Audi garage messed up my car - where do I stand (advice plz)

K

k3ab

Member
Guys,

My 09 Audi a4 tdi went in for an 18k mile oil service. They have also investigated clicking/creaking suspension issue and apparently resolved it by replacing a whole load of parts. The car was in the Audi garage for nearly a week during which I enjoyed a loan car.

Having got my car back yesterday and driven it several miles down the road I've realized that there was about 20% of normal power and it would not go over 50 mph. I have e-mailed services manager at the garage last night to explain the situation. She called me up this morning to apologize and advise that they'll pick up the car and provide me with a loan car whilst they look at my car again.

I believe the problem is extremely serious and could have caused serious injury to myself (had I tried to change lane and accelerate for example - I could have had someone drive in the back of me!)

There are a number of facts which just don't stack up, such as they test drove the car to check suspension creaking which was apparently resolved. Surely during the test drive they must have noticed the car was lacking most of its power?!

I have highlighted all of this to the customer services manager.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I am going to ask for a refund of the service charge (about 350 pounds!) which I feel is the least they can do after fixing my car and properly addressing the creaking noise from the suspension.

Should I also ask for compensation? I feel the garage have messed which has put me in a very risky situation and inconvenienced me quite a lot as I'm now having to deal with this.

Or do you guys feel that by providing another loan car and sending someone to pick up my car, they've kind of done enough as it is?

Any views welcome

Thanks,
K3ab.
 
:o

probably just forgot to plug a wire in...

doubt they would push the car enough to detect lack of power while testing for suspension noises ?

at least they seem to be sorting it...
 
I empathise with you over the time to get the car fixed and it then coming back with a fault. To describe it as extremely serious at 20% power down and 50mph top speed is a bit strong frankly and claims for compensation a bit premature. To me your just looking to vent frustration and capitalise on the situation.

I think the garage is doing their job as best they can and recovering well from a possible error. Offering loan cars, picking yours up, etc.

Just my 2p worth and probably not the answer you want to hear.
 
cj10jeeper said:
I empathise with you over the time to get the car fixed and it then coming back with a fault. To describe it as extremely serious at 20% power down and 50mph top speed is a bit strong frankly and claims for compensation a bit premature. To me your just looking to vent frustration and capitalise on the situation.

I think the garage is doing their job as best they can and recovering well from a possible error. Offering loan cars, picking yours up, etc.

Just my 2p worth and probably not the answer you want to hear.
Click to expand...

+1

They gave you a replacement and picked your car up. Don't see what else you could expect really, sounds like an honest mistake on their part. Not malicious
 
cj10jeeper said:
I empathise with you over the time to get the car fixed and it then coming back with a fault. To describe it as extremely serious at 20% power down and 50mph top speed is a bit strong frankly and claims for compensation a bit premature. To me your just looking to vent frustration and capitalise on the situation.

I think the garage is doing their job as best they can and recovering well from a possible error. Offering loan cars, picking yours up, etc.

Just my 2p worth and probably not the answer you want to hear.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input.

I may not have been clear - more like 20% of the power being there (80% of the power missing).

The reason I thought its serious is that it could have put the driver (me) and others in a very dangerous situation. Had I been less fortunate, I could have had a car go in the back of me as a result of this problem. I appreciate that didn't happen however I guess it highlights the seriousness of the issue.
 
Had the accident happened, you would have grounds for compensation. As its purely hypothetical I don't think you have a case. They may ask the question as to why you didn't simply turn around and take it back as soon as it happened.

Always nice to have something to moan at them about though, they may give you something as a good will gesture.

For the lack of power, the car probably went into limp home mode. A common feature of modern cars to protect the engine from damage due to a fault
 
Still not in any way convinced that there was any real danger and how could you drive for several miles and only then realise it had just 20% power? As noted probably just in limp mode.

My wife had a new Peugeot some yaers back and it had a plug not correctly inserted on the main loom. It created a total power failure and always happened on quck acceleration leaving her stranded entering islands and across junctions. That was scary and dangerous, but not a compensation or issue to jump up and down about.

Now if they don't pick up your car, don't fix it, damage it while in then things change, but for now just accept life is life.
 
Just had a call off their "head engineer" - I have pictures in my head of a big german guy with leather glooves and boots.

He's advised that they've inspected the car and discovered that a pipe had been knocked whilst the car was being looked at before. He has apologised and suggested that they'll correct the problem and review the initial issue again.

The guy seemed reasonable.

The limp home theory sounds very plausable.
 
Glad you got it sorted mate :thumbsup:

Still have a go at them as it's their fault, maybe they'll give you a free keyring or something :thumbsup:
 
chrismann85 said:
Glad you got it sorted mate :thumbsup:

Still have a go at them as it's their fault, maybe they'll give you a free keyring or something :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


I'm hoping for a free oil pack. I love the little funnel you get in those.
 
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