I have a mk1 Octavia vRS on 55 plate which has recently started mis-behaving. About 3 months ago i was driving and noticed the rev counter drop to zero while i was travelling. After a few seconds i lost power steering and the brakes needed force to work. Electrics were fine with no warning lights on dash.

I pulled over, turned off ignition and restarted car with no noticable problems. 3 days later the same again. Took to dealer who had car for a week while i was given 1.2 Fabia. Returned car to me saying no problem found.

About 10 days later travelling at 70mph in outside lane of motorway when same thing happened - very scary for me and family. Pulled over and restarted ok. Took to dealer who had car for a week and told me they had replaced some relay.

Car ok for a few days then same again. Took to dealer who had car for about 10 days. Service manager told me that it could be a multitude of sins responsible for problem. Returned to me with ECU replaced. I figured this would solve the problem and so did the dealer.

2 Days after getting car back,you guessed it, car dies on motorway with me limping towards a lay by. Again restarted ok.

Took to dealers 2 weeks ago stating that upon returning vehicle to me i need a written guarantee that this problem will not reoccur. I am of the opinion that it is a matter of time before someone rear-ends me before i make it to a lay by and I want some document that can be used in court should i be seriously injured or killed if the fault occurs again. Stated to dealer that if a guarantee cannot be given then they have to come up with a proposal which restores my faith in car and brand. Deadline for this is Friday 24th January 2007.

Dealer contacted me to inform they have fitted new crankshaft sensor and are testing car until Friday. Over last 2 months i have had car for about 15 days with dealer clocking up over 1000 miles.

I need to have a written guarantee that problem is sorted. If dealer will not give me one i think i would be tempting fate to take car back and trust them that problem is sorted. I have managed to avoid accident when problem occurs but it is a matter of time before my luck runs out. If dealer wont guarantee problem is fixed then how confident are they in the work they have done? If they were confident then a guarantee would not be a problem.

I am not prepared to work through a list possibile causes each time risking my life (family refuse to get in car now) until the culprit is found. My view is that because of the potential for serious injury EVERY possible cause should be rectified in one go. This may seem unreasonable but its the only way Skoda could be sure that this problem is not going to reoccur.

I love the car but not if driving it has the potential to kill me and/or someone else.

I would appreciate any comments.

Get in touch with Skoda UK direct.

From a safety POV, if you do use the vehicle, and this happens on the motorway, try 'bumping' it, fully press and then release the clutch quickly, this may not be pleasent, but if the engine does cut out in the fast lane, you can have real problems in in fast traffic, this may restart the car, and keep you safe.

Thanks.

I have tried bumping it but had no joy. Car is in gear when it cuts out and is unresponsive until i switch off ignition and restart.

That dealer needs a hard slap, even once should really be enough for them to give you a courtesy car indefinitely while they and if necessary Skoda give it a good going over. That's after the *first* occurrence.

By the third return for the same fault, especially at motorway speeds, someone needs firing for giving it back to you with no absolutely proven fix.

As someone else said, talk to Skoda UK direct. If they're not jumping through hoops within minutes, talk to trading standards (the car is definitely suffering a manufacturing, if not design, fault and not fit for purpose causing it to be a danger to the driver, passengers and others), citizens advice bureau and possibly Watchdog. Put in writing to your dealer and Skoda that's what you're doing/have done.

Yikes. I really hope they get it sorted by the time they give it back to you again.

Spoke with dealer last night and informed that Skoda Technical Manager coming to inspect vehicle. Don't know what this will achieve though. Asked dealer MD if, as agreed, a written guarantee would be provided when I pick car up. Response was it's unlikely. Dealer informed me that Skoda are not supporting the fix as no fault shown on computer so dealer is paying for parts.

I am appalled that Skoda have left the Dealer to sort out this problem giving the potential seriousness. Up until this point i was confident all parties were giving the situation the same priority but Skoda appears more concerned with avoiding any cost associated with a fix. Given how serious the problem is i would have thought a responsible company would take an active interest in determining whether this problem could endanger other customers - however, the experience so far indicates they are not interested at all.

I will be contacting Skoda Customer Care again today to reiterate what i am expecting tomorrow. My confidence is dwindling as fast as my anger is increasing. I appreciate the dealer could have left me in the cold and not supported me after Skoda refused to cover any fix under warranty but it is unsatisfactory for Skoda to fail to support the dealer in finding a solution. Yes a technical manager is coming to see the vehicle but it was agreed i would have the car back tomorrow and as yet no-one can tell me when the Technical Manager will view car.

Any views greatly appreciated!

Any good treatening to contact a local radio station to name and shame?

Given the seriousness and the amount of attention to road safety these days, would any local ones be interested?

Extreme I know, but give how serious this has the potential to be and how dealer and Skoda UK aren't being too helpful, is it time to shout about it from the roof tops?

dont bother with skoda uk because they are ****ing useless.....

any dealer with half a brain could tell you that problem is imobilizer related

Spoke with dealer today, informed car been driven over 300 faultless miles by MD. Also informed by MD that Skoda suggest replacing ignition switch and door locks (so i have just one key). MD informed me that Skoda were to cover cost.

This cant be same Skoda who said they could 'not help as no fault code reported and dealer unable to find any fault'. Now they are to replace ignition switch. Read some issues with 2000-02 switches but nothing recent.

Upshot is car at dealers for another week. Feel more confident now Skoda are actively contributing to finding a solution.

Must say that i am impressed with standard of customer care from dealer. They have always convinced me they are serious about finding and fixing the problem. It is refreshing to see the professional approach of dealer maintained at all times.

Skoda Customer Care have been another story. I was very unhappy at their 'nothing we can do' attitude but now they are assisting dealer i feel more confident that problem will be sorted.

I am a little worried that heart (getting my baby back) is ruling my head(what if fault reoccurs) but now all parties are aware of problem, and are rectfying it, i hope this problem can be sorted quickly if anyone else encounters it.

Godd news at last. Please let us know if and when the problem is finally sorted.