What Problems Have People Had With Their Skodas?

[Jake02]

Evening all.

I was doing some reading today about how Skoda places well in various reliability surveys in Europe and how they're supposedly more reliable than their Volkswagen cousins (possibly due to older technology). I've never really heard any Skoda horror stories so my question is, what (if anything) has gone wrong with your Skodas?

I ask because tonight Dad came home saying that the indicators didn't work, the electronics went AWOL and the alarm went off while he was driving, yet when I got home I took it for a drive and everything seemed fine but here at home the alarm keeps going off (those who know what the RS alarm sounds like know it could wake up a neighbourhood... No wonder it's a category 1 alarm in the UK), even if you press the interior button to disable it. I think we'll end up disconnecting the battery because we will not be able to get any sleep! I reset the on board computer, turned the rain-close off (so it's less awake as such) and put the lights into off instead of auto. Any other thoughts on what to do? It does need a service very soon.

I hope your Skodas don't do this ever!

Jake.

[woofy]

Bit windy there? My alarm would go off when I left the sunroof tilted on a windy day.

[Mysticality]

I don't think mine has an alarm, but I'm currently on my 5th $800 Body Control Module. All covered under warranty, though!!

I remember you mentioning the HSC - that means you're a p-plater. What are you doing driving a restricted vehicle?! :p

[joele]

Any make can have bad apples, I guess, I had a Honda civic, bought new around 2005, many problems, bubbling paint from day one, electrical issues, internal panels popping off etc

Covered under warranty but a pain yet my daiwoo lanos, was my first new car LOL, never missed as beat, perfectly reliable...

[zei20t]

i would be checking the battery/grounding with electrical faults if they come out of nowhere.

[cbay]

I've had a weird DSG jerking experience once (DSG7), with maybe a few clunky weird gear changes now and then. Other than that, it's been ok. Fingers crossed...

[VAG newbie]

Well, I think almost everyone has heard my story. My KESSY didn't recognize my key 3 days after I got the car and the alarm went off like crazy.

It turned out to be a faulty chip, replaced it, never had a problem since.

I am sure your problem shouldn't be a big one.

[dArK5HaD0w]

for me its the wastegate rattle. a "feature" of the CCZx engine with the k03 turbos.

apparently mine is nowhere near as loud as that heard on the GTIs.
plus skoda & vw service didn't want to get mine fixed under warranty. apparently they reckon the engine in the FL RS is different to the mk6 GTi!!!

i'm used to the rattle now. hardly notice it.

[The Speedfighter]

hmmmm where shall I start?

- Wastegate rattle
- Loose bolts on the cross-links (workshop stuff-up)
- Oil sensor problem (workshop stuff-up)
- Faulty Waterpump
- Faulty Waterpump

So got my car back today to get the waterpump replaced for the second time. Fingers crossed it'll be over now

[zei20t]

what engine do you have speedfighter?

[The Speedfighter]

what engine do you have speedfighter?

147 tsi

[Antiplastix]

Bump stop on the tailgate fell off and thats it. Other than the cruddy wheel alignment ex-factory.

[zei20t]

147 tsi

lets hope its not a common problem, especially with summer almost here. or whatever summer will be this year lol

[BluChris]

Awww c'mon, you guys aren't even trying. Here's what I can recall of my Octy over 3 years:

Rattles:
Roof lining
Sunglasses holder on dash
2 other dash rattles (made worse by dealer)
Driver's side door 'tick' (caused by dealer)
Tailgate creak/rattle
Console rattle (caused by dealer)

Passenger front seat base creaked if occupied regularly

Rear window winder regulator mount failed ($6-700 for a new one fitted)

Leaking air intake pipe (only minor but charged over $400 for a non-fix)

NSF front suspension creak over speed humps

Trip computer switch occasionally refused to co-operate or sometimes would work incorrectly, mostly cold weather

Radio went "POP" 3 - 4 times and died. Resurrected after a restart each time. Not sure if a fault or not but very picky about CDs and often would refuse to FF or Rewind between tracks

I used to laugh (through gritted teeth) that I had a Mariachi Band living in the car, since on bad days I would have 4 or so of the rattles going at once. I chased out most of these issues by the time I sold, but largely through my own efforts. Only 1 rattle ever fixed by a dealer.

[bobski]

The problems will vary from model to model. I've almost always found problems with my cars are the same issues other owners have with that model. Sometimes dealers fix them and sometimes they bandaid them.

The biggest problem with Skoda seems to be some dealers are ho-hum, many areas don't have a local dealer and Skoda itself seems a bit disorganised. However, in my experience with them, it seems to be pretty much on par with most dealer networks I've dealt with (though others here have had a torrid time).

I have a 30 month old DSG vRS TSI with 39000ks onboard - 75/25% split of city and country driving, I keep it clean, but that is the only real sympathy I have for it, it gets driven 'enthusiastically' 3-4 times a month and is always up to the task.

Issues I've had so far....

- Squeak on passenger side dash (very common), fixed by spraying with silicon spray. Comes back every 7500 odd k's.
- Squeak under arm on driver side door if push down on it. (I think this is also common)
- Protective flap/clip has come away on the rear door latch. (will ask for it to be fixed next service)
- Rear wiper blade come off during the rutted roads on kangaroo island (they just clip back on).
- Wastegate rattle. (very common)
- Right leg gets a bit bothered on long trips by the pointless plastic surround that is used for storage of god knows what.
- The leather seats seem to have faded a little bit, but it could be my eyes.

As you can see, mine have been mainly interior problems. Mechanically, it hasn't missed a beat.

Don't want to sound too negative, my pros list is much longer than the con list.