Car manufacturers and warranty customer experiences

[mountfarm]

Having had a nightmare with VW recently are there any manufacturers who offer a proper full no quibble warranty and courtesy cars at no cost.

I’m at war with VW over a brand new car. At 1800 miles the management light came on. I rang the dealer who said it’s a 16 week wait to get it in but I should ring VW assist. They said no point looking it needs a dealer as they won’t be able to fix it on site. The vehicle was still drivable. A few weeks later at 3000 miles I ring assist again who come out and say there’s multiple issues mainly adblue related so they fastracked me into the dealer who had to very reluctantly pay to hire me a car as they had nothing themselves. They said they didn’t need to give me a car to use where as Vw assist said they did and ultimately made the dealer sort me a car.

The dealer diagnosed an adblue sensor which isn’t a warranty item apparently, although I’m fighting it.

But I bought the Vw because it came with a 5 year warranty. But what’s the point in the warranty when an item like an adblue sensor supposedly isn’t included. The whole process with Vw has been tiresome, stressful and basically taken 10 weeks. It shouldn’t be like that with a new car.

So is there a manufacturer who actually looks after new vehicle customers properly? As far as I’m concerned my vehicle should have been picked up from me, not me taking it in. They should drop off a like for like replacement at no cost to me. Then they should repair my vehicle under a full no quibble warranty.

I feel drained by the whole process and I’m now fighting an invoice for a part on a brand new car.

 

[MF CI]

And farmers moan about agricultural dealers.

 

[Happy]

Main franchised dealers bigger shysters than the independent garages these days. They also have mechanics who try to fix thinks unlike main dealer ones who are largely just parts fitters.

Bought used Polo for daughter from main dealer 2+1/2 years ago. Came with 2 years servicing & warranty.
Day we were due to collect they phoned up to say air con wasn’t working so they’d fix it & could we wait a few days.
Obviously all they did was top up coolant as come the following summer it was only blowing warm air.
Took to our local vw dealer(different one we bought from) who topped up & said bring back in a month to see if it looses any. Duly did & surprise, surprise had lost coolant. Then they filled it up again with a dye to find leak but said they couldn’t find one.

Next stage was they would need car in, front end panels removing for replacement with new air con parts.
Started blowing warm air again a month ago. Back in again & topped up with coolant. Come back in a month & we’ll check it

I very much doubt if the front bumper was ever off it for fitment of new parts at all when they had it in last year.

 

[Phil P]

Just had to have a complete new engine in my Navara @ 60k miles! Not cost me a penny and Nissan put me in a rental for the past 4 weeks while they sorted it. I did have to pick up/drop off the rental but better than being without a vehicle for 4 weeks. It’s been in for various other warranty jobs and never cost me a penny up now so can’t complain. Don’t think I’ll be keeping it for long after the warranty runs out though!

 

[stroller]

Main franchised dealers bigger shysters than the independent garages these days. They also have mechanics who try to fix thinks unlike main dealer ones who are largely just parts fitters.

Bought used Polo for daughter from main dealer 2+1/2 years ago. Came with 2 years servicing & warranty.
Day we were due to collect they phoned up to say air con wasn’t working so they’d fix it & could we wait a few days.
Obviously all they did was top up coolant as come the following summer it was only blowing warm air.
Took to our local vw dealer(different one we bought from) who topped up & said bring back in a month to see if it looses any. Duly did & surprise, surprise had lost coolant. Then they filled it up again with a dye to find leak but said they couldn’t find one.

Next stage was they would need car in, front end panels removing for replacement with new air con parts.
Started blowing warm air again a month ago. Back in again & topped up with coolant. Come back in a month & we’ll check it

I very much doubt if the front bumper was ever off it for fitment of new parts at all when they had it in last year.

The worst thing you can do to air con is to not use it, run it every few days even in the winter( it will de mist the windscreen much faster than warm air alone) not using it allows the seals to dry out and the gas escapes. My NH TS is 2003 and air con still works, never been re-gassed, now I've said that it will probably pack up tomorrow

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Having had a nightmare with VW recently are there any manufacturers who offer a proper full no quibble warranty and courtesy cars at no cost.

