Stuart's Volkswagen Golf Mk 5/V Forum

Hi Stuart,

Firstly thanks so much for the brilliant advice and aocunt of problems with the Mark 5 Golf.

I bought a used on (2005) last year opening all my ppi refund on it as I had a bad experience oath a 5 grand citroen which fell apart and head gasket repair failed but no one would entertain my complaint.

So, I bough a golf. Within th year (I know its 10 years old but still) the seller was fantastic (a local dealer) but the car soon developed "design faults" I have both the shredding of the tailgate lights as well as the rust issue now development. I ordered a lock but the replacement still didn't work until then I found you and discovered the underlying problem.

I wrote to the Head Honcho in Germany after having an appalling experience at VW Leeds where they wouldn't let me return the replacement lock - which was unused and still in the box as it was "electrical" - this was the same day I returned hundreds of pounds worth of lighting to Manfrotto in Italy (I am a photographer and video maker) with no quibbles whatsoever and a 40% discount on future sales by way of apology!

I received today a response from VW UK who won't entertain either refunding the lock or addressing the rust (I have a 13 year anti-corrosion warranty - it says on the documents!) or the shredded wires on the tail gate - which I have fixed myself temporarily by spending two hours wrapping each individual wire in insulation tape with a magnifying glass and adding a plastic connector to one wire which was completely severed.

Any advice? Class action law suit? Its a fob off.

Hi Garry,

Thanks for your kind words about my website.

Sorry to hear about the problems you are having with your Golf Mk 5 and Volkswagen UK.

I am also sorry to hear that VW Leeds would not refund (or at least give you a credit note) for the door lock you returned. However, they may be within their rights to do so but it does sounds like poor customer service. Maybe you could resell it and try to get some of your money back?

Your car's bodywork is still covered by VW's warranty. However, it only covers certain types of corrosion and only if the corrosion is due to a manufacturing defect. Did VW UK explain why your car's rust was not covered under warranty? Have they inspected it?

As far as I know, VW have never admitted that the wires snapping in the tailgate is a design fault. However so many cars have had the exact same problem it cannot reasonably be expected to have been caused by anyone other than VW themselves at the point of manufacture. However, when this problem occurs the car is usually way outside of warranty and VW just refuse to help. I was only able to get a 50% contribution towards the cost of my car's repair from my local VW dealer by being persistent and a long-time customer. If this problem was occurring in 4 year old Golf's then I think VW may have taken a different stance but with our older cars, I don't think there is much we can do.

Stuart

Hey Stuart,

I appreciate your response. I haven't taken it to the main dealer yet. The rust and tailgate issue was a fob of from head of VW UK.

I will let them have a look and if they won't repair the rust I will buy some new wings, have them fitted and bill them for the parts my time (£250 a day as a self-employed person) and my local garage. Which tell me that failure to hour a warrenty is breach of contract.

The boot lock will come in useful as these also go (as did the brake sensor and the turbo pipes all of which I replaced - the turbo pipes was honoured by an AA warranty.

I think this is modern business now. No customer car. I thought buying German would be amazing service. I own two Leica cameras (35 years old!) when the lug strap snapped and the lens went out of alignment they simply fixed it FREE of charge (there's no warrenty). It seems some businesses want to keep their customers, whilst some dont' give a shit. Its short term.

I have no idea why an electrical part is 'non-returnable' in cars when I have returned hard drives, computers etc to Apple and like I said lighting to Manfrotto and not only do they refund they send a courier round the next day to pick it up - all free!

I'll let you know how it goes if you want to post on Website. Its all 'leverage'.

Keep up the good work.

G

I think you are right, this is modern business nowadays. There are statutory buyer's rights, then warranties and then some businesses choose to go over and above. Alas, VW isn't one of them.

Stuart