VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[Chris Pike]

Hello.

Further to receiving your the mail. I have been waiting 18months for repair on my 11 plate Cali. I have been in three times to vw and no one can give me any info on where I sit in a queue.

I feel the pain of all the problems I read about. Seems that the problem is accepted by vw, but not published. If I hear I'll post back.

Cheers.

Chris.

 

[philcod]

I have just found about the new process which VW have instigated. I have asked (demanded really but am prepared for disappointment) for a full specification of what is proposed and plus visuals.. The guy I spoke to at VWCS (sic) told me that the panel will be removed, the corrosion will be cleaned back to bare metal locally, a zinc primer will be applied, again locally to the patch of corrosion, the panel will be resprayed and a polyeurathane "cap" will be put over the whole thing. This begs the question:what about the rest of the panel where no corrosion is visible yet and where, he confirmed, no primer will be applied. I can only conclude VW will be relying on the 3 year warranty period to make this my problem not theirs!1 He confirmed that "new parts" would be covered by their 2 year warranty - not sure how that relates to a repaired panel? I expressed total dissatisfaction with whats been proposed. The repairer allocated to me (name with held as I dont want to drop them in it) confirmed that it was a bodge to save money. has anyone had the new repair done - what does it look like - particularly the "cap"? 3 years I've waited patiently for this - what a mug - I am incandescent!!!! I've just bought a new Golf - if only I'd known!!

 

[Billy]

I notice some people are saying that they are repairing it themselves, DO NOT DO THIS, you must report it as any repair will just return to bite you on the bum, and could invalidate your warranty. The official repairs costs thousands. Remember to peel back the rubber on the main roof as well as this is where it hides

 

[Custardtart]

Nope - van centre took new set of photos of my flaking paint 7 weeks ago but I still don't have it (re)accepted on the system.

It's the string-you-along protocol. Now the goal is only to get a warranty claim accepted (again) on the system and when a few months later it is I will be grateful for making (imaginary) progress. That is how 1,2,3... years have passed, more paint flaked off, and we just keep spinning round.

 

[Kirk]

Has anyone actually had the new style repair completed yet? It is a bit off that you don't get a loan Cali anymore?

 

[T6 CFO]

I'm going to pick up my first Cali in a few days so have no experience of this issue. Yet!
From what I've read on here over the last year I can't see there being much choice other than legal action.
I suspect there are many people out there who simply have no idea about this issue and VW are going to be liable for a great many more repairs if and when they find out.
I suspect there was a willingness at one stage to correct this fault but it seems that the fix is either not working too expensive or both and they are kicking the issue down the road.
Good luck and my sympathies.


Mike

 

[Fatb10ke]

After hearing nothing for 2 years since I reported it I chased up as I had done at my annual service every year. Mine then went in and I got both he main roof and the front panel done. I got T6 bellows fitted and they collected and dropped off my van. The repair they have done is good but.....

While the paint has been done none of the aluminium pieces at the back of the roof where the mechanism attaches were touched and the underside of the front and back of the roof are also seriously corroded and they weren't touched. I consider it half a job. I'll go back to my van centre and let them know I'm not happy.

I had the pleasure of teaching their MD at one of my BBQ classes, so I know who to get in contact with.

 

[neilsellers]

June 12 Beech Corosion in Center and Right side of front panel together with roof lid after I checked under the rubber seal. Waiting just over 2 years with numerous contacts made to dealer. Not sure what to do, needs to be sorted.

 

[syrup1971]

Phoned VW today. Was told that although my roof had been reported 2 years ago by dealer, they have changed their system, and my dealer needs to re-report the issue and get the warranty repair authorised again! WTF. Apparently they have a new, better & faster way to repair, with more dealers enabled.

 

[Harrythecat]

Update as per email:

2012 Cali. Minor bubbling on front panel and main roof reported June 2015. Originally booked to Benfields. Now due to go to Claridges at Southport week commencing 17th October. Loan vehicle being supplied but not a Cali. which suits me fine.

 

[tanto]

I have just found about the new process which VW have instigated. I have asked (demanded really but am prepared for disappointment) for a full specification of what is proposed and plus visuals.. The guy I spoke to at VWCS (sic) told me that the panel will be removed, the corrosion will be cleaned back to bare metal locally, a zinc primer will be applied, again locally to the patch of corrosion, the panel will be resprayed and a polyeurathane "cap" will be put over the whole thing. This begs the question:what about the rest of the panel where no corrosion is visible yet and where, he confirmed, no primer will be applied. I can only conclude VW will be relying on the 3 year warranty period to make this my problem not theirs!1 He confirmed that "new parts" would be covered by their 2 year warranty - not sure how that relates to a repaired panel? I expressed total dissatisfaction with whats been proposed. The repairer allocated to me (name with held as I dont want to drop them in it) confirmed that it was a bodge to save money. has anyone had the new repair done - what does it look like - particularly the "cap"? 3 years I've waited patiently for this - what a mug - I am incandescent!!!! I've just bought a new Golf - if only I'd known!!

