My lease car is just two years old and both keys have broken. The metal holding the key blade has sheared off in the same place on each key. Skoda are refusing to replace the keys under the warranty. Has anyone else had this problem. I am wondering whether to sue Skoda or VW Finance for the cost, given it is a business lease.

Have you just been in touch with a dealer or skoda uk themselves?

Welcome to the forum.

 

It will be interesting to hear how many others have had a similar experience with keys breaking.

 

?  How many miles has the car done in 2 years and is it lots of short trips, so key used lots,

& is the Steering lock and barrel easy to use, or is there resistance when using the key ?

 

george

Noticed recently with our Fabia, turning the key in the ignition feels quite rough with a sense of resistance to the movement; something I'll be getting checked come service. If you have similar it could explain why the keys have broken but as others have suggested contact Skoda UK.

 

 

TP

Also the amount of other things, keys, novelty key rings ect you have dangling from the key will have an impact. They could try to use this against you weather you have a lot of extra stuff on there or not, saying you could have taken them off later to wriggle out of it.

Dennis, keys are not normally covered under warranty. The only part that is usually covered is the radio/chip part. Keys only normally break due to being overstressed. The actual key blade is exposed to variable stresses by different cars/people and this often negates warranty. I've seen people bring in keys that are twisted and they create merry hell because apparently, it shouldn't twist out of shape. The key is designed to be robust but it's apparent to all and sundry that the key has not been inserted correctly into the ignition switch before someone has actually wrenched on it to turn it on. The result is a bent twisted key, or a broken one, either the key blade or it's pivot. Not necessarily suggesting this is your problem. Firstly, as some are saying, does your ignition turn easily without any stickiness? Does the fuel cap come undone easily without any stress on the key? Do you use your key to pick stones out of your tyre tread, or pick anything else?

Edited 25 August, 201411 yr by Estate Man

How many keys do you have on the Keyring along with the Ignition Key??

 

I've seen people with what can only be described as a 'Jailers Keychain' of keys, which puts strain on the Ignition barrel and the Key its self!!..

 

I keep my House and Car Keys separate!!

How many keys do you have on the Keyring along with the Ignition Key??

I've seen people with what can only be described as a 'Jailers Keychain' of keys, which puts strain on the Ignition barrel and the Key its self!!..

I keep my House and Car Keys separate!!

Yep.

I've got one key ring on my car key, and the house keys are separate. For this reason.

That's interesting, I'm always gentle, but I find my ignition barrel is sometimes very notchy and reluctant to turn, it's not the steering lock or anything, just feels like it needs a bit of WD-40.

does your remote split like this in the pic below? or is it the newer type like in the 2nd pic? well, apart from VW logo, just the type of case

 

 

Hi guys. Thanks for all the comments. Skoda Customer Services say there is a 6-month wear and tear warranty on keys, although this is not stated in the warranty booklet. The car is two years old and has done 40,000 miles. I have now taken the keys to two different dealers. The first  one claimed the keys have been exposed to undue force, while the other has tried to claim for new keys under warranty. Because of the differing opinions, this has now been escalated to Skoda's technical department for a decision, which I am expecting today or tomorrow. I have a few keys on the ring, but hardly a jailer's bunch.

 

The keys are the newer type, as in the second picture above. There is no undue resistance in the ignition.

 

Watch this space for Skoda's reply.

Its both keys with the same fault though?

With respect. I haven't heard of any faulty keys before, let alone two keys by the same owner.

Good luck with the second dealer. Hope the claim goes through!

?

Did one key break and you just left it at that, used the other one and it broke?  or what is the story.

 

Customer Services need to look at what they are say.

There is the Exclusion on Key Fob & Alarm Batteries.

There are wear and tear items excluded and these are named.

 *Ask Skoda Customer Services to send a Copy of where a Key Fob is Excluded, it only gets used in one vehicle and the mileage is available to check.)

