Good point. If Skoda won't budge on the issue and those affected decide to take further under SOGA with their dealer I can't see the dealers being too happy with the manufacturer.

Just realised my rear tyres are wearing very fast, and uneven, so approached the dealer today about alignment.

I was told 'the wheels are meant to align themselves once you move off, but they cant do that if there is a load in the back'

Funny...I though estate cars were meant to carry loads?

Anyway, I asked then 'so this is a design flaw then?'

'No, no I wouldnt go that far'

'I would, when I have to get new tyres every 10k miles, at 180 quid per corner!!'

'Well we can have a look, but there isnt any adjustments we can make'

Anyway, I can see I will get nowhere with this place...has this developed any further with anyone getting a useful response? Its obviously an issue as stated here before.

Just realised my rear tyres are wearing very fast, and uneven, so approached the dealer today about alignment.

I was told 'the wheels are meant to align themselves once you move off, but they cant do that if there is a load in the back'

Funny...I though estate cars were meant to carry loads?

Anyway, I asked then 'so this is a design flaw then?'

'No, no I wouldnt go that far'

'I would, when I have to get new tyres every 10k miles, at 180 quid per corner!!'

'Well we can have a look, but there isnt any adjustments we can make'

Anyway, I can see I will get nowhere with this place...has this developed any further with anyone getting a useful response? Its obviously an issue as stated here before.

There is adjustment that can be made on the rear. It just seems like they can't be arsed.

This whole thing is ridiculous. I have never come across this before and I have driven over 15 cars in 34 years on the roads. I have the same problem as many do with a Jan 10 vRS with about 9500 miles. The noise was apparent after about 7 or 8 months. My local service manager (at DM Keith, York) started off saying the rear tyre problem was due to pot holes but when I said that I wasn't convinced he eventually said he'd seen a few cars like this. I said that I felt the car had a design fault & was not fit for purpose, he said he'd speak to a dealership manager. They are still saying that the alignment may be done under warranty but that the tyres are not covered.

Two questions:

1. Are any tyres free from this problem (in a post above, someone has suggested asymmetrics are better)?

2. Has anyone approached Trading Standards, Watchdog, Which? or Honest John for support? This sounds like a real issue for Skoda especially given their recent plaudits as a manufacturer of reliable vehicles. Class action anyone?

Scott

I have the same problem as all the others. 2009 car with 15k miles. Swapped front to rear at the weekend. Made the noise worse but this may improve as the tyres wear level again.

When the time to buy new tyres come along (pretty soon at this rate), I am going to experiment with the geometry settings. I think that reducing the negative camber (making the wheel more upright) and toe in (so they run straighter) should reduce the problem.

Has anyone tried this (and did it work?)

Cheers,

Mark

I know I am being lazy but have just read the final page of this thread. It may well have been discussed earlier in this post, but I am about to take delivery of a new Elegance 2L CR. Is this a problem that still exists in the new models or does it only apply to late 2009 and Early 2010 versions?

Its a problem with the chassis is its quite probable it will affect them until the mk3.

I know I am being lazy but have just read the final page of this thread. It may well have been discussed earlier in this post, but I am about to take delivery of a new Elegance 2L CR. Is this a problem that still exists in the new models or does it only apply to late 2009 and Early 2010 versions?

I think I have seen reports of this on recent facelift versions, it affects all VW group cars using this chassis - and, if it is any comfort, it seems to be quite a common phenomenon on other makes of car too... so it is not just an Octavia issue... lets hope VW Group address the problem a little better when Mk 3 comes along

Just realised my rear tyres are wearing very fast, and uneven, so approached the dealer today about alignment.

I was told 'the wheels are meant to align themselves once you move off, but they cant do that if there is a load in the back'

Funny...I though estate cars were meant to carry loads?

Anyway, I asked then 'so this is a design flaw then?'

'No, no I wouldnt go that far'

'I would, when I have to get new tyres every 10k miles, at 180 quid per corner!!'

'Well we can have a look, but there isnt any adjustments we can make'

Anyway, I can see I will get nowhere with this place...has this developed any further with anyone getting a useful response? Its obviously an issue as stated here before.

This is so bizarre - the wheels align themselves once you move off ???? but they can't do that if you have a load in the back ???? That means that most of the time my wheels would be misaligned ???? Is you dealer joking or are they having a competition to see who can fob a customer off with the most absurd excuse ???? I am almost inclined to think it is such an odd concept that it might actually be true - if so perhaps they could suggest the ideal loading to acheive proper alignment and I will diet accordingly

This is so bizarre - the wheels align themselves once you move off ???? but they can't do that if you have a load in the back ???? That means that most of the time my wheels would be misaligned ???? Is you dealer joking or are they having a competition to see who can fob a customer off with the most absurd excuse ???? I am almost inclined to think it is such an odd concept that it might actually be true - if so perhaps they could suggest the ideal loading to acheive proper alignment and I will diet accordingly

Have to admit I did laugh when he suggested this, although his tone changed when I said I was going to speak to Skoda UK about it. I always have a kit bag in the boot because of the nature of my work, but it must total 15kg.

