VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[fordyski100]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Important Update With regard to Blistering Paintwork on Roof Panel

I have been in contact with VW Customer Service today with regard to roof repairs as i had not heard anything regarding my complaint which was initially reported in July 2013 and subsequently (acknowledged by VW customer services )November 2013.

I would advise Anyone who has informed there dealership with regard to the blistering paint previously to make sure that the dealership has re submitted the claim since 26-2-2014. as if they don't ……Nothing will happen , even if you think your dealer is dealing with it. THEY MUST RE-SUBMIT THE CLAIM AGAIN.

A bulletin was sent out to ALL dealerships 26-2-2014 From VW customer service advising dealerships as follows;

Existing Cases

"If you have any outstanding paint requests on DISS that are pending new repair instructions , please re-submit the request , asking for authorisation to proceed with the repair . You will be given the cost estimate and told who can arrange the customers booking.
Make customers aware that , because the repair takes so long,it may be a few months before we are able to complete the repair, although the body shop will get in touch with them within the next four weeks. Reassure them that their warranty claims will remain valid. We'll complete all repairs in the order they were authorised as far as possible."

The dealership that i had reported the complaint to back in July 2013 and again in November 2013 (SMG Tonbridge) had not , as of today re-submitted the claim , even though they had received this bulletin on 26-2-2014.
Having spoken to VW Customer services personally today , i am sure this will now be submitted as per there instructions , but i urge you to to pursue this with your dealership or else nothing will happen if they have not re submitted the claim (VW Customer services words not mine)

On a positive note i can clarify i was advised the procedure , once a date has been agreed , will be as follows ;
To collect your vehicle and leave you with a courtesy California as they are aware we are coming into the period when we would wish to use our California's. They will then carry out the extensive repair procedure (which i believe i was told could take 2 weeks) and return the vehicle to us.
The four authorised repair centres are

Heritage- Bristol
Benfield- Newcastle
AB Crush- Dover
Shorada- Cannock

I hope this is of interest to some of you.

Ian

 

[Martin]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thanks for the update Ian.

 

[CannellWalker]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Many thanks for the news. VW customer services are not exactly forthcoming with information.

 

[SHEARER]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Just taken mine to the dealers to get photos taken of the blistering along the front edge. I've had it repaired once but I think they just resprayed and added a seal to the front of the roof. They said they are expecting a tele conference with VW on Monday at 2.30 about the problem with the roof front of all Californias. So we may hear some more about the process after that. I'l feed back what they tell me
Paul

 

[ROB]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

mine is bubbling under the the pop top front under the black rubber

does anyone else have this or is it more on the cap above windscreen

 

[sue.h]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thanks for all the info about resubmitting the claim. We took our Cali to Vw Preston in the first week of jan this year and heard nothing back, despite phone calls asking for updates. We will push them again

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

mine is bubbling under the the pop top front under the black rubber

does anyone else have this or is it more on the cap above windscreen

i have had mine bubble on both front corners and the part underneath where the black rubber of the roof meets the aluminium panel that is causing this problem.

 

[Toot-toot]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

We have just reported blistering to vw totton today, we found it last week when polishing the roof. We have two spots about 10p size along the back edge of the front roof piece that doesn't raise up....our cali is only 8 months old!!
We have been told we may or may not get a courtesy vehicle and it wont be a cali.....also someone will drive it to Bristol? the nearest auth body shop????
No way someone else is driving our cali, putting miles on the clock, driving like a loon up the motorway.
As the issue is so huge and widespread you'd think that more people would be trained to do some paint work? Or perhaps VW should just give us some money and we will get it done locally?
Wonder what will be sorted first? the paint work or the steering clonk?

 

[fordyski100]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Hi Toot Toot.
After my extensive research into the blistering paintwork on California roofs , i would suggest your dealer VW Totton have given you incorrect information.
Ask them to refer to the bulletin emailed to them on 26-2-2014. (See my previous post).
If you still have no joy then i suggest you contact VW Customer care who will confirm the 4 specialists i have previously advised who have been authorised to carry out the specialist repairs.
It was VW customer care who also confirmed to me, that a replacement California will be offered to all customers for the duration of the works.
I am also 90% sure i was advised our vehicles will be collected on a low loader (but i would advise you to check this if you do have to make contact with VW customer care , although i will update once i know).
Ian

 

[Tntoast]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Important Update With regard to Blistering Paintwork on Roof Panel

I have been in contact with VW Customer Service today with regard to roof repairs as i had not heard anything regarding my complaint which was initially reported in July 2013 and subsequently (acknowledged by VW customer services )November 2013.

I would advise Anyone who has informed there dealership with regard to the blistering paint previously to make sure that the dealership has re submitted the claim since 26-2-2014. as if they don't ……Nothing will happen , even if you think your dealer is dealing with it. THEY MUST RE-SUBMIT THE CLAIM AGAIN.

