MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Eye watering garage bill today on our '07 Octavia Scout. Had long life service due anyway but it's fallen prey to the dreaded failed ABS unit which appears to have afflicted loads of BMW and VAG group cars over the last 5 years. £450 parts and labour on top of the service and Haldex oil change and a couple of other minor bits bringing the total bill to just short of 1K.
The dodgy and unserviceable ABS unit is a widely known issue - such that the dealer opened a case for a goodwill payment with Skoda customer care without me even asking them. I've been told by a number of people, including the local dealer (who are also a VW franchise) that VW policy is to pay 100% of the cost of replacement for cars with a full main dealer service history. According to BriSkoda it's a bit more hit and miss with Skoda vehicles suffering the same problem.
On balance the car is now at 109K and this is the first big bill we've had on the car since we bought it 3 1/2 years ago (although the DPF failed and was replaced under warranty shortly after we bought it). We still love the car, which is really capable for our needs, but the way in which this goes will definitely influence whether I buy another Skoda.
As the Octy is quite popular with STWers, just wondered if anyone else had experienced the same problem and had been successful in getting a goodwill payment out of Skoda UK?
Just take it as a lesson to never buy a VW based car again.
Unfortunately Skoda UK will not do the right thing and cover you for this as you are well out of warranty on miles and age. When this happened to mine I sent the pump to ECU Testing they turned it around in 5 days and charged me £250 with a lifetime warranty. For my tuppence worth find yourself a decent indy from now on as they will be much cheaper and chances are do a better job.
Not sure the goodwill side is that good for VW vehicles either. I recently copped for over £2k of repairs and VW weren't interested even though the car was only 6 months from warranty. One of which was a fairly common fault with a power steering sensor that results in a new steering rack. As 2 of the 6 services hadn't been done by a main dealer they didn't give a stuff.
Just take it as a lesson to never buy a VW based car again.
Thanks that's useful...To be fair this problem doesn't just affect VAG group cars. Same Teves Mk60 unit is also in BMW 1 & 3 series, Volvo S40 & V50 and the Mazda 3, all of which have similar problems.
Had mine repaired in January,also had to get both rear wheel speed sensors replaced. £750 just after Christmas. VW Golf Mk5. Think this will be my last VAG car.
Just send the unit off to be fixed as suggested above. Far cheaper and more ecological solution. Plently on honest john about fixing these. I was lucky, I had it go when the car was 2 years 51 weeks old, so didnt have to pay a dime.
OP. If you do receive any [i]goodwill[/i]. Just be sure to come back here and complain about it.
😉
I've told the garage to go ahead and fix it. Sending the unit away isn't really an option as we need the car back today and the cost of hiring a car while it's away would eat into the price difference anyway.
Claim is in with Skoda and the dealer reckons there is a reasonable chance of getting a part contribution... will let you know how we get on.
[i]will let you know how we get on[/i]
Good luck, I hope you get a positive outcome.
🙂
Uncannily my Seat Leon had just developed a similar fault. ESP / ABS light won't go off. I'm expecting it to be the dreaded G201 ABS pump failure which is a very common fault on a whole series of VAG cars.
The car has a FSH and I've owned it from new so I'm hoping Seat will make a contribution to the cost.
Its shocking there hasn't been a full recall on the part though.
If you've got full service history you've got a chance at goodwill. Getting the garage to apply for it may be another thing though. May be best to ring skoda yourself.
If it's failed due to a g201 pressure sensor there's a repair kit out now for about £250 + about an hour to fit. Much cheaper than a complete new unit.
email in profile if I can be of more help
Dai ( SEAT tech and warranty admin)
Just take it as a lesson to never buy a VW based car again.
Sorry have to agree (and disagree with SprocketJockey). You've been lucky so far OP. For that mileage/5yrs old I'd expect you are entering the eye-watering bill zone with a VW/VAG car. Alot more large consumables to follow IMO.
As for Mazda's- I wouldn't buy one. Nevermind the mpv and the ****el-thing.
If it's failed due to a g201 pressure sensor there's a repair kit out now for about £250 + about an hour to fit. Much cheaper than a complete new unit.
Good to know Dai, thanks a lot
Yeah it's the G201 failure - it's the kit they are fitting to mine, although they are quoting 2 hours labour. Dealer opened the claim with Skoda, I've also called them but they have a 3 day lead time to come back with a decision (!). I need the car back so have had to tell the dealer to carry on regardless - have been assured this won't prejudice the claim, but we'll see.
Richmtb - you may be lucky, apparently a failed sensor can also trip the warning light.
You've been lucky so far OP. For that mileage/5yrs old I'd expect you are entering the eye-watering bill zone with a VW/VAG car.
I guess I've been lucky so far with my VWs, which have all been pretty reliable - My MkII Golf went to 190K and 15 years with no major problems. My MK IV went to 150K with just a few minor electrical niggles and I still sold it on for £800. My T4 daily driver is now getting on for 17 years old and still going strong.
I think the problem is more with new vehicles in general which just seem far too clever and sophisticated for their own good.
I had the same thing light on for 3/4 years but as now mot failure i sprung into action 8) i sent letter to vw managing director (milton keynes hq) 2 days later executive office phone me and in no time they serviced my abs unit (£450) my car is vw touran 2005 and always service with the dealer good luck
For that mileage/5yrs old I'd expect you are entering the eye-watering bill zone with a VW/VAG car
Don't listen to him.
Well just as an update...just had a call from the dealer and Skoda are covering 100% of the cost of the failed ABS unit.
Result! 😀
Excellent.
Guess that's a reason to buy a VAG car again.
My experience of Goodwill "warranty" work from VAG group has been fantastic.
In 2009 I got the Clutch Pedal Bracket replaced totally free on a 2000 reg T4 Kombi with 190,000 miles on the clock and no main dealer service history beyond the warranty period.
In 2011 I had the same done on my 2001 T4 Multivan with 185,000 miles on the clock, and no UK service history at all as its from Berlin. Again totally free.
Maybe I'm just good at negotiating, but they seem pretty bloody good at Goodwill Customer Service to me.
Good news, great result, I'm sure that's a relief. Glad to hear as we have 2 VW's and 1 Skoda in our household all with FSH.
Lucky bandit. I paid £600 for a re-con unit + fitting as VW would not admit issue or that they should pay...
[i]Lucky bandit. I paid £600 for a re-con unit + fitting as VW would not admit issue or that they should pay...[/i]
Then pull them up on Skoda's decision, assuming the fault / issue / circumstances are identical.