[akash_v12]

Hi Incognito, I understand that this is quite a harrowing experience for you. Apart from the customer care mail ID, please drop an email to vishal.bhat@volkswagen.co.in (ex-service head of VW) and ravichandran.p@volkswagen.co.in (current head for aftersales and service).

We had an issue with our 2016 Vento which the SC refused to acknowledge. As soon as mails were sent to them, the whole attitude of the dealer changed. Let me know if you would like any help!

[Incognito]

Originally Posted by akash_v12

Hi Incognito, I understand that this is quite a harrowing experience for you.

Thanks Akash ... this is very helpful.

Originally Posted by ike

Have you tried a different VW dealership by any chance?

Good point and I did consider this. But then all 3 Showrooms in Kolkata are run by same company PPS Motors and I did reach out to their senior folks of PPS Motors. So wasn’t sure the treatment would be any different since it is now known to all of them.

[The_Apex]

Complacency and lack of diligence are infested in almost all service centers. For most of the advisors and technicians it's just a routine leading to livelihood not passion for engineering. (Not all though)

So in such unfortunate situation please do not loose patience and push a little bit further to identify the issue from your end to save your steed from these noobs.

My suggestion would be, try to visually identify the rattling at various idling speeds from top of engine bay and also from beneath ( either by lifting or by climbing on an alignment peek hole type ramp).
This way we could be sure if the noise is coming from engine mount or any other static part as such which vibrate a bit upon revving the engine.

Then we can go for a tricky dyno type test across various revs. This way we can be sure about the gear box setup.
Which if true should be the responsibility of VW to fix or replace.

Otherwise it could be from the driveshaft or linkages.

Wish you all the best and I hope the issue to be a minor one.

[Ltinsane]

Originally Posted by Doge

i would suggest connecting a cheap but semi professional wired mic to your phone and record the sound inside

Yes, modern phones have inbuilt noise cancellation/suppression systems which work a little too well and make it harder to record such rattle sounds.

It's a sad day when you realize you might have been sold a lemon. I just hope that's not the case for OP.

[ike]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I am not a lawyer but...

As I see it, it is contractual issue, and this dealer sold him the car, failing to deliver a perfect vehicle.

To be honest, I don't see the car being replaced for what is essentially a rattle(not sure where it emanates from). Most rattles are usually fixable. Let's say you are a judge hearing this case and you are obliged to hear both sides. The fair thing I'd believe is to let the dealership fix the car, obviously after establishing beyond doubt that there's an issue.

[Incognito]

Update: After sending a mail to Piyush Arora narrating the incident and mentioning that I am sending a legal notice, received a call back from someone in VKW that they are sending a technician over, who is not part of the dealership, to investigate.

After what I have been through, no reason to believe them unless someone really shows up and acknowledges the problem to start with. Thanks all for your inputs and support so far. Will keep you posted.

[Incognito]

The issue of the sound persists. Also the mileage of the car was clocked at 7.0 kmpl - full tank to full tank. This is a GT Line 1.0 AT. Legal notice sent with a 14 day deadline to fix the problem. The deadline expires today. Will soon start formal legal proceedings.

The updates so far -

The car was once again taken to the workshop. The PPS motors folks mentioned that a VKW technician will come to the workshop and provide the update. After 6 days I received the following message "this sound is operational and there will be no issue on drive ability, comfort and performance of the vehicle". I thanked them for acknowledging the sound and asked them to send me the root cause. I took delivery of the car again mentioning the problem is not resolved.

On sending a legal notice and asking for a report on the cause of the sound repeatedly, the GM of the PPS Motors workshop in Kolkata, Sabyaschi Bhattacharjee, arranged a conference call with Christopher D'Souza (Senior Manager - Aftersales Quality and Customer Care). Christopher was appointed post the mail to the CEO to look into this case.

What transpired in the call was unthinkable. The workshop and VKW got into a heated argument with one another as to who will respond to me. 3 days have gone since that conference call and none has responded as expected.

[FanaticOnWheels]

This is quite a harrowing experience for a new vehicle. It looks like you have been sold a lemon, and I hope you get due legal recourse. Would you mind sharing a clip/video which shows the sound you are facing?

[Incognito]

The saga continues. Despite multiple followups at all levels both VKW and their dealer PPS Motors continued to maintain that the rattling sound and the low mileage are expected performance of the vehicle, VKW Taigun 1.0 AT. (In written comms they would say there is nothing wrong with your vehicle)

Left with no option I approached the Consumer Forum who found the complaint to be legitimate and summoned both parties for a pre-litigation mediation on the 28th of March. This is the norm, I was told.

While me and my legal counsel were at the venue at the time of the appointment, no one from VKW or the dealership turned up. When the office of the Assistant Director of the Consumer Forum called the phone numbers provided, they started disconnecting the calls. After an hour the Consumer Forum recommended us to file a Police Complaint and lodge the case with Consumer Commission. They provided us with a document stating that the party is unresponsive. Both docs are attached.

I understand that the company is in deep crisis but did not realize it is in such dire straits. Also based on the recent turn of events it might be prudent for all of us to avoid the brand and the dealership. I shall keep you posted on what transpires next and how deep this rabbit hole goes.

Consumer Forum Summon.pdf

Consumer Forum Outcome.pdf