A few months back I took my car in for it's 30,000 mile service. I informed the dealer at the time that the drivers seat was squeking when cornerning, in particular when going around roundabouts. It doesn't make this squeak under heavy acceleration or heavy braking, so it's definately a left/right motion squeak.

The dealer in question told me it was the seat base which was defective and I needed to be replaced. I assumed this would be warranty work.

Some 4 hours later I received a call advising me my car was ready to pickup however they informed me that Skoda had blocked the warranty work until a they had some logs of my car to see if it had been remapped and if so they wouldn't be able to fix it under warranty because of the extra forces exhorted onto the seat causing the seat base to break the first place.

I explained the car had been remapped therefore there was no point in even attempting to put it through as a warranty claim, however I couldn't understand why a remap would cause the seat base to malfunction :confused:. If the sound was coming under heavy acceleration I could understand their point as the car is being pulled more violently forward than before but surely if the squeak is happening when I turn left/right this has nothing to do with a remap as you can only carry so much speed round the corner, irrelivent of whether the car is remapped or not?

Am I being treated unfairly or is Skoda's block on warranty work valid.

Just to point out I had at the time Eibach springs and a strut brace which could affect the speed and could contribute towards the dodgy seat base from a warranty perspective however when I mentioned this they were very specific that it was the remap contributing towards the the fault in the seat base, not the other modifications carried out.

Thanks for any assistance in this matter :(.

Its valid from a point that Skodas policy I think is any modifications invalidate your entire warranty.

See Shiftys thread for the ongoing thoughts on this.

Hey I feel for you.

It seems Skoda are starting to take the warranty policy word for word now.

It has certainly focussed my thoughts on doing modiications (ie strut braces and uprated brakes) which I was planning to do prior to warranty expiring. The last couple of days developments on here have prooved that if you do any mod SKODA are now looking to VOID the whole waranty. :thumbdwn:

I would like to remap but as people have said "IF YOU CANT PAY DON'T PLAY" don't want big bills for faults that may occur so will wait until he warranty has expired.

SKODA MOLE TAKE NOTE PLEASE

does that meen retrim as well?

Well if it meens out of warranty or warranty being void well **** skoda and take my car some were else for service or do it my self and dont get riped off by service costs

Hmmm, this is getting interesting all these warranty niggles. Very interesting when considering a skoda purchase...

These ideas I'd like to raise aren't necessarily on topic but may be of some help. For the seat bases, does this create a safety issue or just a creak when you go round corners? As it says in another recent warranty post (not Shifty) Skoda are still governed by the sale of goods/trades description legislation to provide a non defective goods for a reasonable length of time (for a new car you're talking years a couple of years). Seeing you don't need an MOT for 3 years, I'd assume it must remain roadworthy for at least 3 years.

As for mods, in these days of diminished personal responsibility theres something to be said for blaming skoda for allowing their good to be modified with a remap. You could claim you weren't doing anything that wasn't reasonable and they should have designed their product so that remaps etc could not be performed. As for the T&Cs about the warranty, isn't there something in the mentioned legislation that means that individuals cannot have their "statutory" rights taken from them, whatever they sign?

Anyone with a clearer legal understanding on this?

After all what constitutes a modification? As has been said before, the pine air freshener? If you don't use skoda screenwash, does that invalidate you entire warranty? What about tyres? Or do they only have a bee in their bonnet about remaps at the mo?

Well the extra power could theoretically at least put more strain on the seat base , but then so could being a fat b*****d.

According to the letter of the warranty Skoda are within their rights to do this but it sounds a little harsh to me , unlike refusing warranty claims on directly affected components

Hmmm' date=' this is getting interesting all these warranty niggles. Very interesting when considering a skoda purchase...

These ideas I'd like to raise aren't necessarily on topic but may be of some help. For the seat bases, does this create a safety issue or just a creak when you go round corners? As it says in another recent warranty post (not Shifty) Skoda are still governed by the sale of goods/trades description legislation to provide a non defective goods for a reasonable length of time.[/quote']

But skoda will claim that their seat bases are safe under normal use and by remapping you are putting extra strain for which it was not designed.

It would then be down to a court to decide who was right.