I have heard some fobbing off before but this one really takes the biscuit.

Problem is....now I need to replace my tyres as they are dangerously close to the wear markers (very suddenly), but I fear once replaced there will be no ammunition against Skoda or the supplying dealer...

SO do I...wait for them to tell me its because my 15kg kit bag is too heavy for a Scout :wonder:

or

get the tyres replaced and take it to a suspension specialist?

or

take it to a suspension specialist then get the tyres replaced once they have seen it?

or

Had anyone had anything concrete from Skoda or VW about this problem I can use as Ammo?

Just been in to my dealer (as I have a small problem on startup) and told him that I am still battling with Skoda UK - who left me a message on friday saying they were still looking into it -

Originally the service manager told me that the problem was down to potholes, and that he had not seen the issue before, but today he said that he has now seen a few cars with the same problem, and he would be very interested to see the report that I got with the geometry setup.

I am going back in tomorrow, so will see what he says.

I have now covered nearly 3k SINCE I reported it to Skoda, so I preusme the tyres have had more damage done, and so my claim to them will stand even more.

I hope to be the first person that Skoda manage to change tyres for at their cost, but then also hope that it opens the floodgates!

Not sure whether I am the first, but the two Dunlop tyres damaged by this geometry problem were today replaced by the Dealer at no cost. I have also driven more than 3000 miles since the problem first came to light and the difference is phenomenal. I had actually forgotten what the car was actually supposed to handle and sound like.

It has been a bit of a nightmare and I had to take a tough line with the dealer. If they had refused to replace I would have taken out a Small Claims Court action against them under SOGA and I think they knew there is so much evidence of a problem that they would lose. I felt a bit sorry for them in the end as they were stuck in the middle and claimed Skoda were only dealing with one other tyre related claim.

Anyway, got the car back this evening and it's like a recovering from tinnitus! Dealer also washed the car and I did have a problem with one of the reversing sensors malfunctioning tonight and on the way home the tyre pressure warning light came on so perhaps not out of the woods yet. I'll get a better look at things tomorrow in the daylight.

Not sure whether I am the first, but the two Dunlop tyres damaged by this geometry problem were today replaced by the Dealer at no cost. I have also driven more than 3000 miles since the problem first came to light and the difference is phenomenal. I had actually forgotten what the car was actually supposed to handle and sound like.

It has been a bit of a nightmare and I had to take a tough line with the dealer. If they had refused to replace I would have taken out a Small Claims Court action against them under SOGA and I think they knew there is so much evidence of a problem that they would lose. I felt a bit sorry for them in the end as they were stuck in the middle and claimed Skoda were only dealing with one other tyre related claim.

Anyway, got the car back this evening and it's like a recovering from tinnitus! Dealer also washed the car and I did have a problem with one of the reversing sensors malfunctioning tonight and on the way home the tyre pressure warning light came on so perhaps not out of the woods yet. I'll get a better look at things tomorrow in the daylight.

So have they adjusted your geometry and is that why your car is like a different beast?

on the way home the tyre pressure warning light came on so perhaps not out of the woods yet. I'll get a better look at things tomorrow in the daylight.

Tyre pressure warning will be most likely just because tyres have been changed. Check all tyre pressures, then press & hold button on dash for 3 or 4 seconds until you hear a 'bong!' & the light goes out. This will reset it.

Geometry was changed to revised settings before Christmas and fronts (which were down to 3mil) were changed with rears. Rears were hardly worn except where there was the sawtooth problem and the droning was if anything worse. Those two tyres have now been changed to Continentals, which retail about the same and which Dealer agreed were better tyres.

Only fly in the ointment was that they promised to clean the car (should have been done at service in December) which was done really poorly. I'll check and adjust pressures over the weekend and reset the TPM.

Not sure whether I am the first, but the two Dunlop tyres damaged by this geometry problem were today replaced by the Dealer at no cost. I have also driven more than 3000 miles since the problem first came to light and the difference is phenomenal. I had actually forgotten what the car was actually supposed to handle and sound like.

It has been a bit of a nightmare and I had to take a tough line with the dealer. If they had refused to replace I would have taken out a Small Claims Court action against them under SOGA and I think they knew there is so much evidence of a problem that they would lose. I felt a bit sorry for them in the end as they were stuck in the middle and claimed Skoda were only dealing with one other tyre related claim.

Anyway, got the car back this evening and it's like a recovering from tinnitus! Dealer also washed the car and I did have a problem with one of the reversing sensors malfunctioning tonight and on the way home the tyre pressure warning light came on so perhaps not out of the woods yet. I'll get a better look at things tomorrow in the daylight.

Result!

I have contacted "Which" legal services regarding this and am awaiting a response. As soon as I get it will post it

Not sure whether I am the first, but the two Dunlop tyres damaged by this geometry problem were today replaced by the Dealer at no cost. I have also driven more than 3000 miles since the problem first came to light and the difference is phenomenal. I had actually forgotten what the car was actually supposed to handle and sound like.

