VW stealers and the hassle I went through to get a decent tyre

[2007GTI]

I thought I'd post my latest letter to VW:


10th April 2007

Customer Care
Volkswagen UK
Yeomans Drive
Blakelands
Milton Keynes
MK14 5AN

Re: xxxx xxx

Dear xxxxx,

Thank you for your phone call last week regarding my letter dated 29th March.

I am amazed that VW has not properly addressed the fact that this dealer has sold a nearly new car with non matching tyres.  One of the times you phoned me, you said a service person at the dealership said to you on phone, “The car might be dangerous”.  Are you ignoring his comments?  Is the say so of the salesman enough to satisfy VW that my car is now miraculously safe?  I don’t doubt the car is road legal, but the car still does not have four matching tyres.

Do any of VW’s cars leave the factory with non matching tyres?  No they don’t.  So why should a car that has only covered 2800 miles, now have non matching tyres and therefore endanger the occupants with the problems that creates?

Upon checking the VW manual supplied with the car I found the following information:

Booklet 3.2 – Tips and Maintenance / Page 73: New tyres and wheels

Paragraph four: “Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front tyres or both rear tyres together).”

Booklet 3.2 – Tips and Maintenance / Page 74 in a box saying “WARNING”:

“All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.”

As I’m sure you’ll appreciate this is crystal clear, as it categorically states that tyres should be replaced in pairs and have the same tread pattern.  As you know, the two front tyres on xxxx xxx are from different manufacturers and therefore have different tread.

I’d appreciate your response in writing, rather than telephone and I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

[Hurdy]

Good on you!

Nice to see you haven't given up and have done a bit more research for the letter. Keep us informed and best of luck.

[*Dubby*]

Good luck! You'll need it, VW in general are poor at handling any type of complaint 

[2007GTI]

thanks for the support guys.

I got one phone call saying they were going to write to me.

Then another phone call saying they have passed the letter onto the dealer to respond as "I was sold a second hand car".  Not sure why the hell they cant reply, so anyway I'll await the response from the dealer. 

[Cass]

Keep the pressure on. If you don't get total satisfaction, write to What Car or any other decent car consumer mag. I had a long standing problem with the dual mass flywheel on a 13 month old Audi TT import - I won't bore you all rigid with the saga. Eventually, I got it replaced by dealer/manufacturer goodwill, but needed the clout of the motoring media to finally get this result.

Cass

[2007GTI]

Thanks Cass.

We are only talking about £90 tyre here, but its the principle of these muppets fitting the wrong tyre and thinking they can fob me off.

I will fight on! 

[2007GTI]

nearly a month and not a single word back - utter bastards.   

[illyun]

nearly a month and not a single word back - utter fatherless sons.   

I think you mean utter barstewards..

[2007GTI]

yep!

[chatty1234]

I also had a problem with a stealer. In my case also I was not getting any response from the dealer which made a simple problem worse. I contacted Customer Services and daily we had communication till the matter was solved. I would say the dealer does not like complaints and further came to understand each dealer has a dedicated person to discuss any complaint with customer services. Best to keep talking and writing and hopefully someone will give you the service you deserve. Looks to me you have a simple enough case and if the right person gets to hear the story will be solved without any further delay. Good luck and keeping going!