My Fabia VRS is getting yet another new engine and quite frankly I'm getting pretty ****ed off with the car now. I want to make a complaint to Skoda uk about it but don't quite know how to word it. Has anybody made a  complaint and what was the outcome? Any help and ideas would be very great full. 

You could try contacting the CEO of Skoda UK directly. Sent an e-mail his way recently when a warranty claim was rejected and neither the dealer or customer services could help. Following said e-mail the issue got sorted to my satisfaction.

 

[email protected]

 

 

TP

doesnt the law state you have to give them 3 chances to fix and then you can reject the goods under not fit for purpose?

if it its the same issue each time and you had the breather mod first then this would be the 4th fix and grounds to reject the car, i would demand a replacement car and see where it gets you saying under the sales of good act its not fit for purpose

If you bought it new, and it's still under warranty I would say that you have very good grounds to reject the car and get a refund. Four engines is simply ridiculous and frankly unacceptable.

If your warranty is running out & you keep getting new engines then how much of a warranty do you get on each new engine?

My engine has taken 2.5 years to break itself so im just thinking if they only provide an additional year it might be worthless.

Another question-have they ever tried to say to you they'd just strip a certain part of your engine or has complete replacement always been offered?

Cheers

I've had the car from new and it's only just a year old (barely 7000 miles on the clock). So I took it in on Thursday for its annual service and described a couple faults plus to check oil consumption. I suggested to use 5w40 as Id picked some up and it seamed to reduce oil consumption, and the guy on the service desk seamed keen on the idea. Got a phone call at the end of the day asking for permission for the master tech to take the car home so he can give the car a good test drive (the faults were steering/suspension and supercharger related). So when I phoned the dealer the following lunchtime to find out about my car I got a rushed phone call saying the engine was currently being replaced with no explanation why and I mite have it back by Saturday. The engine was previously ''replaced'' over Christmas but after a few excuses the main one being the wrong engine was sent from the factory I believe the engine was refurbished, Also to note I didn't receive any paperwork for it.

 

So understandably I'm now rather frustrated with both the car and the secrecy from the dealership.

A lot of these 'replacement' engines are just refurbed units. Someone's engine fails/has oil issues so is removed. It's then sent back to the factory to be "refurbed" then sent out to be fitted as a replacement on some unlucky chaps car. Low and behold this engine then also has problems and so is replaced again..... And so the cycle continues!

Why Skoda replaces failed motors with other failed motors is crazy from the customers perspective (although had obvious financial benefits for the manufacturer). Talk about a sticky-plaster solution.

It's abit like needing a liver transplant and the transplant team telling you "we've found you a new liver, the donor was a raging alcoholic but I'm sure it'll be fine!"

I would beg to differ about the refurb issue, at least, as far as I have been told. Skoda fit NEW parts under warranty, as I had a new cylinder head, turbo, then engine, all replaced, all new, all under warranty.

 

The issue of warranty, however, is unclear. I was advised that any replacement parts are under warranty for the duration of the original manufacturers one, so my engine's one ran out after about one month, though if I purchased an engine, it would have two years and if it was replaced the day I had the car, it would be covered for the whole three years.

 

Again, sale of goods etc MAY say that a vehicle should last a reasonable time and be fit for purpose, (I.E, driving) So I may be able to force them to repair the engine even out of warranty, but they may suggest I did not BUY the engine, this is not really true, as I bought the car as an entity, so it should still be fit for purpose and last a reasonable time!

If your warranty is running out & you keep getting new engines then how much of a warranty do you get on each new engine?

My engine has taken 2.5 years to break itself so im just thinking if they only provide an additional year it might be worthless.

 

The new car warranty is 2 years unlimited mileage from the factory, topped up to 3 years or 60,000 miles by the importer.  A part replaced under warranty will be warranted upto when the new car warranty expires.  For any repairs after warranty you'll be looking for a goodwill contribution from Skoda which will depend largely on your loyalty to their network.

 (the faults were steering/suspension and supercharger related).

Was it a knocking noise when turning leading to a power steering and steering rack issue?

Was it a knocking noise when turning leading to a power steering and steering rack issue?

When pulling away from a standstill with full throttle there was on a couple of occasions a loud band from the O/S front. Didn't feel anything, no jolt or pull just an alarmingly loud band. Also happened a few times under heavy braking. So just wanted it checked just to be on the safe side. (being a bus driver any noises from axles requires stopping and seeking "engineering" assistance) But this only appeared after the engine was replaced the 1st time round. Does that help?

 

Also spoke to Skoda UK customer services about getting a refund on my car and I've been referred to a case manager that will get back to me within 48 hours. So will keep everybody posted when they get back to me.  

Sounds a bit dodgy to me.........master tech takes your car home overnight then when you ring up about it your given a quick fob off story....have you been to the garage to see if your car in the workshop with its engine in bits or is it away in the bodyshop getting accident damage repaired?? call me suspicious but id wouldnt trust the dealer.

Got the car back this morning. They've only had the car for 5 days so can't say weather is't been damaged or not. Got some paperwork this time to claim the engine's been replaced so at least I'm happy with that. As for my complaint Skoda UK said I've got to write to the dealer about it as I'm looking at rejecting the car now.

I'll give you my experience on new VAG engines.

 

I had a MKIV Golf that needed a "NEW" ATD diesel engine, this "NEW ENGINE" had noisy hydraulic tappets when cold - this engine was replaced after 600 miles with another "NEW ENGINE" this turned out to be the same and the dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong. I asked to have the oil pressure checked when the engine was cold and had not been used for a few days it was 30 psi and should have been somewhere near 80 psi. a new oil pump was fitted with the same results, yet another "NEW ENGINE" this time everything was ok.

