Register of Complaints - Add your details

[lloydy123]

It appears to be, but thats probably because most of the FL models come with Dunlop's whereas the pre-FL usually came with Continental's on.

So does that make it a tyre issue?

Either way its not a customer issue!!

The geometry settings are the same for both models according to the Skoda Tech info.

As an aside mine is in for alignment check today and I've been told by Skoda to have it adjusted to max camber on the rear which is "negative 1 degree and 20 minutes".

Let us know how you get on. Hoping i should be ok with the one i buy, circa 06-08

[mglaunchbury]

Skoda have been taking a bit of a pasting on this thread, so its nice to have some better news. I've posted before about the sawtoothing problem. Having seen John Good's name on here as someone who seemed to understand the issue, I decided to write to him by name using old fashioned Royal Mail. The address by the way is Customer Services, Skoda UK, Selecta Post, 34 Sheffield, S97 3FA. The person at the call centre seemed surprised to be asked for this!

So I set out the problem and got a call back from John Good less than 24 hours after posting the letter! I now have a case number and agreement that they will reset the camber at Skoda's cost and I have a named contact at a dealer who knows about the problem. I reckon that's pretty good service. Of course I have to stump up for tyres but I don't mind that if there is a chance that they will last. I got the impression that I need to avoid Dunlop, as previously commented, but also Bridgestone.

Of course it helps that the car is just inside the warrantee. Apparently a TPI was issued to dealers a while ago. I don't know what that stands for but I guess it is a technical bulletin of some sort.

I'll let you know if it works in about 12000 miles time!

Mich

[jbconno]

My 07 plate pre FL VRS TDI came with Dunlops on from new, so did my mates 59 plate FL Vrs.

[dmpc500]

Two new tyres already, now rear pads worn at 19000 miles - my mechanic reckons the alignment issue has meant that the ASR keeps kicking in, wearing the pads down. Skoda Ireland have so far refused to deal with the alignment problem.

Will persevere!

[pg220]

Skoda have been taking a bit of a pasting on this thread, so its nice to have some better news. I've posted before about the sawtoothing problem. Having seen John Good's name on here as someone who seemed to understand the issue, I decided to write to him by name using old fashioned Royal Mail. The address by the way is Customer Services, Skoda UK, Selecta Post, 34 Sheffield, S97 3FA. The person at the call centre seemed surprised to be asked for this!

So I set out the problem and got a call back from John Good less than 24 hours after posting the letter! I now have a case number and agreement that they will reset the camber at Skoda's cost and I have a named contact at a dealer who knows about the problem. I reckon that's pretty good service. Of course I have to stump up for tyres but I don't mind that if there is a chance that they will last. I got the impression that I need to avoid Dunlop, as previously commented, but also Bridgestone.

Of course it helps that the car is just inside the warrantee. Apparently a TPI was issued to dealers a while ago. I don't know what that stands for but I guess it is a technical bulletin of some sort.

I'll let you know if it works in about 12000 miles time!

Mich

No offence meant but surely if you buy a new car and an incorrect camber setting on that vehicle causes damage to the tyres, as a direct result, then Skoda fully deserve a pasting . In my opinion they have had nothing more than a few slaps.

They are fully aware of this ongoing problem and have tried everything in the book to wriggle out of a basic obligation to rectify this. The very least they should do is rectify the settings and replace damaged tyres. When customers think they have got a result because Skoda agree to rectify the settings but expect you to replace the tyres then is it any wonder that they continue to treat us the way they do?????

Until you give them a real pasting nothing will change, Happy drivers my arse.

[mglaunchbury]

Well, I'm sorry about the previous writer's arse but I'm in the happy driver category. This morning John Good has called to say that, subject to receiving a report on the tyres from the dealer, Skoda will also make a contribution to their replacement. I do think that is pretty fair, and he confirmed that there is definitely a TPI out to all dealers on this issue from Skoda UK. So anyone with a car under 3 years old should be able to get satisfaction.

