ID 7 Ownership Experience - 190+ Days in the Dealership
Discussion
Unfortunately, not an exaggeration.
Stage 1 - Initial Issues
I got my ID 7 back in October of 2024. From memory, it was the last few days of October.
It arrived with a number of issues, which I couldn't easily check as it was quite late when the chap arrived with the car to drop it off.
I contacted VW and the leasing company about them, and was asked to put together a list of the issues - there were 16 of them, most of them quite well known. I spent time over a couple of months working out exactly when and how these issues present themselves, so that I could go to the dealer with concrete information.
I took my car into my local VW dealership in Feb of 2025, with the issues. I got the car back the next day having been told that they had fixed all of them "with a software update"
Here's the list I gave them:
1. Windows going down when trying to put them up
2. 12v battery low - can t use app
3. Not connected to internet
4. Windows permanently fogging even with AC on
5. CarPlay not connecting
6. Not charging at preferred times (having to change setting each time)
7. Car not charging at all (recent 21st/22nd Jan)
8. Keyless entry not working
9. Windscreen wipers juddering
10. Brake pedal judder at lower speed, jolting car
11. Infotainment crashing
12. HUD crashing
13. Twisted seatbelt from factory
14. HUD/front resonates/rattles with music
15. Trim in boot keeps coming out
16. Paint bubbling
As I'm sure you can see, many of these can't be resolved with a software update.
I picked them up on this on site, and they did manage to resolve 2 things:
13. Twisted Seatbelt - they untwisted it while I waited
16. Paint bubbling - this wasn't bubbling, but some kind of wax/paint which they could pick off. Same colour as the body, but they picked off 2 bits with their fingernail and said nothing to worry about. Fair enough, can probably tackle it myself when I next wash the car.
Every other issue remained.
Stage 2 - First Breakdown
In March, on my birthday no less, the car broke down entirely, in that all displays were black - HUD, driver display and infotainment screen. The car turned on, but you had no idea what was happening.
It was taken to another VW dealership, who had it for 37 days. They were given the same list of other issues to tackle.
We were given an MG5 which leaked water into the footwell when you used the windscreen wipers.
While it was in, they did the following:
1. AC repair - the condenser had a leak and it was repaired/recharged - this fixed the windows fogging.
2. The infotainment system was completely replaced, along with a cable - this took the most time as the part was on back order.
3. Software update
4. Replace wiper blades
When I picked up the car, every other issue still presented, including the wiper blades. The wipers were replaced again on that day with a part which had just arrived - apparently, the part had been revised due to a manufacturing defect with the current part number. New ones worked perfectly*.
I still couldn't charge the car reliably, the brake pedal still had an issue at lower speeds (it would flutter like it's on ABS making it really hard to control the braking), I still had issues with the infotainment, CarPlay GPS and windows.
Stage 3 - FOS
Over the next few months, I engaged the FOS, Lease company and VW, and tried to reject the car. They did offer me to reject it, but offered a frankly insulting amount of money to do so.
Should I have cut my losses at this point? Probably, but I had been made redundant and knew I wouldn't be able to get a car elsewhere if I rejected it outright without getting more money back.
I asked for a replacement car, but they wouldn't give me one.
I was driving this car with all of the issues present, and this really killed my confidence that the car could ever be properly repaired.
In Q3 of 2025, the FOS picked up my case and rejected my complaint on the basis that they felt the lease company had done enough to reject the car, on a technicality that I first sent an email to the FOS about the issue before I got the car back with all of the problems.
Their argument was that because when they were contacted, the car was in for repair and hadn't yet had a failed repair, the lease company had done everything they were legally required to.
I did explain that the car still had all the issues, but they asked me to raise another complaint with them - given this took about 5/6 months to be processed, I thought I'd try with the lease company to resolve.
VW wouldn't deal with me because I wasn't the owner of the car - end of conversation. No help at all.
Stage 4 - Breakdown number 2
October 2025. While on the way to work, the car died again. Complete disconnection of the infotainment system like before, except the screens did come back, but no info displayed. It was reading 0 MPH and warning me that the display could not connect to the car.
Back into VW, a different one this time.
Given a Subaru electric, which smelt of smoke - this went back. Given a Vauxhall Grandland electric, which was fine until the regen system malfunctioned completely. Given a Merc EQA, which was fine until I got the car back.
This VW garage were a lot better. More engaged with replies, more updates, but nevertheless they had my car for over 40 days. It was sometime in December when I got it back.
