Hi all

I am new to Skoda and this forum- was not sure where to post so please move if needed!

 

I got a 2018 Skoda Kodiaq from Lookers recently. I had travelled by train from Birmingham and was very excited to drive my new car. I drove away the vehicle but within 15-20 minutes an engine overheating alert came on the screen and kept flashing so we were unable to continue our journey back. This was in the middle of a busy motorway so was very stressful, especially as this car had only just been driven away from the show room!

 

The sales guy couldnt help so I called the assistance number who were great.  I managed to make my way to a service station for safety and thankfully the guy arrived quickly and asssesed the vehicle, advising me the water pump was not properly synchronised with the enginge, and therefore the vehicle was undrivable. This was a potential fire hazard which was quite alarming. I was stranded almost 2 hours from home, thankfully with access to food etc. 

 

I had to wait 1.5 hours for a recovery truck for the return journey back home and the car is now with a local garage for around a week whilst they review the problem. 

 

However I wish to raise my concerns about how a newly purchased vehicle can fail in less than 30 minutes of being driven away. It does beg the question as to whether appropriate safety checks are being undertaken as it is unfathomable that such a fault was not picked up upon initial review and maintenance of the vehicle. I have not had a Skoda before, but I have friends and family who have and they came highly recommended. I have searched high and low for the perfect SUV type vehicle for my large family and finally settled on the Kodiaq. I was really looking forward to having this car for many years, and had even contemplated my next vehicle in a few years being another Skoda! Alas, now I am not sure on my future with this vehicle or indeed the brand, if such a major fault can be overlooked and vehicles sold in this condition. 

 

However, I am now worried about the safety and overall reliability of this car. Even if this issue is fixed, I will constantly be thinking when will it break again/how long until the next problem arises? This car is not even that old in the grand scheme so it is very disappointing to have happened so soon after purchase. I am reluctant to take my 4 children on long journeys, which is a shame as we were looking forward to many countryside road trips. 

 

I am seeking your opinion - should I accept the fixed vehicle and hope it doesnt develop further faults? Should I return it completely within my consumer rights? Should I ask for a new vehicle?

 

intrigued to know what you all think

 

Thanks

q

Hello Doc 

 

A water pump can fail at any time, including when you've just bought it.  It could be just one of those unfortunate things.

 

I'm not sure how you can 'safety check' a water pump, given that even if they were acceptable checks, it could still fail moments later.

 

You haven't said which engine it has.  Some pumps have a known issue with a sleeve that fails.  there are threads on here about that.

 

If it's the car for you, and the problem is fixed, satisfactorily, with a potential two year warranty on the new parts, I don't see a real problem, frustrating as your immediate experience has been.

 

I empathise.  I had a turbo let go five weeks out of warranty.  It was fine one second and blown the next.  Because it 'grenaded' it nearly took the entire engine with it, and was a very expensive fix.  But it was just one of those things and the car (Mk3 Octavia vRS) was right as rain after.

 

Hope it gets sorted for you.

 

Gaz

 

Edit: Not the same model, but could be the same issue:

 

Edited 1 January, 20224 yr by Gaz

@DoctorQ  Welcome.

 

Sorry to hear this.

 

You do not say what engine or how many miles the car has done.

If a Skoda Approved Used car with a Skoda Warranty then good.

 

If FMDSH / Full Main Dealer Service History then good.

 

FMDSH is a history of what has been done, but more importantly what has not been done.

 

Skoda Approved Cars with FMDSH may not be serviced to the Manufacturers Guidelines or Recommendations. 

(Odd that because if people do not service to the Recommendations / Guidelines Skoda / VW are quick in voiding a warranty, yet they give a warranty on cars that maybe did not get the Haldex Serviced, the Brake Fluid changed, the DSG serviced when due.)

Pre sale rigorous checks are safety related in a workshop. 

***Maybe no servicing was done if not due.***

 

?

Was it serviced before you collected.

Get the Service & Warranty & Recall History of the vehicle and maybe decide if you want it fixed and want to keep it.

 

HOW GOOD IS THE SERVICE HISTORY?

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/487625-skoda-used-vehicle-check-anomolies

 

 

Best watch the video.

https://www.skoda.co.uk/used-cars/deals

 

Edited 1 January, 20224 yr by roottoot

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/495415-reject-or-fix

 

Edited 1 January, 20224 yr by roottoot

There is a known issue with the 2.0TDi engine water pumps of that age - mine a Jan 2018 2.0tdi 190 has also had the problem and has been fixed by my local dealer under warranty. It requires the water pump to be replaced which in turn requires removal of the cambelt. Mine was at 45k miles and is all good now.

Edited 2 January, 20224 yr by john999boy

"Potential fire hazard" 🤣🤣

 

Much more worrying is that it's also a potential catastrophic climate change event.

Edited 2 January, 20224 yr by J.R.

The waterpump is a very common issue, Skoda UK are well aware of it. Most 2.0 TDI engines are affected.

 

Your Kodiaq is under warranty and presumably now at your local Skoda franchised main dealer. They'll likley replace the waterpump and all will be well.

 

You should however consider paying a little extra and have them renew the cambelt at the same time. It needs removing to access the waterpump, and personally I don't agree with Skoda's policy of refitting a tensioned belt. The recommended cambelt interval is 5 years so you only have a year before it's due. You might want to consider asking them to quote for a new cambelt and tensioners.

In a nutshell that's excellent advice from Silver1011.  This will sound so weird, but if they can change the belt at the same time, you just may have saved you many hundreds of pounds within the next few years.

 

You'd be covered by consumer law to reject the car but if it proves it's just the water pump then as I say, look at it as a money saving.

 

Used cars from every manufacturer typically undergo a pre sale check but unless there were some weird noises or the engine was running at a high temperate, there would be no indication the water pump was about to fail. You can't blame the garage if that turns out to be the only problem.

 

"However, I am now worried about the safety and overall reliability of this car". Even if this issue is fixed, I will constantly be thinking when will it break again/how long until the next problem arises?

 

That's certainly not how I'd look at the situation but If that really is your mindset, then simply contact the supplying dealer a.s.a.p. and let them know you're rejecting the car. 

Edited 3 January, 20224 yr by kodiaqsportline

Thank you everyone. The authorised dealer (Lookers) agreed to replace cambelt alongside water pump.