Michael

[pg220]

Well, I'm sorry about the previous writer's arse but I'm in the happy driver category. This morning John Good has called to say that, subject to receiving a report on the tyres from the dealer, Skoda will also make a contribution to their replacement. I do think that is pretty fair, and he confirmed that there is definitely a TPI out to all dealers on this issue from Skoda UK. So anyone with a car under 3 years old should be able to get satisfaction.

Michael

Therein lies the problem and the whole reason for this thread!!!!!

99% of owners are like the Rolling Stones "can't get no satisfaction"

Why are you prepared to accept a compromise that favours Skoda. This is money out of your pocket that you should not have to be paying. This is not customer satisfaction this is damage limitation.

[mglaunchbury]

I disagree. The situation seems to me to be:

1. Skoda have admitted there is a problem and have agreed that correction is a guarantee issue. They have issued an instruction to all dealers accordingly.

2. They have agreed to rectify the problem on my car at their cost. They are providing a loan car while it is done.

3. The tyres are not now brand new; I have had use of them for 15000 miles or so. Therefore to expect Skoda to replace them with new tyres at their cost seems unreasonable to me. If they make a contribution to two new tyres, I'm happy with that.

4. The speed of Skoda's response to my letter has impressed me. John Good has called me twice and tells me that he will call again when the work has been done. He has also spoken to the dealer who is doing the work to ensure that there is no misunderstanding as to what is to be done and who is paying.

I have all of this in writing.

Michael

[pg220]

I disagree. The situation seems to me to be:

1. Skoda have admitted there is a problem and have agreed that correction is a guarantee issue. They have issued an instruction to all dealers accordingly.

2. They have agreed to rectify the problem on my car at their cost. They are providing a loan car while it is done.

3. The tyres are not now brand new; I have had use of them for 15000 miles or so. Therefore to expect Skoda to replace them with new tyres at their cost seems unreasonable to me. If they make a contribution to two new tyres, I'm happy with that.

4. The speed of Skoda's response to my letter has impressed me. John Good has called me twice and tells me that he will call again when the work has been done. He has also spoken to the dealer who is doing the work to ensure that there is no misunderstanding as to what is to be done and who is paying.

I have all of this in writing.

Michael

Michael, if you are happy then that's what matters to you. I would like to point out the following however

1 For some considerable time the majority of Skoda dealers and Skoda UK have been denying this fault exists and blamed the problem on anything they can think of, tyres, bad driving for example.

2. Many people have been denied this rectification work under warranty. A loan car is not a luxury it is normally provided for warranty work.

3. Many people on here experienced damage to their tyres long before they got to 15,000 miles and either had to replace them at their own cost or,like me, put up with that constant droning noise until Skoda finally accepted the problem was with the car and rectified their problem to our satisfaction. That is plain wrong and shoddy customer service!

4. The speed of Skodas' response to you probably bears direct correlation to the pressure Skoda are now under from a growing number of dissatisfied customers. You are benefiting from the continued vocal efforts of others (for which I am happy as that was the whole point of this thread) John Good's name only came to light after pressure from Banksie. As for the TPI sent out to dealers I was originally fobbed off with one blaming Dunlop Tyres.

If you read back through this thread there exists ample evidence of a concerted effort by Skoda to deflect responsibility for this issue. Not four weeks ago I was told in writing that there was no known fault. !!!

[mglaunchbury]

Hi pg220,

I don't think we need to disagree about this. In your penultimate post you asked why I have accepted a compromise. I think I've answered that above. It's certainly true that this issue has been around for a long time. I see that I've been on this forum slightly longer than you and I've read all of the back stuff, not only this thread. I should point out that this is the second set of tyres that my car has trashed. On the first occasion in July 2009 I got far less satisfaction from the dealer. They adjusted the track at their cost (not Skoda's)and I had to pay the full cost of the tyres. They said that Skoda did not recognise it as a guarantee issue. Possibly that is why their adjustment did not solve the problem - no new spec. from Skoda at that time.

