We have had the Citigo from new  for 10 weeks now and problems aren't going away. It's a fun car to drive, economical and great commuter however, so far we have had to take it back to the dealership for:

 

The clicking clutch - sorted on the third occasion after emailing the Briskoda link indicating it was the clutch pedal assembly not a 'switch' at fault

 

The radio reception - fixed the same time as the clutch; headlining dropped and new amp fitted to the aerial

 

Tyre pressure warning - couldn't re-set so in yesterday and the dashboard switch was changed; now it's back on again and booked in for next week (all pressures are spot on btw)

 

Is it just our car, or are other new owners experiencing these problems. My dealer (no quibbles yet) is a 50 mile round trip so I will be using up my pcp mileage just fixing probs at this rate

Edited 30 July, 20169 yr by SidtheSkoda

is this a brand new car, or a second hand / approved car?

Bluecar1 it's a brand new one :(

I thought the click click was sorted on new models as the new peddle box was used at factory for over a year now

 

and an aerial amp that would possibly be water ingress due to not sealing properly, not that common but reading the old fabia seems to be the main cause of failure

Obviously not fixed at the factory yet......probably using the pedal box bin which is next to the 'switch' bin our dealer is using  

Well,to be fair to Skoda they have only had about 4 years to sort these faults out!.

The radio reception is to do with the Ariel booster, our was replaced 18months ago (which failed 4 months after delivery) and its been fine

Bit of an update

 

The car was with them on Thursday and collected 4.30pm yesterday. The cause of the Tyre PWS activating was the 'clutch pedal switch' and has been changed (again).

 

It returned to us with a mini valet - it didn't need it, but we now have shiny tyres - and guess what...... 14 miles from dealer on way home home and the TPWS light is back on

 

Currently researching options under Consumer Rights Act 2015

I had a similar problem on a BMW many years ago and it was down to a faulty ABS sensor on one of the wheels.

Bit of an update

 

The car was with them on Thursday and collected 4.30pm yesterday. The cause of the Tyre PWS activating was the 'clutch pedal switch' and has been changed (again).

 

It returned to us with a mini valet - it didn't need it, but we now have shiny tyres - and guess what...... 14 miles from dealer on way home home and the TPWS light is back on

 

Currently researching options under Consumer Rights Act 2015

You need to make sure the experience you are having is in formal letters, the dealer will most probably not reply but you will have issued a statement of fact.

 

If it was me, i would leave the car with them, provide them 14days to cure all the faults you have reported, but make it clear if after the 14days the faults are not fixed or re-appear you will return the car and expect a full refund as its not 'fit for purpose'.

 

They will try to give you an alternative car while they repair, if you are able to decline this, it makes their position harder and for them to work smarter to make the required repairs otherwise they will be able to illustrate they need more time and you use their car.

 

I would also make sure Skoda uk are cc into every letter issued.

that would make sense as skoda use the ABS sensors for the TPS system to work out if one wheel is turning faster than the rest as a deflated tyre has a smaller circumference

I mentioned the ABS sensors to the service advisor yesterday, they said they were baffled as the OBD was showing it as the clutch pedal switch and when that was changed the fault went away - clearly not.

 

I have emailed the dealership outlining my intentions, including that I don't want them to have the car back to have 'another go' and that I want them to escalate it within the dealership before I take it outside. To be fair to them, as people they have been great (can't speak for the technicians), so I feel this fair approach i.e. soft start, may provide me with a solution. If it doesn't then I have the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to work with plus Dealer Principal etc. etc.

The Black/Colour editions seemed to have been built late 2015 so,where has your car been up to the day you purchased it?.

Just a quick update. The car has been back to the dealership since Wednesday and they are going to plug it in so someone from Skoda UK can 'look at it online'. I don't know if there has been a solution as we haven't heard a thing and that includes a reply from the dealer principal (Tuesday evening email).

This afternoon I will be mostly writing to VWFS and Skoda UK

 

Should add that in its place they have provided us with a Mii to use. As we know, not too much difference but I would have a Citigo over one given the option. It just doesn't look as funky (It hasn't broken though).

Clicking clutch requires a new pedal assembly

Radio reception fault requires a new base

Sporadic TPMS light activation requires a software patch via update

There are tech bulletins for all 3 issues and whilst they might not be available off the chassis number the conditions apply and they can be located on the tech data system.

I think you will be surprised if you read the rights. You don't have anything that classes the car as returnable.

a noise you don't like

a radio cant pick up a signal

a warning light that warns about an issue you dont have

 

none of these effect the ability for the car to start, go stop and not put you in danger. New cars are open to teething issues as you are the first tester to see if it was put together properly.

I appreciate you wanted everything perfect but the reality is very different. Every manufacturer has the same issue with some cars.

I think you will be surprised if you read the rights. You don't have anything that classes the car as returnable.

a noise you don't like

a radio cant pick up a signal

a warning light that warns about an issue you dont have

 

none of these effect the ability for the car to start, go stop and not put you in danger. New cars are open to teething issues as you are the first tester to see if it was put together properly.