As for mods' date=' in these days of diminished personal responsibility theres something to be said for blaming skoda for allowing their good to be modified with a remap. You could claim you weren't doing anything that wasn't reasonable and they should have designed their product so that remaps etc could not be performed.

[/quote']

Sorry , but that doesnt stand up at all. They clearly state that you should not modify the car and it's hardly easy to remap a vehicle , plus what about all the other components? How are they going to prevent you from modifying the brakes for example? Weld everything in place?

"they didn't prevent me doing it so it's their fault" is like blaming the shop when you get caught stealing.

I am not normally petty like this, and I would take this on the chin and think 'well fair enough, I knew there was a risk of invalidating my warranty by modifying my vehicle' but I am under the impression (maybe incorrect) that only the modified area isn't covered :confused: e.g. remap - engine/drivetrain, springs - suspension.

I cannot honestly see why they are refusing this considering the part in question as far as I can tell isn't even indirectly related.

What should I do?

I am not normally petty like this' date=' and I would take this on the chin and think 'well fair enough, I knew there was a risk of invalidating my warranty by modifying my vehicle' but I am under the impression (maybe incorrect) that only the modified area isn't covered :confused: e.g. remap - engine/drivetrain, springs - suspension.

I cannot honestly see why they are refusing this considering the part in question as far as I can tell isn't even indirectly related.

What should I do?[/quote']

If you read the warranty closely, it does say that any modification will void the whole warranty. What I would try and do is asking Skoda if they could explain why they think the remap caused the problem and see if they'll meet you half way with the cost....

Chris

But skoda will claim that their seat bases are safe under normal use and by remapping you are putting extra strain for which it was not designed.

It would then be down to a court to decide who was right.

If I could be arsed' date=' probably even I could determine that the forces induced whilst driving a remapped car are within the tolerances expected of such components. And I doubt the increase in magnitude is likely to massively reduce the fatigue cycle life of the particular seat component. Compare driving 100,000 miles on a motorway with 100,000 miles round sub-urban roundabouts nearly on 2 wheels. Both are reasonable uses but one will be a lot worse for the car. To my mind this particular excuse from skoda is lame. They'd be better off quoting the T&Cs rather than making up pathetic excuses.

Sorry , but that doesnt stand up at all. They clearly state that you should not modify the car and it's hardly easy to remap a vehicle , plus what about all the other components? How are they going to prevent you from modifying the brakes for example? Weld everything in place?

"they didn't prevent me doing it so it's their fault" is like blaming the shop when you get caught stealing.

I agree with you completely, diminished personal responsibility and a blame/claim culture is a pox on our society. But to my completey non-legal mind it seems to be worth a go if you really want to fight it. Components and systems can be designed to only work one way and not be modified but this would be expensive and unpopular with customers so they don't (mainly for the first reason though). As I said I'm not legally minded so some clarifaction would be appreciated.

Not wanting to drag up past posts but customer service is about managing expectations and it seems that those expectations and what skoda are offering (in these cases) is not matching. From this anecdotal evidence there seems to have been a change in attitude and people are falling foul of this. From what I've read in this post I think they are treating Hellfire unfairly but I'm aware he signed the warranty paperwork and the implications that has. If they want to be anal jobsworths and apply the letter of the law then they are entitled to.

If anyone else is thinking they can get away with "cheeky" mods - ARBs, brakes, wheels, air intakes/filters etc - like in the past, then it seems times have changed.

PMSL!!!!!

WTF is goin on at skoda

but would fitting fitting ferrodo pads instead of the pads you buy from a dealer constitue a modification. or fitting different tyres to those that are fitted by skoda??

many have said that they have found different tyres to give a lot more grip and traction than the standard tyres, surely this is putting greater stress on the drivetrain/suspension systems.

what about using a different fuel to that that skoda fill it up with? if they recommend optimax and i fill it with ultimate am i voiding the warranty by using a different fuel to that which skoda endorse?

from my experience of dealing skoda CS they can be extremely petty and complete A-Holes when they want to be :thumbdwn:

I have difficulty in believing the extra acceleration as a valid physical reason.