They had:
1. Replaced much of the infotainment control systems again
2. Replaced the 12V battery
3. Replaced the brake pedal servo
4. Full software update and overhaul
It required the front end of the car to be completely disassembled, which introduced a LOT of rattles
At this point, the car had had in excess of £20,000 work done from what I could work out from invoices I saw (but could not have copies of unfortunately).
On December 4th, I got the car back. It was the first time it mostly worked.
Over the next few months, here's what I ticked off the list:
1. Windows going down when trying to put them up
2. 12v battery low - can t use app
3. Not connected to internet
4. Windows permanently fogging even with AC on
5. CarPlay not connecting
6. Not charging at preferred times (having to change setting each time)
7. Car not charging at all (recent 21st/22nd Jan)
8. Keyless entry not working
9. Windscreen wipers juddering Though the wipers had already perished by this point - lasted barely 6 months.
10. Brake pedal judder at lower speed, jolting car
11. Infotainment crashing - had it once or twice over 2 months
12. HUD crashing - had it once or twice over 2 months
13. Twisted seatbelt from factory (resolved)
14. HUD/front resonates/rattles with music - this got worse with the disassembly of the car
15. Trim in boot keeps coming out
16. Paint bubbling (resolved)
Stage 5 - Breakdown number 3
On the 12th of Feb of this year, the car died again when on the way home from an office 1.5 hours away. Full crash of the computer systems like before, but they all recovered except for the networking.
The impact of this was:
1. No SOS system
2. No internet
3. No speed sign recognition - shouldn't be an issue, but the car would give you a warning message every time you passed a speed sign, distracting you with the error tone and message.
4. No timed charging - I could not disconnect the charging app from the car, so it would not charge at specific times.
Broadly, impossible to drive as you'd get so many warning messages, you couldn't concentrate on the road itself.
Back into the same VW dealer as before, but this time with a VW issued courtesy car - and ID 4. Had no issues with this, it worked perfectly.
I had still been trying to resolve this with the lease company, but they offered me £700 to take the car back, despite paying for a faulty car for 18 months. They wouldn't offer a replacement.
I couldn't take this offer, because we were in the process of buying a house and had a mortgage application going through - I didn't want to risk it being rejected by taking out finance to get another car.
I got my car back on the 20th of March. It died again that evening.
Stage 6 - Breakdown number 4
It went back to VW the following day, with the SOS/networking issue and a new issue - reduced power and range. The blue bar for power would no longer go to the end, indicating power loss. This is normal when on low charge, but the car had 70%. The courtesy car didn't have this at any charge % I got it down to. I'd never seen this on the ID 7 before.
The car is still with them. No ETA as the part is made to order with no timeframe.
I have still been fighting this with the lease company, and they have outright refused to do anything else.
My options are:
1. FOS again - slow, and not convinced they're actually useful based on my experience with them. If I didn't get a favourable decision, which is opinion based on what's "fair", not required, then I'd need to then go with option 2
2. Court - another slow process which I'm going through with a dealership for mis-selling a car.
This post ISN'T a name and shame. It ISN'T a "EV bad".
I love the ID 7 when it works. It's probably my favourite car. But the stress and lack of confidence in it have broken my faith in VAG. Based on my experience, I would never own another VAG product, and I wouldn't lease from the company I lease from. I'm not sure I'm allowed to mention them based on the rules of this forum.
I would still buy an EV, because for me the overall package better suits me than ICE for the 15k miles a year I do.
Any recommendations on how best to proceed with this would be appreciated, as I am rather low on energy, and still paying for a car which I don't physically have in my possession.
Stage 1 - Initial Issues
I got my ID 7 back in October of 2024. From memory, it was the last few days of October.
It arrived with a number of issues, which I couldn't easily check as it was quite late when the chap arrived with the car to drop it off.
I contacted VW and the leasing company about them, and was asked to put together a list of the issues - there were 16 of them, most of them quite well known. I spent time over a couple of months working out exactly when and how these issues present themselves, so that I could go to the dealer with concrete information.
I took my car into my local VW dealership in Feb of 2025, with the issues. I got the car back the next day having been told that they had fixed all of them "with a software update"
Here's the list I gave them:
1. Windows going down when trying to put them up
2. 12v battery low - can t use app
3. Not connected to internet
4. Windows permanently fogging even with AC on
5. CarPlay not connecting
6. Not charging at preferred times (having to change setting each time)
7. Car not charging at all (recent 21st/22nd Jan)
8. Keyless entry not working
9. Windscreen wipers juddering
10. Brake pedal judder at lower speed, jolting car
11. Infotainment crashing
12. HUD crashing
13. Twisted seatbelt from factory
14. HUD/front resonates/rattles with music
15. Trim in boot keeps coming out
16. Paint bubbling
As I'm sure you can see, many of these can't be resolved with a software update.
