The 6-speed gearbox on my 2006 Octavia L&K 2.0 petrol has failed spectacularly, cracking the bell housing and dumping the gear oil on my drive.

Skoda dealer says it needs new gearbox and the total bill will be over £3,000!

The car is only 4 ¹/₂ years old, has done 26,500 miles and has always been maintained by Skoda main dealers.

The dealer and Skoda Customer Service say that they have never heard of this happening to another car of that age and mileage, but has anyone else had this problem? If so did Skoda agree to pay for it? I know the car is out of warranty, but it is not the first time I have had a problem with the gearbox, and I believe that a modern gearbox that fails after 26.5K miles is "not fit for purpose".

At the moment it seems unlikely that Skoda will contribute to repairs, but I will have to wait until next week to find out.

To say that I am angry would be a huge understatement. The only reason I bought a Skoda was that they were supposed to be reliable. I had to suffer all the Skoda jokes, but now it seems that the jokers were right.

This is by no means the first problem I have had with this car. Needless to say, whatever happens I will NEVER buy another Skoda.

Thats not good at all, what were the other problems you had with gearbox? just so that other members will know what to look for if there is tell tale signs of it happening to their gearbox's.

im sure with the milage and fsh skoda will help with the repair as with the way the market it they dont want bad press

also if you do have to payfor it just go get one from a salavage vehicle for about £300 to £400 and get that fitted plenty of salvaged mk2 about

do you know the history of the car? have you had it from new?

Sounds like you got a complete lemon. FWIW, despite a current gearbox issue on mine, i don't think the Skodas owned by my friends have been any better or worse than any other

brand. I can see why you would never want to support that brand again though if all you've got from the manufacturer/dealer is a ****ty attitude.

If any big company ever try to screw me over, I will buy an old van, have it signpainted with the details of my complaint and park it outside their premises for a few weeks.

I'm not encouraging you to do the same, but if you can verify the history of your car, and the mileage is genuine, do not stop applying pressure until they take SOME responsibility for its premature failure

Edited 1 January, 201115 yr by Monkeyboyo

Is this failure of the rivets on the crownwheel? Fairly common. You will not be able to recon it if the casing is cracked. Best bet is a salvage box.

Rivet failure on the crownwheel has been a perennial problem of VAG transverse boxes for years. Improvements were supposedly made by VAG but it's impossible to maintain an accurate preload on a rivet when joining two hardened surfaces unless you put the rivet in red hot.

Brunel knew all about this - that's how he made his iron ships watertight.

Don't waste any time with VAG - they don't care. Find a recon or second hand box as the casing always gets wrecked.

rotodiesel.

Edited 1 January, 201115 yr by rotodiesel

Thats not good at all, what were the other problems you had with gearbox? just so that other members will know what to look for if there is tell tale signs of it happening to their gearbox's.

The previous problem with the gearbox, which is mentioned in another thread on here, was difficulty engaging 2nd gear. It was supposedly "cured" by changing to a different viscosity gear oil. Skoda initially refused to admit that this was a known fault (2nd gear syncro) but eventually paid 60% of the cost, as I had originally reported it before the warranty expired.

I have had the car from new, it has only ever been driven by me, and has been serviced and maintained only by Skoda dealers. I have even bought tyres from the Skoda dealer! It has a full Skoda service history.

Searching the internet I have found that there is indeed a known fault with the rivets on the crown wheel. Strangely, everyone seems to know about this but VAG :wonder: . A company in Kent sells recon gearboxes, with the rivets replaced by stainless steel bolts.

One VW owner has successfully taken a dealer to court under the 'Sale of Goods Act" which states that items sold must be "fit for purpose" and "of satisfactory quality". I think I have a good case and it costs very little to register a claim in the Small Claims Court. I would have to sue the dealer rather than the manufacturer, but if I did this and won, I assume that they would then try to recoup the loss from VAG/Skoda.

Yes, you should have some redress under the SoGA. You need to serve a SCC summons against the dealer who you purchased the car from.

