For over 3 months the engine without warning cuts out completely for a few seconds whilst driving at normal motorway speeds and I'm getting no where with the dealer or Skoda UK. The worst time this has happened is a complete shut down whilst doing 65mph in lane 3 on the M25 and I narrowly avoided having a collision. This happens in all drive modes and when I'm driving with ACC on.

I've had the recall 25AU done and Skoda UK are refusing to come and look at my car or take it away to look at. The dealer whilst unable to fault the car is doing what they can but Skoda just won't play ball. Has anyone else encountered a similar problem? If all else fails I will back the car but all I want is my car fixed.

Never Hurd of that one it seems very strange their is no fault codes stored as the technology is so advanced it logs all most every issue. Maybe it's a hardware problem. I have changed ecu's and control units for strange going on like that not so much engine cut outs but function restrictions relating to various electric problems.

Engine is cutting out and SUK are refusing to investigate? Sounds like a massive liability if it caused an accident and it got out in the news... might be worth mentioning to them how much it would cost them if their failure to investigate caused a multi car collision on a motorway

I had the same "head in the sand" experience with SUK customer services for something far less scary (lack of spare wheel).

I emailed SUK CEO and all of a sudden I have their full attention - the service has been pretty good since. His email address is easily found via Google.....or PM me.

Edited 14 August, 201411 yr by Farsider

It's hard to believe skoda won't do anything about it normally they jump on the issue and get it resolved ASAP

All Skoda say is they won't accept liability or responsibility if it cuts out whilst driving and I crash. They've also said to not use eco mode or drive using adaptive cruise control activated which is not really helpful.

Best advice they can give me is, if it happens again take it back to the dealer again. It's been there for 3 weeks after being recovered after the first time it happened and for a week and a half this time round after speaking to my customer service manager at Skoda UK.

I don't know what else to do as I'm getting no where fast and I've got a car that could cause injury to me or someone else and they don't care!

Why not use Eco mode or adaptive cruise. I don't get that it's a function if the car why not use them.

Why not use Eco mode or adaptive cruise. I don't get that it's a function if the car why not use them.

They "think" it might be what the problem is but aren't sure. They've even insinuated that it's just the adaptive cruise control slowing the car down and/or front assist working and me not understanding it!

If it happens again I've got to log distance travelled, speed, weather conditions, active vehicle functions, time and what ever else I can.

I amazes me that people get stuck with issues like this.

The solution is very simple, take the car to the dealer, demand a courtesy car (make sure you are clear you are not leaving until you have one). Tell them to have someone drive the car everyday as much as possible until they experience the issue.

Once they experience the issue they will HAVE to sort it.

I had a really odd intermittent issue with my Audi SQ5 that only happened during warm up, so did the above and one of them just took it for a drive morning and after lunch for a week until they experienced it.

At the same time as mentioned above, escalate to SUK, call twice a day, they will put pressure on the dealer to get it sorted to stop you being a PITA!

Service is simple, he who shouts loudest wins. It's sad, but that's how it is. Just be the biggest (polite) PITA you can and it will be fixed in no time...

+1. Sad but true.

I'd just email the SUK CEO as mentioned above and just ask him to put in writing that they aren't willing to investigate a problem with your car that could cause multiple deaths when it occurs again on a motorway. I'm sure that should get their attention, especially if you mention that you want it in writing so you can pass it on to trading standards.

Also them telling you not to use ACC is a bit of a cop out given it cost you money.

I think you're going the right way about it (though you shouldn't have to). Keep up the pressure, if SUK does not take attention take it up further with the likes of watchdog.

 

I've not used nor got a mk3 so cannot help with this, but it might be worth asking other members with the same spec as yours to also take a run like you do and see if they have the same issues.

This looks like the well known issue on here where start stop is cutting in when in eco mode on the diesel DSG. That they are telling you not to use eco mode means they know this is the problem.

 

It is a serious safety issue and searching around here should find a number of other people who have had this addressed who may be able to provide you info to use against your dealer.

Auto Express mag is usually a good one to email. Explain fault but mainly that SK UK won't listen. I got a call from SK about deliveries when I did that. Didn't speed things up, but I felt better.

Give them a phone contact as they sometimes ring for a chat.

When this happens I go back to the dealer they give me a car via Mobex (usually a Mercedes C200cdi) which so far has cost them £2000 in hire charges over 4 weeks in total that I've been without my car.

