Debbie's Passat

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Debbie's Passat

2k2 Passat GLS ("Otto")

Fresco Green, Gray Leather, Monsoon 8 speaker stereo system, CD, HomeLink automation, Luxury Package (Power Sunroof, Alloy Wheels), heated seats, 1.8 litre Turbo engine,,,,

SERVICE?

We took our Passat to Frontier VW in Burlington, WA for it's 5,000 mile service and this is why we will NEVER do it again...

This is yet another STEALERship service HORROR story: I just had my 5000 mile service yesterday .... or so I thought. I paid $25 for oil (10w-30???) , filter & new washer (according to the bill) and was happy as could be until I checked under the hood.

Heeding the warnings others I had been given about this dealership I marked the oil filter as a precaution the morning I took the car in for service. After the "service" I got the car back washed and vacuumed. I even commented to the service staff how pleased I was with the experience. I drove about 2 miles to a mall, did some shopping and ate lunch.

A little over an hour later I returned to my car (that I had purposely parked on a level spot) popped the hood and to my HORROR saw the filter had not been changed. I pulled the dip stick and saw it was nearly an inch over the MAX fill bend. I immediately called the STEALERship (Karmart VW-Burlington, WA) but the service manager was out to lunch.

I drove the car to a German Car Specialty shop 2 more miles down the road and asked for their assistance which they graciously provided. When I did get a call back from the STEALERship she said I was mistaken. She said she had the old filter right in front of her and I would not have been able to "mark" the filter as it is underneath the car. At the time I was in front of my car, hood open with TWO mechanics. I asked them to point out the oil filter to me and they did so. The even saw the marks I had put on the filter this morning. I told her she was lying but she continued to deny any that anything had been done wrong.

The shop I was at graciously drained the oil (which still looked very dark) to the correct level and scheduled me for an appointment next week. When I got home I did get a call from the head honcho of Parts & Service and he admitted the service had been botched and would send my check back to me a week later.

My advice to EVERYONE is to mark your filter and check the oil level soon after you get the car back. I would have been perfectly happy with the experience had I not checked and gladly sent in the Service Survey form with all 5's marked.

This is what it looks like. It's located below the coolant reservoir on the 1.8T. It can be marked with a long screw driver, a drop of fingernail polish or a permanent marker. If you don't, you may never know if they are ripping you off too.

Several people have asked why I thought they scammed me. Here are a few reasons I came up with:

It's difficult to get to. The coolant reservoir must be disconnected (3 screws and a sensor clip) to reach it.

The first oil filter change is a pain. The filters are put on VERY tight at the factory.

VW figures by not servicing your car properly they can make more money down the road when things go wrong due to improper maintenance.

The whole fiasco cost me 2 half days of work, one taking it in and then bleeding it off and the other going back for a second service. It also cost me $20 to drain off the excess oil and $40 for another oil change. All and all I consider that an inexpensive lesson to be wary of VW dealership service departments.

And finally, Yes I did contact the BBB, posted my experience on every VW web forum I could find and continue to tell every VW owner I meet. The sad part is I'm not the only one that this has happened too. Don't let it happen to you!


	2k2 Passat GLS \| home Debbie's Passat \| Fotos \| Kontakt Debbie's Passat 2k2 Passat GLS ("Otto") Fresco Green, Gray Leather, Monsoon 8 speaker stereo system, CD, HomeLink automation, Luxury Package (Power Sunroof, Alloy Wheels), heated seats, 1.8 litre Turbo engine,,,, SERVICE? We took our Passat to Frontier VW in Burlington, WA for it's 5,000 mile service and this is why we will NEVER do it again... This is yet another STEALERship service HORROR story: I just had my 5000 mile service yesterday .... or so I thought. I paid $25 for oil (10w-30???) , filter & new washer (according to the bill) and was happy as could be until I checked under the hood. Heeding the warnings others I had been given about this dealership I marked the oil filter as a precaution the morning I took the car in for service. After the "service" I got the car back washed and vacuumed. I even commented to the service staff how pleased I was with the experience. I drove about 2 miles to a mall, did some shopping and ate lunch. A little over an hour later I returned to my car (that I had purposely parked on a level spot) popped the hood and to my HORROR saw the filter had not been changed. I pulled the dip stick and saw it was nearly an inch over the MAX fill bend. I immediately called the STEALERship (Karmart VW-Burlington, WA) but the service manager was out to lunch. I drove the car to a German Car Specialty shop 2 more miles down the road and asked for their assistance which they graciously provided. When I did get a call back from the STEALERship she said I was mistaken. She said she had the old filter right in front of her and I would not have been able to "mark" the filter as it is underneath the car. At the time I was in front of my car, hood open with TWO mechanics. I asked them to point out the oil filter to me and they did so. The even saw the marks I had put on the filter this morning. I told her she was lying but she continued to deny any that anything had been done wrong. The shop I was at graciously drained the oil (which still looked very dark) to the correct level and scheduled me for an appointment next week. When I got home I did get a call from the head honcho of Parts & Service and he admitted the service had been botched and would send my check back to me a week later. My advice to EVERYONE is to mark your filter and check the oil level soon after you get the car back. I would have been perfectly happy with the experience had I not checked and gladly sent in the Service Survey form with all 5's marked. This is what it looks like. It's located below the coolant reservoir on the 1.8T. It can be marked with a long screw driver, a drop of fingernail polish or a permanent marker. If you don't, you may never know if they are ripping you off too. Several people have asked why I thought they scammed me. Here are a few reasons I came up with: It's difficult to get to. The coolant reservoir must be disconnected (3 screws and a sensor clip) to reach it. The first oil filter change is a pain. The filters are put on VERY tight at the factory. VW figures by not servicing your car properly they can make more money down the road when things go wrong due to improper maintenance. The whole fiasco cost me 2 half days of work, one taking it in and then bleeding it off and the other going back for a second service. It also cost me $20 to drain off the excess oil and $40 for another oil change. All and all I consider that an inexpensive lesson to be wary of VW dealership service departments. And finally, Yes I did contact the BBB, posted my experience on every VW web forum I could find and continue to tell every VW owner I meet. The sad part is I'm not the only one that this has happened too. Don't let it happen to you!