I picked them up on this on site, and they did manage to resolve 2 things:
13. Twisted Seatbelt - they untwisted it while I waited
16. Paint bubbling - this wasn't bubbling, but some kind of wax/paint which they could pick off. Same colour as the body, but they picked off 2 bits with their fingernail and said nothing to worry about. Fair enough, can probably tackle it myself when I next wash the car.
Every other issue remained.
Stage 2 - First Breakdown
In March, on my birthday no less, the car broke down entirely, in that all displays were black - HUD, driver display and infotainment screen. The car turned on, but you had no idea what was happening.
It was taken to another VW dealership, who had it for 37 days. They were given the same list of other issues to tackle.
We were given an MG5 which leaked water into the footwell when you used the windscreen wipers.
While it was in, they did the following:
1. AC repair - the condenser had a leak and it was repaired/recharged - this fixed the windows fogging.
2. The infotainment system was completely replaced, along with a cable - this took the most time as the part was on back order.
3. Software update
4. Replace wiper blades
When I picked up the car, every other issue still presented, including the wiper blades. The wipers were replaced again on that day with a part which had just arrived - apparently, the part had been revised due to a manufacturing defect with the current part number. New ones worked perfectly*.
I still couldn't charge the car reliably, the brake pedal still had an issue at lower speeds (it would flutter like it's on ABS making it really hard to control the braking), I still had issues with the infotainment, CarPlay GPS and windows.
Stage 3 - FOS
Over the next few months, I engaged the FOS, Lease company and VW, and tried to reject the car. They did offer me to reject it, but offered a frankly insulting amount of money to do so.
Should I have cut my losses at this point? Probably, but I had been made redundant and knew I wouldn't be able to get a car elsewhere if I rejected it outright without getting more money back.
I asked for a replacement car, but they wouldn't give me one.
I was driving this car with all of the issues present, and this really killed my confidence that the car could ever be properly repaired.
In Q3 of 2025, the FOS picked up my case and rejected my complaint on the basis that they felt the lease company had done enough to reject the car, on a technicality that I first sent an email to the FOS about the issue before I got the car back with all of the problems.
Their argument was that because when they were contacted, the car was in for repair and hadn't yet had a failed repair, the lease company had done everything they were legally required to.
I did explain that the car still had all the issues, but they asked me to raise another complaint with them - given this took about 5/6 months to be processed, I thought I'd try with the lease company to resolve.
VW wouldn't deal with me because I wasn't the owner of the car - end of conversation. No help at all.
Stage 4 - Breakdown number 2
October 2025. While on the way to work, the car died again. Complete disconnection of the infotainment system like before, except the screens did come back, but no info displayed. It was reading 0 MPH and warning me that the display could not connect to the car.
Back into VW, a different one this time.
Given a Subaru electric, which smelt of smoke - this went back. Given a Vauxhall Grandland electric, which was fine until the regen system malfunctioned completely. Given a Merc EQA, which was fine until I got the car back.
This VW garage were a lot better. More engaged with replies, more updates, but nevertheless they had my car for over 40 days. It was sometime in December when I got it back.
They had:
1. Replaced much of the infotainment control systems again
2. Replaced the 12V battery
3. Replaced the brake pedal servo
4. Full software update and overhaul
It required the front end of the car to be completely disassembled, which introduced a LOT of rattles
At this point, the car had had in excess of £20,000 work done from what I could work out from invoices I saw (but could not have copies of unfortunately).
On December 4th, I got the car back. It was the first time it mostly worked.
Over the next few months, here's what I ticked off the list:
1. Windows going down when trying to put them up
11. Infotainment crashing - had it once or twice over 2 months
12. HUD crashing - had it once or twice over 2 months
14. HUD/front resonates/rattles with music - this got worse with the disassembly of the car
Stage 5 - Breakdown number 3
On the 12th of Feb of this year, the car died again when on the way home from an office 1.5 hours away. Full crash of the computer systems like before, but they all recovered except for the networking.
The impact of this was:
1. No SOS system
2. No internet
3. No speed sign recognition - shouldn't be an issue, but the car would give you a warning message every time you passed a speed sign, distracting you with the error tone and message.
