Radio interference

My wife bought a new Polo in January. Whenever the TP button (traffic information) is in operation, there is frequent interruption by other stations, some of which are no more than a quick interruption with no traffic or other information given, and often the radio does not return to the station it was previously tuned into. The car was taken to a VW garage for the fault to be rectified, but they claimed that they were unable to trace any fault. On the journey home from the garage, a distance of about twelve miles, she had no fewer than 13 interruptions, some were merely a quick cut in and cut out at other times it switches itself from Radio 4 to Radio 2 or 1 and stays on that station. The same journey included 4 interruptions from Radio London; Radio Oxford; Radio Surrey and Three Counties Radio. On every occasion she had to cancel the TP button to get back to the original station. The car was was then taken to another VW dealer, who, after being persuaded to take the car on another test drive with the radio and TP on, confirmed that they too had experienced the same problem. They said that they would contact VW Customer Care to see what action should be taken. The response from VW is that there is no problem, because if the radio is tuned to Radios 1,2,3 or 4, which do not give traffic information, then with the TP button switched on the radio is constantly searching for a station that does give such information. In my car the radio only switches to traffic information from the local radio station in the area in which I am travelling and returns to the original station immediately the traffic information has finished. Given the comments from VW Customer Care, can you advise me on what action I can take to resolve this problem.

Asked on 17 July 2010 by D.B., Berkhamsted

Answered by Honest John
This is typical of cars with 'German' spec radio systems designed and
optimized for Germany with no consideration for how they may work
elsewhere. I've had the same complaint from Skoda owners. It's even worse with 'German' spec satnav that will not take all the digits of a UK postcode. It's a design problem. The radio is "not of satisfactory quality". And you are within your right to demand of the dealer who supplied the car that he replaces the radio with one that will work properly in the UK. (I personally cannot stand TP interruptions.)
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