However the situation has now changed. If the forum has played a part in bringing this about then we should celebrate that but we should also be prepared to acknowledge that Skoda have now accepted responsibility. I suspect that not all dealers are fully up to speed on this, despite the issue of the TPI, so my advice to other members with this problem would be to write directly to John Good at the address I have already given. I hope you get the same response that I did.

Result!

Michael

[pg220]

Hi pg220,

I don't think we need to disagree about this. In your penultimate post you asked why I have accepted a compromise. I think I've answered that above. It's certainly true that this issue has been around for a long time. I see that I've been on this forum slightly longer than you and I've read all of the back stuff, not only this thread. I should point out that this is the second set of tyres that my car has trashed. On the first occasion in July 2009 I got far less satisfaction from the dealer. They adjusted the track at their cost (not Skoda's)and I had to pay the full cost of the tyres. They said that Skoda did not recognise it as a guarantee issue. Possibly that is why their adjustment did not solve the problem - no new spec. from Skoda at that time.

However the situation has now changed. If the forum has played a part in bringing this about then we should celebrate that but we should also be prepared to acknowledge that Skoda have now accepted responsibility. I suspect that not all dealers are fully up to speed on this, despite the issue of the TPI, so my advice to other members with this problem would be to write directly to John Good at the address I have already given. I hope you get the same response that I did.

Result!

Michael

Hi Michael

Like I have said, If you're happy then that's what matters to you. If the contribution of all of us has helped to facilitate that then I have partly achieved my aim. This is the benefit of collective collaboration.

However I can trace this problem back to 2007 and an article in Evo magazine highlighting this issue on a VRS. It is also subject of discussion on VW and Seat forums therefore it must be a wider VAG issue and a fundamental flaw.

Each to their own, but I don't think that acceptance of a problem after 4 years merits any form of credit. I just find it hard to accept that people such as you are now on their third set of tyres and haven't gone ballistic. Probably best to agree to disagree.

Happy motoring

[banksie]

Update!

Well had the alignment done on proper VAG equipment and it was out by a considerable amount having just been done less than 2 weeks before by D M Keith's independant "specialist"!

At £276 from Audi I can see why D M Keith used "TROTTERS" independant suspension specialists!

Not impressed with D M Keith Leeds

Skoda are picking up the bill for the alignment and I received an e-mail by return from Skoda Tech stating that my issue was of incorrect alignment. I have also received a call from Shelly Lynch asking me to give her a ring to discuss the tyre compensation, will update further once I've spoke to her.

As a matter of interest I also came across the reference of the Tech Bulletin (issued in Dec 10!!!!! and which most dealer don't know exist), but as said before this basically states that the suspension camber need to be adjusted to extreme. I noted from the VAG print out that the computer loaded info for the rear camber for a FL VRS was negative1 degress 45 minutes + or - 30 minutes and as I say Skoda Tech have confirmed that it should be set to negative 1 degree 20 minutes. I have had it in writing that although this isn't "extreme" from the original setting, it is the "new" recommended setting.

It does appear that WE have had some success through this forum and by concerted pressure on Skoda from certain people! I guess from Skoda's point of view they do get some people wanting the world for nothing, witness the people who have "only got 20000 miles out of my tyres what are you going to do about it". They do have to check things out. I agree that it can be disatisfying to drive your new car around making a noise as though its done 200000 miles.

This hasn't been a wholly satisfying experience but at the end of the day it appears Skoda have held their hand up, so thats what I think we all wanted.

The people at Skoda at senior level that I have dealt with -Shelly Lynch and Kevin Holdsworth, have been nothing but professional and sympathetic on this matter and keen to help, so from that point of view it makes me a "happy driver".

Hopefully my wife will be when she picks up her Scout on saturday!!

Unless its on Dunlops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Welsh_kai_boy]

See my earlier post before and after.

Thanks to Banksie, I too are pushing for some tyre compensation using this website as reference to my dealer (along with all the Skoda UK names).

