April21
Volkswagen of America is set to change the warranty on all Volkswagen models starting in 2009, according to a tip from a Volkswagen dealership employee. VW used to provide a four-year, 50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and a five-year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. The powertrain coverage is remaining unchanged, but the bumper to bumper guarantee is being shortened to a three-year, 36,000 mile coverage. The roadside assistance service will also be adjusted to match the three-year new vehicle coverage.
Along with the change to the three-year warranty, Volkswagen is now including all scheduled maintenance with 2009 models. This will consist of the 10,000 mile, 20,000 mile, and 30,000 mile oil change and tire rotation services. The only exception to this schedule is for the Chrysler-sourced Routan minivan, which will follow a 6,000-mile interval. Also of note, VW has adjusted the battery warranty to two years and 24,000 miles and has added a 6,000 courtesy check-up. Furthermore, VW has removed its 5,000 mile oil change altogether, citing it as unnecessary.
The reason behind the changes is to better align VW with its main competitors — Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Ford. Of course these brands all feature the same three-year, 36,000 mile full coverage warranty, but only Volkswagen will be including all of the scheduled maintenance. Volkswagen is billing this as the "Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance Program." Its purpose is to improve customer loyalty and dealership service retention rates.
Like the powertrain warranty, Volkswagen's anti-corrosion warranty will also remain unchanged at 12 years / unlimited miles. The Routan will follow Chrysler's anti-corrosion coverages.
It remains unclear how these changes will impact Volkswagen's certified pre-owned program — a program that has been deemed as the "best non-luxury" CPO program available.
Hmmm, last I checked, VW's quality and reliability hasn't improved much. That's a bold move to cut back the warranty on a less than stellar reliability reputation.
They're doing this to IMPROVE customer loyalty??? Did I read that worng or? And what was the secret "tip" they got from a VW dealership employee. Hopefully he wasn't the janitor.
Nevermind, I did read it wrong, the tip was they're shortening the warranty, my bad.
No Jack jim turkey doesnt work for VW
I dont know why a company would shorten their warranty especially in these tough automotive times but if VW thinks they know what they are doing then so be it
The Phaeton is coming back to the US as well as the Chrysler rebadge HMM VW Hmmm
Wow… instead of leading the competition Volkswagen would rather just be equal. Pretty sad.
Having included maintenance is nice but having a better warranty than the competition says we stand behind our product. What does this move say?
If VW made a quality product at a good price they would be on my radar but with poor quality, premium pricing, and now a cutback in their warranty… well its still off the radar.
A two year battery? How bad do they have to skimp?
VW's suck la sal de mis huevos.
Not a good way to stand by ones product… reading between the lines it looks more like "it's too expensive to repair our own vehicles ourselves… so you're going to have to do it."
Amazingly enough, VWs retain high resale value despite having some well-known reliability issues… I sure wish the all knowing 1115 could explain that to us? Because according to he who has an answer for everything, resale values directly correlates with reliability… I doubt we'll get an answer though, since he's consistently dodged that when pointed out.
Its reliability issues cant be that of GMs where their cars are injuring people. I also dont remember VW being japanese or American so I could care less about them
Can you explain these well known problems to me ?
I never dodged anything youve failed to produce any evidence via link or official site to back anything that you say up
You provide some evidence and more than a JD power 90 day or 3 year study and then we can chat Ill wait
They are also throwing in that maintenence like BMW does which is good.
I find it comical that Volkswagen thinks that they are on par with brands like Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Ford. I can't speak for Mazda, but I've had nothing but perfect experiences with the other brands. My experience with Volkswagen was universally horrible.
I really like some of the VWs, but add this to the list of reasons why I will never own one. You would have to be a very brave or very dumb individual to go buy a VW now.
1115 - You're such a fucking joke… could you please tell us give us parameters as to what sources are acceptable in your own deluded little world - because ANYTHING anyone else ever brings up you have some pathetic excuse as to why they're not valid… just like you have no substantial reason to dismiss something like JDP.
So please… why don't you tell us ahead of time what you find to be appropriate… so then you can't fucking flip-flop your stories like you always do.
Because what we just read was… "VW isn't Japanese, so I couldn't care less about them." Which means you haven't done any research on them, which means you've just said yourself that you don't know what the fuck you're talking about… which also proves that the only "proof" you find are things that you specifically look for.
Jesus H. Christ… are you ever going to stop with your BS?
Damn, I smell a freshly opened can of woop ass.