 

Buy if it is a Manufacturing Fault, then that would not be excluded, 

but they can say it was the type of use it had.  If you know the keys are not abused, you have no previous problems with keys, then you argue the toss.

 

http://skoda.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Brochures/Warranty-Booklet-single.pdf

Exclusions, Page 4 'Key Fob & Alarm Batteries' & 6.

i have seen them break before, but then again i do 200+ VAG keys per year. Although i've never seen 1 break on a car of that age & definitely haven't seen 2 keys for the same car break in the same way. Could be stiff/sticking ignition barrel so having to put more effort to turn it or possibly a seriously huge bunch of keys/keyrings attached to it

 

If the OP could reply to my above post where i ask which type of key it is i may be able to help further

Actionman39, i agree with what your saying, but please see quote below. I think its 2 posts up or something.

The keys are the newer type, as in the second picture above. There is no undue resistance in the ignition.

Watch this space for Skoda's reply.

ah crap, missed that! lol!

That's interesting, I'm always gentle, but I find my ignition barrel is sometimes very notchy and reluctant to turn, it's not the steering lock or anything, just feels like it needs a bit of WD-40.

 

That's because it does need some WD40. My ignition switch was very stiff and notchy when I got the car (Skoda approved model) and the key was being strained. It had obviously been driven like that for ages by the previous owner without a key problem being caused. But it's not good for the ignition switch either to use it like that. Being under warranty I decided to let the dealer dose the switch with WD, which he did and it's like a new ignition switch now. Just don't put oil of any kind in the switch, that'll bugger it up fast. Wd is acceptable because is dries leaving almost no residue to go sticky.

Isnt WD essentially a degreasing agent though? So itll degrease any grease thats still there?

Would a silicone based lubricant be better?

By the feel of my ignintion barrel there is no grease left to worry about!!

By the feel of my ignintion barrel there is no grease left to worry about!!

Well thats a fair comment haha

OK the second dealer wanted to replace the keys under warranty but because the first dealer had entered a statement that the keys had been subjected to undue force, Skoda would not overide that on their system.So it was a waste of time getting a second opinion. VW Finance (the leasers) did not reply to my claim for compensation so it has now gone to the Small Claims Court for loss of earnings, cost of hire car and replacement keys.

Isnt WD essentially a degreasing agent though? So itll degrease any grease thats still there?

Would a silicone based lubricant be better?

 

Hi Otaylor, how you doin? Yeah...WD40 will degrease but since the ignition switches (like virtually all locks of this kind) are designed to operate at all times 'dry' because they are self lubricating, then there is no grease to wash out. The problem comes when over time bits of dirt and debris enter the lock, usually carried on the key from our pockets etc.  Also, bits of plating from the key are left in the lock over time further adding to the debris. This causes the discs in the ignition barrel to become sticky. A quick wash out with WD or GT85 works wonders. But don't do it on a regular basis as it may seep into electrics around the switch if you are careless. The 'key' to this is not to overdose the switch causing it to run everywhere. 

Edited 6 October, 201411 yr by Estate Man

Hi Otaylor, how you doin? Yeah...WD40 will degrease but since the ignition switches (like virtually all locks of this kind) are designed to operate at all times 'dry' because they are self lubricating, then there is no grease to wash out. The problem comes when over time bits of dirt and debris enter the lock, usually carried on the key from our pockets etc. Also, bits of plating from the key are left in the lock over time further adding to the debris. This causes the discs in the ignition barrel to become sticky. A quick wash out with WD or GT85 works wonders. But don't do it on a regular basis as it may seep into electrics around the switch if you are careless. The 'key' to this is not to overdose the switch causing it to run everywhere.

Im good thanks mate, hows you?

Ah thats interesting. I didnt know they were dry as such, i presumed they had some sort of grease in there to help everything move smoothly.

Learn something new every day!

Cheers fella! .

dry graphite lock spray works wonders. cheap and easy to find on ebay