I have just found about the new process which VW have instigated. I have asked (demanded really but am prepared for disappointment) for a full specification of what is proposed and plus visuals.. The guy I spoke to at VWCS (sic) told me that the panel will be removed, the corrosion will be cleaned back to bare metal locally, a zinc primer will be applied, again locally to the patch of corrosion, the panel will be resprayed and a polyeurathane "cap" will be put over the whole thing. This begs the question:what about the rest of the panel where no corrosion is visible yet and where, he confirmed, no primer will be applied. I can only conclude VW will be relying on the 3 year warranty period to make this my problem not theirs!1 He confirmed that "new parts" would be covered by their 2 year warranty - not sure how that relates to a repaired panel? I expressed total dissatisfaction with whats been proposed. The repairer allocated to me (name with held as I dont want to drop them in it) confirmed that it was a bodge to save money. has anyone had the new repair done - what does it look like - particularly the "cap"? 3 years I've waited patiently for this - what a mug - I am incandescent!!!! I've just bought a new Golf - if only I'd known!!

I have also tried to get a meaningful explanation and have had the same polite but totally inadequate explanation, ie clean up corrosion area and prime and cover the whole front section with a bonded plastic cover. I do not know if this is a sheet of plastic sheeting cut to fit like you do with old cars to make them look good without expensive repair and paint job. or a solid molded body part. I presume the idea is to remove the corrosion and cover it up as cheap as possible and try to stop moisture and salt continuing to make electrolytic connection between the iron and aluminum parts.

I cannot see why VW cannot tell us how this process is expected to overcome the electrical corrosion. All that is needed is a strait forward detailed technical explanation of what work is involved and how it will prevent electrical corrosion continuing . The VWs approach does not appear to address the underlying cause.



Tanto

 

[billhorsman]

2010 Cali. Added to queue in January 2015. Told I was 97th in the queue in June 2015. Then told by Benfield's my repair was cancelled last August. Currently waiting for confirmation of my status from JCT600 in York (where I originally reported the issue in late 2014). It's now nearly two years since I reported the problem.

 

[Sasillick]

Bought my 2009 Cali 2nd hand in Dec 2014 and it had already been reported by the previous owner to VW Breeze Southampton.
It was then transferred to Heritage Dorchester,and then Poole accident repair centre to deal with. Each time I only found this out by chasing up for repair dates.
Promised dates of the end of last year and March this year came and went without firm commitments.
When VW changed the system again in the summer after much chasing around I finally found that I had been transferred again - this time back to Breeze Southampton.
Now I'm being given the run around from them as there are other people with older claims that have not come forward yet. Now I'm being told it will be next year!
With all due respect, process the ones that have come forward rather than delay for anyone that has not bothered yet!!
I've also been told that I'll have to drop the van into the dealers myself and collect it from them - not too impressed s its a 45 minute drive to get too them. Plus they have not told me how I am expected to get home without a van....

 

[Chilly Cali]

I've recently been brushed off by my dealer. It's been 3 years since I reported the problem and 2 years since the dealer at BSE took the photos and got me I to a queue that I already thought I was part of...
A couple of weeks ago I was contacted in order to have another set of photos taken. I refused to take the vehicle to the dealer to have more photos taken. The corrosion has become considerably worse in the 2 intervening years but I figured that the body shop will have to correct whatever is brought to them, a new set of photos shouldn't be required. I think the dealer was a little exasperated at my stubborn and a little belligerent attitude that if they needed photos, they'd have to travel to get them... Why must they start the whole process again? I can only imagine that it is to buy a chunk more time.
I asked the dealer about the replacement cali - he didn't know what was happening there. I'll be mighty unimpressed if they renage on the courtesy vehicle as I'm starting to get the impression that VW feeling they're doing us a favour rather than sorting out their mistakes. I also can't believe, and sated such to VW, that the repair process is going to be as thorough if it is being conducted by a greater number (and therefore by definition a less-specialised group) of repair centres and can be completed in less than half of the time of the original repair.
I love 'connie the cali' and the freedom it gives my young family, but this whole debacle is souring the experience... I'm not in the market for a new van, but if I am in the future, I can't imagine my hard earned dollar going to VW.

 

[normg]

I have a Cali SE purchased in Oct 2013 but is a 2014 model. After about a year or so of ownership I checked and found that corrosion was forming underneath the rubber beading on the pop up roof. This was duly reported and eventually the pop up roof was repainted by the VW paint shop in Inverness about 1 year ago. There is no evidence of a reoccurrence since. I have not had any problem with the front of the roof above the windscreen. It has never shown any evidence of corrosion.

 

[stresseddad]

2010 Cali. Widespread corrosion and bubbling on front panel and elevating roof noted and reported to VWCS on 01.04.2014. Much painful and repetitive argument with VWCS and the staggeringly obstructive and unhelpful Chelmsford VW Van Centre followed for several months. Finally a second submission by Alex (the then Service Manager) at SMG Cowfold in August 2014 secured immediate agreement for the fix. The full repair was done by AB Crush in October 2015, with collection/delivery and loan Cali provided. So far no recurrence of paint defects apparent.

