Bent Jack - warranty issue?

[poyta]

Recently while changing the wheels in the car my factory jack broke - the threaded shaft that runs in the centre all of a sudden developed a bend in it. The jack was installed correctly and on a level flat surface in the garage so I assume its a parts failure of some kind. I took it to the dealer and requested it to be replaced under warranty ( since the car is just under 3 years old ) but they said it was a bit of "grey area" and they weren't sure if it would be covered. Apparently only the warranties manager can let me know and he's on holidays at the moment so I need to wait till he returns in October before I can find out. First of all I'm surprised there isn't anyone available to do his job while he's on leave and second , why the hell wouldn't it be covered under warranty?

[Idle]

If it's the same one that comes with the Mk 6, I'll be surprised if they cover it — it's about the second crappiest I've seen.

Besides, a replacement will probably do the same thing.

Worst came with a TR2 roadster in 1954, it bent the first time it was used (fortunately, at home and I had a hydraulic jack in the garage.)

The dealer just said "stiff luck" or words to that effect. I don't suppose things have changed all that much.

[The_Hawk]

I'd like to think that a factory part would be covered under a factory warranty. If they try to say it's not covered at all I would kick up a stink. That said, they could claim inpropper use or something along those lines in which case it's a bit of he said she said and it's anyone's guess what would happen.

While it shouldn't matter, if your a loyal customer and always have your vehicle serviced at the dealer they tend to be nicer and it's a card you can play ie "your paying a premium to go to the dealer for their superior knowledge and experience as well as to ensure your car is properly maintained and that all things are covered under your warranty"...

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[satz]

you could threaten to sue them claiming that you were nearly injured by the damaged jack!

(if they don't replace it under warranty, that is)

[gerhard]

you could threaten to sue them claiming that you were nearly injured by the damaged jack!

(if they don't replace it under warranty, that is)

Yeah, it's always good to lie about something like that. Not.

The Jack is a POS anyway, why would you want another of the same.

Buy a nifty little electric scissor jack and fit it into the space and you can save several hours of arguing over a worthless item, and have a real solution.

[macdoc]

If its a component failure of a device that has potential to cause injury, it should be a possible 'recall' item. VW should be knocking down your door to get hold of it and carry out investigations. ACCC recalls dept may be interested but VW is where you should start.
Macdoc.

[tinto]

Mine failed a few months ago, the threaded shaft bent and car dropped to the floor.
Fortunately I hadn't loosened anything on the wheels too much.

Warranty should cover it. My dealer isn't in a huge rush to get one to me though.
I have a trolley jack to use in the meantime so haven't been riding them for a new widowmaker.

[OilBurna]

the jack is downright dangerous with the current design mine slipped off the underneath of the car and my hand was trapped under the wheel. For a premium vehicle it looks like it came from the $2 shop my wife's bottom of the range A160's jack looks like it cost ten times as much and is much safer and easier to use. Having said that a trolley jack is a wise investment if you are changing the wheels regularly. I'd hate to have to use it by the side of the road. If no joy with the dealer call VW, that is crap service afaik, how much would the jack cost as a spare part vs losing a customer.

[poyta]

If no joy with the dealer call VW, that is crap service afaik, how much would the jack cost as a spare part vs losing a customer.

Dont worry I intend to put up a major fight if they refuse. I'll play nice for now and wait for the manager to return from his holidays and see what he says. I dont care how crap or cheap the factory part is, the fact is that I paid for it when I bought the car and its covered under the warranty - if it fails they need to replace it. It shouldn't be up to me to go and buy a better one. Maybe when they need to replace a couple of hundred of them under warranty or are faced with a lawsuit because someone gets hurt then they'll install decent ones from factory.

[Transporter]

Maybe they have a few jacks that are faulty and you were less lucky than some of us.

I used the factory jack several times to jack up the car when rotating tyres and honestly, can't fault it.
How ever when my daughter took the Golf to Hobart for 9 weeks, I put different jack in the car, together with set of wheel chocks and full size spare, just in case she would have to replace flat tyre on her own.

By the way, do you realize that your car is now not roadworthy, since you are not able to replace flat tyre, if the car would be out of warranty (out of VW Roadside Assist) you might as well leave the spare tyre at home.

I believe that VW will give you a new one, unless the jack is twisted and they suspect that you were jacking up the car on the incline.
My experience when dealing with Solitaire Automotive was always good, and boy I can get grumpy sometimes.

Good luck!

[Maverick]

If its a component failure of a device that has potential to cause injury, it should be a possible 'recall' item.

The jack is used worldwide, across many models and over many years and whilst it's not the best designed jack it does what it's supposed to do well (which is change the tyre in an emergency).

The jack has very specific warnings about it's use and is safe to use if these are followed.

VW should be knocking down your door to get hold of it and carry out investigations. ACCC recalls dept may be interested but VW is where you should start.
Macdoc.

ACCC recalls department? What is this? And VW should be knocking down his door why?

[MultiplexMan]

ACCC recalls department? What is this? And VW should be knocking down his door why?

Recalls

[Maverick]

Recalls

It was a rhetorical question, contacting the ACCC will do nothing to initiate a recall and they certainly won't be interested in hearing a story about a car jack.

[Maverick]

the jack is downright dangerous with the current design mine slipped off the underneath of the car and my hand was trapped under the wheel.

The only way for the jack to slip from the car is if it's being used incorrectly. There are four jacking points on the car and if not used the jack can slip (clearly spelt out in the manual). As for the hand being under the wheel this is just common sense, you should never place any part of your body under a car that is only supported by a jack, unless it has multiple stands or other _suitable_ device.

For a premium vehicle it looks like it came from the $2 shop my wife's bottom of the range A160's jack looks like it cost ten times as much and is much safer and easier to use.

Premium vehicle? Not sure what car you have nor why a premium vehicle should have a better jack but the widowmaker works fine when the instructions are followed.

[macdoc]

It was a rhetorical question, contacting the ACCC will do nothing to initiate a recall and they certainly won't be interested in hearing a story about a car jack.

If the ACCC recalls department get numerous reports of an item that fails with the possibility of injury or death they will eventually investigate. Not accidental issues but if the jack shaft broke and its not an isolated case. I don't know what the trigger point of failures it takes to start an investigation.
As for Volkswagen, if there getting numerous reports of jack failures, they should initiate there own investigation, before they're forced by a department like the ACCC.
Macdoc