Having MAJOR issues with Audi

[jideare]

I appreciate this is going to be a long post so excuse me.

I have a 65 plate car bought on finance... used from dealer as a second registered person on it but it was practically brand new with just a few 100miles on it. Car had a few niggles and issues within the first 6 months. It was taken in and to the best of my knowledge fixed. It'd always gone back to the garage and I get told the issues were fixed under warranty and I usually never question it. I'm 20 months into the finance now and the last 2 months have been Hell and here's a brief account of that.

First of, the car disengaged its handbrake and rolled into another car in a car park which I had to pay for privately, then the handbrake thing became a regular occurrence and when I told the dealer, I was advised to leave the car parked in Gear. Then Car not starting became regular occurrence. I have video evidence of Ignition NOT cranking. Then Car breaking down mid journey gets added to the list. Then Clutch, Parking and Braking systems start too fail while driving. And all the while, when I take it into the dealership or it gets RECOVERED by roadside, I get told it's all fixed. While all this had been going on I'd been late to work that many times in the last 2 months. I've missed days in work because I couldn't make it in. Weekly/Saturday drives to the dealership became the norm.

Then 3 Fridays Ago, the car went into "LIMP MODE" on a Live lane on the motorway. For those of you who like me didn't know what that as, it's when a vehicle ECU decides there's too many safety issues for you to be on the road so it cuts out your power. I had RED warning lights. No Parking Brake functionality and an error message to tell me that. Braking and ABS issues, Clutch, Ignition, Airbags..... every error under the sun flashed across on the dash [and I took photos of some of them]. I had to wait in the car until a recovery service came for me as if I'd got out, the car could literally roll into Traffic.
Recovery guy said he was taking the car in and I'd have to wait 3 hrs to get a replacement. I protested that I couldn't afford to not be in work so he said he can disable limp mode but the car would need to go to the dealership straight after and that happened.

Upon getting to the dealership, I made an Aftersales Manager aware that I'd like to reject the car. They simply told me I couldn't. I called my finance company who after speaking to the dealership came back to notify me that the verdict was that I had 2 tyres with depth tread 1.3 & 2.1. What was a scary episode on the motorway might have been caused by Tyre tread... or so I was told. I was provided with 1 courtesy vehicle which I was instructed to return after the dealership called me to tell me my car only needed tyres and could be driven. Meanwhile I had instructions that driving a car with those known faults make me a danger to other road users and if there was ever an accident, I certainly wouldn't be insured... Not to mention I could be fined.

I contacted trading standard and Financial Ombuddsman and at this point the Dealership made their standpoint very clear that I wasn't going to get a vehicle. I went a week without a car and that cost me a lot to get around in taxis and public transport. I was advised to put tyres on the car so last weekend, I went in to put 2 brand new tyres on the car after which I was told they have no legal/contractual obligations to give me a replacement vehicle seeing as they had none available.

In the interest of keeping this post short, I've suffered in total over 48 hours of being stranded hours from home without a vehicle in the last 2 months. The car's cost me thousands and I feel taxis are a better way of getting to work as 1 more late/no show will get me sacked. The Finance company said since the issues aren't within the 1st 6 months, I have no leg to stand on but keep giving them chances to fix it. I'm loosing sleep over this and can't fulfil my job going forward as I can't spare the hundreds it would take to get around with work after paying my monthly direct debit.

I'm confused as to what I can & can't do. Suing them is a very expensive option which I can't afford

[jideare]

Noted. It could just be the dealership.

Bit whats with the receipt for repairs fir which the work is being deleted?

surely as a consumer I can't be expected to pay for a car fir 2 more years when it's an ornament.

[Phaeton]

I'm not sure your Inchcape mole is correct, they (car dealers) often register cars to boost their sales figures to meet their targets, not saying this is the case, the mileage on the car could just be getting it from one branch to another. You could send a request to DVLA to find out all previous owners, it should only be Inchcape & yourself, if there is another you will get the details & you could approach them directly.

[Amethyst]

Have you asked the dealer/garage for a full record of all visits and all work done to the vehicle whether under warranty or not ?

[jideare]

Thanks Amethyst. I just feel so drained. It's cost me thousands already... I'm self employed and any attempt to claim loss of earnings just look like I'm trying to take advantage of an unfortunate situation.

