Have I been really unlucky, or is this representative of Skoda build quality?

 

a month ago I bought an approved used 2016 230 VRS.  All seemed good, got home and all fine.  That evening I thought I’d have a play with the electric seats and save my settings - suddenly half the movements stopped working.  Wiggling all the controls it came back to life, so I could at least reset the seat to a driving position.  Booked it in at Skoda (a different/closer one, to the one I purchased the car from) and they discovered that there was a coolant leak (seal leaking) and that the folding wing-mirror wasn't happy (clicking/jumping when folding) – so, my “inspected” approved used car was flagged with 3 warranty issues within the 1^st week of my ownership.  I wasn't impressed.  Last week I decided to give the (boring non adaptive) cruise control a go, only to get an orange warning light, so it’s back again for the 4^th warranty issue…

 

I don’t know if I’m now looking for issues, but I’m also questioning the use/functioning of the lane-assist as it seems to very slightly steer right, away from the left white line, but it barely does anything to turn left away from the right white line…  I don't know how invasive the lane-assist is meant to be (on either of its settings), so I don't know if it's good or not.  I mentioned to Skoda when I dropped the car in for the cruise control and was told it's not covered by the warranty?!?, so I've left it.

 

I think I’ve only had 1 warranty issue with my last 5 cars, and this is my 1^st Skoda/VAG car - and I'm now up to 4 claims (so far) on 1 car?!?  is this normal?  (now wondering if I've got some cursed lemon of a car, or the previous owner didn't care about non-working issues - not to mention the competency of the Skoda dealer that sold and inspected the car...)

I think the supplying dealer hasn't properly inspected/checked/'approved' the car.  Go back to the supplying dealer and ask to see their 'checksheet'/report which they allegedly carry out on all used vehicles as part of a multipoint inspection.  It's not good enough.  One of the major benefits and something you pay a premium for is peace of mind and some level of confidence that the car you're buying should be trouble free. 

 

Did you report/flag all the issues within that first week and did your local dealer then inspect and accept the issues? 

 

You certainly shouldn't be having any issues refused to be fixed under warranty.  You could go down the route of threatening to reject the car if they don't come up with a satisfactory resolution: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also think that complaints/unhappiness would carry more weight with the supplying dealer.  They'd likely feel more responsibility to look after you then another, local dealer would.  To your local dealer yours is 'just another car' and they need authority/sign off on warranty claims. Whereas the supplying dealer could and should feel obliged to put right the things they've missed; out of their own pocket if needs be. 

 

I'd certainly be taking it up with the salesperson and/or dealer principle. 

tbh, the local dealer have been great and v helpful.  Sure, I originally contacted the supplying dealer, but they're 50+miles away compared with 5 for the local.  Not to mention, when I raised issues with them, the sales person literally threatened me over the phone (I know it sounds crazy, but there were a few things that weren't as advertised, so when i raised them along with the original issues I got abuse over the phone).  so, erm, nope, not going back there for Skoda to pay their labour fees on these warranty jobs...  Once everything is resolved I will be contacting Skoda about the experience and customer service with the supplying dealer (I'm not willing to name and shame just yet, but every issue I have with the car makes me more annoyed at them).

The question was poor build quality or unlucky. My answer is unlucky. First of all you've bought a 3 year old car therefore there's no saying how the previous owner treated it. I fully agree that it appears the original dealer didn't check the car properly, but that's not uncommon. All this nonsense about carrying out multi-point checks etc - I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they're undertaking these checks. But it really doesn't matter what manufacturer you deal with, you'll read stories of problems with even the most reliable of manufacturers.

 

What I can't understand is the thinking behind not expecting to claim on the warranty so soon after buying a car, what's the point of buying a 12 month warranty if you're not expecting to claim in any of those 12 months, you may as well defer the warranty and buy one at a later date.  Which isn't as daft as it sounds because it wouldn't have mattered if the car was covered by warranty or not, by law the original dealer HAS to put these things right or give you a full refund. I'd be surprised if Skoda paid their labour fees, that's not how it works.

 

Regarding the lane assist - if the car keeps you in lane then it's working. Remember it's lane assist, not hands free. Personally I never turn my assistance on for that same reason - it's always fighting against where I want to place the car. It's especially noticable driving round relatively sharp bends on a motorway. 

