NSW First time VW owner

[Alissa]

Hi, My name is Alissa, I am a first time VW owner who unfortunately has a 2010 Golf comfortline 118tsi... I am a new mum and I found this forum trying to research as much as I could about the engine problems these cars have been having.

[tigger73]

Firstly welcome and I hope you find the information here useful.

Hopefully your car has an extended warranty and a spotless service history.


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[Alissa]

Thanks - sadly no extended warranty but I believe the service history is spotless... I have just posted in the golf forum - VW dealership called me today to tell me my engine has a cracked piston requiring replacement at a cost of $6000. VW goodwill will cover parts cost but only 30% of labour so want me to pay $1900 and it would be an understatement to say I am freaking out!

[tigger73]

Hmmmm. I suspected by your first post and age of car (2010) that may be the unfortunate case.

I suggest that you go back to VW direct. Remember that this is just their first offer in negotiating to repair your car. If you accept their offer then you're up for $1,900. Also the dealer is never going to go into bat for you. They're going to get paid whether VW pays for the repairs or you do. The only one that is set to gain out of all the warranty work is the dealers service department.

It depends on how hard you want to "negotiate" but if the car has been maintained according to the service schedule (and at a dealership) and is only just out of warranty I'd be expecting a lot more than just 30% of the labour costs. Plus the total cost of the repair is likely to be a lot more than $6k. Sounds like this is only the labour component and you've got to add parts to the top of this.

For VW to blame dodgy fuel is just them not taking responsibility and shifting blame to a third party (fuel company).

Unfortunately it's got into the legals of who is responsible and VW is only accepting partial accountability at this stage.

[Alissa]

Thanks for your advice - I will give that a go tomorrow and see what else they come up with. I'm just going to maintain my position that there was a flaw in their engine design, so many of these engines have needed replacement and so therefore VW should be responsible for the repair costs. I have come across a couple of posts where people have had the repair done for free when the car was out of warranty so hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones!!

[tigger73]

Thanks for your advice - I will give that a go tomorrow and see what else they come up with. I'm just going to maintain my position that there was a flaw in their engine design, so many of these engines have needed replacement and so therefore VW should be responsible for the repair costs. I have come across a couple of posts where people have had the repair done for free when the car was out of warranty so hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones!!

Yes I'd stick to your guns as you've got nothing to lose. Fall-back position is parts plus 30% of labour cost.

If you're not getting anywhere you can always say that you're aware that there have been a number of other engine failures outside warranty that have been covered so how is yours any different?

Good luck and let us know how you get on. It may help others who are in the same unfortunate position in the future.

[Alissa]

Thanks for the advice - I will let you know how I get on!

I'm also worried that this engine design is basically a ticking time bomb and it will cark it again down the track when it is WELL out of warranty... Do you think that is the case? Will it ever be a reliable car?

The problem is, I really love everything else about the car!! I've considered trading it in or selling it as soon as it is fixed but I have no idea what I'd get instead

[tigger73]

That's a hard one. If you can afford to then once it's all fixed, I'd be trading it in and buying something else. If you're an auto driver and want to stay with VW/Golf I'd be looking at either a TDI or GTI with the 6 speed DSG, otherwise the manuals are always a good option as far as reliability goes.

I personally know a couple of people that have 118TSI twin charger Golf/Jettas, have had no problems with them and absolutely love them to bits. But as you've experienced if something does go wrong with them, it goes wrong in a major way and next time you may not be so lucky with the warranty.

[Alissa]

Thanks for all the advice - excellent news today! VW goodwill have agreed to pay the entire repair bill ($6000) in full!! I didn't even have to kick up a stink, I just kept it nice and let the service manager do the legwork with VW. I am so relieved and felt like kissing their service manager.. So happy!! Honestly, what amazing service!!

The car will have a 2 year parts and labour warranty on the engine now... if it makes it 2 years do you think it will be ok after that?? Has updating the software (ie through the service campaign) actually resolved the engine failure issue in these golfs? Im glad there are a couple of stories out there about people who have had 118TSIs that are still going strong!! It also seems like a lot of the engine failures relate to over a year ago... doesn't seem like there have been many recent ones?? So perhaps the service campaign has actually worked?

[tigger73]

That's fantastic news!

Well at least now you've got 2 years to decide whether to keep it or not

I wouldn't be advertising the fact that the engine has been rebuilt and that it has 2 years warranty..... not really a selling point if you know what I mean

Yes I think things have definitely got better. I'd like to believe that everything is totally fixed though I'm a realist and would be looking to upgrade in the next 18 months or so.