Potential Class Action re Thermostats/Water Pumps

[SarahG]

Hi Kevvie, a few months too late, I just made an account to reply here.
Did you have any progress?

I had my water pump fail on my 2018 VW Golf Wagon last year (at 30,000km) this was repaired under warranty. Now recently, at 45,000km my clutch pack has failed due to "coolant from water pump leaking into clutch" quote $3,800 to repair.

The extended warranty Melville VW sold me won't cover this clutch patch because the damage is associated with the water pump failure and considered "subsequent damage"

Basically bought a new car in 2018 to avoid such headaches, yet here I am with two major failures less that 45,000km on the clock 5 years later.

[genebaby]

That's very poor service from the car company that advertised "Expect a little more" in 2020 when I bought a car.

[real_Khz]

I'm on waterpump number three, which has just started leaking after 18 months.
My 2013 Passat has only got 50,000 KMs on it.
I've never had a waterpump fail before, so to have three go on the same car, is unacceptable

[genebaby]

Well, it's four years since my car was built and almost four since I've lovingly owned and taken care of it, and with just 30k on the clock I'm now sure that I'm losing cooling fluid.

Booked into VW next Friday. They acted like I'm the first one over the phone.

[Lucas_R]

Well, it's four years since my car was built and almost four since I've lovingly owned and taken care of it, and with just 30k on the clock I'm now sure that I'm losing cooling fluid.

Booked into VW next Friday. They acted like I'm the first one over the phone.

First one that day perhaps.....my independent mechanic says he does 4-6 a week when I had mine done on my Mk7 GTI.

[genebaby]

I am pretty sure they're going to play dumb and "investigate" the issue, LoL.

I'll be asking for a new water pump.

[minke]

Each service I kept pointing out that the coolant level is low. So this time I've got photographic proof. Going into service in a week. Hopefully not blown off again.

First picture - May 2023 just after the year three service


Second picture - March 2024 12,000km. Jut before the year four service.


Both taken at the same location (same BP station and same pump) and similar enginge temp... i.e after a longish drive

[genebaby]

That's low for a hot engine. Mine is at the min mark now when cold.

[lenny555]

im good to join any class action, i di reach out to a law firm just a couple of days ago to get their feedback.

[genebaby]

Let us know if you hear back.

VW are keen to waste mine and their time it seems. They pressure tested the system and she's all ok according to them, even though it's only recently that the coolant has been escaping, but apparently that's ok with them, and they obviously don't do many of these a week.

This is a real big money earner for VW, and a downer for owners stuck with an obviously not fit for purpose part.

[dArK5HaD0w]

MY17 Skoda Superb here - had the waterpump replaced at an independent mechanic earlier this week.
$1600 to replace waterpump+thermostat (hemu p673 kit), union, new coolant (non-silika) tank, and new G13 coolant.

tis a shame that VWAG have got away all these years with their faulty waterpump design and made us poor customers fork out the bill!!

[kevvie]

I originally started the post around 18 months ago after talking to one of the "no win, no pay" firms, who said they needed about 5-6 people willing to join the action in order to get started. Based on all the contributions to the post I think there is enough people now.

The irony of all this: the first one was replaced under extended warranty after some discussions, but the dealer told me the replacement was not covered under the replacement warranty and VW would not come to the party. So I decided to stretch out the second replacement as long as I could. Now, 18 months later the water level has not dropped one mm, and I suspect that the basis of them saying it needed to be replaced was signs of coolant on the engine (possibly not cleaned after the first replacement) and that the first one had been done by a different dealer so they assumed that it needed doing. Touch wood, I might still have some life left in mine.

[lenny555]

Ive been in touch with multiple law firms and have had no reply even though i have 175 people so far.

[genebaby]

It's definitely still an ongoing problem and completely unfair that owners need to do this multiple times over the vehicle's ownership.

So not fit for purpose.

[lenny555]

Ok a little scuccess i have spoken to a firm who could be interested. They will need to speak to a minimum number of people to validate the claim. So is there anyone here who would be able to have quick chat with them when the time comes?

Thanks