A bulletin was sent out to ALL dealerships 26-2-2014 From VW customer service advising dealerships as follows;

Existing Cases

"If you have any outstanding paint requests on DISS that are pending new repair instructions , please re-submit the request , asking for authorisation to proceed with the repair . You will be given the cost estimate and told who can arrange the customers booking.
Make customers aware that , because the repair takes so long,it may be a few months before we are able to complete the repair, although the body shop will get in touch with them within the next four weeks. Reassure them that their warranty claims will remain valid. We'll complete all repairs in the order they were authorised as far as possible."

The dealership that i had reported the complaint to back in July 2013 and again in November 2013 (SMG Tonbridge) had not , as of today re-submitted the claim , even though they had received this bulletin on 26-2-2014.
Having spoken to VW Customer services personally today , i am sure this will now be submitted as per there instructions , but i urge you to to pursue this with your dealership or else nothing will happen if they have not re submitted the claim (VW Customer services words not mine)

On a positive note i can clarify i was advised the procedure , once a date has been agreed , will be as follows ;
To collect your vehicle and leave you with a courtesy California as they are aware we are coming into the period when we would wish to use our California's. They will then carry out the extensive repair procedure (which i believe i was told could take 2 weeks) and return the vehicle to us.
The four authorised repair centres are

Heritage- Bristol
Benfield- Newcastle
AB Crush- Dover
Shorada- Cannock

I hope this is of interest to some of you.

Ian

In response to the above, should you register a problem to the authorised centres listed above or to your local dealer?

 

[Custardtart]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

I think the normal way is through your local dealer but I went straight to VW customer service as I wanted to make sure the local van centre/bodyshop didn't just spray it up without realising there was a specific California problem.

I checked last week and I'm still on their list so direct contact appears to have worked ok for me.

 

[fordyski100]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

i have had mine bubble on both front corners and the part underneath where the black rubber of the roof meets the aluminium panel that is causing this problem.

Firstly report to your local VW dealership.
They should take photos and file a report to VW customer care.
VW customer care will then issue instructions for the process to begin ,although it will take a while for work to be carried out as there are SO MANY vehicles requiring the work to be carried out.

Good luck and I hope you have more success than I am having with my dealership , who des spite VW customer care ringing them to advise them they MUST re submit my original claim ,they have still not received the Claim . So VW customer care are trying there best but my local dealership are really letting me down.

 

[greenfintry]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

On the topic of submitting claims, I just contacted VW direct and sent them the photos of the problem. Since the claim is going to be fixed by another centre, they did not even require me to go to the local dealer.......

 

[Toot-toot]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

to Ian,

That information is great we will certainly request a low-loader when the time comes, funnily enough we did mention a low-loader to the dealer and they were quite negative about it.

We will call customer care in a week or so just to check that our claim has been submitted and we are on the list........apparently all claims before feb? have to be re submitted as well, so if anyone else has put in a claim before feb this year it might be worth a call as well?

 

[ROB]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

i spoke to customer care last week, they told me to take it to my local vw van centre ,

they will raise the issue , then later if approved it will be collected on a low loader, and a california will be left, for 2 weeks while repairs take place

 

[ROB]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

had photos taken at local van centre 100 mile round trip !

i had to explain, as he didnt know the procedure !

 

[sue.h]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thanks Ian.

I have forwarded the details to Vw van centre Preston who didn't seem to know a about it.

They took pics of our Cali in January and we haven't heard anything back as yet.

 

[fordyski100]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thanks Ian.

I have forwarded the details to Vw van centre Preston who didn't seem to know a about it.

They took pics of our Cali in January and we haven't heard anything back as yet

Your welcome Sue

Its amazing how many VW Dealers apparently don't know about the internal Memo they all received on 26-2-2014.
Equally amazing is how My Dealer has still not forwarded MY details to VW Customer care !
If anyone else is experiencing the poor service i am receiving , please advise me as i WILL be issuing a complaint to VW customer care over the way some dealerships are handling the issue.
Thanks
Ian

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

I shall be speaking with the bodyshop who will be carrying out the repairs for my customers today or tomorrow to start the ball rolling and the bodyshop should then be contacting my customers directly to then start organising the repairs.

cheers

 

[Californiaman]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

My dealer has been awesome throughout and has kept me completely informed. All the rest of you should deal with SMG...

 

[ROB]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

i would love to can they have a scarborough branch ?

 

[surfbus]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

I thought that Ian (fordyski100) was dealing with and having problems with SMG (Tonbridge)
Surely the SMG group must have some common standards and practices across the group rather than relying on the great service provided by individuals like Alex and Hugh

Bill

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Have sent all of my claims across and I was the first to contact them.

If I have any other information to share then I will do.

cheers

 

[Isa Neal]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Hi my Cali had this dealt with by SMG last year before VW had this new repair method, do I need to ask that my vehicle is notified again to VW if the old method of repair is not the correct one??
CE12XDH
2012 DSG180

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

At present only vehicles that are affected require a repair and are having the new repair method. If your paintwork is not affected at this time then you do not have to do anything.

cheers