It is all set out in your Warranty Booklet, (Policy) Country by Country or Continent.   Covers Warranty Information & Assistance/Recovery.

 

Out of Warranty is just that,

You will need the Goodwill of VAG or prove that there were known Defects while it was in Warranty, Recalls not notified or Servicing and Maintenance not done as should be, so that might be the Dealer at fault.

 

george

Mine states that I can visit any Skoda workshop around the Europe.

 

But what about yours (not personally speaking) three and mine two year period then? And please let me know what does Goodwill gesture in an already known built-in defect means? Why should I pay for the timing chain replacement ? Where is my fault causing that chain failure ? Of course mine still rattles at cold start and I am advised to proceed to a replacement under MY cost ? Why ? What did I do or still do wrong that caused that cold start chain's rattle ? 

 

If it is Skoda's faulty part, batch, what ever they need to call it, it should be their responsibility to replace it. Especially when it is known that there is no possible way or regular servicing procedure in order to maintain it in mint condition. To save you time I inform you that my car is serviced only by Skoda dealers with their parts and their pricing lists at the exact service intervals that Skoda pre-defined for the car.

 

Goodwill gesture for what? I really cannot understand it and I really feel deceived. How can I feel when mine colleague had his engine replaced after 102.000Km on his Golf V 1.4Tsi totaly free?

 

I am not annoyed by the defect itself. Malfunctions and defect parts happens, I am annoyed by the policy over that defect.

I imagine mine will go back the factory, to be reconditioned (pistons replaced?) for the next unfortunate.

 

Very sorry to hear you have this problem with your engine. It is rare indeed! I can think of many things that could have caused this engine situation. From your description it sounds as if the compression rings have broken damaging the cylinder bore on that cylinder. This could have variable various causes which may be difficult to pinpoint by a garage. Valves hitting a piston normally make a horrendous noise and normally will cause the car to stop by the roadside. Usually, if it's the camchain causing the valves to hit the piston, all pistons are affected and the car would be undriveable. Broken piston rings on one cylinder often will let the car carry on it's journey at reduced speed, however unwise it is to drive it. Clearly it seems, there's not much that can be done economically to resurrect the engine by the dealer. A replacement will be the best option. However, do not be put off by the fact Skoda are offering a "refurbished" engine. This is normal practice for a manufacturer to go down that route. A refurbished engine is in every way as good as a completely new unit. Cranks are either replaced or reground, all bearing replaced with new, heads and camshafts are completely refurbished with new valves and guides and new seats, or the head unit replaced with a new unit. Pistons and rings are new, engine blocks blasted and cleaned and brought back to new before being relined, or replaced with a new unit. Cam chains are replaced along with the tensioner and water pump. That would be a complete unit replacement. A short engine replacement would consist of the above but without the cylinder head or ancillaries. Realistically, the engine would be new. In some cases where a replacement refurbished engine has not be available due to a lack of older worn engines, a completely new factory off the production line engine has been supplied in it's place at refurbished engine cost. 

 

A 50% contribution is not bad at all. But everyone may look at this differently. I would accept the offer, and then pursue a claim under european 'fit for purpose' rules. But that's just me. You may want to take some legal advice. However, be prepared to accept that sometimes these things happen and blame is not easy to apportion to a fault at manufacture, and may not be a manufacturing fault. You guys only get a two year warranty. Your cars are less expensive when new and that is probably the reason you only get the two year warranty. We pay more for our cars and this filters down to the extra dealer year of warranty we enjoy. I hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction. Please keep reporting back to us if you can. Good luck.

...

and then pursue a claim under european 'fit for purpose' rules. ...

 

.....We pay more for our cars and this filters down to the extra dealer year of warranty we enjoy.....

 

Is there any document that lists these rules? Or can you tell me where to seek for them ?

 

My car is the very bottom spec'ed one, I think you call it S, and cost me 14.649 euros. But the warranty is all the same regardless the spec or the price of the car. I think Skoda UK has way better policy.

