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Ralph T

1 reviews | Active since Mar 2014

04 Aug 2020, 09:46

VW does not honour warranty

I have a 2015 VW Transporter D/C. The car gave me endless problems. I bought it from a non-franchise dealer second hand, and to tell the complete story it had missed three services. I always took my car for repairs to two dealerships Hatfield VW in Northcliff and VW Knysna. Last year in August the car broke for the umpteenth time and it went back to VW Northcliff. The work they did was to redo the cylinder head, including rockers, lifters and some outside engineering work. The car drove well and went to Knysna where a camshaft broke. VW Knysna refused to honour the warranty on the cylinder head overhaul and blamed the fact that the vehicle was bought from a non-franchise dealer and said that missing services can cause metal fatigue. I have spent over R200 000 in repairs to this vehicle and they now quote me R232 000 to repair the vehicle and are refusing to cover the repairs under the warranty. The only reasons I have my VW's repaired by a dealership is because I (mistakenly) believed that VW would stand by their warranty. If Hatfield VW had not repaired the cylinder head in August last year, I would have quietly sworn under my breath and asked them to fix it at my cost. What makes it worse is that they wrote to me and stated that they have no idea what work was done by VW Northcliff, they have no idea why the camshaft broke but they deny all liability. VWSA quickly followed up with several phone calls to assure me that they will stand by the dealer who does not know why the camshaft broke but won't contribute to the costs to repair the vehicle. Shocking service from VW overall. People should know that the warranty offered by VW franchise dealers is not worth the paper its written on, but they charge accordingly. In a bizarre twist, VW Northcliff offered to repair the vehicle for around R80 000 instead of R232 000. How is this possible? I believe that when I bought the vehicle it was my risk to drive that vehicle with those camshafts, when Hatfield VW Northcliff repaired the cylinder head it was their decision and risk to put those camshafts into that vehicle. That work is covered by their warranty which in my opinion they should stand by.

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Replies (1)
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Ralph T's update13 Aug 2020, 21:38
Reviewer Update
To Petrus en Jeanet Swanepoel, I bought the vehicle after it had violated the manufacturers warranty I am not asking VW to repair the vehicle on their manufacturers warranty, I am asking VW to honour the warranty that they offer when repairs are done to the vehicle. They completely rebuilt the cylinder head and within 11 months the camshaft broke and they say this part is not under warranty. They believe that only one camshaft broke and denied all liability on closer inspection both camshafts broke. Independently of each other and at exactly the same time. I should buy a lotto ticket I am so freaking lucky!!Both camshafts at the same time and there is no evidence of part failure or bad workmanship? I don't think so, VWSA you need to accept your responsibility here. Anyway I choose to vote with my feet, I have sold my Volkswagens and bought other makes instead. The risk posed by a motor manufacturer that does NOT honour their warranty is way to big to carry. I am still very disappointed at VWSA the dealers and VW head office in Germany. Will never buy another Volkswagen.