I’m at war with VW over a brand new car. At 1800 miles the management light came on. I rang the dealer who said it’s a 16 week wait to get it in but I should ring VW assist. They said no point looking it needs a dealer as they won’t be able to fix it on site. The vehicle was still drivable. A few weeks later at 3000 miles I ring assist again who come out and say there’s multiple issues mainly adblue related so they fastracked me into the dealer who had to very reluctantly pay to hire me a car as they had nothing themselves. They said they didn’t need to give me a car to use where as Vw assist said they did and ultimately made the dealer sort me a car.

The dealer diagnosed an adblue sensor which isn’t a warranty item apparently, although I’m fighting it.

But I bought the Vw because it came with a 5 year warranty. But what’s the point in the warranty when an item like an adblue sensor supposedly isn’t included. The whole process with Vw has been tiresome, stressful and basically taken 10 weeks. It shouldn’t be like that with a new car.

So is there a manufacturer who actually looks after new vehicle customers properly? As far as I’m concerned my vehicle should have been picked up from me, not me taking it in. They should drop off a like for like replacement at no cost to me. Then they should repair my vehicle under a full no quibble warranty.

I feel drained by the whole process and I’m now fighting an invoice for a part on a brand new car.

Formally reject the car
Recorded letter to supplying dealer and one to VE
Drop car off, hand the keys in and associated paperwork
Demand a full refund
Buy something different

 

[Spencer]

I was going to say VW when I read thread title. Sounds like you just have a sh!t dealer. Mrs Spencer has Tiguan and had a few things under warranty, never a quibble, always a car available, hers is returned fully valeted. Great customer service and always give them 5 star rating. It’s the dealer not the brand I’d say..

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Mrs Y first Mokka, cooked its brakes when the hill start assist played up and locked the brakes. Mrs Y tried to get home regardless and they were pretty well on fire when she was stopped by my neighbour. Dealer took it in and left a hire car. The hire car was exchanged when their records said it was due a service. New one delivered and the old one taken. I think it was 6 weeks before we got our Mokka back with no quibble at all. A1 service.

 

[Flatwheels]

Just had to have a complete new engine in my Navara @ 60k miles! Not cost me a penny and Nissan put me in a rental for the past 4 weeks while they sorted it. I did have to pick up/drop off the rental but better than being without a vehicle for 4 weeks. It’s been in for various other warranty jobs and never cost me a penny up now so can’t complain. Don’t think I’ll be keeping it for long after the warranty runs out though!

Snap! Engine light on at 45000 miles into dealer for thermo plunger replacement. After third time in for thermo plungers replaced the engine. 5000 miles more and the other engine management light came on, dealer said thermo plungers again. Soon down the road with some warranty left for the next owner.

 

[Drillman]

Tractor dealers give awesome service compared to car dealers who are totally and utterly useless.

i was in the local NH main dealers workshop the other day looking round a machine we were buying, rep and service manager there showing me round it.

car dealer it’s impossible to get past the pot plants and receptionist.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Dont laugh but my discovery had a turbo under warranty when it was about 2 years old,

they pick it up hired me a 4x4, told them i needed 7 seats so got me a discovery 5 when one was available, they were great to be fair the whole process was cost and hassle free.

dealers changed now and most of nice staff seemed to go, so i doubt it would be as good now not been there for ages as it well out of warranty now and i service it my self.

 

[Barleymow]

The worst thing you can do to air con is to not use it, run it every few days even in the winter( it will de mist the windscreen much faster than warm air alone) not using it allows the seals to dry out and the gas escapes. My NH TS is 2003 and air con still works, never been re-gassed, now I've said that it will probably pack up tomorrow

My 2007 golf has never had the aircon looked at ,use it 24/7

 

[L P]

Having had a nightmare with VW recently are there any manufacturers who offer a proper full no quibble warranty and courtesy cars at no cost.

I’m at war with VW over a brand new car. At 1800 miles the management light came on. I rang the dealer who said it’s a 16 week wait to get it in but I should ring VW assist. They said no point looking it needs a dealer as they won’t be able to fix it on site. The vehicle was still drivable. A few weeks later at 3000 miles I ring assist again who come out and say there’s multiple issues mainly adblue related so they fastracked me into the dealer who had to very reluctantly pay to hire me a car as they had nothing themselves. They said they didn’t need to give me a car to use where as Vw assist said they did and ultimately made the dealer sort me a car.

The dealer diagnosed an adblue sensor which isn’t a warranty item apparently, although I’m fighting it.

