[GTO]

Rajesh KR shares his predicament with us via this page! He is clearly troubled & exasperated due to VW's poor response to this massive failure.

Dear Team-BHP,

Can you please help me to address this quality issue on your forum?

I purchased a VW Polo 1.0L TSI on 15/09/2020. On 09/05/2021, the engine failed and my car has been in the service center since. Within just 7 months time, the engine cylinder apparently failed. This is a serious issue with the new 1.0L TSI engine! The worst news is that, Volkswagen is not taking responsibility on this quality failure. The company's response is pathetic. Since the cars are purchased from the dealer, Volkswagen will never respond to you properly, even for a serious failure like this.

This is my personal opinion = never go for a brand like Volkswagen ever!

Dealer shared this information over the phone = one of the cylinders has gone bad. They are suspecting the head having some problem. Instead of ordering the complete head, they have ordered for the defective springs and a few other items. Cost factor!!! Spares are not available in the factory and we're waiting for the dispatch information. Nobody knows when it will come.

Dealer is willing to replace the parts under warranty. But my concern is, how can I trust this engine anymore??? I don’t know how & when it will get repaired. No assurance from the dealer either. Why is VW / the dealer not replacing the complete head/engine.

It is just a 7 month old vehicle and run for 25000 km. I'm worried about the quality of this new 1.0 TSI engine and the pathetic response from Volkswagen to an engine failure.

[Axe77]

Wow. This is just incredible. With the DSG woes aside, I thought more torque converter offerings being available meant VAG could provide more credible or peace of mind offerings to its customers. How can a 2020 model year car have an engine failure this soon is truly beyond me.

Firstly, it really shouldn't happen. Secondly, in the embarrassing event that it does, the company needs to be bending over backwards to setting it right as quickly and in as confidence inspiring a manner as possible. Will be good once we have some further analysis on the issue. Not sure what the ideal outcome ought to be. I'm not technically knowledgeable enough to understand whether the solution being provided by the dealer is adequate or not.

Hope this works out as best possible for the owner, fingers crossed.

[CEF_Beasts]

Earlier we would hear DSG failures especially the DQ200 but now the 1L TSI failing ! I haven’t heard any 1.2L TSI failing till date.

Seeing the kind of power and torque VW has managed to extract from a small 1L engine in itself was commendable but it must surely put a lot of strain on the engine and it’s corresponding parts to pull the car forward.

No wonder, what will happen to heavier cars like the Kushaq/Taigun with the 1L TSI and heavier weight to pull?!

Okay I agree something’s fail but VW should respond to such issues at the earliest otherwise it just destroys the brand further and further! At the end of the day, customer satisfaction should be top priority.

Hope the owner receives the much needed resolution from both VW India and the dealer involved.

[TrackDay]

This is embarrassing ! Last year after taking test drive of the same with a reliable torque convertor gearbox I had only praises for this little pocket rocket. While the factor of the engine being just 1 liter was there, that was the norm with upcoming launches. Even heavier vehicles are being launched with just 1 liter engines these days. Will have to see how these kinds of engine will age over time.

Looking forward to the customer getting this issue resolved at the earliest. A new car sitting in the service center for the past 2 months is definitely not looking good for the brand.

[nitkel]

I don't understand the relation between a defective cylinder and a head replacement. Can the owner share exactly which parts are being replaced? Still, what is worrisome is that it's been in the workshop for almost 2 months!

[Dr.Naren]

It is just a 7 month old vehicle and run for 25000 km. I'm worried about the quality of this new 1.0 TSI engine and the pathetic response from Volkswagen to an engine failure.

25k KM in 7 months!! Is it a typo ? 2500 km looks more realistic considering the lockdown.

If it's really 25k KM, I am curious to know the engine oil grade used by VW during the service. I remember few service centres using different engine oil than the one recommended. 0W20 is the recommended engine oil for all the newer TSI engines.

Edit: It is indeed 25k+ Kms, just saw it in the repair order. It would be great if the customer can share the previous service bills.

[abhi9044]

I just came back from reading Audi India's pathetic response to the oxidizing seats in a Bhpian's A4 and saw this post.

Seems like from upholstery to the mechanicals, nothing can be said to be reliable in these VAG cars. But what really boils my blood is the attitude with which they are tackling these issues. Seems like their entire India staff consists of people who frequently visit places like Sarojni(New Delhi) where they have picked up their bargaining skills.

Why would you bargain from a customer when his car has failed under warranty? And it's not even Extended Warranty ( Ahm ahm Audi India) where you can brush off things by saying that we don't include it in the extended warranty.

You know why Maruti still tops the sales charts? They sent INR 90,000 cheques to their customers who bought the S-Cross before it's price got slashed.

[pokerface23]

This is giving me shivers. I bought my Rapid TSI around the same time.

