ECU Update delaying Kodiaq delivery

[Gobnascale]

We have ordered a Skoda Kodiaq.  Diesel engine 2.0 Litres : 150 bhp.  4x4 drive. DSG gearbox. 5 seat SE trim level.

The vehicle was manufactured and delivered to our car dealer earlier than expected - mid July 2017. However as of end of July the dealer has not been able to release the car to us for the last 2 weeks. They tell us they are awaiting an Engine Control Unit (ECU) update from Skoda.

This is effecting other people at the same car dealers whose Kodiaqs have also arrived. Has anyone any information on what this ECU update is and why it not available to Skoda dealers. I emailed the SKODA UK customer services but, so far , have got no reply or explanation.

If Its an ECU software update that Skoda know they need to install before releasing a Kodiaq to a customer it must be a major upgrade. But they haven't been able to provide access to it for the Service Workshops of their dealers to download into the car?   Will this ECU update need to be installed on existing vehicles?   Anyone else have this problem on being unable to collect their new Kodiaq from the Skoda car dealer? Or provide insight into what this ECU update is for.

[Rooted]

^^^ Is this different from the ABS Software issue delaying other VW Group & Skoda models delivery?

[andyvee]

Another Kodiaq  purchaser had theirs delayed due to requiring an update for the airbag controller, they had opted for the additional airbags

[Gobnascale]

21 hours ago, Awayoffski said:

^^^ Is this different from the ABS Software issue delaying other VW Group & Skoda models delivery?

Thank you Sir for this possible reason for the delay. Not just the Kodiaq but other Skoda and VW group as well? I can understand that having a correctly functioning ABS braking system is essential so this is maybe why they are not releasing the car until this is resolved. On the other hand how come they have an ABS system failure or software issue in the first place - surely this is something that would have been sorted during testing before launching the car!

Here's a link to a 2017 newspaper article about the recall of older Volkswagen group cars due to failures of the ABS system: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4097758/Volkswagen-recalls-136-000-autos-antilock-brake-fix.html

Our Skoda car dealer is unable to give us a specific reason for the delay or any indication of when the problem will be fixed.

[Rooted]

Do they just not bother finding out the real reasons, or do they just find truth a difficult concept coming from the VW Groups way of 3 monkeys or 'Mushrooms' ?,

keep them in the dark and shovel them sharn!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/435183-factory-recall 

[Gobnascale]

Quote

And thanks for that possible issue about the airbag controller. Yes when we ordered the Kodiaq we asked for the optional extra side airbags so this could be one of the problems causing the delay of release to us as well. Its surprising that safety systems such as side air bags  are an optional extra that you have to pay for in 2017! I'm now tempted to write a waiver note to give to the dealer if we eventually do get to collect the car along the lines of: "We accept the delivery of the car on the basis that Skoda have resolved any technical or software issues. However we reserve the right to return the car if similar failures reoccur and will not accept any cost or liability resulting from future repairs or updates to components or systems such as ABS or airbags which were installed by the manufacturer ."

 

[Rooted]

For anyone that has missed it, 

there is a DVSA UK RECALL on some Mk3 Superbs for a Airbag issue.

It is a Safety Critical RECALL and Registered Keepers should have received a RECALL communication.

The UK Government DVSA RECALL site has the details of the build dates and series of Superbs that are part of the recall.

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions

This is just a Service Campaign VIN checker but 'Recall's should show as well.'

[Gobnascale]

 Thanks for that. Again its not good that critical safety systems such as  ABS and Airbags are introduced without complete safety checking . Surely the software and components are developed and tested across the whole of the VAG group and build on previous generations of cars.

[FelisBengalensis]

It is frequently an assembly issue or code fault when the modules are 'blown' resulting in a faulty batch.  Batch sampling usually finds it, or a number of incidents where simething didn't quite work right.  Remember that thousands of these modules are made and it simply is not feasible to do function checks on all of them.

 

A number of car manufacturers are in the process of replacing millions - yes millions - of airbags due to damp explosive charges from the Japanese supplier factory way back in early to mid 00's.  Our 2005 3 series had them done recently and there is another recall going on now for metal parts penetrating airbags on more models with almost 600,000 affected vehicles.

[Rooted]

Which will be why there are recalls of vehicles from 8,7 & 6 years ago.

