OEM car jack dangerous

[poyta]

I have used my standard jack many times with no issues, but the other day, using it the same way as I always have, it slid under the raised car making the car fall towards me. Luckily, all wheels were still on the car. I am now up for a new side skirt though as the jack ripped straight through that.

Check to see if the jack bent. Like I said earlier my threaded rod actually bent under the weight causing the jack to slip and the car to fall. Luckily there was no damage to the car in my case.
If you can actually show the dealer physical evidence that jack failed structurally then you have grounds to request a new side skirt ( so long as the car is still under warranty??? ) but if there's nothing then I'm sure they will just say you didn't use it right.

[Machine]

I used my OEM Golf R jack 4 times to change each OEM wheel to a track wheel, without incident, but on the fifth occasion, in the exact same location, the car slipped off the jack and trapped it between the car and the garage floor. I used another jack to lift the car and get it out. The jack hasn't worked properly since.
Needless to say, I'm using a proper hydraulic trolley jack now and jack stands, rated well over the weight of the car. Live and learn...

[wai]

If there is an issue with the standard jack, then it needs to be reported.

The jacks must meet the Australian Standard and this sets out load rating, stability, etc.

It is a case of putting the relevant information together and sending it in to the ACCC.

[bazzle]

Ive used mine quite afew times. I ALWAYS chock opp wheel front and back. Car is stable this way. You cant rely on handbrake or park.

Bazzle

[neil]

Quick update.
After reading the manual again lifting up the car again still had no confidence in the jack so sent
an email to VW and was requested to take it to my VW dealer which I was given a loan of another
jack while mine was being looked into, a few days later I was told to come in and collect my jack
which turned out to be a new one, was told the VW rep said to just give me a new one so still
not sure if it was officially faulty.

[wai]

Very hard to lodge a complaint now

[Tom87]

Guys, the jack in the boot is an emergency product designed for very limited use and to get you out of strife with a flat tyre. Nothing more.

If you're using it to change over your wheels for track days etc then you really need to invest in a low profile trolley jack with an adapter cup for your sill pressing.


Jack Pads

And they just so happen to sell jack stand pad adapters so you can use jack stands without damaging the underbody:
Jack Stand Pads

I've seen these products randomly around the place. Ebay and trade tools come to mind.

Very cheap investments when you consider your safety, less damage to your car and how much quicker it is use to a trolley jack.

[Machine]

^ Gee, that didn't look like an ad.

If the emergency jack can't lift the car on a flat, hard, stable surface under relaxed conditions, how is it going to get me out of strife on the side of the road in an emergency? No, it shouldn't be used to change track wheels, but it should be reliable enough to change one wheel, in the pouring rain, on the shoulder of the motorway, with a family of four inside, all wearing their seatbelts. That's an emergency jack. But they don't make those, do they...

[Tom87]

^ Gee, that didn't look like an ad.

If the emergency jack can't lift the car on a flat, hard, stable surface under relaxed conditions, how is it going to get me out of strife on the side of the road in an emergency? No, it shouldn't be used to change track wheels, but it should be reliable enough to change one wheel, in the pouring rain, on the shoulder of the motorway, with a family of four inside, all wearing their seatbelts. That's an emergency jack. But they don't make those, do they...

Really, an ad? I need a new job as a sales guy if that's the case. I just googled for stuff so that those who were otherwise too lazy to do so wouldn't ask for more information.

Having used the stock jack before I am failing to understand how it can be so unreliable during its first few uses. Perhaps some users are not aware they are practically a disposable jack and wear out with repetitive use?

Here's a funny one for you. The current model (200 series) Toyota Landcruiser has a nice bottle jack as standard. It works great unless you need to change a tyre. Unless the vehicle is on a totally flat piece of concrete it does not have enough extension to lift the vehicle up enough to change over to a fully inflated spare. I am lead to believe that you need to carry a block of timber or something to stick underneath it. I've experienced this first hand because I stopped to help a family having difficulty changing their flat. I was as shocked as they were. But I digress...

[cktsi]

Emergency or not it should still work. It sounded like a faulty jack to me.

Glad to hear the OP had it replaced.

I have used them extensively on my mk5 and mk6 golf to rotate tyres and never had issues.

[wai]

Guys, the jack in the boot is an emergency product designed for very limited use and to get you out of strife with a flat tyre. Nothing more.

It should not matter as the jack must meet a mandated standard. If anything, an emergency jack should be capable of being operated in less than perfect conditions as you cannot always determine the circumstances where you are going to have to use it to get you out of strife. The problem now is that with it replaced, there is no way to make a complaint to the regulator.

If the manufacturer says that it should not be used in certain circumstances, then these limitations must be clearly indicated on the jack itself (like ground slope, ground firmness, etc).

[Machine]

Resurrection.

I tried to have my OEM jack replaced under warranty. No deal. It was used once, with wheel chocks, handbrake all the way up, on level ground in controlled conditions. The car slipped as it was being cranked and pinned it to the floor. After releasing it, I tried it again and it wouldn't sit properly on the frame. VW refused to replace it, saying that they have no way of knowing that it was used properly. Cost for an OEM replacement is over $200. I'll just call Roadside if I get a flat.

[tobyobi]

I got a flat in my Mk6, started jacking the car up, just watched the jack twist like a pretzel. Yes, I wasn't on 100% flat ground, but the tyre also didn't fail in a perfect place.

Called Volkswagen Assist, RACQ came out in a Caddy, used the Volkswagen jack, watched the exact same thing happen.

He went back and got a proper jack, had the job done in a few minutes.

[Candyman]

Changed all four wheels on the R today with the OEM jack.

No problems whatsoever.

Was on a slight slope as well.

VW must have supplied the cheap ones with the built on Friday cars ?

[bennjamin]

Changed all four wheels on the R today with the OEM jack.

No problems whatsoever.

Was on a slight slope as well.

VW must have supplied the cheap ones with the built on Friday cars ?

I guess a certain percentile of people just arent that technically minded. Accept it guys - and pay someone else to do it when you cant use something properly. Thats why i pay someone to do my tax lol.