I took delivery of my brand new Fabia 1.2 105bhp DSG TSI 4 weeks ago and from the moment I drove it the car was jerky and unresponsive.

After several trips to the local Dealer I have been told today by Skoda UK that the Mechatronic unit has failed but it is not a stock item and there is no time estimate for a replacement. I find this totally unacceptable but Skodas response is the car will repaired to their standards at some point.

My experience with Skoda has been a bad one with a 10 month wait for delivery only to receive a car with a fault from the outset. Once the car is repaired I will sell it immediatley and look for a conventional automatic car. It will not be a Skoda.

The only positive outcome is that it was the car that was faulty and not my driving.

So you will lose thousands of pounds just for one faulty part which they are going to fix? Lots of cars have teething problems and it is inevitable that with the multitude of electronics on cars these days that something will not be quite right when you pick it up.

I am presuming that they have supplied you with a hire car in the mean time? A Mechatronic unit should only take a day or 2 to come from Germany/Czech if there are non in the UK.

So to sum it up, get it fixed and give it a chance.

Fair enough, your comments are correct, perhaps a word in the ear of which? magazine in light of their survey which has just come out. Having said that, please don't be put off just by one duff experience of the DSG box, there are many people out here in Briskoda land who have DSG equipped cars and have done many thousands of miles without a single problem. I would be pushing the dealer to get something sorted pretty damn sharpish, even if it is a loan car from the Skoda UK fleet until your car is sorted, as it can't be doing the internal mechanicals of your gearbox much good if the changes are baing knocked though like you say.

Ian

Fair enough, your comments are correct, perhaps a word in the ear of which? magazine in light of their survey which has just come out. Having said that, please don't be put off just by one duff experience of the DSG box, there are many people out here in Briskoda land who have DSG equipped cars and have done many thousands of miles without a single problem. I would be pushing the dealer to get something sorted pretty damn sharpish, even if it is a loan car from the Skoda UK fleet until your car is sorted, as it can't be doing the internal mechanicals of your gearbox much good if the changes are baing knocked though like you say.

Ian

The indication I get from Skoda is the replacement unit is not even in stock at the manufacturing plant and they can give me no time estimate. The car has been off the road for some time now and only done 250 miles.

The indication I get from Skoda is the replacement unit is not even in stock at the manufacturing plant and they can give me no time estimate. The car has been off the road for some time now and only done 250 miles.

trades description act not fit for purpose

give a date by when you expect its return

or reject it full refund

contact trading standards or citizens advice as a minmum

Hi Velag, that's frustrating! However, I'm assuming you have a replacement car for the time being from your dealer. That being the case you can get around ok. Skoda will have escalated the problem on their systems for you and a replacement will be available as soon as is humanly possible. They don't take a vehicle off road situation lightly. It's also not that common for a major part to fail and even less common for there to be a delay in obtaining the new item. However, it doesn't matter what make of car you buy there is always a chance of something like this occurring. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by selling so soon...you will be the loser, not Skoda. Please keep us all informed of how you are getting on. Bye for now and good luck!

trades description act not fit for purpose

give a date by when you expect its return

or reject it full refund

contact trading standards or citizens advice as a minmum

I have already done that. The manufacturer can offer a repair replacement or refund, in this instance they are offering a repair and only a judge can force a refund or replacement if I decide to go to court. I would rather spend my money on another car than legal fees.

I accept their are a lot of happy Fabia DSG owners but this has been a difficult 4 weeks for me trying to get the fault correctly diagnosed.

For those that have a jerky box and some times it will not select a gear or rev up then that is what I was experiencing from the outset.

Edited 26 July, 201114 yr by velag

Have you got a courtesy car?

Have you got a courtesy car?

I have since Friday but unsure if that will be available to me for the period of waiting for the part. No one seems to know how long that is going to take.

Well just don't give it back til they've done it. I had a similar situation with my polo except that was fault after fault after fault. I put a courtesy car in my garage whilst I went to America for 2 weeks!

At the end of the day, you have a car and they are fixing yours. Give them a chance and you can then get chance to enjoy your car.

Well just don't give it back til they've done it. I had a similar situation with my polo except that was fault after fault after fault. I put a courtesy car in my garage whilst I went to America for 2 weeks!

At the end of the day, you have a car and they are fixing yours. Give them a chance and you can then get chance to enjoy your car.

I take your point but I paid for a new car and after 4 weeks it is still not roadworthy and there is no estimate for when it will be. I do not find that acceptable and the fact they can give no estimate just makes it worse. The car also received a scuffed bumper whilst on the Dealers premises as yet I have had nothing to enjoy.

