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The reality is they should have required synthetic oil on the Passat...just like the Audi does and this would NOT be a problem.
Now they have changed to a strongly recommend.
I am the tip of the iceberg. With their recent press release this is just going to go on and on.
Sorry to hear about your troubles. You should not have been denied based on your service history, at least by any reason. Although you were not perfect, you were not even close to neglectful.
You may still have the ability to force the dealers hand, but you'll need some luck, and all the facts, and be ready to fight. You are going to have to call in question the competency of the dealer. It won't be VW paying for it under warranty, but the dealer... here we go.
The oil sludge issue has been responded to by VW by extending the warranty on 1.8T engines to 8-years regardless of owner for damage from sludge.
The link below is a scan of the consumer notification, and has some nice details to it (it's big...1.5M, so be patient).
Of particular note is page 3. It lists all the approved oils for use on the 1.8T. For ease, here is the list:
Castrol Syntec 5-40
Chevron Supreme Synthetic 5-40
Elf Excellium LDX 5-40
Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic 5-40
Mobil-1 0-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula Ultra 5-30
Quaker State Synthetic European Formula 5-40
Quaker State Synthetic European Formula Ultra 5-30
76 Lubricants 76 Pure Synthetic 5-40
Texaco Havoline Synthetic 5-40
Total Quartz 9000 5-40
Valvoline Synpower 5-40 & 5-30
Of particular note:
1. There are only 3 30 weight oils listed.
2. All the oils listed are synthetic.
3. Some of the oils on the list are not available in the US (really inconsequential as long as some are, but then why list them)
99% of US VW dealers do not use synthetic oils without it being requested and of course charging more (reasonable, since it costs more).
There is a great chance that your dealer did not use an oil on this list (I guarantee it!) Many use a standard 30 weight oil.
This is going to be a problem for VW (IMO).
So. Call the dealer. Ask EXACTLY what oil they used for your oil changes. Once you verify that it's not on the list. Call VWoA, and tell them that the dealer that did all your oil changes is not using the recommended oil from VWoA. Ask for the corporate rep's name for your area. Tell him the same thing. Call the dealer, tell them the same thing. Call the BBB, tell them the same thing. Call you attorney, tell him the same thing.
The dealer not using the proper oil is a larger problem then you adding a couple of thousand miles to a couple of oil changes.
Best of luck.
How many quarts of oil does this engine use?
I agree with Passat4mo...dig in and fight. And the best ammunition you have right now is the dealer probably didn't use synthetic (unless Traceya's oil changes were costing something north of $50).
Any suggestions on finding an attorney?
Service dealer at Volkswagen told me they do not use synthetic oil unless requested. He said that that is the problem and until Volkswagen makes it mandatory they can only suggest.
So, I am sure it will be in 2005.
So...now I am at a road block with Volkswagen of America. The dealer say it is their decision (which sounds logical).
Can't talk to anyone at Volkswagen because you have no access except with the lowly phone rep.
So...What now?
I am at a loss on what to do next.
Volkswagen of America is going to be facing a lot of these claims. Service mgr and dealer told me it is a big problem.
HELP!
I feel your furstration and hopefully it can be resolved.
Few more suggestions before you go to the time consuming lawsuit direction (I apologize if I missed some of the previous posts and asking questions that may have already been answered).
1. Has dealer officially diagnosed it as the oil sludge problem?
2. Can you post the mileage for each oil interval changes and who performed the oil changes? (we may be able to give you advice from 3rd party point of view)
3. Type of oil used prior to the notice sent out is more than likely irrelevant since the original owners manual just recommened API, etc. etc. which dino oil 5W-30 qualified. The latest oil sludge notice just superceded that so along as you now use VW.502 approved oil (=synthetic) from here on out, warranty for 8 years is still valid.
4. Quickest solution is always working with the manufacturer instead of attorneys. It sounds like you didn't get past the phone rep which is bit unusual (but not unheard of). If you're polite, you should be able to get the name of the VWofA Regional Rep. I would still go towards the negotiation route before you go towards the nasty route (which can be combination of lawasuit, media, etc.)
5. Is there anything else wrong with the Passat other than engine seizing?
If you can post some more facts on this board, we may be able to better help you.
Could be relevant negligance if customer wasn't getting oil required by VW in the past which contri buted to sludge buildup.
I would certainly want to know that in court if I were a juror deciding how to split damages here.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
12bluex...here are my answers.
1. Yes, the dealer officially diagnosed sludge problem.
2. I don't have the mileage intervals handy. They are at work. But, suffice it to say it was every 5-8,000 miles.
3. Currently VW's strongly recommends Synthetic oil. That is it. I am sure they don't want to open themselves up and say Oops! Now you need synthetic oil.