If you don't push the dealer then you won't get anything done.

I was lucky the dealer showed me the TPI hence why I got the wheel alignment done in the first place.

Good luck to all.

[Sarge]

So I set out the problem and got a call back from John Good less than 24 hours after posting the letter! I now have a case number and agreement that they will reset the camber at Skoda's cost and I have a named contact at a dealer who knows about the problem. I reckon that's pretty good service. Of course I have to stump up for tyres but I don't mind that if there is a chance that they will last. I got the impression that I need to avoid Dunlop, as previously commented, but also Bridgestone.

Wow! I wrote to SUK over a couple of weeks ago and still haven't heard back from them. Makes me wonder if the letter ever arrived.

Sarge.

[chr1staylor]

Wow! I wrote to SUK over a couple of weeks ago and still haven't heard back from them. Makes me wonder if the letter ever arrived.

Sarge.

With anything like this you really should send letters by recorded delivery, shows you're serious and doesn't allow them to wriggle out as easily.

[mglaunchbury]

Also get the correct address - see post 127 above. You won't find this on the website.

ML

[FatblokeVRS]

No offence meant but surely if you buy a new car and an incorrect camber setting on that vehicle causes damage to the tyres, as a direct result, then Skoda fully deserve a pasting . In my opinion they have had nothing more than a few slaps.

They are fully aware of this ongoing problem and have tried everything in the book to wriggle out of a basic obligation to rectify this. The very least they should do is rectify the settings and replace damaged tyres. When customers think they have got a result because Skoda agree to rectify the settings but expect you to replace the tyres then is it any wonder that they continue to treat us the way they do?????

Until you give them a real pasting nothing will change, Happy drivers my arse.

Hi All

What I want to know is, are the Dunlops really the problem or are they just showing up an underlying design problem with the vehicle?

What I mean is, is the geometry being out when the car leaves the factory just an adjustment / final inspection issue or is their an underlying problem, i.e. the suspension has an inherent problem and is not suited to the vehicle or are the official Skoda settings are wrong?

As I posted in a previous post nearer the start of this thread, I had my VRS into the dealer who adjusted the rear settings and over the next few tankfulls of diesel, we got 400 miles per tank instead of the usual 480 miles. The car went bck in to be re-checked and was adjusted to the original specs from Skoda. Over the next few tankfuls it was still 400 miles to the tank.

Also, the steering felt quite heavy (checked the pressures etc to no avail) so I decided to take the car to a specialist in Edinburgh (CLCM) and all 4 wheels were out so they were all adjusted.

The car now drives much better and we consistently get 480 - 490 miles per tank.

I had 2 new Falken 452's fitted to the rear a couple of thousand miles ago so we will see what happens to them in another few thousand miles.

It will be interesting to see if the sawtoothing still occurs in which case it may be an underlying "feature" of the suspension fitted to the car as it seems to also affect all the cars that use it, Seat, VW etc in which case I would consider it to be not fit for purpose. Also consder the many many Dulops fitted to other vehicles that have no sawtoothing issues and also that there are other tyres fitted to the Skodas that are displaying the same wear pattern. Interesting dont you think???

We need to get an article in Auto Express and /or other magazines / TV programmes etc as only something that will affect Skodas sales and company image will make them rethink their just deny it attitude.

If the suspension is not suitable, the cars should all be recalled for new redesigned suspension as, if you think about it, it is a safety issue if the tyres are not sitting on the road correctly which could cause loss of control when you need it most.

Cheers

Dave

[banksie]

Update

Shelley Lynch rang today and as a result of the geometry check she has decided to offer me "as a good will gesture", 50% contribution to two winter tyres and 50% contribution to two new Dunlops or what I want to put on!

This is what I asked for in my original letter as both sets of tyres were approximatley half worn. Personally I think that you can't expect 100% or "new" tyres as ultimately I have done the miles, be they noisy ones!!

Continentals going on.

