Car/warranty question

Mrs7ones

We purchased a 18month old Skoda from the dealer in April 2023 with 18 months warranty remaining.

In September 2024 the engine warning light came on with s ‘stop/start error’ message and engine misfiring. Turning off the stop/start function solved the misfiring problem and got us home.
We took the car to the dealer who kept it for a week but was unable to find the cause of the problem despite agreeing that the diagnostics had recoded the issue. 

Within 2 weeks on having the car back it happened again. We took the car back to the dealer with just 1 day of the warranty remaining.

My question is - how do we handle this and what are our rights?  I am worried that the dealer won’t be able to find the issue again and we’ll be left with the problem and no warranty remaining. Presumably we have some rights?

Any advice gratefully received.

Aylesbury_Duck

Your warranty rights depend on the terms of the warranty.  What do they say about a pre-existing problem recurring after the warranty has expired?  It may be a case of having registered the fault within warranty, they'll cover it until it's fixed, even if the warranty has expired in the meantime.

Mrs7ones

It’s a bit vague…

What Your Warranty Covers

ŠKODA UK warrants that your vehicle will be free from manufacturing defects. Your warranty covers:

• The repair or replacement* of defective parts according to technical requirements determined by the Manufacturer.

• The repair of any consequential damage to standard components caused by a manufacturing defect.

• The labour costs of removing and installing parts for warranty repairs at any member of the ŠKODA Authorised Network. You may be charged, at the ŠKODA Centre’s discretion, for any extra work caused by modifications to your vehicle, such as removal and refitting of a tow-bar that has been fitted after manufacture.

• Your warranty applies to the base vehicle only. It does not cover any special fittings, conversions or additional bodywork.

Any defect must be reported to a member of the ŠKODA Authorised Network as soon as it is discovered. This must of course be within the warranty period.

Aylesbury_Duck

Mrs7ones said:

It’s a bit vague…

What Your Warranty Covers

ŠKODA UK warrants that your vehicle will be free from manufacturing defects. Your warranty covers:

• The repair or replacement* of defective parts according to technical requirements determined by the Manufacturer.

• The repair of any consequential damage to standard components caused by a manufacturing defect.

• The labour costs of removing and installing parts for warranty repairs at any member of the ŠKODA Authorised Network. You may be charged, at the ŠKODA Centre’s discretion, for any extra work caused by modifications to your vehicle, such as removal and refitting of a tow-bar that has been fitted after manufacture.

• Your warranty applies to the base vehicle only. It does not cover any special fittings, conversions or additional bodywork.

Any defect must be reported to a member of the ŠKODA Authorised Network as soon as it is discovered. This must of course be within the warranty period.

This suggests that if you notify them, it will be covered.  I can't imagine they'd down tools in the middle of a fix at midnight on the day the warranty expires.

The only way to be sure is to ask them.

born_again

Mrs7ones said:

We purchased a 18month old Skoda from the dealer in April 2023 with 18 months warranty remaining.

In September 2024 the engine warning light came on with s ‘stop/start error’ message and engine misfiring. Turning off the stop/start function solved the misfiring problem and got us home.
We took the car to the dealer who kept it for a week but was unable to find the cause of the problem despite agreeing that the diagnostics had recoded the issue. 

Within 2 weeks on having the car back it happened again. We took the car back to the dealer with just 1 day of the warranty remaining.

My question is - how do we handle this and what are our rights?  I am worried that the dealer won’t be able to find the issue again and we’ll be left with the problem and no warranty remaining. Presumably we have some rights?

Any advice gratefully received.

Has the car been serviced in line with Skoda schedule to keep warranty in tact?

Form experience 99% of stop/start issues relate to 12V battery being too low. Given dealer could not find issue despite a error code does not inspire confidence in the dealer. Any others in the area you can go to?

Mr.Generous

born_again said:

Has the car been serviced in line with Skoda schedule to keep warranty in tact?

Form experience 99% of stop/start issues relate to 12V battery being too low. Given dealer could not find issue despite a error code does not inspire confidence in the dealer. Any others in the area you can go to?

My thoughts exactly, battery voltage and condition. A new battery (not cheap though) will solve the problem most of the time. Doubtful battery is covered at 3 years old, I've seen on car forums many users saying no stop start battery lasts that long, although mine have.