Manufacturer contribution towards repair
The Volkswagen emissions scandal is going to cost them billions. Does this mean that their policy regarding contributions towards repairs is to reject all requests, no matter what the circumstances are?
My car is four years old and has done just 19,000 miles. It has been maintained and serviced by Volkswagen since new. Yesterday, the car went in for its scheduled service. The garage phoned me later to say the good news is that the car has passed its MOT but the bad news is that the piston rings need replacing. They said in view of the service history and low mileage, they asked Volkswagen for a contribution but this has been rejected. The dealer has offered to contribute 70% but this still leaves me with 30%. They haven't quantified the total cost so I don't know yet what I am expected to pay. The dealer has said I shouldn't drive the car as this might cause more damage to the engine. They have therefore retained my car and cannot say at the moment when I will get it back.
Is the dealer's offer a good one or should I hold out for 100% contribution? Are piston rings commonly replaced after just 19,000 miles?
My car is four years old and has done just 19,000 miles. It has been maintained and serviced by Volkswagen since new. Yesterday, the car went in for its scheduled service. The garage phoned me later to say the good news is that the car has passed its MOT but the bad news is that the piston rings need replacing. They said in view of the service history and low mileage, they asked Volkswagen for a contribution but this has been rejected. The dealer has offered to contribute 70% but this still leaves me with 30%. They haven't quantified the total cost so I don't know yet what I am expected to pay. The dealer has said I shouldn't drive the car as this might cause more damage to the engine. They have therefore retained my car and cannot say at the moment when I will get it back.
Is the dealer's offer a good one or should I hold out for 100% contribution? Are piston rings commonly replaced after just 19,000 miles?
Asked on 27 November 2015 by Roland Smith
Answered by
Honest John
This is a very common failure of this engine and if the car was an Audi with a full Audi service history there is a very good chance that Audi would pick up the full tab for the repair. I'd take the dealer's kind offer, don't sign anything stating that you accept it as full and final settlement, then, once the car is repaired, sue for whatever you had to pay on the grounds that like many other VWG 2.0 TFSI engines, the engine was of faulty manufacture. Law here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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