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I recently had an issue with my local VW dealer regarding mechanical and customer service problems. It took the manager nearly 3 months to contact me despite VW Head Office getting involved. Has anyone else experienced any such problems and how were they resolved. The trouble is I like my Passat!
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I had a similar problem with VW on a Sharan. It took me 50,000 miles and 18 months to get a result, and that was after the car had been to 4 different VW dealers, and a specialist diagnostics company - off the road for about 4 months over the period. Wouldn't have got any result if the corporate might of Leasecontracts ( the owner of the vehicle ) hadn't interveined. They eventually bought the car back, but only after the most appalling and arrogant attitude from both VW dealers and VW UK at Milton Keynes, and never any admission that the vehicle was faulty.
Good luck !
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I have just bought a Passat and took it to VW dealer for inspection. They suggested it needed lots of work, even though they had serviced it from new ! Went to a specialist (VW trained) came back with a £45 bill which included an oil change and said it was a great car. Work that one out. Previous experience suggests that main dealers on the whole just plug in a computer and change a part. To find someone who understands cars, go to a specialist.
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I took up the matter of VW dealer attitude with the MD of VAG in the UK at about this time last year. I was swamped with complaints from readers. So I referred them all on to him. Miraculously, within a few months, the VW complaints died down, but I'm not happy to see them raise their ugly head again. I'm also at issue with VW about current model Passat door locks. Seems that if you want to get into a Passat, or Golf Mk IV, all you have to do is prise off the door handle around the lock barrel then stick your screwdriver in the hole and turn it and you're in. The integrated alarm system thinks you've opened the door with the key and the alarm doesn't go off.
HJ
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I have just emailed you about the security problem, but will include it here as well for others benefit.
I have found VW fault diagnosis very poor with my MK4 TDI. On delivery it had numerous faults, and rattles, despite 5 visits, most have not been resolved and I felt the car was not treated well by them. It was always returned very dirty both inside and out, and has picked up numerous small scratches in their care. The fuel computer showed that it was driven quite a distance on more than one occasion, and the consumption was very poor so they obviously drove it carefully!!
Here is my comments on the security:
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to ask both yourselves and your readers of their experiences with
VW car security.
I own a 1999 VW Golf GT Tdi. Recently someone attempted to break into the car
by forcing the drivers door handle/lock. This failed, but resulted in a cost
of £200 to replace the door handle. This was the only item damaged, there was
no body or paintwork damage.
4 days after this was repaired, and at another location, I awoke to find all
the 4 windows on my car lowered. Again somebody had attacked the drivers door
handle and lock barrel and had somehow managed to operate the electric windows
and not set off the alarm. All doors were still locked however but with the
windows open they were able to gain access to the car Fortunately there was no
other damage, and as I leave nothing in the car, nothing was taken.
I went back to my VW dealer and asked how they were able to get into my car so
easily, and without setting off the alarm. They told me that the thieves have
found an easy way to operate the "convenience" system fitted to VW cars with
central locking and electric windows. This system allows you (or anyone!!) to
open or close all electric windows from outside the car using the key (or in
this case a screwdriver).
The dealer told me that this was now resolved in later VW models, but VW
cannot, or will not, apply this fix to older models of the same car. I have
asked them if they can disable this feature, again VW have no official
solution, but aftermarket alarm fitters are able to do so (but at a cost).
VW customer services are looking into the matter for me, to date I have had no
response.
I find it strange that VW advertise this vehicle as very secure, but the
reality is somewhat different. Having realised there is a problem, they have
(or so they tell me) fixed it but now refuse to help existing customers.
On speaking with the police, they tell me in my area, VW's are being targetted
as they are so easy, quick and quiet to break into. I wonder how many other
people have been affected, and if they realise that changing the handle will
do nothing to resolve the underlying design fault and weakness.
Do you have any advice?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Pole
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Wheelbase of Hersham, Surrey are ace VW & Audi specialists. Have had VW Golf Mk2 serviced by them for years. Honest & enthusiasts all of them.
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im not sure but maybe the solution might be to (if u have one) lock the doors with the remote alarm so when anyone tries to enter with a key or screwdriver the alarm goes off. mind u they might still be able to enter the car
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