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Please help me with a major warranty problem following repairs to my Skoda Fabia.
I bought a 2006-registered Skoda Fabia in December 2008. The car had 47,000 miles and was in good condition. At the time of purchase, I was given 12 months' Skoda warranty and was asked if I wish to extend this to three years. My initial response was no - the price was £400 and Skodas are reliable. The Skoda salesman then reduced it to £300, and then £200. At £200 I asked whether the warranty (provided by a third party) would provide the same cover as a Skoda warranty, at which point I was told yes. I signed the contract and so did the Skoda salesman.
Over the last five months we have experienced problems with the exhaust emissions warning light coming on. The car has been misfiring. On the first visit to Skoda, it was only misfiring on one cylinder. The Skoda garage diagnosed the Lambda probe as being faulty. The warranty company agreed to pay for this part and reimbursed me, but my warranty does not cover the Skoda labour rate. This was news to me on my first claim. This did not solve the problem. The light then came on several weeks later and went off again. It was running rough and misfiring on one cylinder. It came to a head five weeks ago when driving to work, when the emissions light was flashing and the car was misfiring on two cylinders. We took it to another garage on the advice of the Skoda garage. They changed the plugs, coils and injectors, and sent the ECU off for analysis - no faults. We have paid for this.
I picked it up, and the following morning and 17 miles later it went back in with misfires again. The engine was stripped and a range of other procedures undertaken. The warranty company states that this type of failure is not covered as we can not prove what caused it. They could not describe what sort of failure would be covered. Skoda also offered no help. This has lasted five weeks, we still don't have our car and the total bill is over £1000. It is also costing us £45 a week for the courtesy car and Skoda and autoprotect are doing nothing. Our car has only done 72,000 miles and this engine is known on forums as having piston ring problems. I need to know what to do now.
Over the last five months we have experienced problems with the exhaust emissions warning light coming on. The car has been misfiring. On the first visit to Skoda, it was only misfiring on one cylinder. The Skoda garage diagnosed the Lambda probe as being faulty. The warranty company agreed to pay for this part and reimbursed me, but my warranty does not cover the Skoda labour rate. This was news to me on my first claim. This did not solve the problem. The light then came on several weeks later and went off again. It was running rough and misfiring on one cylinder. It came to a head five weeks ago when driving to work, when the emissions light was flashing and the car was misfiring on two cylinders. We took it to another garage on the advice of the Skoda garage. They changed the plugs, coils and injectors, and sent the ECU off for analysis - no faults. We have paid for this.
I picked it up, and the following morning and 17 miles later it went back in with misfires again. The engine was stripped and a range of other procedures undertaken. The warranty company states that this type of failure is not covered as we can not prove what caused it. They could not describe what sort of failure would be covered. Skoda also offered no help. This has lasted five weeks, we still don't have our car and the total bill is over £1000. It is also costing us £45 a week for the courtesy car and Skoda and autoprotect are doing nothing. Our car has only done 72,000 miles and this engine is known on forums as having piston ring problems. I need to know what to do now.
Asked on 4 September 2010 by paulellie
Answered by
Lucy
Warranties are effectively insurance policies and they should define exactly what is covered and what is not. They became notorious for get-out clauses, promising much and not delivering and various other practices. I am not familiar with your warranty company so cannot comment on the particular product. However I am surprised that the warranty would not cover parts and labour.
It seems to me that everyone accepts there is a problem with the car and no one knows what it is, so they are embarking on a fishing expedition which is largely at your expense. At this stage, the issue appears to be between you and the warranty company. I would be surprised if Skoda became involved or took responsibility.
Proving the mis-selling of a warranty almost two years ago is going to be exceptionally difficult unless claims were made in writing that do not meet what was actually being offered. The warranty company will probably state that you were given a copy of the terms and conditions they offer and will stick by them.
Save for the warranty itself, you appear to have very little going in your favour. I don't think the courts would uphold an action against either the selling dealer, hence your only recourse is to reclaim as much as you can from Autoprotect within the terms of the agreement you have with them.
It seems to me that everyone accepts there is a problem with the car and no one knows what it is, so they are embarking on a fishing expedition which is largely at your expense. At this stage, the issue appears to be between you and the warranty company. I would be surprised if Skoda became involved or took responsibility.
Proving the mis-selling of a warranty almost two years ago is going to be exceptionally difficult unless claims were made in writing that do not meet what was actually being offered. The warranty company will probably state that you were given a copy of the terms and conditions they offer and will stick by them.
Save for the warranty itself, you appear to have very little going in your favour. I don't think the courts would uphold an action against either the selling dealer, hence your only recourse is to reclaim as much as you can from Autoprotect within the terms of the agreement you have with them.
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