4. No timed charging - I could not disconnect the charging app from the car, so it would not charge at specific times.
Broadly, impossible to drive as you'd get so many warning messages, you couldn't concentrate on the road itself.
Back into the same VW dealer as before, but this time with a VW issued courtesy car - and ID 4. Had no issues with this, it worked perfectly.
I had still been trying to resolve this with the lease company, but they offered me £700 to take the car back, despite paying for a faulty car for 18 months. They wouldn't offer a replacement.
I couldn't take this offer, because we were in the process of buying a house and had a mortgage application going through - I didn't want to risk it being rejected by taking out finance to get another car.
I got my car back on the 20th of March. It died again that evening.
Stage 6 - Breakdown number 4
It went back to VW the following day, with the SOS/networking issue and a new issue - reduced power and range. The blue bar for power would no longer go to the end, indicating power loss. This is normal when on low charge, but the car had 70%. The courtesy car didn't have this at any charge % I got it down to. I'd never seen this on the ID 7 before.
The car is still with them. No ETA as the part is made to order with no timeframe.
I have still been fighting this with the lease company, and they have outright refused to do anything else.
My options are:
1. FOS again - slow, and not convinced they're actually useful based on my experience with them. If I didn't get a favourable decision, which is opinion based on what's "fair", not required, then I'd need to then go with option 2
2. Court - another slow process which I'm going through with a dealership for mis-selling a car.
This post ISN'T a name and shame. It ISN'T a "EV bad".
I love the ID 7 when it works. It's probably my favourite car. But the stress and lack of confidence in it have broken my faith in VAG. Based on my experience, I would never own another VAG product, and I wouldn't lease from the company I lease from. I'm not sure I'm allowed to mention them based on the rules of this forum.
I would still buy an EV, because for me the overall package better suits me than ICE for the 15k miles a year I do.
Any recommendations on how best to proceed with this would be appreciated, as I am rather low on energy, and still paying for a car which I don't physically have in my possession.
Edited by Deviation on Monday 18th May 11:01
This is really interesting, beyond the actual issues with the car, and not the first time I've heard of a lease going wrong. A friend had a very similar experience with a different brand of car, 2 year of totally useless transport in exchange for a hefty lease payment every month. Countless hours of letter writing, phone calls, and misery. The one key takeaway for me from his saga was your point about VW not dealing with you because you don't own the car. That kills all your power over the dealer, because you cannot escalate to anyone above the dealer, who are the only people who can fix the car.
That made me quite sure I would never lease a car. It absolutely shuts the door on any resolution (including via finance company) without a good dollop of luck and goodwill from somewhere, which you can't rely on.
The lease company don't care, they don't have to drive it or live with it, they'll just keep taking your monthly whether your car works or not. You can't withhold payment, you have no legal grounds, and risk your credit record. They seem to have far too much leeway, far beyond what a consumer should be entitled to (i.e. a working car in exchange for hundreds of £ per month). But you don't pay them, you pay a finance company, the lease company are just a broker, and you're just one customer, so they're not going to put their hands in their pockets to help, or fight on your behalf. Cheaper to lose your repeat business, especially as leasers are going to shop around anyway, there's no customer retention or loyalty to one lease company.
The dealers don't care, they didn't sell you the car, and you're not likely to order your next car from them, so they're not invested in your custom on the sales side. On the service side, they can only do what the warranty playbook says. They'll put in more effort if the manufacturer signs it off, or leans on them, but...
The manufacturer will only talk to the owner of the car, not you.
The finance company did get involved in my friend's case, but ultimately it didn't change anything in the lease company vs customer vs manufacturer vs dealer hell. He has an (inferior) courtesy car for the remainder of the lease, as I understand it, but is still on the hook for payments until it's over.
It seems massively at odds with consumer law in the rest of our lives, which is heavily weighted towards the customer getting a working product. I don't know if this is just consumer law not quite keeping up with the leasing model, but I would rather pay the depreciation on a car I own, or a high APR % on a PCP or loan, than risk getting stuck in your hell. There's not a lease deal on the planet that could tempt me now, especially in this age of cars you cannot possibly diagnose at home. Low risk, sure, but if anything goes wrong you're stuck for the lease term with an absolute duffer. No way out. You can't even WBAC it and put it down to experience.
You have my absolute sympathy.
