Why I would never buy an Audi A1 again!

[Cooper]

Since owning my Audi A1 (2012 reg), purchased in 2016, I have had to have the rear lights replaced in their entirety SIX times. Each time the fault as shown on the dashboard is Vehicle Light Malfunction and I have no brake lights, reversing lights, indicators. Two large Audi service centres have worked on my car. Each time, they accept that water is entering into the rear light component and corroding the wiring. Hence a full replacement. I have written to Audi Customer Services several times, and had no redress. In fact, I was treated as if my request for help in identifying this issue was somehow my fault and I was being unreasonable. Once again, my lights have failed (today). To have the issue idenfied by the Audi Service Centre will cost £250 - even though their records show exactly what the issue is from the numerous times I have visited them. Then undoubtedly I will be told that the rear lights need replacing. This must surely be a record. Having loved my car, I now hate the make and wish for a uninspiring Vauxhall or Ford. Any suggestions as to how I can resolve this issue would be greatly appreciated.

[Magnet]

Hello Sharon,

Welcome and thanks for joining, and sorry to hear of your re-occurring issue. 
So it’s been proved that water ingress is the culprit here -?

Is this current set still under the 1 year parts warranty? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Cooper]

Yes, water ingress has been proven but Noone seems to be able to identify how it is getting in. Unfortunately the 1 year warranty has expired.

 

[cliffcoggin]

I admire your patience Sharon. I would have given up on Audis long ago if I had suffered the company's deplorable customer care.

[Rigger]

4 hours ago, Cooper said:

Yes, water ingress has been proven but Noone seems to be able to identify how it is getting in. Unfortunately the 1 year warranty has expired.

 

So this happened within the first year of your ownership?  Which would be less than 5 yrs since the car's first registration date?

 

I ask because you may have some redress here through use of consumer's right act (1st October 2015).  Basically you've 5 yrs in Scotland and 6 yrs in England, Wales and NI, through courts to show - using an expert - that the product was faulty all along.

 

I'll try and dig up more info.  Audi as with any other manufacturer will deny any fault.   You take them to court and they usually buckle before any judgement is passed, as they don't want to make a rod for their back.

A gentleman I know of took Apple to court in the UK over a faulty battery on a 5yr mac book.  Apple laughed and so they went to court.  Said gentleman won the case.  Apple now have a rod made regarding laptop batteries.   Foote v Apple.

Edited June 10 by Rigger

[thekwaze]

So sorry to hear of your repeated shoddy Audi experience.

I have just had an indicator light replaced on the boot of my 4.5 year old 18000 miles A3 Saloon.

Turns out there were 7 of the electrical wires broken, which is apparently common, due to bad design and/or materials used.

The cost for repair for the single light was £720 as the broken wires had shorted out the LED cluster.

I too contacted Audi Customer Services to enquire if this is a common issue.

The response was basically that the car is over 3 years old, so not their problem, so didn’t even answer my query and I think I know why.

I’ve owned 3 Audis and 8 VW Golfs over the years and have found that the newer release they are, the more unreliable they have become.

This is just the latest of several failures and for me the last straw, so suffice to say I will now be leaving the VW/Audi brand.

My advice would be that if you are replacing parts, try to obtained anything but O.E.M. as there will be a better chance of them lasting.

Volvo looks to be favourite for me at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how that goes.

Edited July 11 by thekwaze
Video added

[Cooper]

It is really abysmal.  The icing on the cake was when Audi Customer Service asked me to review their service BUT not to comment on the underlying and continual problem, the vehicle light malfunction !!

[thekwaze]

Couldn't make it up they are so bad. They just don't care. Oddly, after my response to them, they didn't ask me to leave a review of their service, or should I say lack of it!

[enc]

This is terrible! Has the issue been sorted? 

[thekwaze]

Audi are not interested in customer care and as a result I'm test driving a Volvo today.

Whether I buy a Volvo or not I certainly won't touch Audi again, not that they could care.

The fuel filler cover locked shut at about 2.5 years old, which was another fiasco not covered by warranty, which gave me a taster of things to come.

Aside from all that I have noticed that Audi drivers seem to be getting the same stigma/reputation as BMW drivers, so time to swap to something else!