Title: Škoda Approved Used – should outstanding scheduled maintenance have been completed before sale?

I'd appreciate some opinions from experienced Škoda owners, particularly anyone familiar with the Approved Used programme.

I've recently purchased a 2019 Octavia vRS Challenge DSG from an authorised Škoda dealership in North Wales.

The car had covered approximately 41,500 miles and cost £19,250. It was sold through the Škoda Approved Used programme and came with a 12-month Škoda Approved Used warranty.

I was provided with the vehicle's service history printout. The first three years were serviced through Škoda, followed by a period where the car was serviced by an independent garage, and then a more recent service.

The dealership also gave me an A4 preparation sheet listing various items they had attended to before collection.

However, shortly after purchasing the car, I contacted my local Škoda dealership in Worthing and asked them to check the vehicle's maintenance requirements using its registration number.

Their system identified three outstanding items:

• Engine air filter – £55

• Spark plugs – £140

• Front differential oil service – £199

Total: £394.

These were identified as due according to the vehicle-specific maintenance information in Škoda's system.

I also have an issue with the Start/Stop system, which isn't functioning and hasn't done since I bought it.

I've contacted the selling dealership to ask whether they would contribute towards the outstanding maintenance. Their response so far is that the service history documentation was discussed before purchase and that they cannot contribute towards additional work.

My question is:

When buying a vehicle through the Škoda Approved Used programme, would you reasonably expect the dealer to have checked the manufacturer's service schedule and completed any outstanding scheduled maintenance before handing the car over?

I appreciate that it's a used car and that not every service item necessarily needs replacing before sale. However, I thought part of the reassurance of buying Approved Used was that the vehicle would be properly prepared and its maintenance brought up to date.

Has anyone had a similar experience with Škoda Approved Used or another manufacturer's approved used scheme?

I'd particularly welcome opinions from anyone who has worked in a Škoda dealership or is familiar with the Approved Used inspection process.

I'm trying to establish whether my expectations are reasonable and whether it's worth pursuing this further with the selling dealership.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum.

I'd consider it a very reasonable expectation for the vehicle maintenance schedule to be fully up to date, particularly as it was being sold through the Skoda Approved Used system.

Has the brake/clutch fluid been replaced at the recommended intervals?

Inoperative SS could simply be low battery SOC due to it sitting on the Stealer lot for a while - but it could also be due to a failing battery!