But now we are talking 2017 and issues on fundamental design or manufacturing or material or quality control of parts that reached the production line, were fitted and the vehicles reached dealerships.

 

'Honesty is the best policy', Skoda / VW Group just need to have all Dealership Employees singing to the same tune and release a press release then the 'Chinese Whispers' & Internet Myth stuff is knocked on the head before it starts.

[Jacro]

Guys chill!!  When a fault is found they have to get some whizzo computer geek to find and fix the problem. This can take time as did mine with rear airbag problem. You can rant and rave as much as you want but Skoda, not your dealer, will not release cars until they are satisfied cars are safe, which imho is a good thing. My dealer/sales guy never could find out what the issue was or it wasn't worth his job to divulge. I know it's frustrating that you can almost smell your car but hang in there it will be well worth the wait for this quite frankly awesome car. Apologies in advance if this post annoys. 

[Rooted]

Ye right, so when they have been released in the past and there are 'World Wide RECALLS' which exclude Europe, and UK in Europe because VW Group persuade the DVSA that they will do a voluntary recall we can be assured all Registered Keepers will be notified and it will not just be a 'Service Campaign',

or Skoda Secret Service Campaign where years after the DVSA were persuaded vehicles are still not modified.

http://gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-recalled 

 

Odd how a vehicle which is part of an Official Safety Critical RECALL might not show on a Skoda UK VIN Checker....

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions 

 

Worst thing is that someone buys a SKODA APPROVED USED CARS that have had 'Workshop Safety Checks, but never had a Service, 

then the new keeper / owner discovers the vehicles is still outstanding for a Service Campaign / Recall Action that the Franchised Dealer never carried out because the vehicle was not 'Serviced'.

Vorsprung Durch Technik, in Gods we trust, in others we ask questions and ask in writing because then people are less inclined to fib.

Edited 29 July, 2017 by Awayoffski

[Jacro]

4 hours ago, Awayoffski said:

Ye right, so when they have been released in the past and there are 'World Wide RECALLS' which exclude Europe, and UK in Europe because VW Group persuade the DVSA that they will do a voluntary recall we can be assured all Registered Keepers will be notified and it will not just be a 'Service Campaign',

or Skoda Secret Service Campaign where years after the DVSA were persuaded vehicles are still not modified.

http://gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-recalled 

 

Odd how a vehicle which is part of an Official Safety Critical RECALL might not show on a Skoda UK VIN Checker....

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions 

 

Worst thing is that someone buys a SKODA APPROVED USED CARS that have had 'Workshop Safety Checks, but never had a Service, 

then the new keeper / owner discovers the vehicles is still outstanding for a Service Campaign / Recall Action that the Franchised Dealer never carried out because the vehicle was not 'Serviced'.

Vorsprung Durch Technik, in Gods we trust, in others we ask questions and ask in writing because then people are less inclined to fib.

Long slow breaths. It'll all work out in the end. 

[Rooted]

Of course it will it is only delivery of vehicles, not life and death.

Doh, it is about life and death, it is good now that VW Group are taking that seriously.  About time.

[Jacro]

14 hours ago, Awayoffski said:

Of course it will it is only delivery of vehicles, not life and death.

Doh, it is about life and death, it is good now that VW Group are taking that seriously.  About time.

Quite right. May the force be with you!

[Macdemon]

Forget the force, I hope Lady Luck is with you.  

[Gobnascale]

Just back from a week of holidays in Leeds in our trusty Skoda Octavia. While away I got a phone call from the Skoda Consumer services (UK- England) about my email to them. The lady there was able to tell me that the issue delaying delivery of our Skoda Kodiaq was not an ECU update but rather a problem with the horn / alarm system sounder that had been discovered at the car dealer's workshop following delivery there !  She said that the replacement part (from a third party manufacturer) had now been ordered and should arrive at the dealer shortly.  We later got a phone call from the sales manager at our car dealer which also repeated this information. Our local car dealer has just phoned us yesterday saying that the new part has arrived and been installed     The vehicle is ready go and we can collect it later this week subject to getting the car insurance swapped over and the small matter of having the money in a debit account so we can pay the balance to the dealer on arrival. Working on this now so with a bit of luck should be able to collect the car later this week   Initial disillusionment with the order process being replaced by excitement about picking up our new car.