List of common problems ?

[DB72]

Hi.... I joined this forum a while back as part of researching the Skoda Superb III, which I'm considering buying (used) in a few months.

 

Having done a bit of research on this forum I found some issues to be aware of and wondered if I might be able to compile a list of common problems.  Finding common problems makes we wonder whether there is a quality issue or if it would be the same with most cars if I researched them as much as I have with the Skoda (I'm old enough to remember all the Skoda jokes from 30+ years ago which is perhaps making me paranoid).

 

Some problems that seem slightly more common are as follows....

 

1. Suspension delivery blocks being left installed.
2. Loose/dislodged chrome door trim at B pillar.
3. Glove box not closing properly and/or opening when going over a bump.
4. Suspension noises when going over speed bumps or uneven road.
5. Headlights being overly dipped.
6. Excessive rear brake disc wear (possibly not just Skoda).

 

If anyone has had any problem that they think might be a common issue, it would be good if you could add it here so that I can do more specific research to see if it is common.  Also, if members have identified a cause and/or cure then it would be good to add that for any future users of the site.

Thanks in advance if anyone can offer any wisdom.

 

[MartiniB]

couple of unique problems you can find in my signature

and on russian Drive2.com (use Google Translate)

[Esseesse200]

If you are looking at a 4x4 I believe there are issues with the Haldex V clutch plates. Mine had 30k on when I brought it and had to have the entire haldex unit replaced under warrantee because the plates were bu99ered. From what I could make out after speaking to a Haldex specialist  it’s a really common issue

[Steviedakota]

Having just come from BMW ownership I'll take the Skoda list any day!  It all seems like minor stuff.  Of the items on your list I have the rear brake disk issue, but new pads and disks are cheap so even that is not a problem.

Edited 14 January, 2019 by Steviedakota

[BriskodaJeff]

Do you have a model year and model in mind? There seem to have been a few "early adopter" problems in some of the early (2015-16) cars that had been ironed out a year or two later (the headlights now have a software fix for example, and I think the chrome trim problem was sorted by MY17 - I've not had it). A couple that I've seen occur more than once on here are:

 

Flimsy ski hatch mechanism breaks easily.

Rear air vent collapsing inwards (not sure how often passenger feet were involved in this one though).

Battery requiring replacement.

 

FWIW my MY17 L&K has been pretty much flawless in the year I have had it. The Skoda build quality is in my experience on a par with anything comparable, having had 2 Mk2's and the current Mk3 over the past six years and before that the usual mix of BMW, Audi and Jaguar. When you test-drive it, make sure you give it a really good shake-down, in particular test all of the drive modes if buying DCC and check all of the tech actually works and that all of the keys are present and working properly. Get anything you aren't happy with registered with the dealer for warranty repair (under 3 years old you will get the balance of the factory warranty, older than 3 years you should still get an inferior but still worthwhile dealer warranty). Good luck with it.

[Tin82]

There is a batch of poor battery’s. Batteries built from Jan 2017 untill Apr 2017. My car had such a battery and it was replaced under warranty. Car built in July 2017. 

[newbie69]

 

4 hours ago, Esseesse200 said:

If you are looking at a 4x4 I believe there are issues with the Haldex V clutch plates. Mine had 30k on when I brought it and had to have the entire haldex unit replaced under warrantee because the plates were bu99ered. From what I could make out after speaking to a Haldex specialist  it’s a really common issue

On the Golf R and S3 that offer a far greater sample the issue affects a pretty limited amount of cars so I would imagine it's a similar story on the Superb. What is more common is the Haldex pump getting dirty around the mileage you quoted (30K) and needing cleaning otherwise loss of rear axle engagement is noticed or worse. Not sure if that could have had anything to do with your issue though.

[Esseesse200]

Nah oil was regularly serviced pump had been done twice then they changed the controller and found out then after all of that it was the actual Haldex clutch units. Aparently More so if the oil isn’t changed frequently. 

[SuperbSarah]

2 hours ago, Tin82 said:

There is a batch of poor battery’s. Batteries built from Jan 2017 untill Apr 2017. My car had such a battery and it was replaced under warranty. Car built in July 2017. 

That's really interesting. We'd had our April 17 superb bought just after for a few days and the battery was flat. One to take up with Skoda as we still have warranty. 

[SuperbSarah]

Ooops! Bought just after Chridtmas...

[DB72]

Thanks for the replies.

 

16 hours ago, BriskodaJeff said:

Do you have a model year and model in mind? There seem to have been a few "early adopter" problems in some of the early (2015-16) cars that had been ironed out a year or two later (the headlights now have a software fix for example, and I think the chrome trim problem was sorted by MY17 - I've not had it).

 

Briskodajeff..... My plans are currently as follows unless advice received here makes me see things differently...

 

I'm thinking.....

