as serious attitude so will be off to either one of the other Kent dealers or a decent indy.

how easy is it to take a headlight out on a vRS?

if its not too hard, take it out, take all the bulbs out and store it somewhere warm face down for a few hours, refit all bulbs whilst still inside house/warm place, then go and refit

probably be fine then....

Put a silica gel packet in the back of it for a few hours

Thanks for the advice but all this is making my head spin I have just been told that it is the carrier bushes. Is the replacement for this a SEAT Cupra carrier bush and is this what I have to ask for in my local SEAT dealer. Aso what would be the labour to fix this, would the mechanic have to take the suspension apart? And yes I am ****ed off that such a lightly used and well maintained car is causing grief like this, I have't seen condensation in headlights since my grandads old Lada:( The dealer is crap too with as serious attitude so will be off to either one of the other Kent dealers or a decent indy.

Yes the suspension has to come apart to change the bush.

Labour wise, not sure on most people seem to charge around the £150 ish mark to supply and fit the bushes,

Cheers, so much for VW quality then. I'm defiantely going to push for contribution to cost as if these things go so quickly they are clearly not up to the job. I can't afford to keep shelling out that kind of cash especially after just spending £200 on a service:( Wish I'd bought the Ibiza now!

Wish I'd bought the Ibiza now!

but its the same platform with the same problems - unless of course you were going to be buying the cupra.

Ford new wishbone complete with bushes etc £15, 20 minute job to fit.