Potential Class Action re Thermostats/Water Pumps

[genebaby]

Nothing to complain about? Guess how many water pumps and such I've done in any of my other cars over my driving lifetime?

[Ali007]

After replacing one water pump on my Mk7 R due to a leaking thermostat at 40ks, just over 20ks later it is leaking again. At almost $2k per pop this is a great ongoing revenue stream for VW and their dealers, and doesn’t seem like anything they intend to fix.
In the US there has been a successful class action on this issue, with warranty being extended to 8 years, and refunds to people that have paid to replace in the past. I’ve spoken to a legal firm that might be willing to pick it up in Australia if there is enough interest - please let me know if you have been impacted and will sign up. I don’t think there’s any specific action required other than confirmation of having been affected.

Count me in! I am up to my third repair for this and they are not coming to the party to cover the cost. Every 2 years it starts leaking.

[Lucas_R]

I bought my Mk7 GTI with 48,000km's on it and not long after the purchase, I started to smell coolant on occasions. Getting the car up on ramps confirmed coolant was leaking as you can see it running down the front of the engine and crystalizing into a pink powder.

$1,000 later the waterpump and thermostat have been replaced by my independent VW specialist mechanic with an aftermarket OEM brand (Geba). Lets hope its more reliable than the factory VW unit.

[curly747]

Nothing to complain about? Guess how many water pumps and such I've done in any of my other cars over my driving lifetime?

Yeah don't get me wrong. I think a water pump should last 100K +. My previous Toyota and current Mazda both had over 140K with no water pump replacement. This is the 21st century. VW should have mastered making a pump that circulates water by now. However my case is not great for a class action because they have already settled me pretty much in line with how the US case was settled.

[genebaby]

So the US case is finished and that's the outcome? Seems poor for an issue of their making that affects so many cars so often?

It's like 3rd gear in some manual Mitsubishi's. They will repair under warranty but then it comes back and after warranty you're apparently on your own. That would tick me off, luckily we got the auto and then began hearing of the manual woes.

[genebaby]

I bought my Mk7 GTI with 48,000km's on it and not long after the purchase, I started to smell coolant on occasions. Getting the car up on ramps confirmed coolant was leaking as you can see it running down the front of the engine and crystalizing into a pink powder.

$1,000 later the waterpump and thermostat have been replaced by my independent VW specialist mechanic with an aftermarket OEM brand (Geba). Lets hope its more reliable than the factory VW unit.

A lot of us a probably keen to hear how yours goes long term. I'd rather fix mine, when it happens, for good, or for a long time, rather than all that effort to put in a new part that's doomed to fail at the same time.

Almost 16K on my car, but over two years so I'm wondering when mine will start, no matter how well I look after the car.

[Lucas_R]

A lot of us a probably keen to hear how yours goes long term. I'd rather fix mine, when it happens, for good, or for a long time, rather than all that effort to put in a new part that's doomed to fail at the same time.

Almost 16K on my car, but over two years so I'm wondering when mine will start, no matter how well I look after the car.

My mechanic said he does 4-6 waterpumps a week on MQB platform cars and has been using this Geba brand for 2 years and apparently hasn't had one fail....yet. Time will tell. Hopefully he is right.

Geba Water Pump 11235/1 - Made in Germany | Run Auto Parts

[curly747]

So the US case is finished and that's the outcome? Seems poor for an issue of their making that affects so many cars so often?

I think there is another class action in US running now which might have a better outcome if it succeeds. The one i screenshotted was from a couple of years ago and was settled per the screenshot.

[DeeW]

After replacing one water pump on my Mk7 R due to a leaking thermostat at 40ks, just over 20ks later it is leaking again. At almost $2k per pop this is a great ongoing revenue stream for VW and their dealers, and doesn’t seem like anything they intend to fix.
In the US there has been a successful class action on this issue, with warranty being extended to 8 years, and refunds to people that have paid to replace in the past. I’ve spoken to a legal firm that might be willing to pick it up in Australia if there is enough interest - please let me know if you have been impacted and will sign up. I don’t think there’s any specific action required other than confirmation of having been affected.

I have just discovered that mine is leaking at 77,000kms. I've had the car 6 months and this is a bit of a shock to find out that it is all too common and may not be, or have been, a once in my cars life time event. Please sign me up to this.

[pompeypaul]

Hi Kevvie, I have a 2016 Golf GTI 40 years purchased new and serviced every 12 months with the same dealer. The car has only done 30,000 kms. My last service October this year cost $970 and then I was advised I have a leaking water pump/thermostat housing and would cost $1200 to fix. Not impressed for a well looked after low km car. Anyway, I asked the dealer to fix as a goodwill job and they had to get authority from VW Australia. Today, the dealer contacted me to say it had been knocked back by VW Australia. This is terrible for a shockingly bad designed part that's got history. I previously owned a 20 year old Suzuki Baleno with 130000 kms when I sold it for the Golf and never had to replace water pump/thermostat housing once. I'm interested in pursuing this.Cheers Paul