Viva la Mexico
o.O This is bad. Once a manufacturer starts cutting warranties on its own products you know something is up…
I know about VW and the issues they have had. I am very familiar with VW what you need to understand is that even if VW has issues they dont have as many as the Domestics thus they have a great resale
Domestic vs Japanese is what the argument is so VW has no place in this convo I would of course buy a VW over a low resale low quality GM But I would buy the Japanese over VW .
With that being said why dont you take a look at the recalls I posted and stop stalling COmmo has taught you much and remember I have proven you wrong and the numbers are with me
GM sucks man Maybe they wont in 5-20 years but only time will tell
They are bowing to their dealers. They save w/cut warranties but still get the service traffic on maintanence. Its win win for the daelers.
This is much funnier then Jerry Sienfeld! The reason behind the changes is to better align VW with its main competitors — Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Ford. They are perfectly aligned with Ford in Consumer Report statistics, it is Japanese manufacturers that produce quality automobiles! VW is in dire need to align quality not warranty.
I don't believe it is dealers push: they have enough problems selling the crap; most of them function like used car lot for everybody else's vehicles and probably not the best specimens.
VW is not making much money here, and Can't afford to fix their cars that keep breaking down anyway.
The extra warranty pales compared to the Koreans anyway.
A wise cost-cutting business move.
Very Carlos Ghosn.
DrFill
All of you bashing VW, this makes perfect business sense. The goal here is to create a two tier market:
1. Emphasis new car leases instead of sales. This especially makes sense in urban areas where VW does most of their sales. This would create a very attractive 36 month/36K miles lease that would include maintenance
2. After a lease is up, VW can keep the creampuffs for itself and sell them through their certified pre-owned program. The rest will be auctioned of to CARMAX and other used car chains.
Free scheduled maintenance is a bonus only when competent service is provided. With Volkswagen, the service is horrible. They break more things than they fix - and take forever doing it. Do they actually think their cars are reliable enough to REDUCE the warranty? Then again, VW wouldn't cover many of the things that broke on my GTi under warranty, so I guess this latest move won't make much of a difference. The arrogance of VW is staggering.
As a VW lover, this makes me sad. I don't think I'd buy a new VW in todays market, not until they start being bold again and making cool looking cars. It seems VW have grown a large vagina in the past couple of years.
Okay sparky… since now your story has changed once again and now you know everything about VW as well… how about this to puncture your little balloon once again. Since you love to dredge up things from years ago… here's how VW stacked up against the "loathsome" GM.
From 1989-98, in the state of NJ (which has some of the strongest "Lemon" laws in the country) , 1 out of every 993 VWs/Audis had problems serious enough to be taken as a Lemon case… compare that to 1 out of 1037 Fords and 1 out of 1406 GMs (and that was during some of GMs worst times). Overall… VW/Audi accounted for 3% of all "lemons," despite only having 2.7% of the marketshare.
Again… since you also love to dredge up things from 5-6 years ago… For MY2002, the NHTSA (which YOU LOVE to tout around here) has received to date, 536 complaints for the '02 Passat… compare that to 54 complaints to date for the '02 Buick Regal. Oh but you'll say "only a few old people bought a Buick!" Then why are there only 427 complaints to date on the '02 Impala? We can also compare that to 69 complaints on an '02 RSX (shocking! more than the old w-body Regal!) or wait for it… 333 complaints on the '02 Accord.
And I only pulled that model year out because you LOVE to pull things up from years ago. Anyone can pull up just about any year and any model to see they have higher than average reliability problems…. ESPECIALLY higher than GM vehicles.
So once again… you don't know what the hell you are talking about. VWs have had reliability issues for some time now and just about everyone but you will acknowledge that… and the reason you won't acknowledge that is because it goes against your backwards opinion that resale value reflects reliability.
So please… come up with another one of your limp-wristed excuses… then this time, you'll be refuting one of the sources you're constantly using to back up your ridiculous claims.
when everyone is increasing theirs vwis reducing
Honda and Toyota can get away with a 3-year warranty because they're so reliable. VW is consistently below average in JD Power's dependability studies. They should be lengthening their warranty to instill buyer confidence, like what Hyundai has done.
Ok does this means that GM is equal to or better than Toyota ???
lol goosechase
and where are your links ???
You're the one who loves the NHTSA so much… so we all know for sure you already have the fucking link yourself… so why don't you look up some things you're not specifically looking for yourself for a change. The numbers are there pal… take a look.
Nice to know that the company with the highest resale values of any manufacturer is lowering their warranty time frames. "This proves that there is a correlation between resale and reliability which is why they are superior [sarcasm]"
Commodore… oh it gets even better… soon we're about to hear why the NHTSA isn't a credible source… despite the fact that he's been using them to argue his OPINIONS.
