Menu
Volkswagen

Volkswagen review: damaged goods and no resolution 43

I
Author of the review
5:31 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Good Day.

I have a VW polo 1.6 vehicle which I bought brand new from VW braamfontein in Feb 2011. The vehicle is still under its 3year Manufacturer warranty. My car has overheated and broke down 3 times in a matter of 6 months. On the 1st Incident, I lodged a complaint with the VW customer care centre as well as the dealership, and I was assured the matter was fixed. On the 2nd incident I then escalated the matter to the Desk of the Managing Director Mr. David Powels after which I was once again assured that the matter was resolved. This past Friday Night, my car once again broke downand overheated. The same incident has occurred 3 time now on a new vehicle, with no resolution. These incidents have put my safety at risk and have caused me a high degree of inconvieniance. May I add, that on all 3 occassions, I was denied a courtesy car by the VW dealerships, even though the breakdown was their fault. What disturbs me is that I have had 3 of these incidents already during the 3 year warranty, which means I will be sitting with bigger problems when the warrenty ends. The warranty is ending in 1 year. As a consumer, I either want my car fixed, with a guarantee that it won't happen again, or I want my car replaced or I want VW to take the car back and terminate the payment agreement. I refuse to pay for damaged goods that comes with a high level of stress and inconvieniance.

I am now turning to you in the hope that you will assist me, as I have tried everything in my power with VW south Africa but have failed.

Below is the last letter which I sent to the Desk of the Managing Director of VW SA Mr. David Powels. ([protected]@vwsa.co.za)

To
THE CEO / Managing Director
VW  SOUTH AFRICA
 
15TH FEBRUARY, 2013
 
Dear Mr. Powels
                                      RE ENGINE VIN NO : AAVZZZ6RZBU022201
 
I have just about had it with VW’s lack of competency & lack of after sales service. I have a Polo 1.6 Tiptronic which I bought brand new in February 2011. May I add, that the vehicle is still under it’s 3 year manufacturers warranty and is still under a full maintenance plan.
Last month, my vehicle over heated and broke down leaving me totally stranded. To highlight  that, I was appalled at the level of service rendered by the Rivonia Dealership to which my car was towed to. (I had at logged a complaint for that at the time). My car was kept at Rivonia for 3 days, after which, I was assured that the problem  was ”FINALLY RESOLVED”. This morning while on my way to work, my car overheats and breaks down for the SECOND TIME, leaving me stranded once again ~ a total inconvenience, as I had an urgent meeting this morning to attend. I am the Manager of Woolworths Sandton. The meetings I attend are critical. The worst part is, no one knows why the car is overheating. If this is happening to my car now, within the 3 year Manufacturers warranty, I will simply be left bewildered with bigger problems after  my 3 year term is over. My new car is overheating and breaking down every month.
 
1.   My car that VW has sold to me is clearly defective. A new car cannot overheat every month just after two years of buying it.
2.   I am left inconvenienced & totally stranded in unsafe environments every single time – because of VW
3.   I still continue to pay VW every month without fail, even though the car is sitting for days at YOUR dealerships because of YOUR defective workmanship / manufacturing.
4.   No courtesy car was offered in my instance by any of your dealers. When you ask for one, they immediately say Sorry, they cannot help as they are out of cars. Cannot help? when I am left stranded because of VW? This has now happened on both occasions by Rivonia and Braamfontein.
 
As a consumer, I feel that my CPA rights have been infringed upon, more strongly the following:
 
1.   The Right to quality Service – I have received incompetency, unwilling service from VW south Africa and its dealerships especially while it is the fault of VW’s workmanship.
2.   Right to return goods – As a consumer I am entitled to return unsafe or defective goods, INCLUDING goods that are of inferior quality
 
I am totally disgusted and disappointed at the quality of your products, as well as your after sales service. Never in my life have I experienced such inconvenience. This is the 1st and Last time I purchase a VW car. As a Brand you really need to step back and re-align your focus on two things: Customer and Product.
 
As a consumer, I will be lodging a formal complaint with the Consumer board.
I need my vehicle replaced or a better solution if you have one. I refuse to suffer day in and day out for VW’s negligence. I am sitting with a new car that is totally unreliable.
 
If my grievance’s  are deemed  unfit for your attention – my legal team’s letter will be on Germany’s desk.
 
Yours
Mohamed Saleh

More Volkswagen reviews & complaints

Volkswagen - complaint of service 12
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Volkswagen - receiving mails of award money 17
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Volkswagen - fraud 18
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Volkswagen - vwsa allows their franchisee to break the law 1
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Volkswagen - damaged goods 2
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
43 comments
P
P
PetraP
, US
Mar 28, 2014 10:56 am EDT

I totally agree vw service is going down. I took my car for service 3 March 2014 whereby I fetched my car and was told they did not have 3 parts and I must come back the next week. Very inconveniently as my job is demanding so I took it today 28 March when I had some time. Just to fit airfilter, ponofilter and spark plugs cost me over R2000. Labour for this cost me R975. This is ridiculous as my 1st time I took it cost me R1400 and that is oil change etc. I will never go back to any vw dealer again!

D
D
denver james
, ZA
Aug 15, 2013 5:04 pm EDT

Hi There

Please can you look into the attached query as a matter of urgency and revert with feedback.
I have had nothing but trouble since March 2013 after booking my vehicle in for repairs at Barons Durban
Please find attached pictures of their poor workmanship.
Please note that Volkswagen South Africa have been extremely unhelpful and therefore I have now proceeded to take this matter to my lawyer and the media to expose Volkswagen South Africa and Barons Durban of their poor workmanship, bad customer service, fault findings and damage to customers vehicles instead of repairing it.I had been having endless problems with a rowdy sound coming from the engine area on cold start as well as whilst on idle a sort of irritating knocking sound which was related to the fuel pipe on my Golf 6 TSI.
I was advised by Barons VW Durban that no fault was found on my vehicle and that it was one of the characteristic of a TSI engine.
I then booked my car in at Hooper's Volkswagen in Durban on the 19th of July 2013 for a second opinion and only to find that Barons Durban did not follow proper procedure and that it was not normal for a TSI to sound like that.
Hooper's Volkswagen together with the help of Volkswagen Factory assisted in getting my vehicle repaired and up to standards.
Now my vehicle is out of warranty as of the 19th of July.
Please find attached job cards, letter of apology, Md office letter and also letters from the dealer principal advising no fault was found.
I have also attached the letter from Hooper's Durban advising on the fault findings from Barons Durban and also the work they have conducted.
Who compensates me from March 2013 to date for the inconvenience?
My car was more at the dealership than with me?
Now I get told that I cant even get a master car warranty as compensation?
Shocking and pathetic customer service all round?
Is this how Volkswagen treats their valued clients?

L
L
luisiscool
Livermore, US
Jul 27, 2016 5:36 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Go to a European car specialist which is much more cheaper than a dealership. Or you can go to the dealership or sell your car.