Phaeton Owners with problems?

[hbz3]

IS anyone having HUGE quantities of warranty claims on their Phaeton?
I've had new: Tail lamps, sat-nav cd-rom, cd changer, cpu screen, speakers, headlight washers, door skins, batteries and still the car doesn't work properly. Lovely car but so unrelentlessely(?) unreliable!

[RickT]

to be honest i have not heard of any issues along my travels...

Would be good to hear from other oweners tho!


Just checked and theres no recalls...

"There is currently no recall data available for the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton."

Cheers

RicKT

[hbz3]

It would be depressing to think that I had a "friday afternoon" car, although I did orignally suspect that my problems are as much associated with the dealer as with the vehicle. Many small repairs in 5 months wouldn't be so frustrating if the main CPU screen/computer hadn't been intermittently faulty for the entire time.

Again, please post thoughts for any Phaeton owners with problems!

Chris

[RickT]

i know some one that had a "Friday Afternoon car" and the CAM belt went at 10K, wheels beraring at 20K.. electrics at 30K and then got shut... it was a Audi A4 1997...

Any other Pharton owners out there please come foraes..

RicKT

[phatone]

I have had a bundle of things done to mine but I have to admit that most of the visits to the workshop were through dealer incompetence in not diagnosing the problems properly or failing to agree they exisited - "Computer says no!"

ANyway.....in no particualr order....

- New centre console bin lid - broken catch
- New rear centre air vent (LED intermittent)
- New centre console wood trim - to eradicate gearstick vibration under frull throttle
- New front centre cup holder mechanism
- New n/s headlamp washer - they swore it worked and had checked it thoroughly, took me out to prove it....... and it didn't work! Got fixed on THIRD visit!
- New antenna booster amplifier - Radio reception was VERY bad, TV ok
- Replaced main cable between Info-Tainment unit and main CPU - was told this would absolutely sort the radio problem above. It didn't.
- A new main info screen fitted - don;t know why and was never told but the original had a mark/blemish in it that could only disappear through replacement
- Rear centre console bin mechanism is broken (yet to be fixed)

And from memory I think that's it.... other issues to date.... blow-out, flat-spotted wheels, new front pads, first service (£350 oil change) and that's about it. Which seems a lot but its across 35,000 miles and none of these problems has been persistent or recurrent.

I'm off now to get "Exhaust - Workshop" warning checked out at the dealer which is not covered in the manual except for Petrol cars. which mine is not.

P

[Clive Russell]

to be honest i have not heard of any issues along my travels...

Would be good to hear from other oweners tho!


Just checked and theres no recalls...

"There is currently no recall data available for the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton."

Cheers

RicKT
Hi. Apparently there IS a recall. Dash clocks. I'm booked in for the end of June. Check it out with your dealer.

Incidentally I've had a new steering rack and new wheel embellishers under warranty.

Clive

[phatone]

Thansk for the info Clive - I haven't been back for a clock yet but funnily enough I am getting an unusual, but subtle, noise from the steering on full lock.

The fault three weeks ago was an air mass sensor failure. As usual it was not in stock and I could only get a courtesy car (non prestige) for the end of May - a month long wait! A prestige coutesy car would have been some time in JULY!!!

Anyway, having been told it was OK to drive in the meantime I then got engine management failure light on about 500-800 miles later which cut power by, at a guess, 50% + 50mph max and 0-50 in about 30/40 seconds! The diagnostics came up as Turbocharge underboost in additon the sensor fault.

However, VW Luxury Assist got me a hire car almost instantly and the dealer fixed it the next full working day. Apparently it was just the air mass sensor and I',m guessing that after so many miles of a warning being on the engine management kicks in to insist you get it sorted. Not a bad idea really.

Pete

[netherfield]

Only problem I've had is the wipers won't park for blade changing or screen cleaning, but I can live with that until it needs servicing. Just think yourself lucky you haven't got an Eos

[richmond]

Hi all

My first posting
I have 3.0 TDi Phaeton with to many problems for a 36K car
Flat Aux battery, Tv aerial,comfort controller ,bold front tyers
after 8K miles,and now just be informed it needs a new gear box
Only has 14K on the clock
I think its time to change


IS anyone having HUGE quantities of warranty claims on their Phaeton?
I've had new: Tail lamps, sat-nav cd-rom, cd changer, cpu screen, speakers, headlight washers, door skins, batteries and still the car doesn't work properly. Lovely car but so unrelentlessely(?) unreliable!

[nuttylin]

Thansk for the info Clive - I haven't been back for a clock yet but funnily enough I am getting an unusual, but subtle, noise from the steering on full lock.