As GFF shows no fault codes stored and it's an intermittent problem that they have yet to experience I just get given the car back. The dealer isn't allowed to drive my car extensively as they'd like because Skoda won't pay them.

I've informed VWFS as the car is under a PCP agreement so I've got the rejection route covered already. As for motoring press I've already tweeted the editor of Whatcar? and I'm currently in the process of informing them of what's going on. I will also email CEO of Skoda UK. Thanks for the advice so far.....

How long have you had the car? If it's less than six months you may have a case of the car not being mercantable quality, in which case contacting your local Trading Standards might be a useful approach.

You could also try contacting Barnaby Jones through this forum. He writes a column for What Car every month on the company Octavia he is running for What Car. He was recently on Briskoda asking for information from members about their experiences with the Octy III ("Hello From England" started by Barnaby Jones on 10th June 2104). Adverse publicity is never good for a company!

What Car also has a Helpdesk, which assists people with this kind of issue.

I hope you get a result on this. Really poor response from Skoda so far. Just a thought, have you filmed an occurrence of the problem? Maybe a bit of vid footage would convince them to take action.

I hope you get a result on this. Really poor response from Skoda so far. Just a thought, have you filmed an occurrence of the problem? Maybe a bit of vid footage would convince them to take action.

Good point. Maybe invest in a dash cam, useful for any future possible incidents too.

How long have you had the car? If it's less than six months you may have a case of the car not being mercantable quality, in which case contacting your local Trading Standards might be a useful approach.

You could also try contacting Barnaby Jones through this forum. He writes a column for What Car every month on the company Octavia he is running for What Car. He was recently on Briskoda asking for information from members about their experiences with the Octy III ("Hello From England" started by Barnaby Jones on 10th June 2104). Adverse publicity is never good for a company!

What Car also has a Helpdesk, which assists people with this kind of issue.

I have had the car since January, the problem for 3 months so rejection is possible and I've also informed VWFS to make that easier.

 

I have tweeted the editor of Whatcar? and emailed there Helpdesk to see what they can do.

I hope you get a result on this. Really poor response from Skoda so far. Just a thought, have you filmed an occurrence of the problem? Maybe a bit of vid footage would convince them to take action.

Thanks so do I and unfortunately I haven't got a dash cam so have been unable to film anything.

When the problem occurs are there any lights/error messages on the Maxidot or in the navigation?

 

 

Also, I suggest asking for all responses in writing/email or at least keep clear notes yourself of dates of phonecalls, emails etc

To be fair to the dealer, if no fault codes are present then they are trying to identify where the fault lies. Asking to drive without ACC or ECO mode means they are trying to rule them out. If the fault still occurs without them in use the fault lies elsewhere and they will ask you to try something else. If the fault does not occur then Skoda know where to target the fault finding.

It needs the OP to carryout these tests as it maybe something with the driving style that is inducing the faults. The dealer does not have time to employ someone to drive around town or up and down the motorway in the hope that the car will cut out and repeat this over and over. The symptoms cannot be replicated in a workshop, so it must be done on the open road.

To be fair to the dealer, if no fault codes are present then they are trying to identify where the fault lies. Asking to drive without ACC or ECO mode means they are trying to rule them out. If the fault still occurs without them in use the fault lies elsewhere and they will ask you to try something else. If the fault does not occur then Skoda know where to target the fault finding.It needs the OP to carryout these tests as it maybe something with the driving style that is inducing the faults. The dealer does not have time to employ someone to drive around town or up and down the motorway in the hope that the car will cut out and repeat this over and over. The symptoms cannot be replicated in a workshop, so it must be done on the open road.

Maybe so, but whilst he is driving around trying to emulate the problem, there is a very real possibility that he and his family or some other motorists will be killed. Many car software systems are safety critical (as in aircraft) and should not be able to fail in an unsafe condition. Mechanical failure can also have serious consequences, but this is offset by probability of failure within a specified time, usually requiring items to be serviced and changed within specified limits. In no way should driving style ever result in a catastrophic failure, i.e. Death, due to faulty systems.

When the problem occurs are there any lights/error messages on the Maxidot or in the navigation?

 

 

Also, I suggest asking for all responses in writing/email or at least keep clear notes yourself of dates of phonecalls, emails etc

When the engine cuts out there are no warning lights or messages appearing on any of the vehicle displays