End of dashboard panel, issue?

[K9Pyro]

Hi guys, girl here after some advice please!

I've had a recent issue that I would like some advice about from other owners (as opposed to a VW dealer)

My car, 2025 GTi has just had its first service. Around 3 weeks ago I noticed a slight rattle coming from the left side of the glove box, on exam I could see that  bar that controls the glovebox lowering was broken or had just fallen out. I hardly use the glove box and hadnt noticed any issue with it that could/would have caused this. Whilst looking around I also noticed that the panel at the end of the dashboard (with the passenger airbag on/off switch in in) doesnt fit properly, leaving a small gap (see pics)

When I dropped it for the service I pointed out the issue's to the tech.

When I collected it, they said that the bar was broken and needed to be replaced, that they would get a price for the parts...... at which point I asked why it wouldnt be a warranty repair, the reply was its broken so it wouldnt be a warranty issue, 'do you get many warranty issues with non broken parts' I asked? They didnt get my joke!!!!

We went back and forth about it, them saying we arent saying you broke it but its broken and isnt covered by warranty, absolutely zero consideration to it being a falty part or incorrect fitment, just, we wont pay!

They also said that the other panel woukd also need to be replaced. I askled if iot was it broken as I thought it just seemed to not fit the hole, as maybe the dashboard was slightly out of alignment which maybe had caused the glovebox damage, oh no, not possible they said. So basically replace it (at my expense) and see if that sorts the issue.

So I have today, popped that panel off and have confirmed its NOT damaged,all 6 clips are presnt and undamaged, so why doesnt it fit. The more I looked at it the more I now think its the small slim panel next to the gap which is slightly misaligned. The panel doesnt have any clips in that area to secure it to anything and the metal bracket underneath doesnt have anything on it to stop that panel from pushing in to make the gap.

From my pictures can any of you tell if anything lokks missing or broken? Or could anyone have a look at their own car to see what it looks like in comparison?

Im going back to the garage next Tuesday (10th Feb) to do battle again.

Any help or advice would be great 

Fanks 

[Rudedog]

Was the pollen filter changed at the service because they would have had to drop the glove-box to do that and it's easy not to line up the arm into the slider when you put it back.

The panel doesn't look right - on my 7.5 I've put anti-rattle tape on both of the panels to stop them buzzing.

[K9Pyro]

No, it was it’s very first service, so just oil & oil filter plus ‘health check’ whatever that means 

[The WolfMan]

From what I understand, dealers can't order replacement parts and replace them as warranty as they please. If the warranty is refused, the dealer pays the part.

For example, a headlight. The IQ Lights for the GTI are made by Valeo. There is a defect. I think that the dealer takes photos and reports the situation to the importer of the market in question. I assume that they escalate the problem to Volkswagen AG and if they accept that there is a problem, the dealer receives the green light to replace the headlight.

The customer doesn't pay for the warranty jobs, but I think that the importer pays to the dealer and Volkswagen AG pays to the importer.

If you go to a dealer, the amount of labour that you pay for each task is determined by VW. Dealers will receive only that hours and the value is not what the charge customers, is lower. If a warranty job takes two days to diagnose, those two days will not be payed to the dealer.

To finish the example in the end the defective headlight goes back to Valeo and they will pay to Volkswagen AG.

In your case I would suggest you to talk to show that seen on the photos to your dealer and ask them to report the situation to the importer, in your case Volkswagen Group UK. A warranty only covers defects. If a customer breaks something, the warranty doesn't cover that. But they need to proof that you did that.

For example, a clutch. Discoloration/heat marks in the flywheel are signs of improper use by the driver. But a clutch can in fact have a problem and the warranty must cover that.