Representatives from the Volkswagen diesel customer forum met with members of the Transport Select Committee on Tuesday (22/03/2017) to discuss the emissions scandal and how VW are handling the situation with their UK customer base.

Three administrators from the fast growing group who represent VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat owners experiencing issues following the emissions recall met with Louise Ellman, chair of the committee. They presented her with a report detailing VW’s mishandling of the recall and how the “fix” has impacted recalled vehicles. The report detailed common issues experienced by owners, revealing EGR failures on an unprecedented scale. 

The report showed common issues following the emissions updating which included 

  • Reduced MPG
  • Reduced performance
  • Diesel Particle Filter (DPF) excessively regenerating
  • DPF Failure
  • Exhaust Gas Regeneration Valve (EGR) Valve failure
  • Vehicles entering Limp Mode

It goes on to detail correspondence with Paul Willis, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group UK Ltd who denies these mechanical failures are a result of the recall. The letters detail his repeated claim that the fix has been ‘KBA approved and extensively tested to have no effect on performance, fuel consumption, Co2 emissions, maximum torque and noise’. 

If you’d like to hear more from Mr Willis, you can read his response to questions raised by the Transport Select Committee – click for the Letter from Managing Director of Volkswagen UK regarding emissions violations on the parliament website. His response details VW’s approach to the recall confirming that the UK and US are not alone in their action against VW. His reply confirms that “Volkswagen Group is facing a number of investigations by regulatory authorities worldwide”, it goes on to confirm that “Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the UK and the USA amongst others.” 

When questioned about the contrast between the packages available to US and UK owners he responded, “rather than offering a separate financial payment as a goodwill gesture at this stage, we think that, with the fix just around the comer, the sums available for such a goodwill payment should be spent on maximising the uptake of the technical measures among customers, and ensuring that it is done with as little inconvenience to them as possible.” In other words, rather than offer extensive (and expensive) buyback deals for UK customers, they’ll use that money for stamps sending out repeated reminders and funding the recall process.

You just cant make this stuff up!

Who are the Volkswagen diesel customer forum?

The group which has over 1000 members has been flooded with disgruntled owner sharing information and experiences after the emissions “fix”. The vast majority experienced mechanical failures almost immediately after fix resulting repairs of up to £2000. The group’s administrators have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the issues, engaging with owners and government bodies alike. 

The group which has over 1000 members has been flooded with disgruntled owner sharing information and experiences after the emissions “fix”

They urge owners to join the Volkswagen diesel customer forum facebook group and share their experiences. Click here for the Volkswagen diesel customer forum page

Speaking to Hypermiler.co.uk, a representative for the group said, “Our meeting with transport select committee is representative of the growing unhappiness with the situation in the U.K. This meeting has shown that our group is very much taken seriously and we look forward to working with authorities, legal bodies and the affected owners to help raise awareness of VW’s damaging actions”.

We applaud the efforts of the group and it’s administrators, we’ve been in close contact with the group and will continue our support for them and all those effected by VW’s criminal practices.

Let’s hear what VW say!

VW have continually ignored our requests for comment on this issue. They have also refused to meet with members of the Volkswagen diesel customer forum claiming that the fix (which has not been independently tested in the UK) causes no ill effects on recalled vehicles.

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OK, Lets hear from you!

If you’re one of the many owners suffering at the hands of the emissions fix please so let us know in the comments. Please also fill out our emissions fix survey to help us catalogue issues and experiences “post fix”. Click for our VW emissions survey

Read more!

If you’ve found this article helpful you might also like to read our other dieselgate – VW emissions fix articles

 

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