Audi 12 year warranty corrosion - claims

[patientx]

Hi All

I am new to this forum, I own an Audi A4 b7 2.0ltr tdi s line 2005 model.

The car bodywork is in excellent condition, except for the two front wings which have bubbled paint on the wheel arches.

Through reading the forums on making a claim under the 12 year anti corrosion warranty, I contacted Audi last week to state that I wished to make a claim under said warranty.

My car was booked in today at local Audi to be inspected inside this white wall inspection room.

The gentleman proceeded to wipe wings with cloth as it was raining today, he then examined the wings and took photographs.

he then spoke to me and said my wings had edge corrosion? (********) as my car was under the three year corrosion warranty I had no case to answer, but as a goodwill gesture, he would send in a claim?

I replied I was not claiming under the goodwill gesture, but under the 12 years anti corossion warranty?

He also mentioned that my passenger front wing had previously been painted due to dust particles trapped under the clearcoat (********) I asked to see the findings of paint depth test on both wings, but he did not show me the results, i asked for the results to be sent by letter to my home address.

He said that they are prepared to replace my driver side wing only as it has not been previously painted or resprayed under their goodwill gesture and i would need to pay a percentage.

I was prepared for him and showed my copy of letter,see below; from this site mentioning that my car did not have to be serviced by VW/Audi, that the age of car and mileage had no bearing in said warranty, I also mentioned of the so called foam against inside wing which had caused the corrosion.

I also mentioned about the world wide bulletin released in 2009 to all body shops that Audi were liable for said manufacturing defect on cars from new and that they would honour said wing replacements free of charge as per 12 years warranty corrosion.

He went away and came back with the Manager from the body shop who spewed the same nonsense to me and said that the bubbled paint was not perforated corrosion, but wear and tear due to the arch liner (********) and it was mechanical? I responded by saying that a wheel arch is not mechanical, it is simply a protective cover? I informed him that I knew I was going to get the same old script from Audi to put me off claiming and that i was having none of it.

I stated to him that the perforated warranty basically means rust from the inside which has perforated to the outside causing said paint bubbling on wheel arch caused by sound proofing foam against inside the wings. He then admitted i was correct and said it fell under the three year warranty and not 12 year corrosion warranty, i said in a polite manner why am I getting all this ******** all these years later when you simply should be honouring my claim for new wings.

I showed him my letter which has been prepared for making a claim and he asked to take a photocopy to send along with my claim to their appropriate department.

He said he would be in touch soon, I was told that I would not get a wing for free as the body shop manager would have to contribute in which he refused point blank and continued to state it was edge corrosion.

I stated that if they did not honour my claim for a free replacement wing or wings, I would take it to the small claims court.

Will update when I get a response from Audi, not happy with the investigator at body shop telling me that the passenger wing had been resprayed previously due to signs of dust particles? and so therefore would not be replaced, will request a proper data assessment report on their findings and proof from Audi that said passenger wing was previously painted if they decline my claim?

See my letter below i got from this forum Audi photo copied:

I am claiming on the anti perforation warranty because of through corrosion caused by arch liner from new.


The claim is valid under the terms & conditions of the anti perforation warranty.


The car doesn't have to have a full service history to have the wings replaced under the 12 year Warranty.


The 12 Year Body Warranty is for 12 years and is passed on to subsequent owners during that time.


The rust is caused by the moulded acoustic foam pad rubbing against the inner galvanized lip at the top of the wheel arch......wearing through the galvanized layer.... which exposes the metal to rust.

It is covered under the 12 year Warranty and I am entitled to 100% of the cost.


My claim is under the 12 year Bodywork warranty and is against the body rusting from the inside out NOT vice/ versa.

It has nothing to do with the mechanical warranty. NOR is it caused in a mechanical way.


There is no requirement for my car to be serviced by a VW dealer to qualify for the 12 year corrosion guarantee.


I am NOT claiming under any GOODWILL OFFER!


My claim is under a 12 year Corrosion Warranty provided with my car,and is within the time limits specified.


The problem was entirely caused in manufacture by VW, is well documented and that VW have even issued Worldwide bulletins to all dealers on how to repair/replace affected wings and the Claims procedures to apply.