[Researcher]

Every time I read a Volkswagen-Skoda-Audi horror story, I feel bad for Zac Hollis and how these reports undo the good work he has been doing consistently for quite sometime. Desirable cars but at a risk, sadly.

Coming to the issue at hand, this is quite a lot of running in the short period of time (25k kms in just 8 months). Although this can be primarily a manufacturing defect, it would really help if the owner could share the bills of each service and members/owners here can confirm if all the maintenance was done as per schedule and if there are any discrepancies. Service centers are notorious for deferring some things citing low running or not old enough despite running the required distance.

[TSI47]

Though post is making me kind of nervous but I would really like to know the detailed report of the issue. As others have also shared their input over the good running this car has achieved in just 7months. Also did he experience any early signs of the failure as this might be helpful to us 1.0TSI owners.

[VivekCherian]

Originally Posted by Dr.Naren

I remember few service centres using different engine oil than the one recommended. 0W20 is the recommended engine oil for all the newer TSI engines.

I got a screengrab from my friend Sheethal, where it is mentioned that the newer grade is applicable only for the 1.5 TSi and 2.0 TSi and that the Polo / Vento 1.0 TSi continue with the older grade of engine oil. It mentions that the cost of the newer grade of oil is 960 per litre. The cost of the earlier spec (needed in the 1.0 MPi / 1.0 TSi / 1.2 MPi / 1.2TSi / 1.6 MPi / 1.8 TSi) was brought down to 650 per litre a few months back.



I checked the service cost calculator (Screenshot attached below for the 1st year / 15K KMs service costs for a Polo 1.0 TSi) and there too I believe the oil mentioned is the older one as the cost is shown as 551 per litre (excluding taxes. MRP on the bottle I bought from the VW ASC last week says 650 per litre.)

[Pancham]

This is really worrisome as I thought the 1.0L is their bread and butter engine. Nevertheless, the post does not contain adequate information. The car has run 25K in 7 months which means it must have visited the service centre at least twice for regular servicing in the last 7 months. No?

I am also confused about the issue here:

The worst news is that, Volkswagen is not taking responsibility on this quality failure. The company's response is pathetic. Since the cars are purchased from the dealer, Volkswagen will never respond to you properly, even for a serious failure like this.

But then:

Dealer is willing to replace the parts under warranty. But my concern is, how can I trust this engine anymore???

The dealer is changing the parts under warranty but does not have the parts readily available? is that the problem in addition to the fact that this breakdown is premature?

If it is under warranty, I dont see why the dealer will deliberately skimp on the costs.

Could this be due to any other reason? Driver/owner error? Just asking since there is not much information to play with in the post.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Researcher

Although this can be primarily a manufacturing defect, it would really help if the owner could share the bills of each service and members/owners here can confirm if all the maintenance was done as per schedule and if there are any discrepancies.

Just the fact that the repairs are happening under warranty indicates that the maintenance schedules have been adhered to. Dealers are very fast to reject warranties if otherwise!

Originally Posted by Pancham

The dealer is changing the parts under warranty but does not have the parts readily available? is that the problem in addition to the fact that this breakdown is premature?

My guess is, the owner is exasperated because of:

- The engine failure & breakdown

- This happening in a <1 year old car

- Selective changing of parts. If I were in his shoes, I would've been most comfortable with a brand new engine too.

- The long delay as parts have still not arrived.

- VW not communicating clearly with him.

- No courtesy car being offered.

- We all know that factory fit is factory fit. Will a dealer rebuilt engine be as good as a factory built one? Especially when it is such a complex 1.0L turbo petrol?

[Tgo]

This re-affirms my position that the % LOCALIZATION quoted by manufacturers are figures which are mere eyewash. They seem to follow the formula

# of localized parts * 100
________________

# of total parts

The play is on the definition of parts to improve the percentages to paint a positive image in minds of the masses.

I bet they follow the calculation in which the 3-4% of NON-localized part list goes like this

-Engine (complete assembly)
-Gearbox (complete assembly)
-ECU (Complete assembly)
-Infotainment system (complete assembly)
-Turbo (complete assembly)
-Radiator with fan (complete assembly)

That is why child parts of these assemblies have delayed availability from factory, more importantly - never at "localized" prices.

As a result, all that is available and at reasonable prices are components which never need replacement (seats, wiring harnesses, seats, panels).

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by GTO

- We all know that factory fit is factory fit. Will a dealer rebuilt engine be as good as a factory built one? Especially when it is such a complex 1.0L turbo petrol?

All valid points. Even when it is repaired, the customer’s confidence will forever be eroded if he has to continue using it.

One additional point: To make matters worse, whenever he goes to sell the car, whether in the near future or after some years, his service records will always show this major work which will definitely cause his price to fall or worse still, buyers simply being reluctant to even buy it at all. I would definitely not purchase a car like this even if he was discounting to market value.