VW South Africa's Service Fiasco: Never Again!

I would like to share my experience with VW South Africa, specifically the Strijdom Park branch, regarding my VW Polo Vivo purchased in 2022. The car, which has only accumulated just over 30,000 Km, has had recurring issues with squeaking brakes and a loose handbrake. Despite three separate visits to the dealership for this issue, the response has been consistently unsatisfactory. The service advisor suggested an unconventional method of 'fixing' the brakes by driving at high speeds and then abruptly braking, which seems questionable.

Furthermore, I was informed that the brake discs showing a blue tint is a sign of wear not covered by the warranty. This raises several concerns: firstly, the inability of the dealership to effectively address a recurring problem with their vehicle; secondly, the subjective decision-making regarding warranty coverage; and thirdly, the possibility that the issue may have been exacerbated by the dealership's own technicians, as per the service advisor's recommended 'fix.'

The most frustrating aspect has been the lack of accountability from both VW South Africa's Customer Care Centre and the dealership, each directing me to the other without resolving the issue. This experience, coupled with the high cost of VW vehicles, leads me to advise potential buyers to reconsider and explore other options. Based on this experience, I am unlikely to purchase from VW again. And that's putting it lightly.