Many other cars have received 100% offers


STOP USING THE THREE YEAR PAINT WARRANTY, EDGE RUST OR "ITS MECHANICAL" TO GET OUT OF THE WARRANTY


I will take this further, media threat, claims court. bbc watchdog etc.

[patientx]

Looking for some other successful methods for Audi to honour their warranty.

Even in 2015 audi are still fobbing customers off with their excuses.

At least the first stage is going through with a goodwill gesture in which i will challenge.

Cheers

Stevie

[Eshrules]

Although I appreciate your frustration, please don't duplicate the content of this thread on other posts - they just get deleted.

[maxgain]

Hi Just PM'd you.

However, it looks like the VAG group are tightening their belts in the light of the emissions scandal. You would never believe the influx of disgruntled customer that have contacted me within the last week alone.

kind regards

Stu

[Eshrules]

Hi Just PM'd you.

However, it looks like the VAG group are tightening their belts in the light of the emissions scandal. You would never believe the influx of disgruntled customer that have contacted me within the last week alone.

kind regards

Stu

I would - how many?

[patientx]

sorry as I am a middle aged man who does not frequent many forums, i found this forums information to be invaluable when dealing with audi's 12 year anti corrosion warranty, i did duplicate my post elsewhere because another gentleman was seeking advise, so i left my information just in case he could salvage some of my steps in dealing with audi.

cheers

Stevie

[patientx]

wow Stu so much info and template letters on your website, brilliant.

much appreciated.

Stevie

[patientx]

Hello guys I just received a call from the assessor at audi bodyshop just now who sent in photographs and my attached letter as above in bold to audi claims yesterday, this is only the first step and audi have come back immediately with a 70% contribution under goodwill gesture?

I spoke to bodyshop assessor at length very politely and calmy mentioning the success rates of customer achieving 100% goodwill gestures and with regards to audi 12 year corrossion waranty, how audi like to excel in customer satisfaction and customer interaction, which I simply stated that it now all seems ********, especially reading your customer promises on your bodyshop walls which does seem like all lies to me.

He said that it was the first step and that he would get back to the claims dept to discuss it further. I also explained to him that little particles of dust he mentioned does not prove that my passenger side wing was previously resprayed, i asked for the paint depth micron count, he answered "both measurements on the two front wings were under 200 microns, the wing which he suspected was previously painted measured at 190 microns, which falls under their 200 microns" I also stated that there was an independent accident/repair bodyshop nearby whom i would visit to carry out an inspection on my so called passenger side wing to prove that it was not previously resprayed. I mentioned to him that I am looking at 100% contribution from audi, I told him I will make and prepare small court claim for £2000 for both wings as they failed to honour said 12 year warranty cover as per bulletin 2009 announcement to all volkswagon/audi bodyshops to issue free wing replacement and I will contact bbc watchdog and also contact the ceo of Volkswagon/audi if this issue is not resolved to my satisfaction.

I also have a brother in law who is a senior partner with a law firm who stated that if audi have offered a 70% of the cost as a goodwill gesture, then they are simply fully admitting liability under the 12 year corrosion warranty, I also stated this fact to the bodyshop assessor today.

I will fight to the bitter end !!!

Stevie

[maxgain]

I would - how many?

I had four individuals make contact for guidance with their claims over a nine month period.

Since this time last week, I have already had three people make contact.

[maxgain]

Hi Steve

SPOT ON !! That's the exact stance to take with them. VW themselves will not just roll over and play dead without a fight. Sounds like Audi play exactly the same damage limitations game with their client base as VW do .As you pointed out, a "Goodwill BS" payment of 70% is blatant admission of liability towards your problem. Keep pushing them and you are likely to get the 100% offer your after. Incidentally they know they are highly unlikely to win a court case because the only gentleman I am aware of that took VW to court won his case. VW caved in minutes before it was due to go into the court to be heard. He has set a precedence for the rest of us...

Best of luck Stevie

Keep us informed as its good to see success stories. It encourages others to not to just give in and accept the BS VAG tell us in order to get out of repairing our vehicles.

Kind regards

Stu