 

[DebsWhite]

My claim for front panel was started by the original owner last summer. Once I had bought the van (Nov 15) I contacted the dealership and let them know of the change. When the new repair was introduced and I read on the forum about needing to resubmit the claim, I contacted the dealer, who said that I needed to start again from scratch.
So, I went to the St Ives van centre, with the original paperwork for the warranty claim. They re-photographed my van and put the claim in for the roof and corrosion on the inside corner of the roof at the same time. I didn't hear anything for about a month, until I contacted the garage again, and was told my claim had been approved that morning (!). I was then told the body workshop would be in contact within two days, after two weeks, I chased again and miraculously got a call from the bodyshop that pm. My van is now booked in for the 17th Oct - which is much quicker than I was originally promised, but they were not able to give me any details of the new repair. It's going into Gladwyns in Swavesey. Once the repair is complete, I'll post on here to say how it went. I have got a replacement vehicle for the time it will be away.

 

[henchard]

I was fairly late reporting mine (5 year old Cali 4motion) - reporting it in about May of this year. I chased the dealer in August and received this email reply dated 31st August 2016

"As from the beginning of this month Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have changed the procedure for the paint issues they have had with the California roof.



VWCV have sent out letters explaining this change stating that the current system was not working as the waiting lists were too long due to them


Only using 4 authorised repair centres. They have now increased this to 12 and will allow us to pre-order the parts required so they can be collected along with the affected vehicles from our site and a loan vehicle can be provided from us while your vehicle is away.



Sorry you have not received the letter from them to date. I have been told there is a bit of a back log for them to get through.



Should you receive the letter please disregard the section in which it asks you to contact us and restart the process.


This will not need to happen as I was able to transfer your recent photos and information onto the new template they are using to Re-apply.


I will contact you as soon as the repair is authorised and a booking at one of the 12 centres can be made.



Sorry for the long wait you are having to get this issue sorted."

I haven't received any official communication from VW

 

[BikerGran]

As a newish member I've just had an email about this - popped out to have a look and can't see any corrosion above the screen but haven't checked under any rubber seals - as mine's 2007 van and I only bought it in May this year I guess it's possible that if it was ever there it's been dealt with.

Someone did wonder if my van had been resprayed because it doesn't have the 'California' lettering on the tailgate, but I have no idea about that.

 

[Karen Harding]

Same here, front corrosion above windscreen. 2 years on the waiting list and numerous calls/emails to VW over those 2 years.

Thank goodness I saw this thread as I (hopefully) have had to sort this myself today, calls to body shop who said the new system came into force 1st August!, called VW. Who had my details and previous emails regarding the repair, however I had to wait for the VW van centre that originally put on the claim to re submit, however I asked how I would know when or IF that would be done?
She gave me the number for the original garage who then said they had no record of there ever being a claim sent to VW!!!

Eventually he found my van and said there was a claim submitted.

So hopefully now the re-submission for the repair will go to Vw then to the repair shop, no timescale as yet.

 

[stu.singleton]

Writing while travelling thru northern Spain on a beautiful sunny evening. VW said that they had re-allocated my case to a new repair shop (not that was aware that I had been previously allocated - like, especially many I've been waiting about 2 years). They promised the info in a few weeks then another promise by end of August, but so far no news. It seems they have a new faster method and hence the capacity to involve many more centres to resolve the issue for everyone more speedily. We await in hope. I certainly hope that they extend the warrantee on bodywork as per their initial commitment. Meanwhile we'll enjoy Spanish hospitality and weather, and remain cool about the whole thing.

 

[kenm]

2014 model with small bubble on front roof section. Arranged to have inspection and report carried out mid August but still waiting to hear back on whether it has been accepted by VW. Apparently there is a huge backlog at the moment and it may take a few months to be registered. Also have a rust bubble on the sliding door and rear wheel arch both of which have also been reported. It hasn't stopped us enjoying the van and it is a minor irritation at the moment. We will need to decide shortly whether to hang on to it or change for something else and that might depend on the response from VW customer service.

 

[mezza9]

2009 Cali - must admit I only checked after being alerted.

Is there any point in contacting VW or can a dealer sort it? I'm out of warranty.

mezza9

 

[Andrew T]

I waited a couple of years and hastened VW customer services a couple of time to get an idea about when the roof would be fixed. Eventually got a repair date. They left me with a full fat version while my Beach was repaired. They were more communicative when I got closer to the front of the queue.

 

[GeoffB]

I notified my VW van centre of roof corrosion on my 2012 SE in May last year. After hastening a few times I was told earlier this year that my Cali would be collected from my home in December and taken to Newcastle Upon Tyne for fixing. Two weeks ago they rang and told me VW was unhappy with the Newcastle place, and my Cali would now have to be taken to the VW van centre in Sheffield where it would be taken to Liverpool, fixed and returned to Sheffield - but next year!

Not impressed!