I have an 09 TDI with 15k miles, and the last service my car had was the 10k routine service.
For the last few weeks, I've had a "Service Soon!" message on my dash telling me to go in for regularly scheduled maintenance, and then finally a few days ago, I got the "Service Now!" message (at the same mileage listed on the service sticker on my windshield from Congressional VW in Maryland). So, I figured I have the Platinum Warranty on the car (which to my knowledge is the most comprehensive warranty you can buy) and I went to the dealer for the 15k service. I didn't even ask them what the 15k service is, I just told them to do it. I also mentioned that my RNS 510 Nav unit is really sluggish when scanning through artists on my iPhone 3GS. The rep at the desk was very nice and said they would take care of it. She called me a few hours later and I came to pick up the car. They had even washed it for me. But, I was very surprised when she handed me a bill for 160-some bucks. I asked, "This must be a mistake, I have the platinum warranty." And it was then when she informed me that the 15k maintenance isn't actually suggested by VW.... it was just the dealer that recommends drivers to get it based on the "aggressive driving patterns in the DC metro area". I asked her, "But my dash told me to 'Service Now!'..... and not 'Service Suggested!' or 'Service Recommended!'. I told the dealer rep that no, I don't memorize the maintenance schedule for my Touareg and that I looked at the dash and genuinely thought I needed to go in for service, and that I was actually DUE. She said sorry but that's how it goes. There's a 10k and 20k service covered under my warranty, but not the 15. I told her that my typical routes don't involve "aggressive driving patterns" and I would rather that the mechanics at the dealership don't program my dash to tell me I NEED to have service when I don't. That's what they did when I took it in for the 10k service. Or, at least I wish the rep would have told me that it's actually not covered by my comprehensive warranty when I drop it off, because then I would have not left it for the service. Anyways, I was frustrated but I paid and left.
A week later my rear brake light went out. I'm so glad the Touareg is smart and told me on the dash because I was heading on a long road trip that afternoon with some friends. I immediately went to the dealer which is really close to me in Rockville and they were able to see me without an appointment. Again, I was very confident that something small that is intended to last for a certain amount of time and then be replaced (like a lot of parts on a car) would be covered under warranty. But lo and behold, the car was ready to be picked up and I had to pay 40 bucks for part and labor. I was again surprised and told them if I had known a simple light bulb wasn't covered in the comprehensive Platinum warranty I would have just bought one from the parts store and done it myself. The dealer was very nice and apologized but I still didn't think it was right.
Am I crazy in dropping my car off twice for service, and not asking if I would be charged for it or not? Am I naive in thinking simple things like "required" service and light bulbs are covered? Or is this just wrong on the part of the dealer?
Conrad
For the last few weeks, I've had a "Service Soon!" message on my dash telling me to go in for regularly scheduled maintenance, and then finally a few days ago, I got the "Service Now!" message (at the same mileage listed on the service sticker on my windshield from Congressional VW in Maryland). So, I figured I have the Platinum Warranty on the car (which to my knowledge is the most comprehensive warranty you can buy) and I went to the dealer for the 15k service. I didn't even ask them what the 15k service is, I just told them to do it. I also mentioned that my RNS 510 Nav unit is really sluggish when scanning through artists on my iPhone 3GS. The rep at the desk was very nice and said they would take care of it. She called me a few hours later and I came to pick up the car. They had even washed it for me. But, I was very surprised when she handed me a bill for 160-some bucks. I asked, "This must be a mistake, I have the platinum warranty." And it was then when she informed me that the 15k maintenance isn't actually suggested by VW.... it was just the dealer that recommends drivers to get it based on the "aggressive driving patterns in the DC metro area". I asked her, "But my dash told me to 'Service Now!'..... and not 'Service Suggested!' or 'Service Recommended!'. I told the dealer rep that no, I don't memorize the maintenance schedule for my Touareg and that I looked at the dash and genuinely thought I needed to go in for service, and that I was actually DUE. She said sorry but that's how it goes. There's a 10k and 20k service covered under my warranty, but not the 15. I told her that my typical routes don't involve "aggressive driving patterns" and I would rather that the mechanics at the dealership don't program my dash to tell me I NEED to have service when I don't. That's what they did when I took it in for the 10k service. Or, at least I wish the rep would have told me that it's actually not covered by my comprehensive warranty when I drop it off, because then I would have not left it for the service. Anyways, I was frustrated but I paid and left.
A week later my rear brake light went out. I'm so glad the Touareg is smart and told me on the dash because I was heading on a long road trip that afternoon with some friends. I immediately went to the dealer which is really close to me in Rockville and they were able to see me without an appointment. Again, I was very confident that something small that is intended to last for a certain amount of time and then be replaced (like a lot of parts on a car) would be covered under warranty. But lo and behold, the car was ready to be picked up and I had to pay 40 bucks for part and labor. I was again surprised and told them if I had known a simple light bulb wasn't covered in the comprehensive Platinum warranty I would have just bought one from the parts store and done it myself. The dealer was very nice and apologized but I still didn't think it was right.
Am I crazy in dropping my car off twice for service, and not asking if I would be charged for it or not? Am I naive in thinking simple things like "required" service and light bulbs are covered? Or is this just wrong on the part of the dealer?
Conrad
