From ABC Australia

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-12/volkswagen-confirms-australian-car-recall/4747694

Volkswagen confirms recall of Australian cars after power-loss complaints

Updated 2 hours 7 minutes ago

VIDEO: Volkswagen recall now includes Audi and Skoda (7pm TV News VIC)

Volkswagen has confirmed it will recall some of its cars in Australia after a fatal accident in Victoria sparked safety concerns about some models.

A coronal inquest has been held into the death of Melissa Ryan, 32, who was killed when her VW Golf was hit from behind by a truck on the Monash Freeway in 2011.

The truck driver the inquest last month that Ms Ryan's car slowed dramatically.

The inquest sparked complaints from owners whose cars have also cut out or stopped on busy roads, reportedly due to a faulty gearbox in a number of models.

Volkswagen has announced a recall of its Jetta, Golf, Polo, Passat and Caddy models manufactured between June 2008 and September 2011.

Key points

Volkswagen confirms recall over safety concerns

Motoring association says recall affects Golf, Jetta, Polo, Passat and Caddy models from 2008-2011

Reports suggest up to 26,000 cars may be affected.

Comes after 2011 fatal accident when VW Golf was said to have slowed dramatically on highway

The company also manufactures Skoda, which says more than 1,700 of its vehicles will be included in the recall.

Another Volkswagen offshoot, Audi, is recalling more than 6000 A1 and A3 models, manufactured from July 2008 to July 2011.

The problem is reportedly in gearboxes, which will be replaced free of charge during the recall.

Reports suggest more then 30,000 car owners will be affected Australia-wide.

Andrew McKellar, of the Australian Automobile Association, says the recall should have happened much sooner.

"Frankly, it's not good enough. They should have acted more quickly as soon as they became aware that there was evidence that there was a problem," he said.

Recall 'too little too late'

Melbourne commercial real estate agent Steve Makris, who says he had a near-miss on the Hume Highway in his 2010 Golf, says the recall is "too little, too late".

He says he will continue planning a class-action lawsuit which has already attracted about 200 Volkswagen owners.

"I think it's too little, too late, quite simply because they've been aware of this problem for quite a long time," Mr Makris said.

"They've known about the issues but they've kept it very quiet, for what reasons I have no idea."

Mr Makris says he has had the engine rebuilt and gearbox replaced on his Golf.

Case study: Ross Gulliver owns a 2006 Passat

"We had problems over a number of years with the car cutting out when stationary. [it ] wouldn't restart.

"My wife was driving it in most of the instances and it is frightening if you have kids on board.

"I had to drag them (Volkswagen) kicking and screaming to get my car fixed and it is a 2006, with a six-speed and DSG.

"I can't see that the problem is limited to 2008 and beyond."

"I know of some people who have had up to five engines replaced. It's out of control," he said.

"It started initially with a few people, then it blew out to 40 or 50 people, and now it's in the hundreds.

"I believe the cars are very dangerous. I think the DSG (direct shift gearbox), no matter how many times they replace it, it's not going to solve the problem.

"My car's shuddering again. I think it's only a matter of time before we have another tragic fatality on the road."

VIDEO: VW owner Ross Gulliver not surprised by recall (ABC News)

Mr Makris also criticised the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, which advises the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on recalls and had started an investigation into the matter.

"They should come under fire because there's people all over Australia who have been reporting these issues to them," he said.

"There's people who have made complaints to the CTTT (Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal), everywhere and... Volkswagen have gone in there with their big gun lawyers and just blown them out of the water."

Volkswagen wrote an open letter to customers last week offering free inspections in response to the growing public concern about serious mechanical problems.

The company said it understood recent media coverage had caused some concern and that it was offering the inspections for "peace of mind".

I've a 1.6 Fabia MkII with a 5 speed automatic gearbox built in 2010.  The car has started to develop the same loss of power problems mentioned in the below posted case study from Australia.

 

Should I contact Skoda direct, the dealer that sold the car or just take it get repaired?

 

Does anybody know if this common problem in UK sold VAG vehicles?

 

 

Case study: Ross Gulliver owns a 2006 Passat

"We had problems over a number of years with the car cutting out when stationary. [it ] wouldn't restart.

"My wife was driving it in most of the instances and it is frightening if you have kids on board.

"I had to drag them (Volkswagen) kicking and screaming to get my car fixed and it is a 2006, with a six-speed and DSG.

"I can't see that the problem is limited to 2008 and beyond."