Audi Car Rejection

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 6:37pm #1

Hi All,

I'm looking for advice on a car rejection. I bought a new car from Audi last year, an A3 8Y, the car has been in a few times for various issues, but one issue can't be resolved. The parking aid system stops working almost daily and throws up a fault when the car starts, "Parking aid fault obstacles cannot be detected".

Audi's position is, we can't fix it because we don't know why it's happening, we cant replace the car because there's a shortage, and they will refund 35K of the 41K paid.

This problem was highlighted after only a few months and they've been ducking and dodging the issue since. Now to suggest that we should take a 6K hit on the value of the car seems ridiculous.

I don't really want a partial refund, or even a full refund to be honest. I can't get a new car immeditaley and don't really want a second hand car. Has anybody got any experience/advice with this. The fault is quite minor, but will become an issue if I ever try to sell the car. So ideally I just want it fixed.

Atlantic Dawn · 09-03-2022 6:50pm

Have you talked to Audi themselves or just the dealer? Is it a known issue where other motorists have reported problems?

BorneTobyWilde · 09-03-2022 7:00pm

Have you tried turning the parking aid on and off , is there a switch for this. Could also be water behind sensor, vacuum them

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 7:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118758615#Comment_118758615

Couldnt get a number for Audi Ireland, but filled out forms and sent them which they just completley ignored

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 7:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118758660#Comment_118758660

Restarting the car clears the fault, like I said it's quite minor, but hard to sell to somebody with that happening.

sky18 · 09-03-2022 8:51pm

I have my A3 for a year seen it twice but it hasn't come back. There should be a software update its a known problem for a while now.

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/parking-sensor-warning.423738/

PaulJoseph22 · 09-03-2022 8:55pm

The new version of the A3 in comparison to it’s predecessor is truly awful. The old one had a classy interior, the new one is cheap and plastic.

Dav010 · 09-03-2022 9:00pm

Different car/brand I know, this time last yr my less than a year old Landrover Discovery had been in the garage three times with electrical problems that they just couldn’t seem to sort. I told them I wasn’t taking it back after the third attempt to sort them. They gave me almost full value against another car. So stick to your guns, if they can’t sort it, it’s a dud and you deserve either a replacement or near full value as you have had use of the car for a yr.

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 9:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118759141#Comment_118759141

Thanks for that link. Audi are making it sound like it's unique to me, good info to have. Not my first rodeo with Audi, they always act like you're the first to have a fault. I went in before with an old A5, looking for window regulator parts, the sales guy told me it wasnt a known fault, I knew it was, and funnily enough he had all the parts required to fix it right there.

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 9:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118759158#Comment_118759158

From what I've been reading abouit the new A3 it's almost criminal that they continued to sell it despite the huge number of electrical problems it had.

wandererz · 09-03-2022 9:55pm

Have you tried a different dealer to try to diagnose & repair?

Gorteen · 09-03-2022 9:56pm

I'd be inclined to get some legal advice. You have rights and Audi will probably mess you about unless they know you're serious about this issue being resolved to your satisfaction. Take this advice from someone who will never buy another new Audi....

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 10:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118759482#Comment_118759482

A different audi dealership? Never thought of that, assumed they'd just use the same diag equipment, so same results. So far they've not tried any troubleshooting, no parking sensor replacements, no module replacements, the most helpful they've been so far is to offer 6k below what we paid to take it back.

wandererz · 09-03-2022 10:05pm

Comes down to the mechanics they have and their experience and love of the job I.e can they be bovvered or not.

Toyotafanboi · 09-03-2022 10:05pm

The first tip for a successful rejection would be to stop using the car.

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 10:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118759545#Comment_118759545

The ideal solution would be that they just fixed the issue. Even a full refund means no car for probably a year or overpay for a 2nd hand. Parking sensors are not new technology at this stage, its almost embarassing that they can't them right.

sky18 · 09-03-2022 10:20pm

I think when you book it in they plug in the laptop shows no faults and hand it back maybe ask a direct question to see if there is an update and ask them to ring the technical section. I think its 18 months now for a new one and of course the price has gone up.

ohnohedidnt · 09-03-2022 10:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118759628#Comment_118759628

They said no software update and they can't confirm one is even planned to address is. They did create some sort of technical paper, a TPI I think.

kirving · 09-03-2022 10:49pm

Can the car park itself automatically via the sensors, or are they just an aid? Is there a camera?

"Parking aid" systems are now no longer just beepers, and are interlinked to almost every over system on the car, from wheel speed, to steering angle sensors to suspension height sensor.

My money is on the car giving an error code, related to another system, which the mechanic doesn't know about and so ignores or dismisses it.

BorneTobyWilde · 10-03-2022 12:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118758812#Comment_118758812

Sounds like water or dirt, vacuum them, and clean them, and dry them, the sensors on the bumper

CH3OH · 10-03-2022 7:46am

I think you need to engage the services of a solicitor who can draft a letter rejecting the car as Audi seem incapable of repairing the car.

I would be requesting a full refund and compensation.

A relative of mine had a similar issue with a Nissan and was being fobbed off by everyone.

Got their attention when a solicitor friend became involved.

Car was replaced with a new car.

Henry Ford III · 10-03-2022 7:48am

Have you asked Audi where did the €6k figure come from?

ohnohedidnt · 10-03-2022 8:10am

Seems like we might need to go down that route alright. Thanks

ohnohedidnt · 10-03-2022 8:14am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118760878#Comment_118760878

They said the use of the car for the last 7 months. Seems a bit rich, the car was hassle during that time, and they'e been ignoring the issue for the last 3/4 months. But they expect me to just take a 6K loss for their incompetence, and they're calling it a good will gesture hahaha.

Then they re-sell the car, and make a few quid for themselves from their "Goodwill gesture".

MacDanger · 10-03-2022 2:43pm

Something like this surely falls under consumer legislation - item was faulty; you've given them a chance to repair and they've been unable to do so; they have to either refund you or replace it

ohnohedidnt · 10-03-2022 3:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118762631#Comment_118762631

It does, they can't repair, they say they can't replace, but there is a thing called rescission where they can deduct money for use of the car from the refund and it's unregulated so they can pull a number from their bum, and Audi have decided that the use of an A3 costs about a grand a month, hahaha.

Casati · 10-03-2022 3:13pm

I'd be looking for a refund or replacement if they can't repair it - and by their own admission they can't repair it, and can't replace it so refund is the only option. As others have said parking systems are linked in with other systems on the car so I would be concerned of potential safety issue. Write to them formally now looking for full refund, and if they come back with the 6k less offer in writing then its time to engage a solicitor to write the next letter. V disappointing service to get buying a new premium brand car.

Henry Ford III · 10-03-2022 3:25pm

I think you need to go legal on this OP.

Document everything, formally reject the car, and tell them a full refund is required. Get a competent Solicitor.

MarkR · 10-03-2022 3:31pm

Negotiate the 7 months down to when the issue was reported, as you haven't been "enjoying the use" of it since then.

Henry Ford III · 10-03-2022 3:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118763096#Comment_118763096

I reckon the car isn't of merchantable quality (as they can't fix it) and he's therefore entitled to a 100% refund.

wandererz · 10-03-2022 7:53pm

Do a check of what the guaranteed fair market value is and work back from there to 1 year or whatever it is. See if that is less.

Audi Car Rejection

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