VW Bug
I don’t normally discuss issues here that aren’t technology related, but I’m making an exception.
Many of you know I have been very happy with my diesel VW Jetta. Great mileage, solid, comfortable, reliable.
Oops. Scratch reliable. It seems there is a design flaw in the air intake system that can cause the intercooler to freeze up. When that happens, the electronic stability control program fails and the car won’t start.
I was told the repair was going to be more than $1,300. VW comp’ed the part, but I was still on the hook for almost $600 in labor (plus tax). I thought it should at least be covered under the 60k mile drivetrain warranty but VW said no, that is only for parts that require lubrication. Since the intercooler just sits there and has (to the best of my knowledge) no moving parts and nothing for me to service, I’m not sure why I’m responsible for its failure.
Of course, I’ve got 40,000 miles so I’m out of the regular warranty. But it was only 32 degrees when the intercooler froze.
I live north of the Mason Dixon line and it is known to freeze occasionally. Like regularly from December through early April. If a $600 part can fail with no warning just because it’s cold outside, that makes the car unreliable. Apparently I’m not the only person with the problem. http://tinyurl.com/jettatdiesp
I’d planned on buying a Golf TDI, too. That’s now off the table. #VWfail
Many of you know I have been very happy with my diesel VW Jetta. Great mileage, solid, comfortable, reliable.
Oops. Scratch reliable. It seems there is a design flaw in the air intake system that can cause the intercooler to freeze up. When that happens, the electronic stability control program fails and the car won’t start.
I was told the repair was going to be more than $1,300. VW comp’ed the part, but I was still on the hook for almost $600 in labor (plus tax). I thought it should at least be covered under the 60k mile drivetrain warranty but VW said no, that is only for parts that require lubrication. Since the intercooler just sits there and has (to the best of my knowledge) no moving parts and nothing for me to service, I’m not sure why I’m responsible for its failure.
Of course, I’ve got 40,000 miles so I’m out of the regular warranty. But it was only 32 degrees when the intercooler froze.
I live north of the Mason Dixon line and it is known to freeze occasionally. Like regularly from December through early April. If a $600 part can fail with no warning just because it’s cold outside, that makes the car unreliable. Apparently I’m not the only person with the problem. http://tinyurl.com/jettatdiesp
I’d planned on buying a Golf TDI, too. That’s now off the table. #VWfail