Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues

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Mon 9 Jun 2014 21:43
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Hi all,

New user here - but long time reader, so please take it easy on me!

A couple of things that I'm needing advice on if anyone could please help:

Basically I brought a car from Availablecar in October 2013. The car (1.4 Scirocco TSI 10 plate, 40,000 miles clocked) went to VW about three weeks back (7 months after purchase) due to the engine making unusual noises, the report came back as one of the cylinders having severely low compression which will result in a piston replacement + cylinder head refurbishment. Directly through VW this is going to cost a whopping £3000+ (although can go up to a new engine needing to be installed completely, so in theory could be at least double that) or (after taking it for a second opinion elsewhere) through an independent garage for around £1500!

My first question is do you think Availablecar have anything to answer for here? Stuff like this doesn't happen over night, it builds up over months/years. This is also a common fault with this 1.4 petrol VW engine after further investigation on the internet (can provide numerous links to VW Scirocco 1.4 owners having the same issue on various VW forums on the internet), although VW have never (wrongly) issued a recall on them.

This link:
www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/..._is_faulty.htm

States anything after 6 months of purchase I will need to provide evidence etc to help any claim I may make.

Anyone had problems like this? Do I have a hope in hell going back to the dealership?

My second question is regarding my 'warranty' company of which I am paying £729 over 5 years for 3 years cover, the company - Mapfre Abraxas, are they trying to pull a fast one? They're trying to claim it's 'general wear and tear', but I strongly disagree as how can piston failure on a car 4 years old with only 40k on the clock be acceptable in terms of wear and tear? Especially when it's such a common fault with this particular engine.

I can provide much more info needed and will answer any questions anyone has.

Any help is, as always, greatly appreciated. This could turn out to be the biggest and most costly mistake of my life so far, so any help is priceless to me. But oh well... we live and we learn... I blame being young!

Cheers guys.
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Mon 9 Jun 2014 22:03
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - RobJP

First off ... did you happen to pay by credit card for some of the purchase ? If so, then the card issuer might have some liability to you under S.75 - but I'll freely admit that I don't really know to what extent.

Failing which, the warranty company ... they WILL be part of an ombudsman schemeand they WILL have an appeals process, so get in writing their reasons for rejecting a claim, and go through the appeals process. Make it very clear that if it goes to deadlock, then you will be going to the ombudsman. You may well find that they fold rather rapidly when they realise that you're not just going to go away. BUT ... you have to go through the appeals process first, and ensure you've jumped through all the hoops. Basically, if it did go as far as the ombudsman stage, you'd be able to say just what you have said here - that 40k is not 'wear and tear' and an engine should last considerably longer than that. I don't see a chance in hell that they would let it go that far though.

Finally, don't mention, to the warranty Co. that you've found that this is a common fault. If you have mentioned it in the past, don't mention it again. They should have priced in additional risk for this engine into their premium. Their failure to do so is not your fault, but don't go giving them levers that they can attempt to pull to get a reduction in their costs.

Finally, if you get a NEW engine, then you may well be making a contribution as part of 'betterment' - but all that should be down in your warranty documents.

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Mon 9 Jun 2014 22:10
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - daveyK_UK

Focus on the warranty provider.

And don't buy unreliable VW junk, if you want a manufacturer who stands by their products buy a Toyota, Honda or Lexus.

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Mon 9 Jun 2014 22:13
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - RobJP

Focus on the warranty provider.

And don't buy unreliable VW junk, if you want a manufacturer who stands by their products buy a Toyota, Honda or Lexus.

For crying out loud.

Do the Japanese marque ... donkey lickers .. (replace donkey with a 3 letter word, starts with A, ends with SS) ... have to hijack every single thread on here ?

AVANT, could you explain to some people that their sycophantic worship of some marques isn't appropriate ALL the time

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Mon 9 Jun 2014 22:15
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Uh... what just happened?
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Mon 9 Jun 2014 22:19
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - daveyK_UK

I pointed out that Toyota, Honda and Lexus stand by there products way beyond the warranty where the likes of VW ignore common major faults and try to cover them up.

Your common 1.4 cylinder failure is one of a long list of VW group engineering Calamity's which they have never owned up to.

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Mon 9 Jun 2014 22:17
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Thanks for your response mate. I may have mentioned that in the past in anger when they were fobbing me off, but won't mention it again.

The garage I have took it to are really good and understanding of the situation, which is good.

What a horrible mess.

Assuming it'd be better for them to change all pistons instead of just one to stop any after effects in the future?