The fault three weeks ago was an air mass sensor failure. As usual it was not in stock and I could only get a courtesy car (non prestige) for the end of May - a month long wait! A prestige coutesy car would have been some time in JULY!!!

Anyway, having been told it was OK to drive in the meantime I then got engine management failure light on about 500-800 miles later which cut power by, at a guess, 50% + 50mph max and 0-50 in about 30/40 seconds! The diagnostics came up as Turbocharge underboost in additon the sensor fault.

However, VW Luxury Assist got me a hire car almost instantly and the dealer fixed it the next full working day. Apparently it was just the air mass sensor and I',m guessing that after so many miles of a warning being on the engine management kicks in to insist you get it sorted. Not a bad idea really.

Pete
am looking to buy said car can you give me honest opinion of specs thanks linda x

[nuttylin]

Hi all

My first posting
I have 3.0 TDi Phaeton with to many problems for a 36K car
Flat Aux battery, Tv aerial,comfort controller ,bold front tyers
after 8K miles,and now just be informed it needs a new gear box
Only has 14K on the clock
I think its time to change
hi am looking to buy said car your comments concern me can you give me more info as dont want to have hicups thanks xx

[nuttylin]

Only problem I've had is the wipers won't park for blade changing or screen cleaning, but I can live with that until it needs servicing. Just think yourself lucky you haven't got an Eos
am thinking of buying said car can you give me honest opinion of this car its hard to find faults but am searching just in case thanks xxx

[jbwn]

Hi - re recalls, I have only just brougth a phaeton, and had a rattly passenger seat. whilst fixing that they apparently did some work on the underseat wiring (I have the 18 way seats) which was on a VW advisory

I am sure that I saw a number of 2006 recalls on the US pages

[netherfield]

Still no problems at all , even the wiper problem was my fault,did not read the manual properly.

[eddmac]

I've got a 2004 3.2V6, i've only ever had the car back for routine servicing and recalls. There was a recall for the ECU and a recall for some non defined trim panels. I hadn't had any problems up until this week and now iv'e got the "Flat Aux battery" problem.

Has anyone had this replaced under warranty?, was it just the battery or a charging problem?
My car is now out of warranty, but if this is a known problem then I would try to get them to replace it anyway as a good will gesture. There are 36k of Extremely happy miles on my Phaeton, i've got the 18 way seats and theyre greeeeaaaattt!

[netherfield]

If it is the Battery,I don't think you would have much joy,The most warranty I've seen on a Battery is three years anyway.


Some years ago I had a Vauxhall with a three year warranty,sounded O.K. until I read the small print-excluded Battery,Most Brake parts,Exhaust,Tyres,Alternator,Starter Motor,Clutch.

Then again there is no harm in trying,best of luck

[eddmac]

If it is the Battery,I don't think you would have much joy,The most warranty I've seen on a Battery is three years anyway.


Some years ago I had a Vauxhall with a three year warranty,sounded O.K. until I read the small print-excluded Battery,Most Brake parts,Exhaust,Tyres,Alternator,Starter Motor,Clutch.

Then again there is no harm in trying,best of luck

I've got a quote from VW for a replacement, £250 incl vat
Halfords have quoted £100 for an equivelant battery A Calcium one, which is apparently better. Their warranty is for 4 years and they will fit it apparently (don't think they know where the Phaeton batteries are LOL, but VW's price is for supply only, typical:mad:

I'll give it a try on the warranty front, but I really don't expect anything from it:(

[ridley7]

hi have a 2005 (55). in the garage for 2 weeks with low to now chance of them fixing it .When the car was a idle it would rev lightly on its own,they fitted an air flow meter no good as they gave it back to me no better,back in the same day they have cheked the fuel pumps in tank changed the one in the engine checked the gasses going into and out of the engine,they have dun loads of checks tests changed this and that and now it is worse as when you drive and come to a stop it chucks it. Not Good as it is my living it has dun 80,000miles serviced with vw there is no prospect of them fixing it unless they go through everthing then they will fall upon it but i do not have that long as i need it to work.HELP!!

[Clive Russell]

Hi ridley7.

Can offer you no joy really. The problem with these cars is the rarity factor. I don't think the dealers are geared up (excuse pun) to cope with the problems that hit them. There's no fund of expertise they can draw on. Every problem's new to them. And the modern "black box" technology means nothing can be repaired as such. Complete units have to replaced. At great expense usually.

My last Phaeton (3.2 petrol) was with the dealer for 2 weeks (seems to be the normal period for getting the right bits from Dresden) with a "cam shaft imbalance" they couldn't sort. As the 3 year warranty expired while the car was on the operating table, I decided to leave it with them and bought their 3.0 TDI demonstrator.

