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Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: Devdead on 30 March 2025, 14:43

Title: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Devdead on 30 March 2025, 14:43
I have the "Front Assist availability is limited" error and my dealer said that they have to replace the steering wheel to fix it. I agreed but after the first replacement the issue still remained and on top of that the replacement had noticeably worse leather quality and it rattled.

I pointed that out to the dealer but they kept saying that they need more pictures of the error so that they can replace it again, other than that they couldn't find any issues - at the same time they ignored my complaints about the replacement's quality.

I sent additional pictures of the Front Assist error and after a bunch of emails they agreed to replace it again - again ignoring my complaints about the quality.

After i got it replaced again i noticed a couple of bumps in the leather in the exact same places as on the previous steering wheel + the rattling was still there - which made me suspicious about them even making the change. So I took some pictures to compare with old pictures and they look identical to me

(https://i.postimg.cc/c1hrkC1T/Screenshot-2025-03-29-214247.png) (https://postimg.cc/QVB8HXTW)

I went to another dealer to check the service history and could not see anything registered regarding the latest repair but he said that the system might not be updated yet, so I'mwaiting

what would you do next if you were in my place? If they are indeed lying i don't want to let it go, but at the same time I'm tired and at this point it feels like my car has spent more time at the dealer than with me.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Dav3smith on 30 March 2025, 15:27
Mark the steering wheel with a UV pen, on the reverse preferably, so you have some evidence and photograph before you send it in to be replaced.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: DrivenToDistraction on 30 March 2025, 19:37
I had that error occasionally in my 8.5 but it was fleeting. It was usually when starting out (for first few miles) on very cold mornings and I assumed it was a front sensor clearing as the car warmed up etc. I assume your message is permanent? Changing the steering wheel still seems a bit odd to me, but I assume the dealer is just "following the algorithm".
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Devdead on 30 March 2025, 20:39
I had that error occasionally in my 8.5 but it was fleeting. It was usually when starting out (for first few miles) on very cold mornings and I assumed it was a front sensor clearing as the car warmed up etc. I assume your message is permanent? Changing the steering wheel still seems a bit odd to me, but I assume the dealer is just "following the algorithm".

My errors started around September / October when it's not that cold. But i started noticing the "cold weather = error" pattern during winter as well. The problem is that they replaced my original steering wheel with a shi**ier version of it already + i was getting even more sensor errors than before

So I pushed for another change hoping that I'll get a better quality one + the sensor issues would be fixed. But now it looks like they're lying and at this point i wish i would have kept my original steering wheel. And I don't want to let it go because the car is not cheap and the steering wheel is the one part that you touch all the time.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Devdead on 31 March 2025, 11:26
[UPDATE] - i was not crazy, they admired they did not change it. And came up with a stupid story about a misunderstanding with the warranty department
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Exonian on 31 March 2025, 14:02
What a palaver.
Hopefully they will actually make an attempt to fix the problem and try to restore some confidence.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: ajmoir36 on 31 March 2025, 19:35
[UPDATE] - i was not crazy, they admired they did not change it. And came up with a stupid story about a misunderstanding with the warranty department

That’s disgusting, I would not be going there again. If they lie about that maybe they don’t change the oil either.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Devdead on 31 March 2025, 20:51
[UPDATE] - i was not crazy, they admired they did not change it. And came up with a stupid story about a misunderstanding with the warranty department

That’s disgusting, I would not be going there again. If they lie about that maybe they don’t change the oil either.

Exactly my first thoughts as well! Definitely not going there again. And my plans next would be to warn as many people as I can about this dealer and try and see if i maybe use some ChatGPT / lawyer and scare them into getting me a new steering wheel or at least make them think before trying to do this again with another customer
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Tarmac_Terrorist on 03 April 2025, 13:47
I get the frustration and perhaps the dealer has been a bit lenient with the truth which isn’t right.
However, it’s important to maintain a steady hand and focus on getting your car fixed, rather than revenge, driven by an emotional response.
I would either move on to another dealer, or, ask for a scheduled meeting with someone senior in the dealership and have a reasonable, calm conversation outlining your facts and concern.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Adam T7 on 03 April 2025, 14:27
I get the frustration and perhaps the dealer has been a bit lenient with the truth which isn’t right.
However, it’s important to maintain a steady hand and focus on getting your car fixed, rather than revenge, driven by an emotional response.
I would either move on to another dealer, or, ask for a scheduled meeting with someone senior in the dealership and have a reasonable, calm conversation outlining your facts and concern.

Totally agree, getting the issue fixed is the primary objective. We get the occasional AI letter at work, usually always good for a laugh.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Devdead on 03 April 2025, 16:22
I get the frustration and perhaps the dealer has been a bit lenient with the truth which isn’t right.
However, it’s important to maintain a steady hand and focus on getting your car fixed, rather than revenge, driven by an emotional response.
I would either move on to another dealer, or, ask for a scheduled meeting with someone senior in the dealership and have a reasonable, calm conversation outlining your facts and concern.

I ended up speaking with the dealer who sold me the car who told me to reach out to the main importer of VW. So I reached out to them and they basically tried to brush it off saying that the initial dealer already apologized for the "misunderstanding" and that my request for a second replacement was declined due to "external reasons".

So I asked what were those external reasons and politely pointed out that an apology doesn't fix my issue.

A lawyer suggested to mention that if they cant fix the issue that i would move to withdraw from the purchase contract and basically i give them the car back and they give me my money. Which i don't want to do but he also mentioned that if they cant get it fixed and i end up selling the car in the future that could make me liable for fixing the faults
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: fredgroves on 03 April 2025, 22:04
Main importer? You spoke to vw UK?

If that's right then I'm not surprised. They out and out refused to talk to me when I complained about the state of my brand new mk8.

Worst customer relations I've ever seen and on the most expensive thing I've ever bought other than a house.
Title: Re: I have a feeling my dealer is lying
Post by: Devdead on 04 April 2025, 08:51
Main importer? You spoke to vw UK?

If that's right then I'm not surprised. They out and out refused to talk to me when I complained about the state of my brand new mk8.

Worst customer relations I've ever seen and on the most expensive thing I've ever bought other than a house.

no, I have to confess that I'm not from the UK actually. I live in Prague but was looking for some advice / help and decided to try my luck on this forum

I spoke with Porsche Czech Republic, which is the largest importer of VAG in the country and provided them with all emails between me and the dealer + photos / videos of the defects
they haven't replied so far

I know that companies don't like to handle warranty claims since people tend to abuse them, but this is definitely making me rethink whether I want to be buying VAG in the future

Would have probably been easier to not have warranty altogether and just deal with it with an independent mechanic