I appreciate you wanted everything perfect but the reality is very different. Every manufacturer has the same issue with some cars.

Hi Stooz,

 

appreciate your post but here's a quick extract from the Consumer Rights Act 2015

 

"If a repair or replacement is not possible, or the attempt at repair fails, or the first replacement also turns out to be defective, you have a further right to receive a refund of up to 100% of the price you paid or to reject the goods for a full refund.

If you don't want a refund and still want your product repaired or replaced, you have the right to request the retailer makes further attempts at a repair or replacement."

 

​For those of us who make purchases in excess of £100 the use of a credit card also protects your purchases as Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act will show.

 

Hope this helps others as well.

Any joy in getting your faults rectified?.

Any joy in getting your faults rectified?.

Haven't been on the forum of late as we have been in negotiation. I do wonder if Skoda UK monitor such sites so I didn't want to jeopardise anything. Today we signed back the car to the dealer and a full refund including our private reg. transfer is being transferred into our bank account.

It hasn't been a great experience with our first (and last) Skoda, but we believe we had a bad car as my nephews Monte Carlo has been used hard and is still going strong.

 

When the money is in the bank I will update the forum on some experiences so hopefully readers here may benefit if needed.

Sorry to hear that,glad you are getting your money back.

Shame you say its your last, There are plenty that will swear blind that skoda ownership has been a real pleasure.

Shame you say its your last, There are plenty that will swear blind that skoda ownership has been a real pleasure.

 

Indeed so. 

 

I would probably say that my own ownership has been mostly positive...five years on. 

 

I still have pangs of doubt and uncertainty regading the DSG. It's OK as we speak...and has been since they sorted out the, well publicised,  issues. But if I'd had six weeks of to and fro and, presumably, a less that excellent experience with the dealer and/or the manufacturer...then I'd be glad to be shot of it and would have lost confidence.

 

I had a similar period of ill fortune with my Hyundai dealer...but more so with Hyundai themselves. It took many, many weeks to get to the bottom of my problems -- and even now it's not ideal - but good enough to live with. But I would be prepared to buy another new Hyundai and just hope for better luck....coz I do feel there's an element of good or bad fortune involved concerning whether you get a good'n or a duffer.

 

At least the OP got his dosh back...still leaves an unpleasant taste though - and it must have been a lot of wasted time and effort  and phone calls and trips to the dealer too.

Edited 16 September, 20169 yr by oldstan

To update you on a few things so you can give some measure to our disappointment.

 

The dealer originally as my original post kept fixing things with a new 'switch'. Thanks to this forum I copied a link for them to see how a clicking clutch was more than a 'switch'. The same occurred with the tyre pressure system, changed the 'switch' a couple of times and in the end there was work to be done on the ABS system which 'monitors' the tyre pressure system.

 

The one thing that really threw my trust away was the use of our car when they had it. They did ring once and ask if their mechanic could take it home overnight to give it a 'long drive' to see if the warning lights would come on before we had it back. I refused as my cynical mind had the mech driving around in it, doing shopping, seeing the mates etc. Probably wrong, but I didn't want it used outside business hours.

When we were coming to the end of the complaint stage, the car again was at the dealership and was reported as repaired and they were confident all issues were resolved. They asked us to collect it but I was waiting for a reply from Skoda UK before I did.

The day after, we were driving near the dealership around close of business and we saw our car being driven from there, by what turned out to be a valeter/general driver. We naturally followed to see where it was going but gave up when it went onto the motorway and headed some way from the area. Again as a cynic I believed it was being used as a commuting car for someone, but the feedback I had the following day was it was on a long run to see if the lights would come on again - they already told us to collect it as they were confident it had been repaired!!

 

All in all a poor experience. I agree that the Citigo is a great car. It just so happens the one we had wasn't. If we had a different dealer the experience may have been different, but sadly we have walked away as the next dealer is over 50 miles away for us.

 

If you have read this I would ask you to take one thing away. Do as I did and record the mileage of your car if it goes in for work. Tell them (nicely) you have done so and tell them that no one can use the car for a 'test' overnight to their home........'home' could be a long way away and without your knowledge who knows what will be going on with your car.

 

I'll be signing off the forum soon as I now am no longer a Skoda owner. I have enjoyed the brief encounter and the assistance the forum has given me. Enjoy your cars and be safe.  

Such a shame with these problems you have had. Well done in getting your money refunded, seems at least that was less painful than it could have been.

I owned a Citigo back in 2012, owned for 2 years, lovely little car absolutely faultless whilst we owned it. We only sold it because we needed more seats in the rear for the grandkids so bought the Toledo.

Hope you have more joy with it's replacement.

When I first got my Citigo the tyre pressure warning light regularly came on. I would re-set it and then some miles later it would come back on. I would chek the tyre pressures (all of them) and re-set. After a few weeks it stopped happening and all has been good since (2 years now). It was almost like the system needed to 'learn' the pressures. I know that doesn't make sense but hey ho!