[Sarge]

Having seen John Good's name on here as someone who seemed to understand the issue, I decided to write to him by name using old fashioned Royal Mail. The address by the way is Customer Services, Skoda UK, Selecta Post, 34 Sheffield, S97 3FA. The person at the call centre seemed surprised to be asked for this!

Thanks for these details. I appear to have sent my original letter to the wrong address. Anyway, re-sent it to John Good at above address on Tuesday and today received phone call from SUK to follow it up. Will update in due course.

Sarge.

[dmpc500]

Just had the geometry checked and adjusted by an independent specialist which showed that both front and rear were way out. Will now be pursuing Skoka Ireland for contribution to cost of prematurely worn front and rear tyres and brake pads.

[pg220]

Update on my complaint.

I have been dealing with Will Fisher from SUK. Very helpful in dealing with my complaint.

On 12th July my car is going back to a local Audi dealer to have the camber settings redone (For third time) and all four tyres replaced at SUK's expense.

This may seem like a victory of sorts but the fact is for the last ten months driving my car has been a pain in the arse. Only time will tell if Skodas remedy is effective. At least they have finally accepted that the issue is with the cars set up and not necessarily the tyres.

To be on the safe side I have opted for Michelin SP Sport 3 which have a good tyre life rating which is my primary requirement.

I hope that in 6 to 12 months time I will be reporting back that the problem is indeed solved and I am once again a happy driver.

[Sarge]

Update on my complaint.

I have been dealing with Will Fisher from SUK. Very helpful in dealing with my complaint.

On 12th July my car is going back to a local Audi dealer to have the camber settings redone (For third time) and all four tyres replaced at SUK's expense.

This may seem like a victory of sorts but the fact is for the last ten months driving my car has been a pain in the arse. Only time will tell if Skodas remedy is effective. At least they have finally accepted that the issue is with the cars set up and not necessarily the tyres.

To be on the safe side I have opted for Michelin SP Sport 3 which have a good tyre life rating which is my primary requirement.

I hope that in 6 to 12 months time I will be reporting back that the problem is indeed solved and I am once again a happy driver.

Despite having my front wheel geometry checked and changed by Skoda, my new front tyres (Michelin PS3s)are showing signs of sawtoothing after just 2000 miles Not impressed. And the rears (original Dunlops) are going to need changing after less than 15,000 miles So not impressed about that either. They have sawtoothing and uneven wear but Skoda say they didn't need adjusting.

Sarge.

[Clarky]

The dreaded rumble has is returning 7000 miles after revised geometry, front to tear swap and two new Contis.

It's bleddy ridiculous that in 2011 a company the size of VAG can't produce a car that gets such fundamentals right.

[pg220]

Not a good sign if the problem is returning after re-alignment.

My advice is to get in touch with Skoda UK and don't take no for an answer.

If this new alignment advice that has been sent to dealers has not addressed the issue I'm not sure if anything will. As customers we may have to escalate our complaints as previously discussed starting with a letter to all the editors of every motoring magazine and national newspapers who have a motoring section. Follow this up with complaints to watchdog etc and finally legal action.

SUK are fully aware of this issue and at least now accept it is a problem with the vehicle not the tyres.

Personally I will see how mine goes once the tyres are changed and a third alignment done and take it from there.

[hewmcd]

Out of interest, purchased second hand VRS couple of days ago, fitted with Dunlops all round. Fronts near 4mm, rear 5mm+. Dealer is insistent on replacing rear tyres due to "sawtoothing", although I test drove car and no rumble noise. Is this an admission of guilt? Made point to dealer that I'd much prefer fronts replaced and am aware deal I negotiated meant there was no profit for them in the sale price, so would be quite happy just swapping front tyres to back to even wear out. The dealers insistent on changing the rear tyres for another brand - is this an acknowledgement of a problem with Dunlop's? Just struck me as very odd. Not much use for those claiming compensation other than the Skoda dealer network may now be acknowledging there's a problem...