Brand New Car Rattles - Warranty Job?

[MK6-Fan]

Basically over the last month now I've noticed that my 2012 VW Golf Match which I have had from brand new (4 months old) has developed a few rattles that sound like they are coming from the centre console.

These rattles only really occur when I go over a 'roughish' bit of road but it is fine when on a smooth road or motorway for example. I always take my time when going over speed bumps so can't help but wonder if that is a cause?

Is this a warranty job or would VW class it as wear & tear?

Thanks in advance. 

[Jimble]

I think that kind of rattle depends on your dealer, i would imagine we've all got this type of rattle tbh and it's most likely down to the weather, ie the plastics being cold which means bigger gaps etc, i know mine rattles like an old bus when it's cold but less so when it's warmed up a bit.

[MK6-Fan]

Thanks for your reply there mate.

The thing is I bought the car from a VW dealer several hundred miles away so don't know how it would work if I were to take it to my local dealer who I obviously did not buy it from?

Would they work on it even though it's not from them?

[Jimble]

If it's covered by the warranty you can take it to any VW dealership, obviously the service you'll get will vary from place to place, for example my door seals were creaking terribly so i took it to my local dealer (who i've bought from before) and because the car was over 6 months old they wouldn't touch it, the supplying dealer however were nothing but helpful, after a test drive by the tech he said thats not right and ordered new inner and outer seals no questions asked!! The only issue is that the supplying dealer is 150 miles away from me but i can stay with my brother so not a HUGE issue.


Best bet is take it to your local dealer and see what they say, they can only say no.

[p3asa]

You might find that they induce more rattles than it went in with.
Rattles are only meant to be covered under warranty until 6 months so you could go anywhere in that period after that its probably at the discretion of the dealer.

[SRGTD]

You might find that they induce more rattles than it went in with.
Rattles are only meant to be covered under warranty until 6 months so you could go anywhere in that period after that its probably at the discretion of the dealer.

^+1. Wouldn't want the dealer ripping the interior of my car apart to cure rattles and squeaks. They might cause more problems than you've asked them to solve, not to mention damage to the interior trim itself.

[mkviken]

i wouldnt let the dealer touch my car to locate rattles - not after the damage they have caused just trying to reverse it off the work lift (twice its been on their ramp, twice its come back damaged)




i had/have issues with rattles and most of which i cured myself by removing the trim and sticking on some felt tape, spraying parts with silicon lube etc or simply refitting the panel correctly.


the worst rattle on my car was the centre console. i found a good few areas it does it in and ways to cure it

apply felt tape to the areas where the arm rest close down onto. the arm rest bounces around a lot.


make sure seat belt bucks arent touching the centre console. this happens if your tall like me and the seat is far back.


the handbrake gater rattles like hell (its a roller blind type thing inside a track which moves up and down with the handbrake. some felt tape on the tracks sorts it right out BUT its a nightmare to access. the whole centre console need to be stripped out to get to it).

to do this you remove the cup holders at the back, remove MDI input, remove screw under front bottle opener/cup holder and pull it out.



my car had this rattle and would come in exactly 3100rpm and go at 3500rpm. very annoying on motorways 

also the handbrake rattles against the centre console when its down (off). some felt tape on the are where the handbrake touches the centre console sorts it.

i did this fix the day after i bought the car brand new.




others i have fixed are;

sunglasses holder/light switch area

drivers and passenger B pilar - put a torn up car wash sponge in there.

back seats rattle. gaffer tape on the hooks then locking the seats back sorts it.

drivers side door trim (main one fixed but the electric mirror switch still rattles as its a separate moulding to window switch and rattles inside it)



still need to fix passenger side floor/door/seat area rattle but its impossible to find as i cant reach it from drivers seat and it stops when someone sits in the seat.

[Snoopy]

^ you want to do mine sometime 

OP If you want the dealer to fix it be aware that the warrenty only covers rattles for so many months

warranty for a period of six months or 6,500 miles (whichever is soonest).

[mike.]

I thought I had found my first rattle in two and a half years of ownership but it turned out I hadn't put the cigarette lighter back after charging my phone 

[Schuey]

My local dealer fixed the rattles on my MK6 within it's manufacturer warranty, they weren't the supplying dealer either.

In fairness the rattles and squeaks were sorted.