The standard brakes will slow the car down faster than a remapped one can accelerate, so you aren't giving more forces once remapped, unless you take the direction of force into consideration

It sounds a bit pathetic in my view, but as they say any modification will invalidate the warranty, they're playing hardball and going by the book of absolutes :thumbdwn:

Sorry but a remap couldn't possibly get anywhere near the design limits for the seat base IMHO.

It should be able to cope with a person of significant body weight at an emergency stop and/or flat-out accelerating through the gears without snapping off, and those forces would be MUCH higher than a lighter person with a remapped vehicle.

Sure if it had a rocket launcher fitted it would be snapping off, but then that's not what is being done here...

It's fair enough I won't get a warranty through on my car if it's related, even loosely, to the work carried out to it beyond 'standard'. But if for the sake of argument my rear window heater switch failed would I not be covered under warranty as my car being remapped obviously caused excessive G-forces to cause the switch to fail? Doubtful that would stand up in court.

There is a difference between taking the p*ss and expecting warranty claims to go through on a modified (-related) part, and expecting a warranty claim to go through that IS unrelated (as per this case IMHO).

I got some work done under warranty BUT the dealer was aware of work carried out on the car (I didnt hide it and it's too obvious anyway LOL) - had they said 'soz it's not warranty' I would have taken it elsewhere though for cost reasons.

Very sad this is the way the recent events are turning though, I can appreciate SUK wishing to avoid excessive and unreasonable payouts etc but they seem to have taken a very hardline approach recently :(

Sounds like Skoda are getting quite tight with their warranty.

I would refrain from posting any modifications done to cars now if you really wanted to keep you warranty.

Its a shame, a tad petty (in your case Chris) but they are well within their rights :(

If I could be arsed' date=' probably even I could determine that the forces induced whilst driving a remapped car are within the tolerances expected of such components. And I doubt the increase in magnitude is likely to massively reduce the fatigue cycle life of the particular seat component. Compare driving 100,000 miles on a motorway with 100,000 miles round sub-urban roundabouts nearly on 2 wheels. Both are reasonable uses but one will be a lot worse for the car. To my mind this particular excuse from skoda is lame. They'd be better off quoting the T&Cs rather than making up pathetic excuses.

[/quote']

I think this is what you need to focus on. The mounting of the seat to the car is not some sort of "on the limit" engineering feat. Its just some big bolts. This is a serious safety issue, and definitely something that Skoda should take care of.

If they are claiming that driving your car in an aggressive manner will cause your seats to fall out, then I guess all those Skoda/eastern european car jokes have some truth to them. I thought they were trying to lose that image?

Common sense should prevail here. We hope...

did the dealer actually repair the seat base or do you still have a squeaky one ? only asking as if they fitted the part then said your going to have to pay for it ,i'd say its there responsibility to tell you this before parts are fitted and i'm not paying for something i've not authorised , skoda seem to have a bee in there bonnets at the moment over warranty , we rarely have any problems like this at the ford dealers i work for , the only thing we have to decide on is whether it is driver abuse or not and more often than not we cant prove otherwise ,so new gearboxes , cluches etc get fitted even when you know its been screwed the car and ford are losing billions of pounds at the mo .

but a squeky seat isn't life threatening is it?? its just annoying :confused:

If the seat base is defective, and on its way to failing, then fails, and your seat tosses you sideways, causing a momentary loss of control, causing an accident, then yes, it could very well be life threatening.

but a squeky seat isn't life threatening is it?? its just annoying :confused:

Ive had a squeaky seat for 40k now.. just turn the stereo up... same goes for squeaky swmbos

That said if my SWMBO wants to make some squeaky noises with me :naughty:

This warranty situation is getting a little bit out of hand here.

I have a leaflet that came with my car in the service book folder entitled Skoda Auto New Vehicle Warranty.

It reads -

The Warranty will not apply:

To any component that has failed due neglect, or misuse, or has been materially altered or modified without the written approval of SkodaAuto. Where failure has occurred as a direct result of a lack of or improper servicing. To components that are not of the manufacturers selection or approval and damage or defects caused by them.

To damage or defects due to:

1. Installation of accessories not approved by SkodaAuto.

2. Failure by the customer to comply with the operating instructions in the owner

wee in their shoes

To answer Hellfires original question:

Yes, in my opinion you are being treated a little unfairly.