Manufacturer warranty due to expire but car isn't running well

Hannahfitz

So the manufacturer warranty is due to expire on my car in November. Everything ran well up until last month when the car wouldn't go over 20mph and several lights came on. The VW group roadside assistance came and changed the throttle valve and problem solved, or so I thought.

Two days ago, I had the same issue and the roadside man said it happened because there was an update to to throttle software since it was issue and it'd sort the problem. I however, remain unsure if it is resolved as I can't see how a software update could cause it to go into limp mode. Obviously, with the warranty due to end I want to protect myself and ensure if this happens again I do not have to pay through the nose as my warranty is expired.

Does anyone know if I have the right to ask the dealer to extend the warranty, to take the car to the dealers garage and have a full check up or as the problem existing prior to the warranty expiring, am I still covered?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks in advance.

tacpot12

You have no right to ask for this. The warranty is for a set lebgth of time. If you have no trouble or lots of trouble the warranty ends when your contract said it would. You would expect to be able to extend your car insurance for free if you had an accident and claimed on it.

jimjames

Why not take it to the garage now? You'll have to pay for the service but any parts could be covered if needed

facade

If there are lights on, can't you just take it to the dealers to find out why?
Then if it is a warranty issue they will fix it.

arcon5

You have every right to ask, worst they can do is say no

flashg67

I'm not sure what taking it to the dealer now, if there's no fault will achieve but it might put your mind at rest that there are no current faults stored, but a check is only relevant on the day you take it in? You're likely to be charged for this though.

It is very possible that a software update could cure this problem. You wouldn't believe what functions are controlled by electronics nowadays

If you've had full dealer servicing, then yo should be able to get the dealer to apply for goodwill from VW after the warranty expires for any further faults - make sure you ask the dealer for this if you do need repairs

chrisw

In my experience, the repair itself is warranted, so any faults which are reported within the original warranty period will have an extended warranty effectively. Check with the dealer and get them to put in writing that you are covered.

Iceweasel

Why not get a VW extended warranty?

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warranty/extended

Mercdriver

If you go to the dealer with a fault before the expiry of the warranty, and that fault is still there after the warranty ends then you are in a strong position regarding that particular fault. I bought a 2010 E class and about 6 months in, it had some juddering - it was intermittent and every time I took it in the symptoms would disappear. No fault codes showed either. This went on on numerous occasions as the 1 year approved warranty came to an end.

I got written confirmation that they would continue exploring the reasons (I did have a video of the rev counter changing on my phone, so time coded) until the fault was found. They changed all the injectors FOC thinking it might have been something to do with that, and finally while they had my car for a week with me driving the Workshop Manager's car, the fault happened while at the workshop and they were able to get a code. Was to do with a sensor in the exhaust area.

While the problem was annoying, I couldn't fault the commitment of the main dealer. My servicing is done with them, so yes it's expensive, but I get full recovery, home start, lost key/key locked in boot (yes, have done that, and AA/RAC/Green Flag can't get into the boot without the key or a Mercedes diagnostic machine.

You can't expect the dealer to extend the warranty for all faults, that's not a reasonable request. You can get the dealer to agree to cover a fault that started while the warranty was in force, but get him to agree to it in writing.

DragonQ

I think the Seat warranty states you're covered as long as you inform them of the defect within the warranty period. VW is likely to have a similar policy since they're all part of VAG.

philbostavros

I had a lot of problems with a Vauxhall Vectra that I had owned from 10 months old (the car - not me!). A couple of problems persisted right up to the 3 year warranty period and I got assurances from the service manager that further issues (of the same problems) would be covered for a reasonable period. Sure enough, only one continued (steering rack problem - changed 3 times already) and VX eventually found a quality issue and the final change cured it.