'Dieselgate' it ain't getting any better

[LobbyLudd]

A well known company have been proud to boast 'the worlds largest (and most trusted) car producer' and always used to be identified with an advertising strapline - 'If everything in life was as reliable as a ........ It has now been predicted they will probably face a bill of at least around 30 billion for their blatant dishonesty for the installation of intentional 'cheating' technology of emissions testing.

Having just received a letter in the guise of an 'essential required recall' on my present 'modern' bought nearly new almost a year ago (that at the moment enjoys 'nil' V.E.D band) is actually one of those models effected (also I have since discovered that they have used dubious and crafty insertion of the official uk vehicle and licencing agency logo on the recall letter just to make it appear even more urgent and official) However it is now turning out that thousands of owners that have taken their cars in to their dealer for this so called 'technical modification' to deal with the emissions cheating software (plus with certain models specific hardware) have in increasing numbers experienced loss of power,noisy running,stalling and most worrying the vehicle going into a very slow 'limp' mode without warning whilst driving at speed on busy motorways.
Vehicles that have had this 'fix' have also now been reported to have lost residual value overnight.

After the BBC Watchdog report on 12th July I am certainly not rushing to have any modification that has been increasingly discovered as clear evidence of what is actually now a rather 'botched' and unproven 'fix' by this 'world leading' company that has lost even more of my trust that I used have in the past.
This company still maintains there is now absolutely no problems - it appears like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

[Sleeper]

As you didn't buy it new from the dealer,maybe they are working hand in hand with the DVLA to find current owners , hence the use of the DVLA logo?

John

[LobbyLudd]

Meanwhile in Germany .. that according to international news agency Reuters documents recently leaked from the German KBA ( an official motor industry watchdog authority, I understand ) owners opting to refuse the controversial (now labelled as a ' short term botch' increasingly in America, throughout the EU , and in many other independant countries ) emissions 'fix' will face having their vehicles taken off the road !.

[LobbyLudd]

As you didn't buy it new from the dealer,maybe they are working hand in hand with the DVLA to find current owners , hence the use of the DVLA logo?

John

Correction, I should have stated it was the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Logo ( DVSA , Not the DVLA logo ) The controversy with this is that a vehicle 'recall' is a 'required' safety/fault issue monitiored by DVSA . This is not actually described anywhere by the manufacturers as a 'recall' it has been described a 'servicing incentive' that actually therfor does not become a requirement but a choice by the owner as to whether they choose to have the 'cheating' technology altered.

[Trickydicky]

If you take it to the main dealer for a routine service will they implement the recall as part of this?

[LobbyLudd]

If you take it to the main dealer for a routine service will they implement the recall as part of this?

This is one of the hot topics at the moment within this extraordinary automotive issue.
The main franchise dealer apparently should not/cannot lawfully do this modification without the customer's approval as the parent company responsible are not permitted to refer to this as an 'official safety or faulty parts recall' Instead the letters sent to us with vehicles that are effected refer to a 'Technical Modification' and no mention of a required recall is stated .
Some owners have however already reported that this work has already been carried out during a routine service wthout their agreement or permission and many are wanting a reversal to the cars original condition having experienced the poor/ noisy/ lumpy running lack of power and the engine going into crawling limp mode. I understand several cases are in the hands of trading standards.
(I dont know how this applies in Germany or other EU countries effected by this emissions 'fix' as far as the service dealers access to work on their own customers vehicles affected by this issue.)

[D T Rennie]

If this is the company I think it is then I can say we've had no problems with our car after the update. We even got a free valet service for getting it updated.

[irmscher]

Was it Volkswagen ??

[LobbyLudd]

If this is the company I think it is then I can say we've had no problems with our car after the update. We even got a free valet service for getting it updated.

Very pleased to hear you have not experienced any of the problems that many others have reported after the technical modification.