SE L Exec - Because I want black leather or alcantara seats because I want to avoid a grey interior.  My current car has a grey interior and it's become depressing after over 7 years of ownership.  I want a cabin that's a nice place to be.

Along with that, I don't want the really small screen because I want the car to feel like a significant upgrade.

Not too bothered what year as long as it's mkIII, unless there's a reason to stay clear of a specific year ??

Petrol preferably because engine is smoother and most of my journeys are under 10 miles.

I'd love a DSG but am very wary of their reliability and do not want a £4K bill in a couple of years (or at all for that matter), therefore ideally looking for manual gearbox.

DCC would be great but I plan to get a test drive shortly to assess ride comfort on model without DCC.

Rear parking sensors or camera are probably essential due to the car's size.

 

Any tips on the above would be gratefully received.

[BriskodaJeff]

25 minutes ago, DB72 said:

Thanks for the replies.

 

 

Briskodajeff..... My plans are currently as follows unless advice received here makes me see things differently...

 

I'm thinking.....

SE L Exec - Because I want black leather or alcantara seats because I want to avoid a grey interior.  My current car has a grey interior and it's become depressing after over 7 years of ownership.  I want a cabin that's a nice place to be.

Along with that, I don't want the really small screen because I want the car to feel like a significant upgrade.

Not too bothered what year as long as it's mkIII, unless there's a reason to stay clear of a specific year ??

Petrol preferably because engine is smoother and most of my journeys are under 10 miles.

I'd love a DSG but am very wary of their reliability and do not want a £4K bill in a couple of years (or at all for that matter), therefore ideally looking for manual gearbox.

DCC would be great but I plan to get a test drive shortly to assess ride comfort on model without DCC.

Rear parking sensors or camera are probably essential due to the car's size.

 

Any tips on the above would be gratefully received.

Thanks - that helps a lot. The SEL Exec is a great car, but be aware that the base model comes with significant options available, so you will need to check each individual car you are looking at to see what is actually installed. The dealer should be able to pull the specification sheet, which lists (in badly-translated German) exactly what is on the car and I had my dealer email it to me. An alternative is to consider the Laurin and Klement, which has most things as standard, however that takes the option of Alcantara off the table as the L&K only has leather (or it did when I was looking). 

 

Re the interior, it is certainly a nice place to be, though maybe a little dated for some tastes. As far as I am aware there is no grey variant on the SEL Exec or L&K. I have black leather and think it's great, but in my previous Mk2 I had black Alcantara and before that I had a Mk2 with cream leather. I have no real preference TBH, though when I was looking you couldn't get heated or ventilated seats with Alcantara so that is something else to consider if this is a must-have for you (having got mine with the heated seats I wouldn't want to be without them).

 

My MY17 has the 8 inch screen - I think the current 9.2 inch came in sometime in 2018. I prefer the 9.2 - it does seem to lift the cabin, but of course that limits you to the most recent models. From a purely personal viewpoint I discounted 2015 and early 2016 cars, just because I don't like to buy version 1.0 of any product. There did seem to be a few teething issues with a small number of the early cars, but no more than (and arguably less than) other makes since a lot of the stuff that ends up in the Superb has been beta tested through the rest of the VAG range before it gets put onto our cars. And other than the odd "Friday car" (which all makes have of course) reliability seems to be on a par with anything comparable if the comments on here are anything to go by.

 

All my Superbs have been diesel as I do big mileage, so can't help you on the petrol engines, other than to say that both the 1.4 and 2.0 litre TSI seem to be well-regarded by owners on here. The 1.4 has I believe recently been replaced by a 1.5. I will leave others to add the detail and their views on them as I would just be guessing.

 

I have DSG and would not want to go back to manual. But my views are skewed by lots of motorway miles, where the DSG and Adaptive Cruise work together brilliantly and make journeys much less stressful. I did do a trawl on here before I bought mine, but didn't see much by way of complaints about the DSG boxes and mine has been great. For shorter journeys and less overall mileage I guess it is less of an issue, though I would try both if I were you before choosing one way or the other. I would say that Blind Spot Monitor has been an essential for me as I personally think the door mirrors are just too small. One to check out on test drives.

 

Rear sensors are a must and for me so are front sensors. It is a big beast to manoeuvre around tight spaces. I don't have the rear-view camera and haven't missed it, but I know there are owners on here who swear by it. Again, if you can try both before deciding. I have DCC and really like it - others take a different view. When checking out the non-DCC versions, I'd take someone along to sit in the back if you will be regularly travelling with family / rear-seat passengers. The reason I say that is having been in the back of a non-DCC version I found it a bit crashy over less well-maintained roads. I'd also think about wheel sizes. Mine is on 18s and I was concerned about the move up from 17s on the mk2, but DCC made it a complete non-event and I find the handling better than my previous mk2 with 17s and no DCC.