As suggested above, you do need to speak to the finance company (not the lease company, the actual financer), as they do actually have some weight as the owner of the vehicle. You're still stuck proxying all the information about the current issues through third parties, unable to deal directly with the manufacturer or dealer as an owner would, but it might help.
That made me quite sure I would never lease a car. It absolutely shuts the door on any resolution (including via finance company) without a good dollop of luck and goodwill from somewhere, which you can't rely on.
The lease company don't care, they don't have to drive it or live with it, they'll just keep taking your monthly whether your car works or not. You can't withhold payment, you have no legal grounds, and risk your credit record. They seem to have far too much leeway, far beyond what a consumer should be entitled to (i.e. a working car in exchange for hundreds of £ per month). But you don't pay them, you pay a finance company, the lease company are just a broker, and you're just one customer, so they're not going to put their hands in their pockets to help, or fight on your behalf. Cheaper to lose your repeat business, especially as leasers are going to shop around anyway, there's no customer retention or loyalty to one lease company.
The dealers don't care, they didn't sell you the car, and you're not likely to order your next car from them, so they're not invested in your custom on the sales side. On the service side, they can only do what the warranty playbook says. They'll put in more effort if the manufacturer signs it off, or leans on them, but...
The manufacturer will only talk to the owner of the car, not you.
The finance company did get involved in my friend's case, but ultimately it didn't change anything in the lease company vs customer vs manufacturer vs dealer hell. He has an (inferior) courtesy car for the remainder of the lease, as I understand it, but is still on the hook for payments until it's over.
It seems massively at odds with consumer law in the rest of our lives, which is heavily weighted towards the customer getting a working product. I don't know if this is just consumer law not quite keeping up with the leasing model, but I would rather pay the depreciation on a car I own, or a high APR % on a PCP or loan, than risk getting stuck in your hell. There's not a lease deal on the planet that could tempt me now, especially in this age of cars you cannot possibly diagnose at home. Low risk, sure, but if anything goes wrong you're stuck for the lease term with an absolute duffer. No way out. You can't even WBAC it and put it down to experience.
You have my absolute sympathy.
As suggested above, you do need to speak to the finance company (not the lease company, the actual financer), as they do actually have some weight as the owner of the vehicle. You're still stuck proxying all the information about the current issues through third parties, unable to deal directly with the manufacturer or dealer as an owner would, but it might help.
Jermy Claxon said:
This is really interesting, beyond the actual issues with the car, and not the first time I've heard of a lease going wrong. A friend had a very similar experience with a different brand of car, 2 year of totally useless transport in exchange for a hefty lease payment every month. Countless hours of letter writing, phone calls, and misery. The one key takeaway for me from his saga was your point about VW not dealing with you because you don't own the car. That kills all your power over the dealer, because you cannot escalate to anyone above the dealer, who are the only people who can fix the car.
That made me quite sure I would never lease a car. It absolutely shuts the door on any resolution (including via finance company) without a good dollop of luck and goodwill from somewhere, which you can't rely on.
The lease company don't care, they don't have to drive it or live with it, they'll just keep taking your monthly whether your car works or not. You can't withhold payment, you have no legal grounds, and risk your credit record. They seem to have far too much leeway, far beyond what a consumer should be entitled to (i.e. a working car in exchange for hundreds of £ per month). But you don't pay them, you pay a finance company, the lease company are just a broker, and you're just one customer, so they're not going to put their hands in their pockets to help, or fight on your behalf. Cheaper to lose your repeat business, especially as leasers are going to shop around anyway, there's no customer retention or loyalty to one lease company.
The dealers don't care, they didn't sell you the car, and you're not likely to order your next car from them, so they're not invested in your custom on the sales side. On the service side, they can only do what the warranty playbook says. They'll put in more effort if the manufacturer signs it off, or leans on them, but...
The manufacturer will only talk to the owner of the car, not you.
The finance company did get involved in my friend's case, but ultimately it didn't change anything in the lease company vs customer vs manufacturer vs dealer hell. He has an (inferior) courtesy car for the remainder of the lease, as I understand it, but is still on the hook for payments until it's over.
It seems massively at odds with consumer law in the rest of our lives, which is heavily weighted towards the customer getting a working product. I don't know if this is just consumer law not quite keeping up with the leasing model, but I would rather pay the depreciation on a car I own, or a high APR % on a PCP or loan, than risk getting stuck in your hell. There's not a lease deal on the planet that could tempt me now, especially in this age of cars you cannot possibly diagnose at home. Low risk, sure, but if anything goes wrong you're stuck for the lease term with an absolute duffer. No way out. You can't even WBAC it and put it down to experience.
