Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

I am living in New Zealand. A few weeks ago, my VW Tiguan broke down in the car park of Countdown supermarket. I called the Roadside Assist and told them about my situation. The technician told me that my car must be towed back to the garage for repair. You might think that my above experience is nothing special. But what is shocking is that this is the sixth time my car needs repairs in the past four years. The car was really good at first. But from the middle of the first year, problem started. The faults are rear windscreen wiper, a key, reversing camera, car computer, rear LED light and engine malfunction. My car is the latest model at year 2017, and only travelled 22K at this moment. Fortunately, all repair costs are covered by 5-year warranty (I paid the cost of last two year extension). But now, I am worrying about what will happen in the 6th and 7th year after the five-year warranty expires.

I complained to Volkswagen New Zealand about the quality and reliability of the car. Their answers made me even more angry. They basically told me that all malfunctions have been repaired within the warranty period. Therefore, they are not responsible for any losses caused to customers due to poor car quality. In the past 4 years, I have not only lost time to send the car for repair. I also lost many days of using the car and had to bear the travelling cost because they didn't provide courtesy car. And even have to endure mental pressure. So is it too demanding for problem free when buying a new car?

Talking about follow-up developments. After I tried to complaint to VW Europe and Australia thru e-mail. The customer manager Carolina Zalazar of VW NZ contacted me again and gave me a meaningless offer, which is two years Roadside Assist and $200 voucher for next service, instead of two years of warranty. Should she know what I am worrying is the maintenance cost?

I asked them to buy back or trade in my car at the current market price. She forwarded the case to the car dealer Tristram European, and asked me to contact the dealer directly. But the dealer rejected me because VW NZ will not compensate them anything.

Eventually, I received a deal seems to reply in good faith.

“You will need to advise the dealer if you are interested in a new Tiguan or which model and then we can organise a special price for a new vehicle if that was the case.”

Try it, I pick three models and see what the price is.

1. Golf 8
2. T-Roc
3. T-Cross R Type

Received a call from Tristram European for following price.

1. Golf 8, New model, no discount
2. T-Roc，No car can offer you
3. T-Cross R Type，Only this model can less $1500 from $45,500 RRP.

Is it a ridiculous special price?

Before Tiguan, I had owned a Toyota Highlander for 7 years. I just need to perform regular services and the car never has a problem. So if a brand new VW car needs to be returned for six repairs in four years, is the quality acceptable? Can I say VW sold me a defective car? Is it reasonable if I ask VW to buy my car back at current market price, or at least extend warranty period two years, rather than meaningless Roadside Assist?

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

Lost interest half way though
try a motoring forum I'm sure they will have lots of helpful information.

My advice. sell it and find something else

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

I agree.

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

Consult a solicitor, preferably one that specialises in consumer law cases.

It sounds like I'd not want to own the car out of warranty however. Toyota/Lexus have a reputation for building reliable cars.

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

Go to your Toyota dealer, I am sure they will be happy to sell you a car and take your vehicle as a trade in at the current market price,

There are lemon laws, and I assume NZ has one but never heard of one applying to a 4 year old car.

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

Thank you all comments and suggestions.
VW slogan says,

Quality Assurance

We ensure that love is in the detail and not the devil!

There is no compromise for us when it comes to quality. That’s because we are only truly satisfied when our customers are. The standard of quality therefore has to exceed expectations. Right down to the last detail.


What they say and do are two different things

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

I also suggest you just get rid of it the best way you can and buy Toyota. We’ve had Toyotas for the padt 14 years, and never ever had any problems. We get them serviced every 10000km and that’s it. Before that, we had Audis (VW) for many years, and whilst we never had any major problems, there were niggly things that meanr taking them in for a day etc.

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

​​​​​If VW was willing to lie to regulators about emissions I'm pretty sure lying to customers about quality wouldn't be much of a stretch. As others have said I'd just buy a Toyota Group car (Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu brands.) Toyotas reputation for reliability has been earned over many years which is why you see many old ones with more miles than the starship enterprise still in daily use, they just work and keep working.

Re: Is the quality of this car acceptable?
 

This, VW must be one of the most immoral car companies out there - not sure why anyone gives them any business tbh, had one once (before the fuel emission scam they ran), one of the most unreliable cars I have ever owned, I don't subscribe to their hype.

Agree with the above, sell and move brands...