Front door rubber surrounds wearing

[shepherdstibb]

For information, I show a photo of the drivers front door surround from my previous 2004 Fabia Mk 1 Estate (We've kept it in the family - it now is registered to my wife).

After 14 years and 178000 odd miles - no wear. Unfortunately, this makes me think that Skoda have just used the wrong material.

[Guest]

Yes, I think you are right shepherdstibb. Everything is done for either cost or lightness or both. The seals do feel more flimsy these days. Having said that, I've never ever experienced a problem with them in the last 11 years. 

[Shenanigans000]

Well I took my Fabio in for it's 30,000km service and hit up the dealer to replace the door seal.  

 

Word back from Skoda was a firm "No" - they consider it to be "wear and  tear" damage.

 

Now I know I could argue the case and point out to Skoda Australia  that door seals should not "wear out" after 30,000km, but really I just couldn't be bothered. The damage is caused by a combination of suspect design (small door openings) combined with cheap, cost cutting parts (the door seal) which I am aware that Skoda could argue is not a manufacturing defect.

 

Admittedly it would be nice if Skoda Australia would replace the seal as some measure of goodwill and build some customer loyalty, especially as they are still trying to build the brand in this country. 

 

In any event I have the power as a consumer to choose differently when it comes to me next vehicle.

 

Skoda most certainly will not be on the list.

 

 

[Shenanigans000]

As an aside I plan to purchase some door seal rubber off of the eBays (it's pretty cheap, and should be better quality too). I'll post on here once I've installed it t let everyone know how it goes.

[PensFab]

Old thread but same problem - I have just bought a 2019 Fabia (and by coincidence, from the same dealership as shepherdstibb).

 

I purchased without seeing the car but thought it was a reasonably safe distance sale because of Skoda's Approved Used scheme. Unfortunately the dealer omitted to mention the damaged door seal rubber even though I had specifically asked about any damage. There are other issues and I am in contact with the dealership but I am hoping we can resolve this by taking the car to a local dealership to have the rubber replaced.

 

Separate thread:

 

 

[Mr_Grumpy]

Hi Penfolio

 

Good luck with that. Fabia's are decent cars but if your dealer is like mine they wouldn't give you a thick ha'penny for a thin one.

 

I've had my 2017 for a couple of years, but it was only by chance the other day I noticed the driver's side inner rubber front door seal is split on the inside around waste height. I had a look at the passenger side and that's wearing badly in the same place.

 

I don't have the luxury of any warranty, and before long I'm sure it's going to start letting water in, so they will both need changing at my expense.

 

I can't find any online for love or money, so I'm guessing it'll end up being through the dealer. I will find out myself when I finally give in, but in the meantime I've been trying to find out how much these things cost, and how much they will charge to fit them. If their other charges are anything to go by, it will probably need a re-mortgage if the dealer does it, so my other question to anybody who reads this is, can it be attempted by an enthusiastic amateur, what's involved, and is it easy/average/hard?

[JoePeddos]

Had the same problem  with my 2015 Fabia. Surface wear and a small split used some gorilla tape to cover the worn and split area. It's been in place for at least 2.5 years Joe

[PensFab]

To finish my story... I am happy to report that the local dealer replaced the door seal rubber and they invoiced the dealer in Devon. 🙂

[Mr_Grumpy]

Congratulations 

 

I wish I could get it done for free.

 

Just in case anyone else is looking for replacements, there's a supplier in Europe. 

 

https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/6v0867366j5ap-door-seal-front-right-skoda-26248.html

[WaveyDavey]

Just noticed our 2019 Colour Edition has this same issue on the drivers door rubber. 
 

Is this something that is simple to do yourself or is it a job for the dealers? (Both our cars normally go to a VAG specialist for servicing rather than the Skoda dealers but thinking this probably wouldn’t be something for them as it’s not a mechanical thing). 

 

If it’s a dealers job how much have people been paying to get it done?

[Mr_Grumpy]

Follow my link. The part is cheap, but the postage bumps it up a bit.

 

The old one just pulls off and the new one pushes on. No glue, nothing.

 

Took me 10 minutes tops.