The point about leaving the car in gear is moot. You're the driver, you're in control of making sure the car is secure. It's not Skodas job to detail every possible issue that may occur in the user manual.

Chalk this up to bad luck. Park the car in gear from now on and keep an eye out for the problem reoccurring.

It is Skoda's obligation to honour the warranty though. If the car is defective they should repair it and any consequential damage.

Edited 19 March, 201412 yr by classic

There is no way you should be needing to park the car in gear if on a normal slope. Ive parked on a hill before and not parked it in gear. The handbrake is designed to hold the car. If it doesnt, there is a problem with it. If the ratchett system is failing, and the handbrake and lever releases itself, then it is a fault with the car, and is in no way Neilys fault. It should be checked over by Skoda, and they 'should' be paying the repair costs. OK so Skoda may try and wiggle out of it, but if they do, that is very poor on their part.

 

Those saying chalk it up to bad luck. No, the car has a fault, you dont just chalk it up to bad luck. What if this carpark was on the top of a hill, and the car had fallen hundreds of feet down to the bottom, and been written off? Is that just a case of 'bad luck mate, next time learn to park in gear'? No, it isnt. You'd all be straight off to Skoda asking for a replacement. 

It is Skoda's obligation to honour the warranty though. If the car is defective they should repair it and any consequential damage.

I never said it wasn't Skoda's obligation to honour the warranty. One instance of the handbrake failing doesn't make it a fault though. Like I said, the best thing to do is park in gear from now on and monitor the situation. If it happens again make note and get the dealer to investigate. Only then can 'we' start looking for the repairs to be compensated.

How many instances of it failing make it a fault then ?

crap news on the bump :(

 

Just to add Ive had my handbrake snap back to off after i'd applied it twice now.  Scared the life out of me both times but its always happened just as Ive applied it and (thankfully) not later.  Hope the part turns up.

I've had this in my Skoda - very annoying & embarrassing. Rolled off down a slope and hit a used car on a sales forecourt.

Always leave it in 1st now.

crap news on the bump :(

Just to add Ive had my handbrake snap back to off after i'd applied it twice now. Scared the life out of me both times but its always happened just as Ive applied it and (thankfully) not later. Hope the part turns up.

So there's definitely an issue with these handbrakes then, trouble is proving it...... unless my dealer can find something wrong with it, some sort of damage or premature wear....

As a little side note: why would you park a car and not put it in gear? Any other reason other than "that's how I'm used to"?

You get taught not to cross your hands when steering, not to turn the wheels when stationary, to fully inspect tyres,lights oil, water etc before each journey. How many do that. The handbrake ratchets are made of hardened steel. Just pull it on as far as it will go and you can't go wroung.....

Just pull it on as far as it will go and you can't go wroung.....

Until your other half makes you get out of bed at 05:00 because she cant get the damn thing to release from when you parked it last night 

Until your other half makes you get out of bed at 05:00 because she cant get the damn thing to release from when you parked it last night 

 

Mine often does it to herself on hills, she yanks it up so hard she can't release it again... I find it kind of funny sometimes

Just tell her to get the bus.... MAYBE NOT.

As a little side note: why would you park a car and not put it in gear? Any other reason other than "that's how I'm used to"?

Because there should be no need to. Some people do it as a second line of defence, but there should not be any need. The handbrake is designed to do the job fully.

The only time I have ever had it suggested that i should park in gear, is when onboard a ferry. Then they always say to park it in gear. Probably due to the possiblity of movement.

Because there should be no need to. Some people do it as a second line of defence, but there should not be any need. The handbrake is designed to do the job fully.

The only time I have ever had it suggested that i should park in gear, is when onboard a ferry. Then they always say to park it in gear. Probably due to the possiblity of movement.

 

Spot on. If the handbrake can't keep the car parked, what's the point of having it?

 

I know someone who has an electronic handbrake and just thought the car didn't have one in any form and drove it for years without ever using it, just parking it in gear.

Well that's my point. It does no harm to the car to park and leave it in gear. So why not do it anyway, second line of defense or not?