I queried the "NEW ENGINES" with the dealer and was told a brand new engine would only be fitted if the car had done less then 1,000 miles from new, at all other times a bare factory refurbished full or half engine unit would be fitted and your original parts would be installed on this.

'They' say many things, whoever they often are.

Dealerships seem to say lots that often turn out not to be true or correct.

 

The thing to do is get it from 'Skoda UK' who are paying for the Warranty work.

There are now 'New Engines' being fitted to cars with well over 1000 miles on them.

 

The information to get is,

Is it a 'New Engine' from the Engine Production line/supplier, or a Refurbished Engine coming from Skoda,

or is Some Engine rebuild being done in the Dealership doing the warranty work.

 

Get it in writing and have Skoda put down what is to be replaced, what warranty is on the 'New Parts', or New Engine.

Then have the Copies of the Parts Invoices or Replacement Engine and identification numbers or codes.

 

It seems to be different, from day to day and week to week with different 1.4tsi Twincharger owners with Warranty work required.

What has gone before with diffent cars and engines really does not matter.

It is the 'CAVE', and now some CTHE engines that matter in the main.

 

george

I feel for you I hope this works out for you. There are times mostly in a straight line when I miss my car but it's stories like this which in my mind make me think I did the right thing in the end. It's a great car but they should do a proper recall of this issue, my dads IQ went back three or four times for recall work and toyotas name got dragged through the mud but in the end they came out looking good and as if they'd looked after the customer.

I just got fobbed off by the dealer and had no confidence after that that they would be able to fix the issue so she got traded in. Was told she'll always use oil sir.

Well Customer Services weren't interested and only offered an extended warranty on the engine and if I still didn't want the car to contact the dealer. So now I'm chasing after the dealer with the hope of getting a refund or the vehicle exchanged. Maybe they will agree to swap it with a new Octavia Vrs diesel, well I can always hope.

Could you tell us please about the extended warranty they offered, as that is more than they are doing with other people getting replacement engines?

I take it your car has still  18 month-2 years Manufacturers Warranty, so were they extending on that?

 

You need to talk to your Trading Standards, get advice and possibly Register a case,

or Legal Advice and use your consumer rights in the UK.

 

Good luck now with things.

 

george

I wasn't really listening when she mentioned an extended warranty but I turned it down as I was only looking at keeping the car for 3 years so it wouldn't be of any use to me. Hence why she said I have to go to the dealer as I want a refund or vehicle exchanged. If I don't get a good response from the dealer I will take it to Trading Standards and maybe go to somebody like Auto express magazine, they have a watchdog section. One thing I have noticed is that everybody I have spoke in dealing with this matter sounds completely shocked that my car has had 2 engine replacements in 1 year on a car that's only done 7500 miles. Almost as if it shouldn't have got to that point and the vehicle should have been replaced before the 2nd engine replacement or that it should of been paid for by me.

Take the Warranty Extension anyway if see was not just talking cr4p, it will be on the car when it goes, so that might be worth something as peace of mind to someone.

 

Skoda salespeople are no longer surprised at High Oil Users, they must now have doubts as they sell a Used Car to members of the public.

No longer able to be part of the 'VW Audi Groups'  3 monkeys, See , Hear & say no Evil.

 

It can not be long until legal cases are raised, maybe not only against Skoda,

it might be against Dealers selling cars Not Fit For Purpose.

Or their Sales Teams that are in effect selling or mis selling Faulty Products.

 

It must be coming to a head for Skoda now as car after car fails, or as it is Engine after Engine.

 

Autocar Express never bothered responding to my Emails last week,

Just away to read this weeks mag, maybe my letter is in there.

 

Lusting after the thought of a new 'Seat Leon Cupra R' if they ever go on to build one.

 

george

In respect of Skoda UK extending warranties on failed VRS engines this was my experience;

From Skoda I have a letter that extends the warranty solely on my engine to four years BUT is still capped at 60,000 miles. Also the warranty extension is purely personal and is limted to myself, it being clearly stated that it is non transferable.

Skoda might have to buck up there ideas as used cars are sitting on forecourts now as the word gets out that the some of the cars might and 

only might, be lemons.

 

Their reputation of a Manufacturer selling reliable cars is already suffering.

 

Some sort of conformation of what there deal is with owners having problems and a common solution. re Warranty Extension etc.

 

And Writing up properly in Service Books what parts are replaced.

Buyers of used cars should not have to go tracking down what has been done to the car they are looking at, be that a Skoda Dealership or

anyplace else.

 

None of the cars are very old, 37 months at most and under 60,000 miles.

 

george

Got an email from my dealership this afternoon and It claimed that Skoda are looking at replacing my current car with a brand new one. So at least I'm getting somewhere. Mite trade it in after a few days of having it and get something else.

'If', Skoda was going to replace your car with a new one, you could lose lots taking that car then trading once it is registered.

 

You would be better getting a deal in writing with Skoda UK.

Use a solicitor and have a legal agreement and an acceptance from them that their Product was not of Merchantable Quality.

(Not fit for purpose.)

One member on here before had a deal to Trade Up when he rightly rejected a car and then they messed him about something terrible.

 

You getting full money refund less a fair charge for usage of the car while you owned it,

which should become the Full Refund again and their loss for your expenses and being messed about should be more like the deal.

They are selling the Faulty Vehicles then having Sub Standard Repairs done.

 

george

Mystic_monkeyman

As someone who fought and won a replacement car after my vrs had 3 engines I'm happy to help you. I'm in the process of rejecting my replacement vehicle (for different issues). Drop me a message if you need some help.