VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[Lost in the Forest]

Leadtime update - my Cali is now in to third week, I spoke direct to bodyshop at end of last week and they said schedule completion was 5 October which would be 4 weeks but chance it could be ready earlier...

In terms of the Ocean loaner, it's sat neglected on my drive owing to other family/work priorities, but from a practical point of use, I didn't remove gas bottle from my van, and no bottle supplied so could be an issue for others lucky to have a loaner and intention to use as camper...

Snap we are also in the 3rd week of our repair.
We are not concerned on the time it takes the,...just please fix it for the last time

 

[Lost in the Forest]

Snap we are also in the 3rd week of our repair.
We are not concerned on the time it takes the,...just please fix it for the last time

Famous last words from my previous post.......I thought I would share this update.....

To summarise, our Cali went 3.5 weeks ago to the body-shop to get the main roof corrosion repaired for the first time and to get the Front panel fixed for the second time. The body-shop confirmed back to our Dealer today that they have fixed the main roof, and had been continually asking VW HQ to authorise the repair on the Front panel. So today after 3.5 weeks they have been authorised, I'm guessing we have another 2+ weeks before our Cali returns. We had wrongly assumed VW had accepted the claim when the repair work was agreed and booked in 6+ months ago.

Thus, we shall will continue to use and enjoy the Loan Cali which is costing VW ~£100/day to hire!

My only wish is that it had a bike-rack fitted and then they can have our Van for the Winter months . It would help keep our mileage and corrosion down.

 

[T7 VWC]

Hi all

Has anyone seen damage if this type before please? It looks like the front edge of the elevating roof is rubbing the aluminium panel fixed to the roof. The paint and primer has rubbed away and the bare aluminium is on show.

I recently bought our Cali privately and when I inspected it I checked the aluminium panel carefully and didn’t see this damage, so I suspect it’s new.

I suspect the roof has been off the van at some point as the are ink alignment marks on the inside and the grey sealant looks suspiciously fresh.

I’ll call VWCS tomorrow, but I’d be useful to understand if there is any background to this issue.

 

[calikev]

The roof needs re aligning a little

 

[Simon Slocombe]

There is no recall on T5s. If you spot corrosion on the front roof panel or under the seal on the elevating roof you need to report it to a dealer. Vehicles up to six years old are covered.

Apparently there is now a recall for corrosion on the rear of the main roof, at least according to the dealer I use. I had gone to see them about the failure of the original roof repair. I am now waiting for VW Customer care to respond.

 

[leightonjthomas]

Apparently there is now a recall for corrosion on the rear of the main roof, at least according to the dealer I use. I had gone to see them about the failure of the original roof repair. I am now waiting for VW Customer care to respond.

Agreed. A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks.

 

[mji450]

Heard direct from the bodyshop that my repair was completed to their schedule at end of last week, so 4 weeks in total. Now transferred back to VW van centre using AA transport service. Unfortunately communication from VWCS and van centre to me has been non-existent, but after I called van centre today, I have been informed I can't collect until the payments are finalised between VWCS/van centre/body shop which seems to me to be holding my van to 'ransom' for commercial transactions I have no involvement in...I'm waiting on a manager call back...maybe I can keep the Ocean...

 

[Calihunter]

I parked next to this 2011 California in Cornwall last week. It shows just how bad the roof corrosion can get if left. Can't imagine why they never got it repaired under warranty?

 

[WelshGas]

I parked next to this 2011 California in Cornwall last week. It shows just how bad the roof corrosion can get if left. Can't imagine why they never got it repaired under warranty?View attachment 38838

After all the horror stories regarding repairs etc: I don't blame them personally. Won't do any harm and get a decent bodyshop to treat and paint if you are going to sell it. It's outside the extended warranty for that problem anyway.

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

The owner could “still” be in the queue for repair!

 

[westfalia]

I parked next to this 2011 California in Cornwall last week. It shows just how bad the roof corrosion can get if left. Can't imagine why they never got it repaired under warranty?View attachment 38838

That is the worst that i´ve seen.
A great advert for the Cali

If i´d owned it from new i would be tempted to park it up outside
of the dealers with a sign in the windscreen warning potential new buyers
that the problem has´t been fixed just to see how quick the dealer offers a
cosmetic fix.

Or i would get it wrapped and not bother with the Vw bureaucracy.

 

[ArunAlec]

The owner could “still” be in the queue for repair!

Maybe he has already had it done!

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Reading this link made me call my VW dealer for a major service and cam belt water/pump replacement and MOT (OUCH!). Without any prompting they informed me that the recall for the corrosion under the rubber seal will be done FOC, so it looks like all California roofs will be done.

I had the front panel replaced under warranty in 2015 and within a year reported the further corrosion under the seal, this is the first time I have had any update from VW or the dealer.

 

[ArunAlec]

That is the worst that i´ve seen.
A great advert for the Cali

If i´d owned it from new i would be tempted to park it up outside
of the dealers with a sign in the windscreen warning potential new buyers
that the problem has´t been fixed just to see how quick the dealer offers a
cosmetic fix.