You have my absolute sympathy.
As suggested above, you do need to speak to the finance company (not the lease company, the actual financer), as they do actually have some weight as the owner of the vehicle. You're still stuck proxying all the information about the current issues through third parties, unable to deal directly with the manufacturer or dealer as an owner would, but it might help.
In this case, the finance company are the lease company :/That made me quite sure I would never lease a car. It absolutely shuts the door on any resolution (including via finance company) without a good dollop of luck and goodwill from somewhere, which you can't rely on.
The lease company don't care, they don't have to drive it or live with it, they'll just keep taking your monthly whether your car works or not. You can't withhold payment, you have no legal grounds, and risk your credit record. They seem to have far too much leeway, far beyond what a consumer should be entitled to (i.e. a working car in exchange for hundreds of £ per month). But you don't pay them, you pay a finance company, the lease company are just a broker, and you're just one customer, so they're not going to put their hands in their pockets to help, or fight on your behalf. Cheaper to lose your repeat business, especially as leasers are going to shop around anyway, there's no customer retention or loyalty to one lease company.
The dealers don't care, they didn't sell you the car, and you're not likely to order your next car from them, so they're not invested in your custom on the sales side. On the service side, they can only do what the warranty playbook says. They'll put in more effort if the manufacturer signs it off, or leans on them, but...
The manufacturer will only talk to the owner of the car, not you.
The finance company did get involved in my friend's case, but ultimately it didn't change anything in the lease company vs customer vs manufacturer vs dealer hell. He has an (inferior) courtesy car for the remainder of the lease, as I understand it, but is still on the hook for payments until it's over.
It seems massively at odds with consumer law in the rest of our lives, which is heavily weighted towards the customer getting a working product. I don't know if this is just consumer law not quite keeping up with the leasing model, but I would rather pay the depreciation on a car I own, or a high APR % on a PCP or loan, than risk getting stuck in your hell. There's not a lease deal on the planet that could tempt me now, especially in this age of cars you cannot possibly diagnose at home. Low risk, sure, but if anything goes wrong you're stuck for the lease term with an absolute duffer. No way out. You can't even WBAC it and put it down to experience.
You have my absolute sympathy.
As suggested above, you do need to speak to the finance company (not the lease company, the actual financer), as they do actually have some weight as the owner of the vehicle. You're still stuck proxying all the information about the current issues through third parties, unable to deal directly with the manufacturer or dealer as an owner would, but it might help.
Wow you have been very understanding (more than me!)
I have rejected a few in broadly similar circumstances
A Volvo XC90 in 2018 with numerous similar electrical issues , This was 9 months old and the manufacturer/ dealer needed a little conversational perspective to encourage them to be reasonable . This took a while , probably around 4 months
A full fat disco with a new engine required at 250 miles . The manufacturer was excellent and the whole thing was wrapped up in a couple of weeks
My advice is to insist on a like for like replacement (dealers and manufacturers get concerned about costs of hire cars mounting up!) and be straightforward , honest and open
The other advice that was given to me is that the relationship is with the supplying dealer and the conversation should go through them (ideally at after sales manager/ director level
Hope this helps
Best of luck
I have rejected a few in broadly similar circumstances
A Volvo XC90 in 2018 with numerous similar electrical issues , This was 9 months old and the manufacturer/ dealer needed a little conversational perspective to encourage them to be reasonable . This took a while , probably around 4 months
A full fat disco with a new engine required at 250 miles . The manufacturer was excellent and the whole thing was wrapped up in a couple of weeks
My advice is to insist on a like for like replacement (dealers and manufacturers get concerned about costs of hire cars mounting up!) and be straightforward , honest and open
The other advice that was given to me is that the relationship is with the supplying dealer and the conversation should go through them (ideally at after sales manager/ director level
Hope this helps
Best of luck
jamesb2 said:
Wow you have been very understanding (more than me!)