Given the age of the car I think its unlikely that you will get full redress, but you should get a proportion. The onus will be upon you to demonstrate that the defect was inherent at the time of purchase - get plenty of documentation about this from the internet, and also from the repairer that you mention.

The only snag is that you will get redress against the £3k repair from the dealer - so if you got, say, 30%, it could still prove to be a very expensive repair. How much you actually get is open to conjecture.

Skoda Customer Services have indicated that they will make a contribution, but will not say how much.

They are argumentative and unhelpful, and suggest that I should not be surprised that the gearbox has failed "due to the age of the car" - 41/2 years!!!!

Every day they say they will call me back the next day - but they NEVER do, so I have to call them and explain the situation all over again....

If you don't get a reasonable answer, then I would suggest you talk to a solicitor as there is such a thing as of a suitable quality and IIRC for a car 6 years for the major components sounds about right.

Don't waste your time dealing with Skoda 'Customer Care'.

VAG in general have an aggresive attitude to defending their brands and the interests of their dealers. Don't for one moment imagine that Customer Care is there to look after your interests - it is most definitely not.

You have a clear case under SoGA and the sum involved is well below the limit for Small Claims Court. It is very easy to complete a claim online (see moneyclaim online website) and inexpensive.

The summons will be filed at Northampton CC and any hearing (if it comes to that) will be held at your local CC.

The claim should be against the original selling dealer (Skoda UK don't come into consideration once the car is out of warranty).

You will only have to supply evidence (e.g. service records etc. if the case goes to court).

If you belong to AA/RAC or have 'legal assistance' as part of you car/house insurance then they may be able to help.

You can do all motorists a favour by pursuing this case and not letting car manufacturers get away with selling inherently defective products.

Edited 5 January, 201115 yr by Hauptmann

Thanks Hauptmann,

Skoda have offered 40% of the cost of parts only, which I have rejected. I am waiting for Customer Services to consult with "Technical" and come back to me.

I have already taken advice from CSMA Legal Dept and ConsumerDirect, who both think I have a strong case.

Unfortunately, under the Sale of Goods Act, my contract is with the Dealer who supplied the vehicle which is not "of satisfactory quality", so I have to take them to the Small Claims Court, not Skoda. I will do this if necessary, but it seems unfair as the Dealer have always been helpful and sympathetic, unlike Skoda, and the gearbox failure is not, in my opinion, the fault of the dealer.

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by eddie2

Thanks Hauptmann,

Skoda have offered 40% of the cost of parts only, which I have rejected. I am waiting for Customer Services to consult with "Technical" and come back to me.

I have already taken advice from CSMA Legal Dept and ConsumerDirect, who both think I have a strong case.

Unfortunately, under the Sale of Goods Act, my contract is with the Dealer who supplied the vehicle which is not "of satisfactory quality", so I have to take them to the Small Claims Court, not Skoda. I will do this if necessary, but it seems unfair as the Dealer have always been helpful and sympathetic, unlike Skoda, and the gearbox failure is not, in my opinion, the fault of the dealer.

Dont be scared of taking the dealer to court as odds are Skoda will be sitting behind them supporting them in all but name, if proven in your favour & they are not supporting the dealer he can simply sue Skoda.

Its something that all manufacturesrs hide behind when cornered to try & fob you off

Thanks Hauptmann,

Skoda have offered 40% of the cost of parts only, which I have rejected. I am waiting for Customer Services to consult with "Technical" and come back to me.

I have already taken advice from CSMA Legal Dept and ConsumerDirect, who both think I have a strong case.

Unfortunately, under the Sale of Goods Act, my contract is with the Dealer who supplied the vehicle which is not "of satisfactory quality", so I have to take them to the Small Claims Court, not Skoda. I will do this if necessary, but it seems unfair as the Dealer have always been helpful and sympathetic, unlike Skoda, and the gearbox failure is not, in my opinion, the fault of the dealer.