 

Hope this helps and good luck with the search.

[DB72]

Thanks BriskodaJeff..... That gives me some extra points to consider.

[Adrian55555]

I have had 3 dsg's for 10+ years cant remember exact, but had a 07 jetta 1.9tdi, mk2 fl 10 vrs diesel and now a mk3 67 superb sportline 2.0 220hp all dsg. Ive never had any issues with any of them.  I also wouldnt go back to manual anymore.  With todays traffic everywhere and prob will only get worse, as a daily car imo the dsg makes it a lot more comfortable and relaxing drive.  

[Puuriit]

Going for an MY17 and newer car should be fine. I have the mentioned "early adopter" car produced in the first production months of S3 in may 2015 and it has been a nightmare - most of the problems mentioned above + issues with door seals (replaced 2x), rear brakes, start/stop engine button, rear left speaker, water pump + belt. Now going in to replace the amplifier and subwoofer and it seems that one of the tailgates electric struts is dying since the opening is quite slow sometimes.

 

But despite the problems, I still love the car and its the best one I have owned in terms of bang for buck and comfort. Two of my friends have newer MY17-MY18 cars and literally zero issues with those. 

 

PS: I dont know about others but Skoda has never rejected any warranty cases for me, everything has been taken care of and I haven't had to argue with them at all. 

Edited 15 January, 2019 by Puuriit

[The Skud]

On 15/01/2019 at 12:03, Adrian55555 said:

I have had 3 dsg's for 10+ years cant remember exact, but had a 07 jetta 1.9tdi, mk2 fl 10 vrs diesel and now a mk3 67 superb sportline 2.0 220hp all dsg. Ive never had any issues with any of them.  I also wouldnt go back to manual anymore.  With todays traffic everywhere and prob will only get worse, as a daily car imo the dsg makes it a lot more comfortable and relaxing drive.  

8 years and 150K+ of remapped goodness on a DSG equipped Octy VRS, never missed a beat.....now got a MY17 Superb L & K DSG with ACC and it's one of the best combinations that you can have for our crowded traffic jam clogged roads!

[k.young]

I put 650,000kms on a DSG Octavia (2006 2.0tdi 140 remapped from new).......no gearbox issues apart from an early DMF replacement, but that was a recall not a failure.

[SpAwNtoHell]

Hi, to add to the list and seems to be quite frequently across the 2.0 diesel range are the auxiliary water pumps.( Electronic part of them fail not the mechanical part like bearing or impeller).

 

Apparently their purpose is to avoid hot spots of coolant around the engine when stopped.

 

DTC's put up: P261A, P26F8 put up as pending or confirmed triggered if the issue with one of them occurs 3 times in a row. MIL gets illuminated and will stay on for some ignition cycles and will go out if the issue is only intermittent.

 

By the radiator (intake side of the engine):
5G0965567

By the EGR (exhaust side of the engine);2 variations:
5G0965567 (again) Bosch
5Q0965561B Pierburg

[Bap33]

@DB72 MK3 MY2020 are all sold with DSG gearbox as standard spec. in France. The only one possibility to get a manual gearbox is to chose the TDI150 engine.

I think it's a significant proof on how VAG group trust their DSG gearbox reliability...  

 

In addition I've read some rare issues with coolant fluid leakages on TDI190 engines.. No drops under the car but level decreases in the coolant expansion tank after several days. Needs to be confirmed. I can't remember wich MY are concerned.

Edited 12 February, 2020 by Bap33

[Rooted]

Actually how they could not cheat the Emissions Tests with the manuals as the WLTP & RDE2 is being done.

They need low average emissions across the range and they might get that with DSG's in the bigger cars, manuals in the Fabia 1.0TSI's and 1.4 TSI Hybrids and 1.0 TSI light Hybrids.

[DragosIonuts]

On 14/01/2019 at 16:42, MartiniB said:

couple of unique problems you can find in my signature

and on russian Drive2.com (use Google Translate)

the link does´t work anymore, please share an updated link with us

[MartiniB]

12 hours ago, DragosIonuts said:

share an updated link

my account were banned few days after 24. feb. 2022

 

 

[Micky 32]

On 14/01/2019 at 16:35, Esseesse200 said:

If you are looking at a 4x4 I believe there are issues with the Haldex V clutch plates. Mine had 30k on when I brought it and had to have the entire haldex unit replaced under warrantee because the plates were bu99ered. From what I could make out after speaking to a Haldex specialist  it’s a really common issue

I own a 2017 Passat BiTDi running 290bhp all it’s life with 180,000 miles on the clock. Different car but same haldex unit. No issues. I change the oil very 30-40k.

[Bap33]

Other common issues :

- DCC front shock absorbers leaking (issue on several VAG models)

- Coolant pump stuck, leading to engine overheat on TDI190 and probably on TDI150 too.