VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[barry]

Just scanned this from my 2006 brochure see "12 year body protection warranty" See first sentence.

John

the vw weasels will point to the fact it's not rust and not coming through from the inside. :censor s

 

[Claudiopinto]

Just scanned this from my 2006 brochure see "12 year body protection warranty" See first sentence.

John

The warranty of 3 years is making me blast my head off...
How is it possible that you insure a original paint job work, from factory, for as low as 3 year's?? You have KIA and other niponic brand's that offer much more on engine warranty!?

The 12 year warranty says "internal body sections"... and as my car is of 2007, will wait until 2019 for the rust to grab the body parts and hope it get's on the inside panels... :censor

 

[SarahsBlossom]

I had been waiting for a chance to give our Cali' a clean before getting good photos but have resorted to best will do for know approach and prepared some images with full details to supplement our survey response

Regards
Stephen

 

[yanathem]

"I wonder if you would be able to prove it is an inherent manufacturing defect for which on most other vans they have accepted responsibility for - why should yours be any different?

Do you have legal cover with your home insurance"



Why would it help having legal cover on a house insurance policy?

 

[Stu]

Because they will employ a solicitor on your behalf to represent you in a number of eventualities. Often it's £100k plus of legal cover which puts more might behind you than the normal channels such as small claims court.

I used my home insurance to represent me against Audi UK.

Only stipulation is they must be of the opinion that you have a better than 50% chance of a successful outcome.

 

[Andy]

I had a message from VW Customer Services today telling me to expect a call from AB Crush. The chap at VW has no idea what the repair process will be but at least they haven't forgotten me.

Good to hear progress your Cali repair Mark.

Interesting, I believe all the calis that people have booked in & mentioned on here are being done by AB Crush.
Strange that yours is being taken all the way to Canterbury to be done. I would have thought logistically it would have been done by Sharoda in Cannock.

 

[PETER152]

On BBC Watchdog tonight, Citroen have been pulled over the coals over their air suspension system failing on old cars ( 6 years+ ) and out of warranty. The rubber air bags in the suspension system were leaking. Watchdog knew about 40 cases of this happening and got Citroen to pay 80% of the cost so I suggest people with older Californias with roof corrosion get on to Volkswagen or Watchdog. The expert witness they interviewed said this rubber airbag should have lasted longer and was a design fault and Citroen should pay for the repairs.

 

[sue.h]

Just scanned this from my 2006 brochure see "12 year body protection warranty" See first sentence.

John

The warranty of 3 years is making me blast my head off...
How is it possible that you insure a original paint job work, from factory, for as low as 3 year's?? You have KIA and other niponic brand's that offer much more on engine warranty!?

The 12 year warranty says "internal body sections"... and as my car is of 2007, will wait until 2019 for the rust to grab the body parts and hope it get's on the inside panels... :censor

Yes me too. My ford focus has 10 years , yes 10 !!!

 

[Californiaman]

Good to hear progress your Cali repair Mark.

Interesting, I believe all the calis that people have booked in & mentioned on here are being done by AB Crush.
Strange that yours is being taken all the way to Canterbury to be done. I would have thought logistically it would have been done by Sharoda in Cannock.

Hi, Andy. I guess it may be a side effect of the warranty record being placed by SMG rather than a van centre more local to me.

 

[jts46]

On BBC Watchdog tonight, Citroen have been pulled over the coals over their air suspension system failing on old cars ( 6 years+ ) and out of warranty. The rubber air bags in the suspension system were leaking. Watchdog knew about 40 cases of this happening and got Citroen to pay 80% of the cost so I suggest people with older Californias with roof corrosion get on to Volkswagen or Watchdog. The expert witness they interviewed said this rubber airbag should have lasted longer and was a design fault and Citroen should pay for the repairs.

Should we with older cali's contact watchdog if VW say they won't do anything?? What do owners think?

John

 

[Tntoast]

I registered with VW about 5 months ago, all being processed, apparently I'm no 56 on the list at heritage. Don't know what number their up to, if it's no 1 I've got a long wait!

 

[sue.h]

I registered with VW about 5 months ago, all being processed, apparently I'm no 56 on the list at heritage. Don't know what number their up to, if it's no 1 I've got a long wait!

how did you find this out. I can't find out anything. Our dealship keeps saying dont worry, but I have nothing in writing, and dont know where the repair will be done.

But of course we do worry.

 

[Martin]

I registered with VW about 5 months ago, all being processed, apparently I'm no 56 on the list at heritage. Don't know what number their up to, if it's no 1 I've got a long wait!

how did you find this out. I can't find out anything. Our dealship keeps saying dont worry, but I have nothing in writing, and dont know where the repair will be done.

But of course we do worry.

Sue, call customer services and tell them you want a letter to confirm you are in the queue. Anyone selling their Cali in the near future will also need a letter to transfer the repair to the new owner.

