[m0le2000]

Hi all,

I really need advice on what i can do with my faulty car which i purchased in March 04. Initally the car had a coolant problem and i was told to top it up with coolant. This worked but every few weeks i kept topping it up until Oct 04 when the problem would not disappear. At this time i had only done 5500 miles.

Nov04 - I took it back to where i purchased it (DEALER A)and they had a look at it. They advised to take it off road and did some engine work. Took one week to fix

Dec04 - Same problem crept up and this time i took it to my local dealer (DEALER B). Again taken off road and did some engine work blaming the work had not been done correctly. Took another week to fix

Feb05 - Again same problem. I contacted VW Customer Services and they contacted the dealer to check thoroughly. This time they took over 2 weeks to fix. It was until i went to collect the car i was told the engine had been replaced! Another annoying fact was they had dented the door whilst the car was in their custody.

Mar05 - They took over 3 weeks to get the car dent fixed.

Apr05 - Car was making an unusual noise and juddering at lot whilst it was in idle mode.

May05 - I was advised to take it to another dealer (DEALER C). They could see the problem but could not fix it stating that the engine had not be replaced correctly. They advised to take it back to my local dealer (DEALER B). Currently i am without a car as they cannot organise themselves into arranging this properly.

I have waited patiently for them to fix this and this has almost been going on for over 6months now. I just want to know where i stand legally.

I would appreciate any help. Thank you

 

[JMcQueen]

Not sure if you've already done so, but I would contact VW UK in
writing. Say that you are dissapointed with the vehicle and given that
VW prides itself on the reliability and quality etc you find it
extremely dissapointing that their product has presented so many
faults. Tell them that you intend to contact citizens advice with a
view to seeing how you stand in terms of rejecting the vehicle (and do
so too) and that you also intend to contact the wider automotive press
so that other people are aware of the problems they may encounter (dont
word it so that it sounds like a ingnominous threat). Given how
protective VW is about its image it Also, state that you have
been particularly dissapointed with the quality of aftersales car and
that this is likely to be your last purchase from the VAG. Give
them copies of any paperwork you have relating to the work too so that
they can contact the dealers if needed.

Definately go see Citizens Advice though or even a private Solicitor.

 

[katiek]

Looks like you having the same problem as me. poor customer service! They are not doing good enough. I puchased my car in May 04 and had the following parts replaced:

window switch

window motor

fuel pump

fuse box

ECU

Remote control Key

And there has been one fault that they cannot fault everytime I take it to the garage which is the worse fault anyone could have!

My car keeps cutting out...i would be driving then suddenly there's no gas on the pedal! It jus cuts out on every few months!

They've refused to give me a replacement car so now I am writing it to the customer service and the dealer i bought my car from (Alan Day).

I suggest you get advice from trading standards as they give you advice on how to deal with all your problems. Basically what you as a consumer rights are.

 

[jrw]

If its had an engine replaced you should be able to get a refund/replacement minus the miles you have done but plus the inconvenience you have been caused. Under the sales of goods act the goods have to be fit for purpose which quite obviously your car isn't.

The fact that they have replaced the engine and it is still not right proves this. Also the fact that your car will be worth a lot less at trade in time due to the fact that it has had a new engine. Write to VW UK and the purchasing dealer formally rejecting the car giving the reasons you have stated above and never accept their first offer.

 

[cjp2k]

My original car was a may 04 build as well!! And that had many many probs,

heres a list that i made to show the sales manager at my dealer when we had a meeting toii discuss the car

• 
  Severe Vibration in 4th gear ? ?Characteristic of the car?
• 
  Rattles in centre air vent <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
• 
  Miscellaneous other rattles
• 
  2 bolts holding on drivers side door skin go missing and cause door skin to be half hanging off
• 
  Drivers side seat belt holder replaced due to squeaks
• 
  Passenger seat belt holder develops same fault
• 
  Cigarette lighter connection replaced due to been faulty
• 
  Vibration noise apparent on lift off of the throttle when revs drop below 2000rpm. Fixed, several days later re appears, finally fixed by removing all dash and realising it wasn?t the dash rattling but the plastic outside car
• 
  Car wont start, power steering and esp warning lights on dashboard when car jump started disappeared when driven? possible damage? Replaced battery
• 
  Following on from this, air con, heated rear screen, cruise control all not working due to drain on battery, finally fixed after 4weeks with replacing headlight control unit
  
  I had numerous other faults that occured after agreeing for a new car to be ordered for me, but didnt get them fixed as couldnt be bothered due to car not been my problem lol
  
  So mayb it was a spate of new staff that wernt fully trained to build the cars!?!?!

