Skoda Fabia cracked engine !

[snatch75]

Hi,

 

I'm not too sure how to progress this issue and any help would be gratefully received.

 

My parents bought a new Skoda fabia back in 2002 (52 plate) it has only covered 36k miles and obviously out of the standard 3 year warranty.

 

Recently it started loosing coolant and on examination by a local dealership they discovered a 3" crack in the engine block. This is obviously a manufacturing issue, the car has been serviced on time by a Skoda dealer and looked after by my elderly parents.

 

They bought the car from a dealership in the UK but have now emigrated to Spain (lucky them) so where do we legally stand with this ?

 

Do I go after Skoda for a "goodwill" repair due to a failed part that is not consumable or poor manufacturing and quality control ?

 

Or do I quote the Sale of Goods Act to the dealer and get them to stump up the cost for a new engine plus hire car costs ?

 

Tricky one this so any help would be great.

Thanks

Simon

[Conniff]

I'm afraid there is no such thing as 'obviously'. This could easily have been caused by frost or freezing overnight temperatures.

 

You will have to get an engineers report that must state that this is a manufacturing flaw if you hope to get recompense.

 

Skoda will want to examin it as well.

[Bookworm]

I agree with Conniff. A good way of quickly finding out whether this is widespread is do a search on the main search engines for the car and fault. I did this on Google and didn't find any other occurence of the same problem. Whilst it is by no mean solid proof, it would seem to indicate that a manufacturing fault may not be the issue.

 

As Conniff says, get a report. Let us know how it goes.

[NeverEnding]

Its unfortunate for you. I had an issue with a cat converter going on a car 2 month after buying it. They are not cheap! However, the warranty I had from the garage would not have covered it anyway as it is classed as a mechanical part blah blah blah! However, kicking up a stink in the sales area when it was busy is and was for me, the best route. I got a heavily discounted rate.

 

I still have to pay out but the burden was not as heavy!

[snatch75]

I searched already on Google, etc.. but nothing. Only issue was with electrics and piston rings, checked with owners clubs as well but no joy.

 

So I concluded must be a manufacturing defect, which I know I have to prove and I am getting my parent's to find an independant engineer in Spain to do this.

 

The mechanic in the Spanish Seat dealership stated he had seen this issue before on this type of engine and has reported it. It was not due to freezing temps, lack of antifreeze, etc.. as the car is in Spain not the Antartic or UK and has been fully serviced as per Skoda's instructions.

 

The problem my parents have is the car was bought in the UK from a Skoda dealership but now they live in Spain so kicking up a fuss in the UK dealership is not going to help much as we cannot phsyically get the car back to them to look at it.

 

This is what they said on the phone, I suppose going in on busy weekend and having a "chat" in front of potential customers might get the ball rolling a bit.

 

I will of course update when I have more info, but if anyone else can help please feel free.

 

Thanks

[Bookworm]

I searched already on Google, etc.. but nothing. Only issue was with electrics and piston rings, checked with owners clubs as well but no joy.

 

So I concluded must be a manufacturing defect,

No, that's the opposite of what I said. If it was a manufacturing defect, it would be more likely to appear over and over again on the web. For example, do a search for "Mini" and "faulty windscreen" and you'll see it come up loads.

 

Anyway, let's see what the report comes up with, but I should warn you that if Skoda say they want to have a chance to inspect and/or repair the car themselves, they have the right to do so. :-|

[snatch75]

Skoda have basically sent a standard fobb off letter.

 

I sent the engineers report stating this issue was not caused by neglect and would have been caused at manufacture.

 

They are not interested in viewing the faulty engine block or replying properly to the issues mentioned in my letter.

 

They state the fault would have happened under their 3 year/60k miles warranty, there was no mention of the measly 36,403 miles the car covered. If the car was driven the average 20k a year then the fault would have occured under warranty.

 

Any reasonable person can assume that a car engine should last longer than 36k, especially when looked after, full dealer service history, not modified, etc... etc...

 

I'm not letting this one lie, so do I go after the dealership or the manufacturer ? Obviously the dealership has sold faulty goods and I have a report to prove this now. Problem is the block is in Spain so if they want to see it do I have to supply it to them at my cost, it's very heavy to courier !

 

Thanks

Simon

[ReasonableRon]

Obviously the dealership has sold faulty goods and I have a report to prove this now.

Simon

Why obviously? They weren't faulty for the first 4 years, and I think that the dealer will rely on this argument.

 

Kick up a fuss by all means but the very fact that the block is in Spain (along with the car) means that you would probably be spending the amount needed to fix it on getting it all back to the UK, because as you correctly assume they do have every right to inspect it and they would not reasobably be expected to travel to Spain to see it!

[Conniff]

Was this an 'engineers' report or the garage mechanic?, there is a great deal of difference.

 

If you are hoping to rely on UK legislation, it looks like the SOGA has expired.

 

Mileage isn't necessarily the be all and end all of it.