I have rejected a few in broadly similar circumstances
A Volvo XC90 in 2018 with numerous similar electrical issues , This was 9 months old and the manufacturer/ dealer needed a little conversational perspective to encourage them to be reasonable . This took a while , probably around 4 months
A full fat disco with a new engine required at 250 miles . The manufacturer was excellent and the whole thing was wrapped up in a couple of weeks
My advice is to insist on a like for like replacement (dealers and manufacturers get concerned about costs of hire cars mounting up!) and be straightforward , honest and open
The other advice that was given to me is that the relationship is with the supplying dealer and the conversation should go through them (ideally at after sales manager/ director level
Hope this helps
Best of luck
Cheers, it’s a tricky one. I have rejected a few in broadly similar circumstances
A Volvo XC90 in 2018 with numerous similar electrical issues , This was 9 months old and the manufacturer/ dealer needed a little conversational perspective to encourage them to be reasonable . This took a while , probably around 4 months
A full fat disco with a new engine required at 250 miles . The manufacturer was excellent and the whole thing was wrapped up in a couple of weeks
My advice is to insist on a like for like replacement (dealers and manufacturers get concerned about costs of hire cars mounting up!) and be straightforward , honest and open
The other advice that was given to me is that the relationship is with the supplying dealer and the conversation should go through them (ideally at after sales manager/ director level
Hope this helps
Best of luck
I added up the new total today, and I’m up to 177 days - my 150 is evidently out of date!
Frustratingly, VW won’t deal with me at all, as I’m not the owner of the vehicle. I’ve tried numerous times but get the same response:
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the potential rejection of your vehicle. After reviewing your case, we’d like to clarify that as the vehicle is owned by LEASE COMPANY, and your agreement is held with them as the leasing company, any request to reject the vehicle must be discussed directly with LEASE COMPANY.
Jermy Claxon said:
I don't know if this is just consumer law not quite keeping up with the leasing model, but I would rather pay the depreciation on a car I own, or a high APR % on a PCP or loan, than risk getting stuck in your hell.
if it's on PCP or HP the finance company owns the car. So no different to a lease.Sheepshanks said:
No idea if it works or not, but maybe try one the consumer help"desks" like the Telegraph's one?
They might be interested in the broad point about who is responsible between the dealer, lease company, VW etc.
We’re on the same wavelength - I thought it would be worth a go, and did try it, but had no response from about 10 different papers unfortunately. They might be interested in the broad point about who is responsible between the dealer, lease company, VW etc.
Deviation said:
Still paying for a car which I don't physically have in my possession.
You have a contract/Lease.Edited by Deviation on Monday 18th May 11:01
Your obligation is to pay them for the car.
Their obligation is to supply you with that car to USE.
Have a look in the contract to see what it says about "replacement car" if the one you're paying for is unavailable.
I'd be interested to know what it says.
My mum had a VW e-up lease a year or two back. The car completely failed, took 3 months and going through escalation process to hand car back even though on adhoc contract because vwfs won't accept back a faulty car and it sat at VW derby. It was broken for most of the year extension, they offered £150 back which was one month's rental from memory. We accepted it just to get out of contract.
Will never get a VAG car again. Shocking CS, worse than sky
Will never get a VAG car again. Shocking CS, worse than sky
It is a long time ago now, but I bought a new VW Touareg V8 in 2004. Quite a high spec. The car immediately developeda loud buzz in the allegedly top grade sound system. Then it started to develop ground fault problems. I made numerous visits to the dealer and the car could not be made reliable; -numerous non-starts.
SO...I told them I wanted a new car. Nothing doing.
I escalated.
At the time I occasionally wrote in car magazines. I had a friend photoshop an image of the car covered in lemons and told VW I was going to get this done and to ship it at my expense to Wolfsburg. I would contact every press outlet and ensure maximum web coverage. I promised to make it the most famous Touareg on the planet and would ensure it was on every car site. I told them I would be happy to take their sales down.
I went to another dealer after I dumped the first one . They immediately offered me a 2005 car but it would be a few months so I got a free loaner...a VW Phaeton, (lovely thing for the summer).
I then found out that my company had a fleet contract with the first dealer. Got that blown up also.
The second car was flawless, service was great and I put 80,000 great miles on it.
I generally have had great dealers over numerous cars. This was an exception and I was to say the least a tad unhappy.
SO...I told them I wanted a new car. Nothing doing.
I escalated.
At the time I occasionally wrote in car magazines. I had a friend photoshop an image of the car covered in lemons and told VW I was going to get this done and to ship it at my expense to Wolfsburg. I would contact every press outlet and ensure maximum web coverage. I promised to make it the most famous Touareg on the planet and would ensure it was on every car site. I told them I would be happy to take their sales down.
I went to another dealer after I dumped the first one . They immediately offered me a 2005 car but it would be a few months so I got a free loaner...a VW Phaeton, (lovely thing for the summer).