PS the car is on finance with blackhorse, could get them involved if it gets that far? Surely they won't be happy effectively owning a car that isn't fit for purpose... or they may just not be bothered as long as I pay my monthlies.

Edited by SWolves on 09/06/2014 at 22:19

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Tue 10 Jun 2014 01:37
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - Avant

When someone is in need of help or advice, or even sympathy, it really isn't helpful to tell them that they should have bought another make of car. If you have nothing helpful to say, please keep your thoughts to yourself until you find a 'what car shall I buy?' thread, when that sort of advice will of course be helpful.

For the record, six of my last seven cars have been from the VW Group, and all have been reliable. As were my daughter's four Toyota Yarises.

Edited by Avant on 10/06/2014 at 01:38

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Tue 10 Jun 2014 07:58
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Thanks mate
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Tue 10 Jun 2014 10:25
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - skidpan

For the record, six of my last seven cars have been from the VW Group, and all have been reliable. As were my daughter's four Toyota Yarises

None of my last 7 cars has been a Toyota, Honda or Lexus. Lexus is not the type of car I buy, very nearly bought a Honda on 2 occations, dealers were good to deal with but each time the car in question (Civic both times) has fallen slightly short of that offered by another brand and even though I have looked at Toyotas on 2 occations the attitude of the local lying, deceiptful dealers (all 3 of them - at least they were consistent) has mean't there is no way I would give them any of my hard earned cash.

Out of those 7 cars 4 have been VW group products, 2 Golfs, 1 Polo and currently a Seat Leon. All have been totally dependable and other than a single run in with the body shop director (he eventually agreed he was wrong) the dealers have been fine.

With regards to your 1.4 TSI it is well known that the higher powered twin charged engines had major issues, VAG do not use this engine now as far as I am aware having replaced it with a brand new unit.

Ignoring the above for the warranty company to say its wear and tear when only one cylinder is affected is beyond belief. If all the cylinders were affected and the car had done a high mileage I would agree with them but at 40,000 miles and only one cylinder down its a simple failure.

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Wed 11 Jun 2014 13:16
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SteveLee
This could turn out to be the biggest and most costly mistake of my life so far, so any help is priceless to me. But oh well... we live and we learn... I blame being young! Cheers guys.

Don't blame being young - consider yourself a victim of the endless propaganda about VAG reliability and German quality - you were conned.

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Wed 11 Jun 2014 13:20
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - Snakey
This could turn out to be the biggest and most costly mistake of my life so far, so any help is priceless to me. But oh well... we live and we learn... I blame being young! Cheers guys.

Don't blame being young - consider yourself a victim of the endless propaganda about VAG reliability and German quality - you were conned.

In the same vein, don't fall for the toyota propaganda either! Especially on here.

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Wed 11 Jun 2014 13:45
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - skidpan

consider yourself a victim of the endless propaganda about VAG reliability and German quality - you were conned.

Have you read the latest JD Power survey.

Not a single Honda or Toyota in the top 10 and only a single Lexus.

1 - Volkswagen Up

2 - Volkswagen Golf Plus

3 - Skoda Yeti

4 - Mercedes-Benz C-Class

5 - Volkswagen Scirocco

6 - Volkswagen Tiguan

7 = Lexus CT200h

7 = Skoda Octavia

7 = Volvo V70/XC70

10 - Jaguar XF

6 of the cars are VAG prducts and 4 of those are VW's. Of the remaining 4 only 1 is Japanese.

What has happened to the almost god like reputation of those Japanese brands all the VAG haters preach on here.

Have all the satisfied VAG product owners been conned?

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Wed 11 Jun 2014 15:11
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - madf

2014 manufacturer top 10

1. Jaguar

1=. Lexus

3. Mercedes-Benz

4. Skoda

5. Volkswagen

6. Honda

7. Volvo

8. Toyota

9. Kia

9=. Mazda

tinyurl.com/p2wbbwy

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Wed 11 Jun 2014 15:33
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - RobJP

Erm ... ladies (and gentlemen) .. Avant has already given his viewpoint on here, which was to say this :

When someone is in need of help or advice, or even sympathy, it really isn't helpful to tell them that they should have bought another make of car. If you have nothing helpful to say, please keep your thoughts to yourself until you find a 'what car shall I buy?' thread, when that sort of advice will of course be helpful.

Might I suggest that people follow that advice ? If you want to praise a brand or pan one, then feel free to create a thread doing so.

But hijacking someone else's thread just looks like ignorance and rudeness. And I'm sure none of you are, or would appear to be either of those.