You need to find some dealer who understands these cars. Any suggestions out there? Or possibly even an engine specialist. I dread the thought of having to pay bills for this kind of thing that aren't covered by warranty. If I keep my current car (2 years old now) I'll certainly buy an extended warranty. Worth it if only for the peace of mind.

My car's with the dealer right now. Yes you guessed correctly. 2 weeks. Having the non-corrodible aluminium door panels replaced/resprayed under warranty because of the corrosion. Warranty is fine but really we'd just be happier if these things didn't happen.

Best of luck.

Clive.

[ridley7]

Thank you for that i rang this morning and they can make the problem appear and go away some how.They are going to order an e. c. u for the engine mang bit not to sure whot and one for the gear box they THINK it could be down to the e. c .u in the gearbox, all of which they have said will cost me no extra dosh.They think the gearbox is sending mixed messages to the cars e .c. u, will find out tomorrow,will keep you all posted about out come as if it happens again we might get the 2 weeks down to 1 week.

[Leoflavio]

I've has some minor niggles with my 3.0 TDI over the last 2 years - nothing huge mind. The biggest issue has been a snatchy gearbox - when coming to a stop, the auto change down from 3 to 1 (ie: to 2 and then 1) is very harsh. The passenger side airvent (the 'radiator cover' that slides up and down) has given up the ghost in the closed position. 3 of the windows are not entirely happy with opening and closing - the rear passenger one sometimes getting completely jammed. The drivers seat heating seems to have gone on holiday.

I also have an Exhaust Workshop light that comes on intermittently - dealership can't seem to fix it.

Overall the experience hasn't been too bad - as long as everything has worked - once you have to re-enter the twilight zone or dealership network as others may call it, it becomes rather clear that VW's attitude to service and customer care are not exactly on par with the image they wish to advertise to prospective customers.

In fact, the 'customer experience' is so bad, that despite the Phaeton being an awesome car, I will not be purchasing a new VW ever again. Far rather get a well maintained second hander and using a specialist VAG outfit that will love your car as much as you do rather than venturing into the twilight zone where all sense of space, time and reason seems to slip into a parallel vortex.

Now, if only I could have the Phaeton WITH Lexus service department attached I'd surely be the happiest man alive. Dream on sunshine!

[ridley7]

We think we have solved the problem cutting out ect water in the main ecu wirering loom replaced some wire over the engine and up to now 2 weeks it has been ok and the dealer at Benfeild Scotswood Rd were the best could not fault them just bget to know the servicve manager and he will help.

[Miroslav]

I own Pheaton V6, 2008 model. Unfortunately the car I bought has no the hands-free phone (VW ????). All my intents through various VW dealers failed, no one has given me any solution for the installation equpment like Parrot bluetooth MKi9000 (what I aready have). The simple question is what type and supplier name is for the interface adaptor cable needed for that system.
Has any Phaeton owner installed hands-free phone bluetooth type in the car ?
Has somebody the car audio electric wiring scheme?

Thanks

[pscocoa]

If your system in the Phaeton is RNS 810 then think it is adaptor PC000018AA for the MKI9000

[Miroslav]

Unfortunately the system in my Phaeton is INFOTAINMENT. I bought PC000018AA adaptor, following the Parrot instructions, but it was eroneous buy!

any other suggestion?
where to get the electric wiring sheme?

thanks

[pscocoa]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3584464

Does that link help?

[Miroslav]

Phaeton 2008, can sombody help sending me the infotainment electrical system wiring diagram.

thanks,
Miroslav

[robbie65]

Hi I have a phaeton 3.0 Tdi from 2004.... it has now done 111K + complete VW service history. Problems so far: Front Wheel Bearing needed replacing at 90K. Power Steering Pump went at 87K (just outside warranty period). The boot closure mechanism came apart it punctured thru the rubber seal of the boot cracked the rear screen (2 months out of warranty, was not picked up at service... VW luxury group met me 1/2 way on cost!!!). The turbo looses power every so often, this happened at 100K (replacement cost 2.5K, but if you stop the car it resets itself and it is fine for another few thousand miles.) Now the head gasket appears to have gone..... I really love the car but my pockets are really really hurting. I bought the car in the belief i was buying a quality car that would see me through to 200K provided it was serviced and looked after. VW luxury group offered no support due to the mileage that these started happening at. Bottom line is i love the car but i would not buy another due to the high costs of when things go wrong and the pathetic support from VW luxury cars (they don't seem to want to stand behind this car)