Volkswagen VW South Africa - Pushing Blame!

My VW Polo, still under warranty, has been experiencing shuddering and jerking while driving. Given a similar issue occurred less than a year ago, I suspected the spark plugs might be the culprit and took the car to VW Ballito.

During the previous incident, despite my insistence, the technicians didn't initially acknowledge the problem since their diagnostics system showed no error code. Eventually, they replaced the spark plugs under warranty, acknowledging the issue.

Now, encountering the same problem, I returned to VW Ballito only to be informed that the spark plugs need replacement again due to fuel fouling, a condition not covered under warranty. Dealerships are attributing this to fuel contamination from local petrol stations, leaving vehicle owners to bear the costs.

As a petrol car owner, it's challenging to discern fuel quality when filling up. I only fill up at reputable stations like Sasol in Salt Rock or at the Sasol at the airport, avoiding dubious ones. Adding to the frustration, VW hasn't informed customers that motor plan warranties exclude parts replacement due to fuel fouling in SA, leaving us to discover this during service visits.

Despite assurances from dealership owner Jacques -given to my father in law, he hasn't bothered calling me himself - the matter is under investigation, there's been no resolution or updates. Now, I'm facing the expense of replacing three spark plugs, as I've come to realise that only one was covered last year under warranty. It's disheartening to see the dealership citing fuel fouling as grounds for denying coverage, which feels like a lapse in service.

I believe this issue warrants attention, as many people in our community may be unaware that dealerships could hold them responsible for such costs, shifting blame to local petrol stations. Readers might find this insight valuable, shedding light on the challenges faced by VW vehicle owners in our area.