Sorry to hear bout your issues but like others have said I would allow them to fix it keep the courtesy car and then hopefully that will be the only issue you have. Also it saves putting miles on your car and you can put the miles on the courtesy car. Plus if you sell you will prob be a lot out of pocket. Keep us updated I would hope the Skoda UK would at very least let you have the courtesy car as long as you need.

Sorry to hear your problems, but would echo others thoughts, give Skoda at least a chance. I would expect that they would let you have the curtosy car for the duration of the problem and also if you push hard you maybe able to get first service paid for.

If you do decide to give/sell the car let us know what the return price is as you may find a buyer on these forums that does not want to wait 6 months for a new car.

Good Luck.

You are entitled to a courtesy car if your car cannot be repaired in a reasonable time. Skoda UK will pay for it through your dealer. Some form of compensation such as a free service may also be appropriate as has been said and of course getting the scuffed bumper fixed too. None of it's your fault. I would guess there may have been batch of faulty mechatronic units that have failed and this has created the shortage. Skoda I believe rely on outside suppliers for this type of thing and will be doing all it can to secure a new unit for you.

I had an Ibiza FR once and I managed to break a wheel bearing.

I put it in and got this repaired under warranty.

I received a 1.2 Ibiza in it's place and I was without my car for 5 weeks.

It probably cost me a little bit more in petrol, but the poor old courtesy car had nearly 3,000 miles put on its clock, and I even had to let the garage know the car needed servicing.

While it was frustrating that I was without my FR for 5 weeks, I was very happy to throw 3K on the courtesy car! Saved me tyre wear etc, in the long run...

I seem to be stuck between Skoda and the dealer. The dealer has told me they will not allow me to keep the loan car if the mechatronic replacement takes more than a few days which I know it will. I get the impression they want me to reject the car ao that is the course of action I will take.

I cannot even go elsewhere for a trade in becuase I have no trade in. I am well and truly fed up.

On no occaision has Skoda or the Dealer phoned me without me having to chase them up.

If it is the dealer from where you purchased it from they have to let you keep the courtesy car or supply a hire car as your car is unusable - they should be contacting SUK to arrange a hire car, not you. Ask to speak to the dealer principal about it as you have no car.

If it is the dealer from where you purchased it from they have to let you keep the courtesy car or supply a hire car as your car is unusable - they should be contacting SUK to arrange a hire car, not you. Ask to speak to the dealer principal about it as you have no car.

I did just that yesterday and was told I would be contacted today but no contact so when I phoned I was told it was his day off.

I personally would be asking the availability of a gearbox, if they are in stock and the unit isn't I'd demand as it's a new car it has a new box, end of.

I personally would be asking the availability of a gearbox, if they are in stock and the unit isn't I'd demand as it's a new car it has a new box, end of.

I aked both Skoda UK and the Dealer that question on Monday they said they would get back to me but I have heard nothing.

Despite the positive feedback about Skoda on here all I want is to get another car but until mine is fixed I am unable to do that.

I personally would be asking the availability of a gearbox, if they are in stock and the unit isn't I'd demand as it's a new car it has a new box, end of.

+1 get them to throw a new dsg unit in!, and dont be fobbed off by your dealer the contracts with him not suk , keep the loan until you get it fixed! personally I would only have a manual as I think the DSG is a useful as a chocolate fireguard, they will all end in tears

Can I ask is the car under finance? Only reason is that if you are having issues with SUK and the dealer your finance company can often have some influence. Hopefully you will get some better news soon regarding the car.

Can I ask is the car under finance? Only reason is that if you are having issues with SUK and the dealer your finance company can often have some influence. Hopefully you will get some better news soon regarding the car.

No I was a bit silly and paid outright but there is a chance of a chargeback on my debit card.

I have sent the rejection letter and will update if I get any response.

I had a call from the supplying dealer they had delivery of the Mechatronic unit and it was fitted on Monday.

The gear change is still jerky but I have not yet had the issue where the car has failed to select a gear. Annoyingly there is now a loud rattle which appears to be the cover under the engine compartment one of the retaining bolts/screws is missing also I seem to have an oil leak.

My patience with the supplying dealer has run out and I don't want to take it back anymore.

Since the Mechatronic replacement the noticable issue is as I slow down the engine drops down the gears and as I approach a corner the car is usually in 2nd then I accelerate after the corner and the car jumps or jerks is a better description in to 3rd. So the main concern is the change from 2nd - 3rd.

Edited 3 August, 201114 yr by velag

Looks like they don't know what they are doing then. Reject the car or give them 14 days in writing to sort it out.