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Wed 11 Jun 2014 20:58
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SteveLee

consider yourself a victim of the endless propaganda about VAG reliability and German quality - you were conned.

Have you read the latest JD Power survey.

Not a single Honda or Toyota in the top 10 and only a single Lexus.

I could post a list of common catastrophic design faults with at least four different VAG engines - could you do the same for Honda or Toyota? One or two perhaps but VAG make a habit of it. Many people after spending their hard earned won’t admit to their mistake. Every time I saw my uncle he was driving a courtesy car as his (admittedly not VAG) A-class was in the dealers – yet again; Would he admit he bought a lemon? "best car I've ever had" is all he'd say. My friend’s (then) 12 month old Audi A4 seized on the outside lane of the M4 with an oil pump failure (common fault) he won’t hear a bad word said against it – nor did the month it was off the road when it was just six months old while the dealers were waiting for replacement injectors when they packed up dent his pro-VAG view of the world. Read HJ’s view of the previous generation Passat! What a dog!

JD Powers is a smugness survey (how they feel about their car) - not an indicator of reliability.

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Thu 12 Jun 2014 00:00
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Coincidentally that also happened to my dads a4 on the way to the passport office in Liverpool.......
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Thu 12 Jun 2014 00:57
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - daveyK_UK

JD power survey is meaningless

Has the OP gone back to the financial company?

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Thu 12 Jun 2014 15:16
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SteveLee
Coincidentally that also happened to my dads a4 on the way to the passport office in Liverpool.......

And yet the service tech will keep up the facade, gasping at your dad's "bad luck" muttering how reliable VWs and Audis usually are (even though it's the sixth dead A4/Passat/whatever towed in that month) your Dad will walk away thinking he's been very unlucky to suffer what is a common failure due to p***-poor VAG design - which would be front-page news (and common knowledge) if it was a Rover.

Anyhow good luck with your claim - hope it turns out well.

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Thu 12 Jun 2014 18:35
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
I have now spoke to Availablecar (worth a try)

They aren't interested in the car or the sales of goods act but will take a look at the car and offer me a further opinion on its problems... but they didn't hint at any financial help.

Argh.
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Sat 21 Jun 2014 23:21
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Quick update.

Had the car back, fell in love with it all over again albeit £1800 worse off (paid by credit card as warranty were being a-holes). Driving beautifully.

But it must go. Preferably stick with the Scirocco but just the 2.0ltr diesel.

Monday: start the argument with the warranty co. This should be fun... financial ombudsman may be getting a swift phone call.

Also have a complaint pending via my finance company against Availablecar. Hopefully they will come to an agreement for me to give the car back.

All this whilst we are buying our first house. I don't need this stress!

Wish me luck!

Edited by SWolves on 21/06/2014 at 23:22

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Sun 22 Jun 2014 00:51
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - Avant

We do indeed wish you luck. Do please keep us posted as to how you get on.

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Thu 26 Jun 2014 19:38
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Hi all, have an update for you

Since had the car back (25 days after being without it) driving like a dream.

Fully fixed, total bill was £1950 inc VAT. £1350 of which MAPFRE, the warranty company, have agreed to pay.

I'm happy they've committed in writing via email to me for paying this amount, but I am not going to let it go. I will still be £600 out of pocket and I don't see how this fair.

I've asked them for their explanation & where it falls within their TCs, and if they have an appeals process.

In other news the finance company are still investigating Availablecar, who are saying they offered for me to go and have a their mechanics look at it when I specifically told them on the phone the phone that it's engine was in pieces in the garage being worked on so it was impossible. So let's see where that goes, hopefully they have the car back and I can trade it in.

Getting there, slowly.

Cheers,
Stefan
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Wed 16 Jul 2014 19:18
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - SWolves
Hi all

Update:

Have been through MAPFREs appeals process with regards to them not paying out the full £1940. They're refusing to pay anything more than £1340. My next step would have been the financial ombudsman.

However, yesterday I received a call from my finance provider, Blackhorse. They've agreed to pay any outstanding amounts plus credit card fees incurred plus 8% on top to cover anything else, plus £100 stress compensation and £50 loss of happiness compensation.

So all in all, I'm due around £900, and will be £300 up.

Finally this saga has come to a (happy) ending.

Thanks to all those who gave me advice, it really is appreciated.

Regards,
Stefan
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Thu 17 Jul 2014 00:59
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - Avant

Good news indeed. Many thanks for coming back and telling us.

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Thu 17 Jul 2014 10:44
Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI - Scirocco 1.4 TSI cylinder/piston issues - RobJP

Excellent outcome. Best of luck for the future !

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