[Resolved]  Skoda Fabia — Horrible Service

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

I am unfortunately a customer of SKODA “OBSESSED WITH QUALITY”. I have purchased a Skoda Fabia in Oct 2008 bearing reg no KA 01 ME 0932 (Chassis no – TMBBHG5J88A505706).

My opinion about SKODA was largely different from what it is today. Which is what made me purchase this vehicle. When I purchased the Vehicle I was very proud to be a part of a great vehicle, having a solid European built and best in class features at that time.

My happiness and pride were short lived with my experiences with your dealer “ MS Vinayaka Cars Pvt Ltd”

Having purchased the vehicle with Vinayaka Cars I promptly had taken the vehicle for my first service with them(Oct 2010). This is where problems started
- I only had 2 minor complaints
o Lighter not functioning
o AC not effective
The problem with the lighter was fixed at my cost. And the AC filter and Gas refilled. I drove back as a happy customer.
Next day since it was drizzling I tried to switch on the wiper and it was not functioning. The wiper was perfectly alright before I left the vehicle for service. I drove the vehicle back to the service center and spent another few hours getting that fixed.
When I got the vehicle back I realized that a new indicator on my dash board was on. I referred the manual to realize that this was the indicator telling me that the Airbags have been turned off.
Opps…. Vinayaka had its way again. They had messed with the Airbags meant to save my life…. Went back to them to get this fixed.

A few days down the line I travelled out of town, 70 KM from Bangalore. My 8 month old had thrown a piece of plastic on the floor of the Car. I started the Car and switched on the AC on recirculation…. And suddenly a roaring noise from the AC started off. I was shocked and shaken. I found that the piece of plastic paper that my kid had thrown on the floor is missing. I felt the bottom of the dash boad to notice that there was an opening from where Air was getting sucked. I immediately called Vinayaka Cars for help. I was told that a leaf may have entered the AC vents and I need not worry. I could drive back and have the vehicle fixed the next day.

When I took this back to Vinayaka the next day, I was shocked to know that the paper from the floor had gotten sucked into the AC. That moment I was ashamed to have been owning a skoda. I have owned a Fiat Palio, A Maruti Exteem and a Maruti Zen. All of the cars much lower end in technology but never consumed paper from inside the car. I discussed the issue with the GM (Pravin Patil) who made me understand that this is a unique problem, and this will be taken up with skoda. I was assured of a discount on the bill. Apparently Rs 900 was waived off from the bill and I was charged only 900/-. I was also assured that Mr Pravin will personally work with Skoda to help me out and reimburse 900 that was charged to me.

Feb 2010, I was back with Vinayaka again as another paper napkin had gone missing from the floor. This was unbelievable. How can a car be manufactured to suck paper from the floor. Mr Pravin I hoped by now would have answer to this question. He apparently personally had worked with the mechanics and gotten the issue resolved. I was interested to know how the issue was resolved. I felt below the dash board to find out that the opening that sucked paper is now covered. I spoke to Pravin that this was never there all this while, and how was this fixed now. Why was this not fixed the last time around? Pravin started abusing me in Hindi and used foul language. He assured me that he will ensure that I will be harassed.

I should have immediately called SKODA and escalated this.

The floor manager was however helpful and helped me get the Rs 900 reimbursed in the form of a voucher. I was informed by the service engineer that the issue was that the flap was not replaced when the vehicle was let for the first service. He said that this cannot be documented and if he did Pravin will ensure that this will cost him his job. I was also asked to return in a week’s time and get one of the component in the AC replaced under warranty which will stop that noise. A week later with the new component the AC noise continued. I was told that since this is a new component it will take a few thousand KM for the noise levels to disappear.

In the meanwhile I also had a body shop work with the front Bonet and Bumper. This was fixed but the horn was not messed up with. Vinayak replaced the horn on warranty but this is not the standard horn that comes at the time of purchase.

I took the Car to Skoda again in Oct for the second free service. Reported issued with noise from the AC has not stopped. I was assured that once the AC filter is replaced, the noise will disappear. And as usual when the car was delivered back to me the AC noise continued. This was claimed to be normal noise by the service personnel.

I also had reported a weird noise that comes up when I start the for the first time vehicle after a gap of few days. This Vinayaka Cars assured orally again that is not harmful. By this time I had lost complete trust in both Vinayak cars and Skoda. I got back with all the problems that I reached the service center with.

All this one has to go through after buying a car from SKODA “Obsessed with Quality”.

At the advise of your customer service execs I left the car with TAFE access. They have apparently fixed the issue with the AC. But I am being charged Rs 1400 for the AC gas. Why charge me for a problem that skoda(Vinayak Skoda) created. I need your help to get this waived off please.

I had placed this complaint with Skoda customer care on 19th Dec on 20th Dec I was informed that I should take the vehicle to Tafe Access service center who will help me with the issue. I was never informed that there will be a charge associated. I would not have taken the vehicle to Tafe access had I been informed that I would be charged.

I am writing to you also for more help. Please help me feel proud of owing a Skoda. I have 1 other issue that I have discussed in this email that need attention. The issue with starting the vehicle after a few days.

Look forward to help in this front.