[Resolved]  Skoda India — Skoda rapid tdi injector failure

Address:	673507
Website:	www.skoda-auto.co.in

Hello,

My skoda rapid highline tdi, bought on 7/2/2012, had an issue of a blinking "emission and coil" indicator, in between a drive. This was on 7th january 2016.
When it was taken to the pinnacle service station kozhikode, kerala, they diagnosed and the issue to be with fuel injection system. One of the injector had stopped working and it needed replacement.
The car has covered just 48, 000 kms. After a lot of discussion and negotiations, the faulty part was replaced at a rate of rs 7000. Thanks to the service center guys.

Last friday again the car showed the same “emission and coil" indicator while i was travelling out of station during night.
Since the car was not drivable at all, i was forced to cancel the trip.

Again the car was taken to the same service station and the issue was diagnosed to be same; fuel injection system failure. Another injector has stopped working!
The service station has informed me that the part costs almost rs 24000 and they had sent a detailed report to the skoda technical team and their reply was to change the part at 60% of the cost.

The initial reason seems to be fuel adulteration, but as all car owners, i fill it from the psu outlets like bharat petroleum, hp etc., so we are wondering about the reliability of a skoda ignition system to be faulty before covering 50, 000 kms.

After a detailed research, we found that there are many vehicles in the same service station with the same problem. And there are huge number of such complaints that i come across in internet at places like https://www.consumercomplaints.in.
My real concern is with the other two injectors. What if they stop working tomorrow/at night, when i am alone?! Being a doctor, i am used to travel at night and mostly alone.
Premium cars are bought to be reliable not to be parked on road sides and to wait for assistance.

This definitely raises a question on the reliability of a world class automobile manufacturer. This is after a paid service on 19 march 2016, with all service needs requested by the service team.
In fact all the service had been done at skoda service center itself.

Having said this, i sincerely hope that skoda india will bear the maximum cost to replace all the remaining 3 injectors, since they are not ready to recall cars to fix the issue, for its unreliability in this case and value your esteemed customers.
Faulty injector is a quality issue rather than a usage problem. When car is bough from skoda, reliability is the most looked upon factor. But the experience make me feel otherwise.
My expectation from skoda is that the parts will be changed free of cost and the issue will be closed so that it never happen again in future.
Otherwise i can never suggest my colleagues/friends/family to go for vw cars. I am saying with a heavy heart because that was the reputation i have for vw cars.

Major issues faced with the car in the past:
1. 3 out of 4 abs sensors failed on 3 different occasions and i was forced to replace them at a total cost of rs 20, 000.
2. Fuel pump in the fuel tank had stopped working and again i was stuck on road.
I had to tow the car to the service station. It was replaced at a rate of rs 11, 000.
3. Injector failure. Replaced at a rate of rs 9000.

If such major components are failing what is meant by “simply clever”.
I had owned several mahindras, maruthis, toyotas. Above said issues were never heard of in cars of made by other companies.

Best regards,
Dr. Dinesan a
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