They're deleting what is essentially proof that my car had an inherent fault and I'm left tied into a contract with a LEMON!

[Amethyst]

on twitter ( am sure you've seen other's complaints about similar issues but in case not, it helps to know you're not on your own )

@AudiUKCare Hi, I'm having continuing issues with my A6 engine (limp mode due to EGR, DPF fan constantly on) since emissions fix applied. I did not give permission for update to be applied. Ruining the car and my view on VW/Audi as a brand. Unlikely to buy again.

The VW/Audi et al software fix has ruined countless vehicles and the doesn’t even do what it says on the tin! Limp mode from 70mph to 30mph on a motorway - does someone have to die before @AudiUK @UKVolkswagen are held accountable? #fixfail #vwfixfail

and lots following Watchdog's report - https://twitter.com/BBCWatchdog/stat...00004405284864

[Amethyst]

I wonder if you can go back to the inchcape person ( whistleblower potentially?) and see if they can do any digging why the vehicle was returned so quickly after it was first sold. If that has to do with the problems you are experiencing with the software now, the 'limp' settings it could be pretty useful in showing those issues have been present ( and the garage aware ) since before you purchased it. Seems the inchcape employee is hinting in that direction you think? Particularly as only 1 visit was logged and inchcape does actually have records of the rest just not details... On your receipts for the work done does it give more detail of what was actually done? any messing with software settings then ? How did they come to contact you anyway - have you had any comms with inchcape head office at all?

[jideare]

but having read your posts how would you blag the 45k use must be ok judge.

Didn't feel I need to blag anything. A brand new car should go past it's 45k point or 20 months before leaving me stopped dead in a Live Lane on the motorway.

[jideare]

So, I feel I must be ruffling the right feathers if things are being deleted, however I can't prove it. Someone was willing to help out by telling me what they know but they're not prepared for me to use their statements as evidence. I think I'm being screwed....

[jideare]

[beaconsman]

Re: Having MAJOR issues with Audi

Log everything yourself take photos, anything can be used as proof. I was told my second hand car (BMW 320d) had a full service a few months prior to me buying it...little liars! the air filter was disgusting, probably more than 12 months old if not 24 months old. Never take anyones word. Only garage and mechanics I trust is the ones I used to work at as they know I will check and make sure the work has been done, generally they are brilliant, and servicing etc is done at..(trade rates!)..

[nochance]

Re: Having MAJOR issues with Audi

Its helps if the car was proven faulty in the first 6 months then the burden of proof is reversed but a DJ said in my case this does not amount to
much all this would be supporting documents to help the expert witness you could try a part 36 claimant offer before proceedings were started but having read your posts how would you blag the 45k use must be ok judge.
My case 1800 miles from new 5 years old bin back to factory would require over 10k to put right thats why me in court.

[jideare]

Re: Having MAJOR issues with Audi

Found out today that of all the issues that's arisen with my car, only 1 visit was logged on the system out of countless. This would potentially affect the way my case is perceived. I have a fair bit of paperwork to prove there's more than the 1 but everything that could prove I brought this in within the 1st 6 months is not logged.

I'm so worried.

At this point, I'd sue but I can't afford it. ;(

[beaconsman]

Re: Having MAJOR issues with Audi


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Really? Have you tried trading standards? They could do a vehicle test (MOT) at one of their stations, get the report form them and obviously if it doesntmeet the standards of roadworthiness then you have something as evidence, an MOT certificate is not true evidence of roadworthiness, an MOT only proves at that time and date the vehicle passed, it met the requirements. The German TuV is much harder to pass as have had cars fail on the slightest of things whilst based in Germany.

I checked my Finance docs... It's down as a NEW vehicle.

I can't get the car to another garage without driving it. I've been notified by the Police and the insurance that driving it knowing full well it's got problems will make me liable for prosecution if something were to occur.

[beaconsman]

Re: Having MAJOR issues with Audi

If any of my cars start pulling to the left its straight into my friendly garage for a wheel alignment check/adjustment, it is common around here due to the roads (awful!) more so in the winter if covered in snow (you cant see the pesky potholes!). I have been asked as a third party witness to substantiate a main dealers claims about a faulty repair. I assessed the repair, so did 2 other independent assessors. All the same conclusion, shocking workmanship.