Or i would get it wrapped and not bother with the Vw bureaucracy.

i think wrapping could be the answer, have it redone each year!

 

[mji450]

I collected my Cali after 5 weeks of being in for repair: including dropping on a Friday at van centre before being booked in to body shop on a Monday, 4 weeks for repair at body shop, and then 2 days delay to transport back to van centre and 2 days to sort body shop invoice before they would allow me to collect...

Frustratingly, there is no statement of work completed (beyond 'complete California roof repair) which I have escalated to VWCV. From my assessment it looks like the front panel has new cover and paint, and the rear edge section of elevating roof has been painted. Looks a nice enough job for now, will see how long it lasts.

 

[Lost in the Forest]

Our Cali has also just returned after 6 weeks.
The repair is warranted for 12 months so I will be inspecting my roof quite often. The roof repair was inspected by our Dealer and my Wife on collection and all seemed good , I will have a look with a ladder this weekend when I have time and daylight.

Sadly, it was returned from the body-shop in a bit of a state inside (footprints on seats, water staining) and will be going back to the dealer next week to be valeted inside.

 

[Morganic]

i had my 2014 Cali serviced by main dealer and I noticed on documentation there had been a recall on it. When I queried this I was told it was a roof corrosion check which it passed.
A couple of weeks later it was booked in for a cambelt /water pump change and yet another recall was advised. I queried this and was informed it was for roof corrosion. I pointed out to the guy who collected the van that I thought it had been undertaken and thought no more of it.
I was later informed that there is corrosion under the seal on the elavating roof. Seems first check was for front panel corrosion and second for elavating roof.
I have been informed that the repair will be undertaken under warranty but the service manager could tell me when that would be. Seems there’s a long waiting list.

Has anyone any idea how long it takes from first discovery of the corrosion to the rectification?

 

[DebsWhite]

Has anyone else had any problems with the VW front panel repair?
Mine was replaced about two years ago and driving to The Lakes two weeks back, my husband was suddenly getting very wet! On closer inspection, the seal on the panel across the front that they have replaced has come undone and water was getting in behind the panel and then dripping onto the front passenger seat! My van has been back into VW, they had the vehicle for a full day, took a few photos and a week later have done nothing else! Apparently they are waiting for authorisation from the Northampton dealership. All rather frustrating.

 

[jts46]

Has anyone else had any problems with the VW front panel repair?
Mine was replaced about two years ago and driving to The Lakes two weeks back, my husband was suddenly getting very wet! On closer inspection, the seal on the panel across the front that they have replaced has come undone and water was getting in behind the panel and then dripping onto the front passenger seat! My van has been back into VW, they had the vehicle for a full day, took a few photos and a week later have done nothing else! Apparently they are waiting for authorisation from the Northampton dealership. All rather frustrating.

So glad mine was never repaired, after hearing all the horror stories of the so called repair.
I did try but VW would not repair it

 

[mjrose]

My 2014 beach was in for a mot a couple of weeks ago and lookers van centre removed the roof seal for inspection without notification or permission.

I'm pretty annoyed about this as removing the seal won't have helped the very minor corrosion they found. And I had no intention of getting my roof 'fixed' unless the corrosion became disasterous! They are clearly using my van coming in for other work as an opportunity to search for revenue, albeit from vw rather than me.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Meoncoast]

I parked next to this 2011 California in Cornwall last week. It shows just how bad the roof corrosion can get if left. Can't imagine why they never got it repaired under warranty?

Fantastic advert for VW

 

[Dave and Deb]

My Cali is being collected on the 26/11/18 for a roof repair, I have been waiting 4 years for a date, I have asked dealer several times to email a detailed list of the work they are going to do to my camper and they just say they don't know. Is the new repair they are talking about any good or will it be the same crap.

 

[Tcorf72]

Hey all! After a 3 year wait and 4 weeks repair I have a VW roof plaster that has gaps you could park a Polo in and wind noise that I can still hear with the stereo up loud. I have emailed customer service as they've devalued and defaced my pride and joy and I'm utterly gutted and fuming. I was happier with a slightly rusty roof. Thanks Audi Glasgow...

 

[SusiBus]

Tcorf72 I really feel for you.
Luckily we had our T5 repaired with the proper repair before this Mickey Mouse repair was instigated by VW as a cost saving exercise. But considering the amount of aggravation with people that are having to return to have further remedial work done, I can't see that it's working out much of a cost saving. Let alone the ill will that it is causing.
I would have been far from happy having this repair even if it been done properly, let alone botched like yours appears to have been. As you say, I also feel that they have devalued your vehicle.

WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED VW TO GET AWAY WITH THIS SECOND RATE REPAIR!

Quoting the often used phrase, IT'S NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE!

You need to do some focused complaining, good luck.

 

[RodCouncil]

Just got ours back from VW Stockholm, the repair was done by VW Gothenburg by Sweden only specialists on the mattter, ours is 2012 California, amazing job has been done and looks better than the original roof with no horrible wind noise that we had from the front panel, and full 2019 spec roof with taping.

We submitted the claim 2 months ago too, Sweden you’re the best.