The reason of "you shouldn't need to" is laughable. Accidents happen, whether through design fault or incorrect use. That's life. So why not protect yourself that little bit more by leaving it in gear? It's not going to have a detrimental effect on your life.

Belt 'n' braces

Because there should be no need to. Some people do it as a second line of defence, but there should not be any need. The handbrake is designed to do the job fully.

The only time I have ever had it suggested that i should park in gear, is when onboard a ferry. Then they always say to park it in gear. Probably due to the possiblity of movement.

Why have a reserve parachute? The main parachute should do its job and never fail ...   Mmm, think maybe I'll still pack a reserve just in case!   Not belittling the op's bad luck just think it makes sense to have a back up by leaving in gear.

 

Incidentally, I was always taught to press the button in when applying the handbrake. The manual specifically says just pull up...having read this thread and comments by others think I might try to change this habit and give the button a miss...

The reason of "you shouldn't need to" is laughable. Accidents happen, whether through design fault or incorrect use. That's life. So why not protect yourself that little bit more by leaving it in gear? It's not going to have a detrimental effect on your life.

OK, let me put it another way. Some people dont even consider putting it in gear, as they dont think there is any need to. It doesnt cross their mind that the handbrake wont hold the car.

Yes, you may as well protect yourself by leaving it in gear, IF it crosses your mind to do so. It has never ever crossed my mind beforehand to ever do this, except onboard a ferry.

I more than likely will do from now on, because this thread has made it obvious that the handbrake may not do the job it should do.

Obviously a lot of people on here have been brought up to park in gear 'just in case'. I have never considered it before. My dad has never done it, and never had a need to. So as you can imagine, i havent exactly been brought up to do this.

 

Oh, and the excuse 'you shouldnt need to' is not laughable. If you were always trying to think of the worst case scenario, and always trying to factor in a second line of defence, you would never do anything. Do you buy 2 of each CD just in case the first one breaks at the wrong time? Are cars built with 2 starter motors just in case one fails to work for any reason?  No, because you dont expect any of the above to happen. You shouldnt need a second line of defence.

So no, the excuse 'you shouldnt need to' is not laughable. It is perfectly valid, as you shouldnt need to park in gear. In fact, there should be less need to park in gear, than there is to buy 2 CDs, or have 2 starter motors.

 

But dont worry, I expect a lot of extra people will certainly do so now, as they are aware of a potential problem. A potential fault (as thats what it is)

Why have a reserve parachute? The main parachute should do its job and never fail ...   Mmm, think maybe I'll still pack a reserve just in case!   Not belittling the op's bad luck just think it makes sense to have a back up by leaving in gear.

 

Incidentally, I was always taught to press the button in when applying the handbrake. The manual specifically says just pull up...having read this thread and comments by others think I might try to change this habit and give the button a miss...

Sometimes the second line of defence is mandatory or very obvious. Id say a reserve parachute is obvious. In fact, is it mandatory? Surely a main paracute failing is more likely than a handbrake releasing itself due to an obvious fault with the car? Id say the paracute was more complex, and more likely of failure. Or perhaps its just the thought of parachuting fills me with dread.

A relation of mine bought a used Honda Jazz from a main dealer,parked in front of their garage which was a down slope. Later found the car against garage door. Dealer said, oh yes its a known problem that Honda are aware of,but there is nothing that can be done.Her older Jazz had a different design handbrake and they were fine apparently. Moto, if it works, don't change it.

Well that's my point. It does no harm to the car to park and leave it in gear. So why not do it anyway, second line of defense or not?

It does if you forget you've left it in gear when you start the engine and you are parked close to an obstacle in front!

It does if you forget you've left it in gear when you start the engine and you are parked close to an obstacle in front!

That was the other thing i was thinking of. Thankfully not a problem on the Octy. Well, dunno about the petrols, but not a problem on the diesels.

People don't check their car is in neutral before starting?

That was the other thing i was thinking of. Thankfully not a problem on the Octy. Well, dunno about the petrols, but not a problem on the diesels.

Do you mean because you have to depress the clutch in order to start the engine? Because you can then release the clutch and still forget its in gear.

Or is there another failsafe I'm not aware of?