Those are just the subtleties of the legal system - you have to pressure the wrong people, in order for them to pressure the real culprit - Skoda uk.

A friend had the auto gearbox fail on his £30K Merc after 4 years and 30,000 miles.

They asked him to pay £3k, and eventually he only paid around £400 through his persistence. Didn't even have to resort to small claims court

Good luck

That's a very low mileage for the age of car - have you done a lot of short trips where the gearbox and oil hasn't warmed up properly? Not saying this has caused the problem, but it may have contributed to early failure. I do a lot of short trips myself but have never suffered any 'box problems though.

Indeed, if the dealer has to pay, they will get it back of skoda.

From other posts on here initiation of legal action under SoGA seems to have people asking you not to be hasty and coming back with something a lot more agreeable.

If not, then follow your legal advice as it will still cost you less than the cost of a new box.

As some members know, I spent a good few years in the motor trade and have seen these court cases from both sides.

I can assure that if you take the dealer to court then Skoda UK will be taking a VERY close interest in the case. All correspondence will be seen by the regional rep and probably go to HQ. My suspicions, based on previous experience and intellegence from ex-colleagues at main dealers, is that the case will not actually make it as far as court. You will be made an offer 'without admission of liability' and be sent a Consent Order to sign and send to Northampton CC to end the proceedings.

Manufacturers are fairly keen to nip cases like this in the bud. They know when the customer has a strong case and are eager to stop it going to court. 'Word spreads' otherwise, and then they can end up with an epidemic of claims.

The ESP problem is a case in point. How many owners forked out for repairs, when in fact the majority could have got a significant, if not full, repair contribution from VAG? ' Goodwill' is nothing of the sort. its a sop to palm off customers who are usually reluctant to take things further. You don't need 'Goodwill' you just need your legal rights.

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by Hauptmann

That's a very low mileage for the age of car - have you done a lot of short trips where the gearbox and oil hasn't warmed up properly? Not saying this has caused the problem, but it may have contributed to early failure. I do a lot of short trips myself but have never suffered any 'box problems though.

Transmission oil usually runs fairly cool anyway. It doesn't suffer the problems of contamination and oxidation that engine oil does, so getting the oil hot is much less of an issue. In fact transmission oil usually retains its lubricating properties for 100k miles or more. The exception is automatic transmission fluids, which are 'working oils' and do tend to shear down significantly as the miles build up.

Skoda have now offered 80%, parts and labour, to include a new clutch which was contaminated by gear oil, all guaranteed for 2 years. I have grudgingly accepted this offer, but it is still going to cost me around £700.

Will definitely NEVER buy another VAG car.

That sounds a good result for a car 18 months out of warranty. Shows that persistence pays off.

I'd be encouraged to stay with VAG after getting a result like that. I was in a similar situation a few years back with an expensive electronic failure in a Passat.

That sounds a good result for a car 18 months out of warranty. Shows that persistence pays off.

I'd be encouraged to stay with VAG after getting a result like that. I was in a similar situation a few years back with an expensive electronic failure in a Passat.

Ditto on the result, although it would be better for Skoda to have offered that in the first place. It would have cost you more (taking into account time / effort / stress) to pursue through the courts with no guarantee of success, also you would have lost a decent relationship with your dealer. I appreciate that no bill is welcome but 80% off (inc clutch) is better than I would have hoped.

How much is the cost for a new clutch fitted at a main dealer?

£200 for the clutch kit + 4 hours labour (??) at £100 an hour, plus VAT?

Effectively you're paying for a new clutch at full price and they are fixing the box.

I'd have like to have seen them bringing your costs down to below £500, so if the dealer is good, maybe they will negotiate with you on their labour rate to make this happen?

Can't hurt to ask the dealer if there is anything they can do on the labour rate, as the worst is that they say sorry no.

I think, if it was me, then I might have pushed the court option that little bit longer, but then I'm somebody who is quite willing to make a point on principle.