Hi stratos, 

 

The best thing to do is google search for EU consumer law directives. Being fit for purpose is an imperative for any goods you buy. This includes cars to a large degree, although there are some bits of the law that are a bit different for cars over buying other goods such as a TV for example. But it does come down to what is reasonable also. If you buy a new car from a dealer it should last a reasonable time before it fails or develops a fault. Be clear, we are talking about major faults over the more niggly minor problems that can occur. There is a European piece of legislation called 'The Limitations Act'. This gives you up to 6 years to make a complaint about your goods if you have a fault. There are some drawbacks. These include what sort of fault it is. And what is reasonable to expect from the product. If you are talking about the door handle falling off, you almost certainly won't get anywhere. But an engine failing at just 3 or so years is quite different in my view and at a quite lowish mileage too. In addition, you must prove the fault is a manufacturing problem and not one you or anyone else has caused. In other words, it's not the manufacturer who has to prove there is a fault. Again, it comes down to what is thought to be reasonable. But it can be difficult.

 

There is a 2 year EU rule covered by Directive 1999/44/EC. This gives consumers the right to complain about goods within that time and not have to prove a fault is down to the manufacturer. The responsibility is down to the manufacturer to investigate. After that, it's down to the owner, although sometimes the 2 year rule can be extended depending on the goods. I don't know if that is the case with your car. I am not a legal eagle but have dealt with investigating faulty cars for the industry so I do have a basic understanding of the consumer law relating to those things. I've just never had to investigate a car older than two years that I can remember for a warranty claim where EU law was cited. It isn't needed much over here. Let us know how you get on.

Dear Estate Man, thank you very much for your time and your advice. It is more than helpful.

 

It will all depend on what my dealer is going to tell me when I book the car for 60.000Km (53.500 Km actually) service, which will be performed in ca 1.300Km. Then I will ask to be given a final written diagnosis report (and not over the phone diagnosis) and then I will wait to see how will they act. Over  the phone dealer told me that is almost sure that I have to replace the timing chain and that I will have to pay for the chain replacement because my car is out of warranty and that he will try to receive a Goodwill gesture for me.

 

This is what I am opposed at since it is the timing chain that creates the rattle on cold start, which is supposed to be there as long as the engine lives and there is no other way to service her, moreover there is the 15D9 directive which is refered to the timing chain but unfortunatelly my VIN is not amongst the affected group of cars. It is prettey straight to me that it has to be done on no cost for me.

 

This is clearly not my fault, or even dealer's fault. I am extremely satisfied with my dealer, he never let me down. He was there every time I needed him he is fully trained over the cars and always kind and pleasant. I just think this issue is above his will.

Edited 21 December, 201312 yr by stratosg

3rd year UK warranty is not provided by Skoda factory but by Skoda UK (the importers) and has certain conditions.

 

The third year warranty with 60,000 mile limitation.

After the first two years of your warranty, your vehicle will be covered by a third year ŠKODA authorised network warranty if:

 

The vehicle has not exceeded 60,000 miles

 

The vehicle was imported by ŠKODA UK and supplied through the United Kingdom ŠKODA authorised network

 

This warranty will terminate on the anniversary of the third year from the date of original registration or at 60,000 miles, whichever is soonest. Should the mileage exceed 60,000 miles within the first two years, the two-year manufacturer’s warranty will still be valid, but you will not automatically have a third year of warranty.

I've been offered 60% goodwill, ie, I'm to pay 40% for a replacement engine. If Skoda have offered 60% goodwill on a problem that had a silent recall, I feel I should be requesting 100% goodwill. Why should I be paying for a fault that Skoda know exists with their engine? Or am I the one being unreasonable. I'd be grateful for everyone's thoughts on this. Thank you.

While post #32 sets out as Skoda Customer Services might repeat parrot fashion, 

that is their line.

Fabia Mk2 vRS owners with cars with Engines with Fundamental Design & Manufacturing and Quality Control issues, 

and engine Management Control plus lack of actions by VW/Skoda have received better deals than just help with a percentage.

 

Many have had deals on extended warranties on replaced engines and some car less than 5 years old are now on a 3rd engine.

 

Do not accept what Skoda UK Customer Services might try to pan you off with, 

get a Solicitor if needed, get an Independent Motor Engineer / Expert to do a report, or Hire a Loss Adjuster and go after Skoda for your losses if you have any.

They play the percentage game, fail to act on their corporate failures and too many let them off with 'Not fit for purpose components'.

 

Skoda UK has a new Brand Director that has just come over from VW Parts,  he knows that many VW Parts are pants,

this is a good time to chase up Skoda UK Customer Services.