4. Actually my inability to get past a phone rep is not unusual with Volkswagen. During my research I have been doing it is actually quite common. They have a very bad system in terms of customer response and basically shut you out. I am angry but I was NOT unreasonable or abusive at all to their people. I was trying to be logical and curteous the whole time. They just have major roadblocks to helping people.
5. Nothing else wrong with the Passat.
As a follow-up to previous info. Volkswagen has denied my claim. Service manager at the dealer is suggesting I not fix the car (the value with what I owe and the cost of the repair makes this whole deal very upside down financially). He is working on providing me the best quote possible for repair if I decide to go that way. He recommends trading it in and taking a $3,000 hit from a dealer rather than investing $6,000 more dollars.
The whole thing is a big mess. I bet in 6 mos. there will be 1,000 of people with my issue. Now they have put a name on the issue it will be more apparent.
12bluex...here are my answers.
1. Yes, the dealer officially diagnosed sludge problem.
2. I don't have the mileage intervals handy. They are at work. But, suffice it to say it was every 5-8,000 miles.
3. Currently VW's strongly recommends Synthetic oil. That is it. I am sure they don't want to open themselves up and say Oops! Now you need synthetic oil.
4. Actually my inability to get past a phone rep is not unusual with Volkswagen. During my research I have been doing it is actually quite common. They have a very bad system in terms of customer response and basically shut you out. I am angry but I was NOT unreasonable or abusive at all to their people. I was trying to be logical and curteous the whole time. They just have major roadblocks to helping people.
5. Nothing else wrong with the Passat.
As a follow-up to previous info. Volkswagen has denied my claim. Service manager at the dealer is suggesting I not fix the car (the value with what I owe and the cost of the repair makes this whole deal very upside down financially). He is working on providing me the best quote possible for repair if I decide to go that way. He recommends trading it in and taking a $3,000 hit from a dealer rather than investing $6,000 more dollars.
The whole thing is a big mess. I bet in 6 mos. there will be 1,000 of people with my issue. Now they have put a name on the issue it will be more apparent.
Sounds like you did what you can so far correctly. Another word of caution is the trade-in offer from the dealer. They may be sincere or they may have other motives.
Here's what I would do next:
1. Call the office of VW of America (not the customer service line). Their phone number is 248-340-5000. Ask for either Mr. Gerd Klauss, President of VW of America, Mr. Frank Witten, CFO, or Mr. Steve Keyes, Director of Corporate Communications, in those orders. What will more than likely happen is that they will not be available but you'll probably be redirected to the higher customer service director/manager/supervisor than who you been speaking to so far.
2. Explain your situation stating the oil sludge problem, your maintenance record (although not perfect but not neglect like how it was stated in the Wall Street news release of owners going 20K miles without oil change) and you feel that your repairs should be covered by the warranty. See how they respond.
3. Make sure you document the conversation, including who you spoke to, their title and their direct phone line, if any, and provide copies to them. Get the person's information prior to start of the conversation about the issue. Their fax # is 248-754-4930. Their mailing address is 3800 Hamlin Road, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Make sure you print the transmission confirmation for fax and/or certified mail with return receipts (I would recommend mail more than fax or do both). This is to communicate to them that you're documenting everything, preparing for the "next step", if necessary.
4. If they continue to deny, neglect your claim, then I would get clarfication on the letter that we all received to see if they are taking position that if you don't change oil exactly at 5,000 miles or before AND that you have to show detailed proof for all of the oil changes, all claims will be denied? Write all of this down and if they are not willing to work with, I would then suggest (after all of the above has been documented) that you'll foward the paperwork to the journalist who covered the VW notice at Wallstreet Journal and hint at the possibility that this is VW's marketing gimmick rather than taking responsibility for the design flaw.
Again, I don't think you'll have to get to threats. There are more than likely will work with you to solve your issue.
I would also pursue the small claims court route to if all of the above falls. But make sure you document everything from who you spoke to (if you haven't already so far), what time, the content of conversation, what was quoted by them, word for word, just in case.
These are all suggestions but you're the one who has to take the time, spend bit of money (phone bills, certified mail, court fees, etc)so you'll have to ultimately decide what you want to do.
I have managed to solve lot of my issues in life with steps like above (although stressful and time consuming).
Please keep us posted how this goes.
I could understand maybe 1000 miles or less over the change interval. VW is correct in their response news statement that most owners encountering this issue went well beyond the recommended oil change interval with conventional oil. Toyota stated the same thing.
Abused? That is comical. Please do not respond to my posts again.
Thank you.
Thanks.