 

[20valve]

• 
  Car wont start, power steering and esp warning lights on dashboard when car jump started disappeared when driven? possible damage? Replaced battery
• 
  

Never jump start a MKV.......you could end up damageing the electrics

 

[cjp2k]

it was the vw assist guy that did it not me! (well the aa who came out instead of VW assist) wasnt really a jump start more of a big battery that they used 2 start it up, but if they fried it they could of paid 4 it lol

 

[katiek]

[:O] u had more problems than me by the sound of things lol. So u ended up getting a brand new car? How long was all this till you got a new car. They said to me I could sell them back the car then I buy a brand new one of them, like a partial refund/part exchange. But I refused to do that cos then I'll lose about 4k I think it was, can't remember. I don't see why I have to lose out when the problem isn't on me and that it's jus them not being able to solve their own vehicle. Plus they're just guna buy my car back then sell it for more on the show room.

Where did you purchase your car from?

Could it be the TDI models having more problems.Your's petrol or diesel?

 

[katiek]

when you say engine replaced, is that the ECU? cos the ecu is wot controls everything right? is ecu the actual engine?

yeah thanks for the advice, im going to write to them and just wait and see what happens. Sucha pain! I can't drive my car at the moment cos it might cut me out anytime []

 

[cjp2k]

[:O] u had more problems than me by the sound of things lol. So u ended up getting a brand new car? How long was all this till you got a new car. They said to me I could sell them back the car then I buy a brand new one of them, like a partial refund/part exchange. But I refused to do that cos then I'll lose about 4k I think it was, can't remember. I don't see why I have to lose out when the problem isn't on me and that it's jus them not being able to solve their own vehicle. Plus they're just guna buy my car back then sell it for more on the show room.

Where did you purchase your car from?

Could it be the TDI models having more problems.Your's petrol or diesel?

Mines a 1.6 petrol, They didnt reject my car really, they decided to buy it off me and sell me a new one, i lost about 500quid, but that wasnt really that bad as i got a new car and the old car needed a service, it took 8weeks for my new car as it wasa factory order. Only prob was i picked it up in febuary so missed out on a 05plate by 3 weeks (but a private plate soon sorted that []), but imo i got a good deal, as they were hell bent about not filling a rejection case. The invoice for the new car makes intresting reading on the discounts that they gave me on the new car, the way they worked it out was creative to say the least. Got mine from main Dub dealer in durham. Also think i annoyed them slightly as the car was ~6months old when i signed all the paperwork fort the new car and it had 5k miles on it, 2months later had around 11k on it because of my trips to london. Their jaws hit the floor when i told them the millage ....oops

 

[katiek]

For some reason when i asked for a new car, it was about 4k i lost, nowhere near ?500. Do i have to sell it back to them? cos i swear the trading standard said they sud giv me a new one. I mean ive wasted so much petrol and time on that car. Did u get any discount on ur previous car?

And how does it work? cos i bought my car in 04 but the 05plate is out now.... will they have to giv me a second hand 04 model or something?

 

[cjp2k]

Well if it is rejected, (which will be a fight) it will be replaced by a brand new car, but if u sell it back to them u could get what u want, ie brand new second hand or whatever, I got a bit of a discount on my original car, but not that big.

Best thing to do would be 2 write a letter saying u will give them one last chance to fix ALL the problems and if they dont fix them u will take it further...

 

[craigGSI]

Not sure about down south but up here in scotland if you buy a new car and it has a fault that thay cant fix (after several attempts) and it is with in one year you can hand it back with a letter saying you refuse the car

there is a certain way the letter has to be worded and i am un sure of this but an ex copper i work with had done it and i will ask him how it works

they then have to refund you the original cost of the car

 

[katiek]

it should be the same whether up north or south right? the thing is my car has JUST gone over a year!I got my car on May 27th. U think i can still get a brand new car? What car did your mate have?

The manager said to me they can't give me a brand new car if they can't find the fault. They can only give it to me if they can't fix the fault =(

 

[katiek]

I don't want to sell it back to them. They gave me that option. They said I'll lose around 4k on the car though. So lucky! I didnt even get a discount from them!

i told them i will take it futher and he said to me it's my decision.....

u know if a lot of mkV golfs are having problems cos everytime ive asked the vw assistance. they said they haven't really had any problems with the MKV

 

[kenl]

There is nothing about 1 year, it can be up to six years. Take a look at this:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/salegoodsact.htm#faqs

If a fault is present within the first six months then it is deemed to have been there from new. It is therefore a manufacturing defect and you are entitled to a replacement or at least guaranteed repair.

So if you had problems that you reported to the dealer in the first six months this should enhance your case.

You may though (like Chris) be asked for an amount of money to cover the amount of miles you have done. If this is something low like ?500 then I feel that would be worth it as you will have done ?10k miles for very low depreciation.

If though you cannot demonstrate the fault then it will be difficult. If they don't play ball you might need to get nasty !!!

 

[katiek]

they said to me i'll lose about 4k i think it was. nowhere near ?500 from what i remember and at that time i haven't even done 10k miles.

yeah the problem is vw asistance is my evidence. they came and tried to start up the car but didnt until after a few tries. the problem is i called them up for the paperwork and they said the retailer has it but the retailer tells me they haven't got it >.<