 

 

Edited 14 June, 20197 yr by Guest

I would say unlucky ,i bought my 2016 vrs estate tsi in december and so far its been faultless ,quick smooth quiet and meteor grey to boot so all good ,and its just brought me 300 miles to devon in the pouring rain and returned 40 mpg and i dont drive slow

I'd also guess unlucky.  Or maybe I've been lucky.  I've had my 2016 vRS TSI since new and it's never had a warranty claim on it.  A lot may depend on how the car is treated.  Once my car gets to the end of PCP I'm buying it.  It's a used car that I'll know has been well looked after.

same here meteor grey and a joy to drive, i can get 44 avg from a 250bhp heavily modified diesel. 

4 hours ago, DereksDontRun said:

Have I been really unlucky, or is this representative of Skoda build quality?

 

a month ago I bought an approved used 2016 230 VRS.  All seemed good, got home and all fine.  That evening I thought I’d have a play with the electric seats and save my settings - suddenly half the movements stopped working.  Wiggling all the controls it came back to life, so I could at least reset the seat to a driving position.  Booked it in at Skoda (a different/closer one, to the one I purchased the car from) and they discovered that there was a coolant leak (seal leaking) and that the folding wing-mirror wasn't happy (clicking/jumping when folding) – so, my “inspected” approved used car was flagged with 3 warranty issues within the 1^st week of my ownership.  I wasn't impressed.  Last week I decided to give the (boring non adaptive) cruise control a go, only to get an orange warning light, so it’s back again for the 4^th warranty issue…

 

I don’t know if I’m now looking for issues, but I’m also questioning the use/functioning of the lane-assist as it seems to very slightly steer right, away from the left white line, but it barely does anything to turn left away from the right white line…  I don't know how invasive the lane-assist is meant to be (on either of its settings), so I don't know if it's good or not.  I mentioned to Skoda when I dropped the car in for the cruise control and was told it's not covered by the warranty?!?, so I've left it.

 

I think I’ve only had 1 warranty issue with my last 5 cars, and this is my 1^st Skoda/VAG car - and I'm now up to 4 claims (so far) on 1 car?!?  is this normal?  (now wondering if I've got some cursed lemon of a car, or the previous owner didn't care about non-working issues - not to mention the competency of the Skoda dealer that sold and inspected the car...)

Cruise control is supposed to work. Ask them to show you in writing where it's not covered.

4 hours ago, DereksDontRun said:

Have I been really unlucky, or is this representative of Skoda build quality?

 

a month ago I bought an approved used 2016 230 VRS.  All seemed good, got home and all fine.  That evening I thought I’d have a play with the electric seats and save my settings - suddenly half the movements stopped working.  Wiggling all the controls it came back to life, so I could at least reset the seat to a driving position.  Booked it in at Skoda (a different/closer one, to the one I purchased the car from) and they discovered that there was a coolant leak (seal leaking) and that the folding wing-mirror wasn't happy (clicking/jumping when folding) – so, my “inspected” approved used car was flagged with 3 warranty issues within the 1^st week of my ownership.  I wasn't impressed.  Last week I decided to give the (boring non adaptive) cruise control a go, only to get an orange warning light, so it’s back again for the 4^th warranty issue…

 

I don’t know if I’m now looking for issues, but I’m also questioning the use/functioning of the lane-assist as it seems to very slightly steer right, away from the left white line, but it barely does anything to turn left away from the right white line…  I don't know how invasive the lane-assist is meant to be (on either of its settings), so I don't know if it's good or not.  I mentioned to Skoda when I dropped the car in for the cruise control and was told it's not covered by the warranty?!?, so I've left it.

 

I think I’ve only had 1 warranty issue with my last 5 cars, and this is my 1^st Skoda/VAG car - and I'm now up to 4 claims (so far) on 1 car?!?  is this normal?  (now wondering if I've got some cursed lemon of a car, or the previous owner didn't care about non-working issues - not to mention the competency of the Skoda dealer that sold and inspected the car...)

 

6 hours ago, DereksDontRun said:

I'm now up to 4 claims (so far) on 1 car?!?  is this normal?

 

I think you've kind of answered your own question; the previous owner has clearly thrashed your car to within an inch of its life, hence your problems.

Electrical problems are not caused by hard driving but I agree the previous owner did not care enough about the car to address the issues. Not an uncommon attitude when a company car or a short lease arrangement.

 

Personally I would be reporting the car's delivered issues and the reported dealer responses to Skoda UK.