8.5R Gremlins

[mahalo]

Sad really to see all these posts about the bong  fest, engine management issues and VW’s shoddy response when customers quite rightly complain about these issues. 

[kevintaper1]

Sad really to see all these posts about the bong  fest, engine management issues and VW’s shoddy response when customers quite rightly complain about these issues. 

If only the obdeleven would work to get all the scanned codes saved on the mark 8.5 that would be a start, tbh my mark 8 was fine for months after I got the new steering wheel, then there was an over the air update then travel assist SOS error back , did my head in, and to think now they've not solved all that is ahocking

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[R_wannabe_owner]

Looking at the number of posts in this discussion topic, it’s sad and quite disappointing to read of owner’s experiences and VW’s (largely negative?) response to the issues being encountered. 
 

This discussion topic was started 6 months ago and is already 55 pages long. Out of curiosity, I’ve just had a look to see how many pages there were in the first 6 months of the mk8 gremlins discussion topic as you would hope there would be far fewer in this (the mk8.5 gremlins) discussion topic, on the basis that you’d hope the mk8.5 at launch would be largely gremlin-free. This is the position;

 

mk8 Gremlins - first 6 months there were 67 pages of discussion.

mk8.5 Gremlins - first months and discussions are on the 55th page. 
 

I know that number of pages in a discussion topic isn’t necessarily an indication of the number of problems / issues experienced. However IMHO 55 pages of discussions on gremlins - and customer dissatisfaction with VW’s approach to resolving issues -seems far too high. I think we can all appreciate that with modern tech-laden cars, there’ll always be the occasional hardware / software glitch. However, you’d have hoped that VW would’ve learned from their experiences with the mk8 and they’d be pulling out all the stops to deliver fixes and keep customers happy. Sadly, that doesn’t appear to be so………..🤔😕.

[AHG]

Interesting comparison

I want to point out a couple of points

(I’m kind of a data analyzer)

 

I think there were much less mk8 delivered within 6 months (due to supply chain issues) than mk8.5 now. So the “density” of complaints is also an issue.

On the other hand, we were all surprised by issues in the mk8 (coming from nearly error free cars) so the “noise” would be greater. Coming into the 8.5 we are well versed in errors and false alarms, so either we come prepared and this should have been less of an issue, or we’ve come already fed up to begin with 🙂

Either way, not the same starting point, and we are the same people anymore.

 

More importantly, I think 90% of the massages are describing terrible customer service, and not necessarily defective vehicles. So the number of posts may relate to the fact service has become much worse, like giving you service dates months away, and sending you off with “can’t replicate” or “keep driving, or call a tow truck” kind of replies.

In summary, from what I’m reading here there are much fewer issues with early 8.5S than there were with 8s, but in ‘21-‘23 the service centers were more attentive and available, and now they just don’t want you to come to them, and when you do, they just want you to leave. Which is a very big issue that can turn you off a brand even if it has a great product.

(It was one of the reason I never got a BMW, as my local service shops have terrible rep, professional and service-wise)
 

[Booth11]

I don’t think you can make any real meaningful comparison of number of pages in the respective gremlins threads as so many variables come into play, such as the ones pointed out by @AHG.  Plus there is always ‘off topic’ discussion from posts going off on a tangent that ‘dilute’ the purity of the thread topic and add extra pages of posts that may have little to do with actual gremlins.  As someone who moderates this forum that is a constant observation.  😄  That of course applies to both threads.  
 

Whilst there might be a similar number of pages, it’s quite apparent that there are less gremlins with the 8.5 compared to the 8 (so far) amongst a handful of owners, but there is a lot of discussion on those gremlins and around the dealership experience; plus some obdeleven discussion too.  It’s an already fatigued audience of owners to a degree, who in some cases are on an understandably short fuse after the mk8 issues.  People need to vent.  
 

That all said, it all matters because although less gremlins with the 8.5 to date, it’s the fact that there are still issues manifesting and with nothing in the way of a remedy thus far that is the frustration, and sometimes compounded by an apparent lack of concern from dealerships.  
 

There’s another side to it too that, despite the issues of the mk8, many of us still continue to buy these cars (because they are very good in many respects) but are then disappointed when gremlins continue to arise, and are probably annoyed that we have given VW the benefit of the doubt, only to have a big dose of deja vu.  
 

 

[Scudgie]

I identify as a fatigued owner 🤣

[Booth11]

33 minutes ago, Scudgie said:

I identify as a fatigued owner 🤣

So now you’re a fully paid up member of the FO club, which is probably what you’d like to say to VW. 🤣

[Scudgie]

11 minutes ago, Booth11 said:

So now you’re a fully paid up member of the FO club, which is probably what you’d like to say to VW. 🤣

 

I know you're from Yorkshire, Rebecca, and refrain from using words such as "Foxtrot" and "Oscar" 🤣

[Booth11]

29 minutes ago, Scudgie said:

 

I know you're from Yorkshire, Rebecca, and refrain from using words such as "Foxtrot" and "Oscar" 🤣

It’s the southern influence 😉

[bertie1249]

Having read about so many problems with this new vehicle, I’m really seriously considering cancelling my order and buying a RS3 Sportback instead.🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[AHG]

The mothership would love that

More money to VW AG 🙂

[Dannybear83]

2 hours ago, bertie1249 said:

Having read about so many problems with this new vehicle, I’m really seriously considering cancelling my order and buying a RS3 Sportback instead.🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

They got similar issues like the Golf too 😩

[bertie1249]

1 hour ago, Dannybear83 said:

They got similar issues like the Golf too 😩

Oh Nooo🫣🫣 What problems are there with the New  RS3 ??

[Davey-c]

19 hours ago, Nighthawk said:

Sorry to hear that, that is sad and a real shame, they should be embarrassed.

 

I changed my mk8 to the 8.5 as a last roll of the dice because i had completely lost the love for that car although my list was a lot less than yours and others and it was mainly bug free, but still two steering racks and all the back and fourth and the dealer being useless did enough, also felt it was a Friday car and on pick up it had damage and just felt jinxed.

 

We will see if time will win me over, i have to say I do love the new car like i loved the old car but the old car has a left a bitter taste and this car still needs to win me over but seeing all these errors on here, plus what i went through does not give me confidence. 

I really do hope you have better luck with the new one. The facelifts look really well and I imagine they are similar to drive as my 20 years. I loved mine but over time that changed as the back and forth to VW and the returning fault got on my nerves so the car had to go.🍻👍🏻

[Dannybear83]

 

12 minutes ago, bertie1249 said:

Oh Nooo🫣🫣 What problems are there with the New  RS3 ??

Vehicle start system

Fault Drive system

fault Parking brake

fault Hill hold assists: unavailable.

Climate up button don’t work on the drivers side

SOS Emergency function fault