But I bought the Vw because it came with a 5 year warranty. But what’s the point in the warranty when an item like an adblue sensor supposedly isn’t included. The whole process with Vw has been tiresome, stressful and basically taken 10 weeks. It shouldn’t be like that with a new car.

So is there a manufacturer who actually looks after new vehicle customers properly? As far as I’m concerned my vehicle should have been picked up from me, not me taking it in. They should drop off a like for like replacement at no cost to me. Then they should repair my vehicle under a full no quibble warranty.

I feel drained by the whole process and I’m now fighting an invoice for a part on a brand new car.

Strictly speaking you're in the wrong and invalidating warranty on the adblue sensor by continuing to drive it with warning light on. I've had terrible experience with VWAG dealers, they are not trustworthy when it comes to the crunch, surfing on a reliability notion from the 80s still. Buy a hilux or Landcruiser, don't need warranty or courtesy cars generally

 

[box]

I’m now fighting an invoice for a part on a brand new car.

Have you got the car back now? If so, just don't pay the invoice.

 

[warksfarmer]

I know a Land Rover driver and he’s had his vehicle collected from his drive, a replacement dropped off and the issues sorted under a warranty. Think it was a turbo on a year old RR.

 

[kiwi pom]

Main franchised dealers bigger shysters than the independent garages these days. They also have mechanics who try to fix thinks unlike main dealer ones who are largely just parts fitters.

Bought used Polo for daughter from main dealer 2+1/2 years ago. Came with 2 years servicing & warranty.
Day we were due to collect they phoned up to say air con wasn’t working so they’d fix it & could we wait a few days.
Obviously all they did was top up coolant as come the following summer it was only blowing warm air.
Took to our local vw dealer(different one we bought from) who topped up & said bring back in a month to see if it looses any. Duly did & surprise, surprise had lost coolant. Then they filled it up again with a dye to find leak but said they couldn’t find one.

Next stage was they would need car in, front end panels removing for replacement with new air con parts.
Started blowing warm air again a month ago. Back in again & topped up with coolant. Come back in a month & we’ll check it

I very much doubt if the front bumper was ever off it for fitment of new parts at all when they had it in last year.

I think quite a lot of dealer's, car and tractor struggle with AC, quite a few sub the harder jobs out to an AC specialist, but if they don't want to do that they just poke and prod, fill the system and hope.
Small leaks that can take a year to run low are hard to find and as far as I know need the car to be parked a while with the system full of nitrogen, as the dye they put in to test for leaks can be too thick for the small leaks. even then it can be hard to find.
At least that's what I've been told.

They need to find the leak before firing the parts cannon and hoping.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I agree about using the aircon regularly
I run mine for 5 mins on every journey - winter or summer

 

[BuskhillFarm]

I bought a new golf mk5 in 2006. It had a host of problems, by end they were starting to quibble, traded it in at very end of 3 year warranty.

Try a different dealer, there can be difference between them even if you’ve to travel a bit further.

 

[quattro]

Just had to have a complete new engine in my Navara @ 60k miles! Not cost me a penny and Nissan put me in a rental for the past 4 weeks while they sorted it. I did have to pick up/drop off the rental but better than being without a vehicle for 4 weeks. It’s been in for various other warranty jobs and never cost me a penny up now so can’t complain. Don’t think I’ll be keeping it for long after the warranty runs out though!

Just got rid of my Navarra at 71reg had 8 over 22 years and never had many problems
this one been terrible although nothing major away 6-8 weeks at a time

 

[pgk]

I was going to say VW when I read thread title. Sounds like you just have a sh!t dealer. Mrs Spencer has Tiguan and had a few things under warranty, never a quibble, always a car available, hers is returned fully valeted. Great customer service and always give them 5 star rating. It’s the dealer not the brand I’d say..

VAG have been notoriously bad on their warranties since they have paid out billions across the world for their emission cheating. My PA sued VAG financial services as they refused to do anything about her faulty Tiguan auto gearbox, known issues worldwide. She was one of hundreds of cases going through the UK courts. This contrasted with their approach in her previous golf where they replaced, gearbox, front seats, suspension twice, electronic display, all whilst giving them a loan car. Having been awarded £38k, VAG financial services failed to pay, one visit to MK headquarters from the Sheriffs and settled in full. Took 2.5 years to bring to a conclusion. Having had 5 consecutive VAG gp cars no surprise they will never have one again, as only 2 were problem free cannot see why they persisted with them