I then found out that my company had a fleet contract with the first dealer. Got that blown up also.
The second car was flawless, service was great and I put 80,000 great miles on it.
I generally have had great dealers over numerous cars. This was an exception and I was to say the least a tad unhappy.
Trevor555 said:
You have a contract/Lease.
Your obligation is to pay them for the car.
Their obligation is to supply you with that car to USE.
Have a look in the contract to see what it says about "replacement car" if the one you're paying for is unavailable.
I'd be interested to know what it says.
I went through this with an AI tool and specific pointers. Your obligation is to pay them for the car.
Their obligation is to supply you with that car to USE.
Have a look in the contract to see what it says about "replacement car" if the one you're paying for is unavailable.
I'd be interested to know what it says.
Here’s what it came back with, which I have reviewed within the document to confirm its interpretation.
Demand a Repair or Reject the Vehicle: Clause 11(b) explicitly outlines that because you are an individual hiring this vehicle, you have the right to "demand a repair" or "reject the Vehicle" in accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Vehicle Replacement: Under Clause 4(e), LEASE COMPANY has the right to replace your vehicle with another one of the same model, similar age, and condition at any time during the agreement to fulfill their end of the contract.
Limitation of Liability (Refunds/Caps): Clause 11(b)(iii) states that LEASE COMPANY total aggregate liability to you will not exceed the total rentals payable under the agreement. This confirms you have a contractual basis to demand a refund or a waiver of the monthly £408 for the 192 days you were deprived of its use.
I have previously taken this to the lease company a number of times, most recently with a letter before action.
Their response was:
“I am satisfied that LEASE COMPANY have offered a way out of this contract with sufficient compensation and reimbursement, therefore if legal action is sought then we will defend this vigorously.”
Deviation said:
......
I have previously taken this to the lease company a number of times, most recently with a letter before action.
Their response was:
I am satisfied that LEASE COMPANY have offered a way out of this contract with sufficient compensation and reimbursement, therefore if legal action is sought then we will defend this vigorously.
It's obviously a complete nightmare but you could have walked away when they offered to have the car back, but I appreciate that would have been awkward for you. I had a faulty company car that was leased and the lease company just ended the lease early. If a lease car is written off the deal terminates, the car doesn't get replaced. I have previously taken this to the lease company a number of times, most recently with a letter before action.
Their response was:
I am satisfied that LEASE COMPANY have offered a way out of this contract with sufficient compensation and reimbursement, therefore if legal action is sought then we will defend this vigorously.
Another poster raises a point - what's going to happen at the end of the lease if it's still in the garage?
Sheepshanks said:
It's obviously a complete nightmare but you could have walked away when they offered to have the car back, but I appreciate that would have been awkward for you. I had a faulty company car that was leased and the lease company just ended the lease early. If a lease car is written off the deal terminates, the car doesn't get replaced.
Another poster raises a point - what's going to happen at the end of the lease if it's still in the garage?
It was just the timing really. I would have been car-less, which I understand isn’t their problem, however they do have a number of principles they must abide by, given they are regulated by the FCA. Another poster raises a point - what's going to happen at the end of the lease if it's still in the garage?
In my view, they’ve failed short of this.
Your last point is an interesting one and truth be told, I don’t know.
paul_c123 said:
If you've issued a letter before action and the response wasn't satisfactory, you need to now take action.
Is the lease a business lease or salary sacrifice?
It’s a personal leaseIs the lease a business lease or salary sacrifice?
After issuing the LBA, I sought legal advice and they recommended going to the FOS again, as the courts would want to see I have exhausted all avenues first.
I’m not 100% sold on this, but it’s a lengthy process either way.
Sorry to hear about your issues and sounds like a nightmare. I know it won't help and totally understand you don't trust VAG at all, but to defend them a little if I can, have had ICE cars from them for many years now and not had any problems. However, you aren't the first person I have seen on here to have these sorts of problems with their EV's and it is unacceptable. They should know better and can't trade on their laurels of the past IMO. This is why the Chinese in particular are ripping them to shreds (I think, might be wrong) with market share. Really hope you get this sorted and amicably and not out of pocket. But...also totally get the loss of faith in the brand. Had a horrendous experience with Mercedes and now will never own one again. Not because a dealership completely failed but the car had expensive issues (not as many as yours as you have had a lot by any standards) and however nice their cars may seem for the miles I do, it just isn't worth the aggravation buying one again.
Edited by AddyT. on Tuesday 2nd June 20:24
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