A question regarding warranties...

blunther

Hello,

My VW, less than two years old, won't start this morning. Still under warranty, so I assumed tha I could get it looked at. However, VW won't collect the car, I have to get it there at my own expense. I have bnreakdown cover, but not home start, as I assumed that in this case the warranty would cover me. Am I wrong? If so, fair enough - I was just wondering if all manufacturer's warranties are like this, or just VW's? Seems unfair that if it's a manufacturing fault, it could cost me hundreds to get it looked at under warranty...

Thanks!

tykesi

I'm pretty sure you're wrong but asking a bunch of strangers on the net surely isn't as good as reading the warranty booklet/T&Cs to get the 100% correct answer?

blunther

Thanks - don't have the book to hand as I'm not at home, otherwise I would, but I was thinking a bunch of strangers on the net might have various experiences of similar situations which might give me food for thought. Kind of the idea of a forum

AdrianC

blunther wrote: »

Am I wrong? If so, fair enough - I was just wondering if all manufacturer's warranties are like this, or just VW's?

All warranties, I would say. It's why VW - and other manufacturers - provide roadside assistance for a period of time (usually a year) on new cars, in addition to the warranty.

...if it's a manufacturing fault...

Big if.

Car_Complaints

Hi

Ring up VW (Customer Service) tell them the situation, also tell them that you have been told the recovery is down to you, explain to them that when you get the car recovered to the dealer and the fault is a warranty issue then you will be taking steps to recover that loss.

I personally thought the roadside assist stayed the term of the warranty, but they change their policies on a daily basis so could of changed, Customer Care will help you alot better on this one.

motorguy

Car_Complaints wrote: »

I personally thought the roadside assist stayed the term of the warranty, but they change their policies on a daily basis so could of changed, Customer Care will help you alot better on this one.

That was my thinking too - i've a Oct 12 Golf and i'm near sure the roadside assist was for the three years.

AdrianC

motorguy wrote: »

That was my thinking too - i've a Oct 12 Golf and i'm near sure the roadside assist was for the three years.

Unless it's been reduced since then, VW are currently saying 1yr for all except Phaeton/Touareg (3yr)
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/buying-guide/roadside-assistance

neilmcl

I was also under the impression that the roadside assistance was available throughout the life of the warranty, what a bunch of misers now limiting it to the first year.

Car_Complaints

Personally I think the Franchised Dealer is trying a fast one, it would be a minefield for VW if they give a warranty for x amount of years and 1 year roadside assist, they will be claims coming out of their ears

Is their anything in your book pack, should have all the roadside assist details in their...give them a bell and ignore the FD

blunther

Thanks for the help guys - I seem to recall Roadside assistance being just a year when I bought it. I assumed (I know, !!! out of you and me and all that) that if a manufacturing fault (indeed, a big if!) did occur, they'd take a look at it. My first new car so my own fault I guess. Seems mad though that if you start the car up in the morning and the engine catches fire, the gear level falls off and it's flashing lights like a disco, then I'd still have to get it to the dealer to have it fixed. One to look out for for the future I guess. I'll certainly try a bit of a moan tomorrow after I've checked it over a bit. Can also tell them quite truthfully that how it's dealt with would affect whether I chop it in for a new VW next year or look elsewhere, for someone that might provide roadside assistance for the life of the warranty!

AdrianC

Car_Complaints wrote: »

Personally I think the Franchised Dealer is trying a fast one, it would be a minefield for VW if they give a warranty for x amount of years and 1 year roadside assist, they will be claims coming out of their ears

Outside the first year, what percentage of roadside assistance calls would you suppose arise from warranty-claimable manufacturing defects...?

I'd hazard a guess that it's way less than a quarter. Single digits wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.