Have tried to be tactful regards 'Site posting rules' in quoting company names and services I am not out to negatively criticise any company just for the sake of it. as it infers you may do in the site rules. I have merely wanted to report true facts about a company who have so far admitted to installing dubious 'cheating' technology in their vehicles. Customers who have trusted the company paid a premium price to purchase a vehicle that they assumed had excellent/ better emissions, also enjoyed low or zero road tax as an additional benefit . As a customer in this instance I feel misled by such a major company who have always I think otherwise made a very good reliable product.

(Yes it is the V.A.G. group ... VW,Seat,Skoda,Audi,Bentley,Bugatti,Lamborghini,Porsche,Ducati, and aditional commercial vehicles Scania and MAN so they are a fairly big concern.)

[les]

The only company I know that have admitted installing dubious technology is VW. Don't know the situation with the other listed makes.

[LobbyLudd]

The only company I know that have admitted installing dubious technology is VW. Don't know the situation with the other listed makes.

The automotive brands listed are all those the company actually own and manufacture. It was listed to illustrate how large V.A.G. (Volkswagen Group) are as a major world automotive company that most would presumably have expected to have in general 'ethical' and honest standards.

The VW group owned brands at the moment that VW Chiefs have admitted to have made an error of judgement in installing 'emission cheating technology' from that list are at the least specific models within the brands - Volkwagen /Seat/Skoda/Audi at this present time. Customers with vehicles effected have been sent ' technical modification servicing attention requirment' notices each with letter heading franchise logos of those makes with the endorsement and as being the initiative of V.A.G. (Volkwagen group)

[les]

Didn't realise the company manufacture all those makes. Wonder how much of the technology is common to all.

[SteveClem]

Pretty much all of it ,I would think. Cosmetic brand stuff is the only difference.
Even marques with very different heritage share most essential components now. Like Fiat and Jeep!

[irmscher]

Most use the same engines but badged on the cover differently .I had a Peugeot partner van and found out it was a Ford focus engine

[POMMReg]

Think Children should be taught life is a con & they'll be treated like mushrooms, ie; kept in the dark & fed shxt!

Between jobs atm, been offered wonderful opportunities such as "Chicken Catcher" & "Helal Slaughterer".....everything revolves around money, greed & conning people, morals,ethics & kindness goes out the window.

This occasion DERV ban - skip the worst killer, alcohol - next it'll be petrol, in fact ANYTHING the corporation's/government can exploit and get some money from.

[les]

Bad day Chris?

[LobbyLudd]

It's often difficult at first to realise who 'owns' who, wether world wide company or organisation and what was at one time was a small specialist company (now incorporated into to a giant umbrella concern) that made their own brand trusted and well known product.

e.g. Is a modern MG still recognised as an MG ??- I recently had some marketing material sent to me by a local MG franchise dealer for a marketing new MG model launch event and it had the opening line "Beautifully British" I am not outright criticising this but it made me think of their marketing strategy turning around in my head a bit !)

Without a the Brand name I suppose a car would be seen as just a steel box on wheels without an identity even if it is a marvel of modern engineering . Tarnishing their own brand name (as VW have recently admitted to) is the very last thing any firm or organisation want, but it seems sometimes the larger the company or organisation, wether manufactures. bankers or even political parties, influence and power does strange things to some individuals it seems

A lot of mid range cars seem to follow 'copy cat'general design features (particularly the many S.U.V.types) you have to look at the badging to discover what make of vehicle it actually is meant to represent .

[POMMReg]

Bad day Chris?

A day of muttering Ezekiel 25.17

[SteveClem]

Chill out mate. It's always better to see the cup as half full rather than half empty.
We all like a grumble but it's not a bad old world!

[firedrake1942]

Unless you are poor , in certain parts of the world as well as here, female, gay, young, trafficked, abused, starving, homeless, tortured, prisoner of conscience , without health care ( Third world and First world ) unjustly imprisoned.... but as long as its not happening to you, here , now...... its not a bad old world....