It has been a bit of a nightmare and I had to take a tough line with the dealer. If they had refused to replace I would have taken out a Small Claims Court action against them under SOGA and I think they knew there is so much evidence of a problem that they would lose. I felt a bit sorry for them in the end as they were stuck in the middle and claimed Skoda were only dealing with one other tyre related claim.

Anyway, got the car back this evening and it's like a recovering from tinnitus! Dealer also washed the car and I did have a problem with one of the reversing sensors malfunctioning tonight and on the way home the tyre pressure warning light came on so perhaps not out of the woods yet. I'll get a better look at things tomorrow in the daylight.

I have not exactly got a claim going through, but have already had the geomety set two weeks ago via Skoda UK (7/1/11) and they called me again yesterday to say that they were not happy with the settings that the garage used (although Skoda approved kit, they are not actually a skoda dealer) so it has to go back again. I have not yet changed the fronts to the backs as I want to leave this until they agree to pay for new tyres, and at that point I may aswell change them (3k since first reported). Less rubber already on the fronts!!

I have not exactly got a claim going through, but have already had the geomety set two weeks ago via Skoda UK (7/1/11) and they called me again yesterday to say that they were not happy with the settings that the garage used (although Skoda approved kit, they are not actually a skoda dealer) so it has to go back again. I have not yet changed the fronts to the backs as I want to leave this until they agree to pay for new tyres, and at that point I may aswell change them (3k since first reported). Less rubber already on the fronts!!

Just seen this thread, we had this last summer. Didn't realise it was a known fault. Main problem was the vibration from the damaged tyres.

Have just had the Octavia Mk2's ABS control unit replaced, that was a failure at 4 yrs old, also a known fault. We read all the thread on it on this forum, then contacted all the possible bods (no response from VW's MD!) - result a goodwill payment from Skoda of half the bill. We've also had splendid service and communication since we "made a fuss".

Good luck with your claim. Catty

I have just come off the phone from "Which" legal services regarding the Tyre damage / geometry setting problems on the VRS. This is their response

Firstly, as I took advantage of the Skoda Finance 0% offer to part fund the purchase, my claim will be against Skoda Finance. The vehicle is therfore subject to a Hire Purchase agreement which brings it under the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 as opposed to the Sale of Goods Act 1979

I / we all have statutory rights under the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973. As I took finance on the vehicle "Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Ltd, trading as Skoda Finance, took title to the goods from the supplying dealer, hence my contract is with them.

Under the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973, they are required to supply goods of a satisfactory quality which are fit for purpose.

This will, in these cases, include durability of the tyres affected by a defect or fault with the vehicle. (I will assert that this is a known and common fault with this model or an inherent design defect which is causing damage to the tyres, therefore making the vehicle itself unfit for purpose)

This is what I have been told to do

In the first instance, Call or write to Skoda Finance and inform them of the details of my complaint. Then tell them to make arrangements for the damaged tyres to be replaced and the cause of the fault rectified at their expense. If they fail to do so I reserve my rights to reject the vehicle under common law and reclaim back, in full, all monies paid including deposits, balance sums and finance payments made.

Give them a reasonable timescale to respond and comply, they suggest 14 days.

Dependant on what response I get I am to recontact "Which" for further advice.

This particular advice is only relevant to those who used a hire purchase agreement i.e the 0% finance offer for all or part of the purchase price.

What if I have purchased the car via a pcp (3 1/2 year deal)??

If its leased you claim against the company who you are contracted to. If you've had the car for more than say a month or two, cant see you getting a refund!

I am trying to gauge how many owners have or are suffering damaged tyres due to incorrect geometry / camber or anything else that is causing this. As I have previously said I am not mechanically minded so bear with me on the title.

How many of us are out there wondering what to do about it. How has dealer treated you.

Please see my thread "Register of Complaints" and add your details.

Thanks

I am trying to gauge how many owners have or are suffering damaged tyres due to incorrect geometry / camber or anything else that is causing this. As I have previously said I am not mechanically minded so bear with me on the title.

How many of us are out there wondering what to do about it. How has dealer treated you.

Please see my thread "Register of Complaints" and add your details.

Thanks

We had awful vibration at 60mph on our then new mk 2 vrs. 2 dealers could not find the cause. All tyres were rebalanced and tracking checked - no change. One dealer suggested that one of the alloys was out of true so contacted Skoda UK who washed ther hands of the whole matter. Finally we received some good advice and took the car to an Audi dealer who recognised the camber/toe-in problem that was missed by everyone else and the vibration stopped. I recommend that the camber/toe- in check is requested at each service.

Good luck

Update - Skoda Letchworth replaced both rear tyres and paid to have the geometry sorted. Will see how they go now.

I do have a tyre agreement with Skoda, but when i questioned them on it - they said originally that "its a characteristic of the car" and that "dunlops are known for it"

This time they changed their tune, it was the dealer that sorted it without much fuss, I merely mentioned that the tyres were sawtoothing again when it was in for a service.

So, it seems SkodaUK have accepted it as a fault/issue/pain in the arse.

These are the settings it had previously, what it should be, what they changed it to along with the tolerances.