Vehicle has had a fault from new - what are my rights?

Scrapit

Could have rejected it.

Supersonos

Scrapit said:

Could have rejected it.

I almost did - I contacted the dealer the day I collected the vehicle because Android Auto didn't work at all.  Several weeks of being told it was my phone/cable etc. and they finally agreed to let me come and try other vehicles in the showroom.  Demonstrated it wasn't my phone and they booked it in.  Several weeks after that, they fixed it by re-installing the firmware.

I then discovered this problem just as lockdown hit.  We're now six months on and there's still a fault.  Is this grounds to reject the vehicle (although I'd really rather not as I really like it otherwise).

7 Jan - Collected vehicle, informed of issue
4 March - Vehicle in for repair
9 March - Collected vehicle (yes, 5 days for a software update)
Disovered new issue about a week later, lockdown happened shortly after that, several emails/calls telling me it must be my phone.
22 May - VW finally agree to look at vehicle and agree it's not my phone.

Scrapit

Supersonos said:

Scrapit said:

Could have rejected it.

I almost did - I contacted the dealer the day I collected the vehicle because Android Auto didn't work at all.  Several weeks of being told it was my phone/cable etc. and they finally agreed to let me come and try other vehicles in the showroom.  Demonstrated it wasn't my phone and they booked it in.  Several weeks after that, they fixed it by re-installing the firmware.

I then discovered this problem just as lockdown hit.  We're now six months on and there's still a fault.  Is this grounds to reject the vehicle (although I'd really rather not as I really like it otherwise).

Yes. Youve been sold something on a premise of being able to use it. You cant. That is a extremly simplified version but ive know people reject for the same reason, albeit different marques.

Mercdriver

facade said:

Keep on at VW. Try joining one of the VW forums and posting there, others should have the same problem, and there might be a firmware fix that you can get. Most likely you have something like a Bosch cheap head unit with an expensive VW logo, and there should be dodgy firmware about that fixes the issue.

If you don't want to go that way, in the meantime, don't use Android Auto. Get a stand alone SatNav with traffic info and use that, it will tide you over until VW do something.  .

My car has Android Auto, I think it is about as much use as a bicycle to a fish, but other owners think it is the bees knees. I can't be bothered plugging my 'phone in to use it, this is the 2020s not 1999

There is a considerable difference in quality between plugging the phone in and over bluetooth.  Plugging in does two things keeps charge in the phone and a marked improvement in sound quality.  

AdrianC

No, a minor wrinkle in minor functionality - which can be easily worked around - is not sufficient grounds to reject a car. Especially after nearly five months.

Supersonos

AdrianC said:

No, a minor wrinkle in minor functionality - which can be easily worked around - is not sufficient grounds to reject a car. Especially after nearly five months.

Even though the issue was present when I collected the car?  And there is no work around (unless you mean just not using the function at all).

Supersonos

Mercdriver said:

facade said:

Keep on at VW. Try joining one of the VW forums and posting there, others should have the same problem, and there might be a firmware fix that you can get. Most likely you have something like a Bosch cheap head unit with an expensive VW logo, and there should be dodgy firmware about that fixes the issue.

If you don't want to go that way, in the meantime, don't use Android Auto. Get a stand alone SatNav with traffic info and use that, it will tide you over until VW do something.  .

My car has Android Auto, I think it is about as much use as a bicycle to a fish, but other owners think it is the bees knees. I can't be bothered plugging my 'phone in to use it, this is the 2020s not 1999

There is a considerable difference in quality between plugging the phone in and over bluetooth.  Plugging in does two things keeps charge in the phone and a marked improvement in sound quality.  

Exactly why I didn't spec the £1,200 upgraded nav system with wireless Android Auto, figuring I'll always plug-in my phone anyway to charge and I'd never use the built-in nav.  

facade

That is because we don't know what it is.

To you, the number one greatest feature, which was the only reason you bought the car, is Android Auto working.

So clearly the car is unfit for purpose, and you should hand it back.

It would help if you had communicated clearly that the number one vital feature that the car had to have was working Android auto when you bought it, as VW might be under the impression that this is such a minor point that there is actually nothing wrong with the car, and won't accept it back.

If the car wouldn't start, or kept setting on fire or something it would be obvious what the position is.

What you can't do is force VW to get it to work, if the kid who writes the firmware has left or is furloughed it isn't going to happen.

Supersonos

This problem is still ongoing.  VW UK said to take it to the dealer to have it diagnosed, which I've done.  VW dealer now say they've done everything they can.  VW UK are saying VW dealer hasn't given them all the info.  VW dealer tell me they have.

I now just feel like I'm being batted from one side to the other until they hope I go away.

But I do now know that the upgraded infotainment unit (an optional £1,200 upgrade when picking options for the new vehicle) works fine.

Can I force them to come up with some solution?  Or can they ultimately tell me they're never going to do anything and it's tough luck?   Because if that's the case, they could have told me the car can fly and then when it didn't just say "Ooops, our bad" and keep my money.

Scrapit

AdrianC said:

No, a minor wrinkle in minor functionality - which can be easily worked around - is not sufficient grounds to reject a car. Especially after nearly five months.

I know a ford owner who rejected his focus for a very similar reason. However it took nearly a year.