The problem with VW and some of their known reliability issues with certain vehicles like the Jetta is that right after the warranty expires, that's when they are known to start having issues. Which basically screws the customer, but the dealerships love it. Also very true that this is not only a ballsy move and is a win win for VW but I really think they should consider extending it for their sake. Global_Lightening hit it dead on though. All I know is I got a buddy who has an 04 Jetta GLI coming very close to his 4 year 50k warranty, very nice car, I happen to like it a lot but he's on a mission to trade it in and get something new before it turns 50. I don't think he'll be looking into another VW after hearing this news.
ooh ooh Commo Commo join me and try and catch 1115 cuz he caught you and is making a fool out of me bc I keep whining and have no facts…whaaaaa lol Pathetic
I dont think any car manufacturer should lower their warranty It only took GM 20 years to increase their crappy warranty on their shitty cars
Show me one recall that injured people or recalled as many as GM. Then find something that has low resale on top of that
I know your racking your brain trying to find something …anything You have time lol
Uh oh…. can't dispute something… time to change the criteria as to what has merit and what doesn't!
If the little douche or anyone else for that matter wants to see some more interesting numbers about complaints registered to the NHTSA for some 2007 models, check the Invicta page… I'm sure we'll see some more "artful-dodging" there as well!
Everyone I know who owns or has owned a VW has had problems-major problems, including engine issues and tranny issues. And VW was a bitch to deal with. Their cars drive well, but they are inherently unreliable.
GM cars have piddling issues in comparison.
The important thing here is not what GM produced ten or twenty years ago, but what they are selling now, and what will be introduced in the coming months. Seems to me that GM is selling some reliable, well built, attractive cars.
Volkswagen, on the other hand, is rudderless - grasping at whatever can save them in the short term. Cheap leases! The re-introduction of the Phaeton! A Mercedes CLS knock-off! It doesn't mean anything if buyers are going to get stuck with a car that constantly breaks down and falls apart. VW steadfastly refuses to admit that they have any problems with their vehicles. At least GM finally came clean by saying there were areas where quality and design could be improved. And from what I see, they were serious about improving their cars. Volkswagen continues to shove its head deeper underground.
artful-dodging is done here but its done by you You refuse to address or even look at GMs recalls Just for the record the recalls are from 1997-2007 and it does matter what they have done bc its the best indicator of what they are and will do
The cars they have out now and the cars they have coming out are not proven vehicles and cannot be proven until they stand the test of time which will take about 7-10 years It has to have no recalls no problems similar to the Honda and Toyota products
The Lambda already had a recall on the safety equipment. I would let it slide then I saw all the other recalls where GMs were causing injuries and they are dangerous
Everyone I know who owns or has owned a GM has had problems-major problems, including engine issues and tranny issues. And GM was a bitch to deal with. Their cars dont drive well and they are unreliable.
GM cars have piddling issues in comparison.
"No problems similar to … Toyota" ???
VW and Toyota are the recall kings of 2007!
.
Either way, if no product is "proven" until 7 to 10 years, you'll always be driving 10 year old garbage. Toyota is proof that past reliability is no evidence of current reliability. So are 197,000 new Civics recalled last year for wheels falling off. Get a clue, 1115.
GM is the recall king and has been since 1982 Right Commo
I agree in 10 years GM cars are garbage thats the point
Toyota is as reliable as they always were and a few recalls and some internet complaints about rust and sludge dont change that
You need to check the GM recalls where people were injured and lets talk about GMs Corvette their bread and butter car having a roof that flies off
You my patriotic ignorant friend, need to get a clue
This dummass can't even admit that VW and Toyota are the recall kings of 2007.
mayer_gay_nagin The latest Rabbit and GTi have had no recalls.
They need to change the name of VW to "Total Recall"
HemaRoidRunner: They got some way to go to catch up with Chrysler products
Yeah, maybe in performance, go suck on 1115's knob a while.
I love it how PR tries to spin everything around and make it a good thing… LAME!
When it comes to doing cars that are exciting AND reliable, VW fails at both task, opting instead for a more conservative "boring car with so-so reliability". This seems to sell well, as some people tend to believe that if a car is german and boring, it MUST be at least reliable…
shit, i better buy a GTI now. I will not buy a volkswagen with such a pathetic warranty.
A company run by Germans who belive you will buy product just because it is German.
Sorry VW, we think here in the USA, we are not Good Little German Boys and Girls who blindly buy German to help the Fatherland.
But we do buy BMW and Mercedes to piss the neighbor off even it costs us repair money to do so.