 

A new engine block isn't that expensive but the build and changeover will obviously make it probably not worth doing.

 

I would like to think you can get some redress and assistance from Skoda, but I have my doubts.

 

Anyway keep trying and please let us know what steps you take and how you get on.

[snatch75]

This was an independant engineer's report which states this issue was caused by faulty manufacturing. Also the mechanic at Skoda/Seat dealership in Spain

report clearly states he has seen this fault before on the same type of engine and is a manufacturing issue. Skoda are not divulging any information or admitting any responsibility even though I have 2 engineer reports.

 

I thought SOGA covered a buyer against manufacturing defects for 6 years from date of purchase ? If so this is clearly within the time scale.

 

A "reasonable" person would expect an car/engine with a full dealership service history to last more than 36,403 miles before it fails.

On speaking to several mechanics and manufacturers, the engine block is a non-servicable item and therefore should not fail in the lifetime of a vehicle.

 

Luckily I can get the faulty part shipped back to the UK via work free of charge for them to inspect it, if needed.

[Bookworm]

You seem to be confusing SOLA 1980 (The limitation act) and SOGA (Sales of Goods Act).

 

SOLA gives you the right to seek redress for 6 years from the date which gave cause for action.

 

SOGA gives you statutory rights as regards conformity, durability, etc...

 

SOGA does NOT cover a buyer against manufacturing defects for 6 years from date of purchase.

 

This is by no means as clear-cut as you make it to be.

 

If Skoda refuses to deal with it, you will have to bring out a court action for redress. You will then have to satisfy a judge that on the balance of probabilities, a 6 year old car with 36k miles on the clock, having travelled (presumably) from the UK to Spain should not have developed this type of fault, and furthermore you will have to convince same judge that the fault could only have happened due to a manufacturing defect and no other reason.

 

Skoda on the other hand, as defendants, will only have to show how it could have happened through other causes to cast sufficient doubts in the judge's mind.

[snatch75]

Ok,

 

I have had the block shipped back to the UK and it has been examined by a qualified metallurigst at my workplace (deal with aeronautical and automotive alloys and engineering).

 

He stated it was manufactured incorrectly from a poor mould which has caused a weak spot where the crack has formed.

 

This I have in writing, so now I have an engineer's report what's the best way of handling this Dealership or Skoda ?

 

Thanks

[Conniff]

Well done for perserverance snatch and you are lucky to have been in a possition that you could get a real experts report.

 

As the dealer would be tasked to do the replacement, I would approach them first.

[miskodabroke]

Please let me know how you get on. My 52 reg skoda bought from new, 38000 miles, garaged at night, serviced regularly and well loved has just been diagnosed with the same thing.

 

Hubby took it in to be looked at with small leak, next thing its radiator, gearbox and headgasket need repair/replacing. Then on further investigation lo and behold they tell us the engine is cracked! Surely it is not unreasonable to expect your vehicle to do more mileage/years than this before it requires this kind of repair?

 

I had contacted skoda the manufacturer by email listing the problems and they have told me the same as yourself 3 years or 60000 miles.

[Conniff]

If your not late with an April 1st prank, then the garage who diagnosed this is.

What has the gearbox got to do with a water leak.

 

You should take it somewhere else.

[snatch75]

Hi,

 

Yes I eventually got them to refund the cost of repairs, hire car, legal fees and time. They never admitted it was a fault but refunded me as a "goodwill gesture", either way was happy.

 

I take it your engine is the old 1.3 8v pushrod engine which was bored out to a 1.4. The newer Fabia's eg. 16v had the old VW engine.

 

First step is to write to them with proof of servicing etc...

Problem is your car is outside of the 6 year limit for the sale of goods act so you won't get any comeback via the courts I'm afraid I would try your dealer to see if they will contribute a goodwill gesture towards the costs.

 

Thanks

Simon

[miskodabroke]

Hi,

 

Thank you both for replying.

 

Useful to know you where given some compensation.

 

Unfortunately, car is in Scotland and I am in the midlands (where it was bought). It is parked up with parts of the engine now in the boot and us unable to afford new engine and not knowing any good local garages.

 

Oh well these things are sent to try us I suppose.

 

Thanks once again.

[MARTIN3030]

The bigger Skodas have the 1.9 TDI as used in Audi/VW and Seat this engine is well proven and its a shame you didnt have that one.

[elly67]

Hi Snatch.

I read your postings with interest - my inlaws have a skoda fabia, 6000 miles on the clock and just out of warrenty.

They have had a recurring fault and now the garage are saying 'water in the wiring loom' is responsible and are offering to fit a new wiring loom. As it's a known fault they are covering the parts (£1500) but expect my elderly and disabled in-laws to cough up £700 for labour.

My next port of call is trading standards but I wondered if you had any advice and which addresses/names did you use successfully?

I look forward to hearing from you, many thanks in anticipation

Elouise

[email protected]