 

[Tntoast]

Hi,
After I registered, I got a letter saying I would be contacted in 4 weeks, that was. 6 weeks ago so I contacted customer services. That's when they told me I was on the list.
Mixed customer service experience I'm afraid, spoke to one guy who was very good, he's left so no comms at all it seems.
I dont think it's worth getting worked up about, Itl get sorted I'm sure.
It ain't going to be quick

 

[AlanP]

I have discovered corrosion blisters under the roof seal at the front of the cab on my Cali. VW customer services say this is a paint problem (associated with the zinc undercoat) not a body corrosion problem therefore since my extended paint warranty of 6 years expires today I am not covered by this or the 12 year corrosion warranty! Has anyone else received this advice?

 

[Andy]

I have discovered corrosion blisters under the roof seal at the front of the cab on my Cali. VW customer services say this is a paint problem (associated with the zinc undercoat) not a body corrosion problem therefore since my extended paint warranty of 6 years expires today I am not covered by this or the 12 year corrosion warranty! Has anyone else received this advice?

The blistering under the roof seal is not covered by 6 year extended warranty, that's just the panel above the windscreen.
If Customer services said "paint problem (associated with the zinc undercoat)" then that is admission of a manufacturing fault surely ? As such they should rectify it.

 

[Martin]

Totally agree with Andy, have you got any pics of the blisters?

 

[s-express]

Surely VW could fix this issue quite simply with a vinyl wrap? That would stop it ever blistering. AND roof & front panel could be wrapped whilst in-situ.
Obviously they would need to fill the corrosion marks otherwise they would show through the vinyl, but hey, that's pretty easy!

 

[Razor Crest]

I wondered the same thing.

 

[yanathem]

PETER152 wrote:
On BBC Watchdog tonight, Citroen have been pulled over the coals over their air suspension system failing on old cars ( 6 years+ ) and out of warranty. The rubber air bags in the suspension system were leaking. Watchdog knew about 40 cases of this happening and got Citroen to pay 80% of the cost so I suggest people with older Californias with roof corrosion get on to Volkswagen or Watchdog. The expert witness they interviewed said this rubber airbag should have lasted longer and was a design fault and Citroen should pay for the repairs.

"Should we with older cali's contact watchdog if VW say they won't do anything?? What do owners think"
We should it's probably our only hope, the more I think about our van rotting away the more it :censor me off, I'm starting to think about this all the time, losing sleep, worry, never thought that a company as big as vw would shaft their customers in this way especially when it's they who applied the wrong paint wtf????


"I have discovered corrosion blisters under the roof seal at the front of the cab on my Cali. VW customer services say this is a paint problem (associated with the zinc undercoat) not a body corrosion problem therefore since my extended paint warranty of 6 years expires today I am not covered by this or the 12 year corrosion warranty! Has anyone else received this advice"

Yes it's what customer services told me Wednesday when I rang for an explanation to why my van has been refused the remedial work. There words " a defect in the galvanising paint process" surely with this admission of there own doing then NO van with the corrosion should be refused regardless of age.
Does anyone know if the six year limit also applies to the California's in Germany, Austria etc.....

 

[Andy]

Surely VW could fix this issue quite simply with a vinyl wrap? That would stop it ever blistering. AND roof & front panel could be wrapped whilst in-situ.
Obviously they would need to fill the corrosion marks otherwise they would show through the vinyl, but hey, that's pretty easy!

NO NO NO.
Can not do that as the vehicle would not be in the condition it was bought. Also I do not want my vehicle wrapped, if I did I would do that myself !!
Besides the bubbling would continue to get worse & show through the wrap.

 

[calikev]

I agree with Andy wrapping is not going to cure this massive problem.
If VW are saying there was too much zinc in the primer and it has reacted then surely
That is a manufacturing defect and should be put right on all Cali's why should we bare the brunt of their big balls up.I for one am up for a fight with VW and say let's contact Anne Robinson. Shame them into admitting they have made errors. my local dealership gave me the impression they couldn't care less. I know VW monitor this forum so come on own up and get us unhappy Cali owners sorted out and happy again.
Rant over for now

 

[jts46]

Agree with you Kev i think we should contact Watchdog if VW won't play ball

John

 

[MichaelB]

Got an update from my Dealer this week. They said the repairs are backing up because they cannot get the front sections due to the part being on back order and not available. Not exactly the news I was after.

Trying to be relaxed about it as the repair has been approved but they don't make it easy.

 

[Andy]

Got an update from my Dealer this week. They said the repairs are backing up because they cannot get the front sections due to the part being on back order and not available. Not exactly the news I was after.

Trying to be relaxed about it as the repair has been approved but they don't make it easy.

Yes this is one of the things we were afraid of, delay in parts arriving.