I completely understand that many...make that most...people prefer to drive automatics these days, but I'm saddened to see manual transmissions becoming extinct. I agree that it's primarily the result of low demand -- which honestly surprises me with regard to the Passat, since virtually every review of the car indicates the 1.8T with manual trans. is the best combination for this car. Having test driven the Passat in various trims and transmissions 6 separate times during the last couple of months, I have to agree that the 1.8T manual was, to me, just more fun to drive than any other combination, even in rush-hour traffic.
Alas, I can't agree that the tiptronic is an adequate substitute, at least for those who really enjoy driving manual transmissions. Which isn't to say that it isn't useful and even kind of fun to use, but it really isn't the same thing.
In any event, I bought a new Passat this week. I got the V6 with automatic transmission -- I figured if I can't find a 5-speed with the options I want, I might was well go with the bigger engine. So despite mark's urging to buy manuals to keep them alive, I've given in to the majority. To be honest, it also had to do with what another poster (sorry, I can't remember who) suggested -- age related physical limitations that have made using the clutch a little more difficult than it used to be.
I've only driven my new car about 150 miles so far, so I'm not ready to give a full review yet. I'm enjoying the powerful engine and quiet ride (it's worlds away from my '94 Honda), but I have to admit that so far the Passat GLX is a bit...well, boring. With the car doing virtually everything for me, including controlling the A/C, locking its own doors under certain circumstances and accelerating to 80 mph with barely a nudge, there's just nothing much to think about while operating this car. Something tells me I can get used to all this luxury, though...
When we purchased our 04 GLX V6 in April we had our dealer search the Chicago area for a sedan in wheat beige. In the whole area there was only one and we were delighted to get it.
Our choices are always so subjective and it must drive the manufacturers nuts in trying to figure out what most of us want.
If you want a manual, then insist on it. If you settle, then you are hurting all of the rest of us who want one. : ^ )
BTW I am just wondering if it is possible to replace whats in the center console with a nav system. Not that I will or will not get one but just curious if I can.
If VW is blaming oil changes at 8k for engine seizure, it speaks volumes of their quality and engineering.
I think manufactures end up dropping the ball when marketing starts to dictate engineering policies/practices.
Every manufacturer would like to say their automobile requires less maintenance (therefore less $) than the other, but it seems that by "over estimating" the interval they've hurt their reputation more than if they just stated "change the oil every 4K".
It would seem, to me anyway, it is more desirable to have a higher maintenance car than to have one that is unreliable and potentially fail, just to save the consumer an extra 25-50$ per year.
Lastly, a major factor is type of driving. If its nearly all short city hops and in a cold climate then this is very hard on any oil on any car.
I'll be no one who changed their own oil between 3 and 5K and used a name brand out of the bottle has had engine failure, despite short trips and/or hot spots.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If you exceed the maximum intervals recommended by the manufacturer, you give them justification to void your warranty.
Hmm, let's see:
99 Nissan Maxima - V6 (non turbo)
1.8T engine (turbo)
Big difference.
Normally aspirated engines generally do not produce as much heat as turbocharged engines do. So running 14K between oil changes will result in greater consequences for the 1.8T than the V6.
I think you will find the oil change interval in Europe is more like 10k. An occasional 8k is not abuse if the level is kept at full.
Is that 10k miles or kilometers? Post a link?
Is that the easy highway recommendation or the severe service driving that most people do?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
http://www.vw.co.uk/services/servicing/longlife_service_regime
There are plenty of refferences to the extended oil change intervals in Europe, but the two above are for VW. One articles says up to 30,000 miles with synthetic.
Hardly makes me think this is for Chicago driving to and from work in summer or winter mileages...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Here the norm is/was 3-5,000 or so and there it is more like 8-10,000. Yes they have a higher grade of oil, but we have synthetic, and synthetic blends here as well. In fact the new 5w-20 that Ford and Honda use is synthetic blend.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Basically, an '05 Passat GLS TDI for $26,000. They will give me $13,800 on an '02 Jetta GLS TDI with 29K miles. The rebate is the stumbler as of today.
Any thoughts? Thank you.
Your dealer should be able to work with you since its no sweat off his neck...its a VW rebate.
At least that's the 411 in the NE region.
What restrictions are being placed on the rebate?
If you visit the incentives and rebates section of Edmunds website, there are no stipulations or limitations listed there either. That tells me that the information released from VWoA is not specific enough. Look at any other rebate listed and the manufacturer is very clear about limits and stipulations. Why would VW put information out there, and get people thinking they have some money coming to them, only to lead to disappointment in the salesroom?
I think this is deceptive and an aweful business practice. Hardly a good idea when the product is fairly good.
Is there something that needs reset or something?
Thanks in advance for your help.
IIRC, there was an image which looked like steering wheel but it wasn't too obvious. If this is power steering then which fluid should I buy. The reservoir is on the right side, about a foot behind the front head lights.
Instead of a steering wheel, could the image be a windshield with fluid squirting onto it?