Extended warranty doesn't cover anything?

[Mehdime]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

 

[Meoncoast]

I'm not sure what you were sold, but the extended warranties I have had on my vans have been the same as the original VW warranty, unless something is different in Eire.

 

[WelshGas]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

Your Dealership is wrong.
The Warranty extension bought within 30 days of 1st registration is an extension of the 3 Yr Factory Warranty of a New Vehicle. The ONLY exclusions are wear items, tyres, brake pads etc, or items accidently damaged..
I suggest you contact VW Commercial Customer Services.

 

[Mehdime]

Oh whao. Thanks @WelshGas and @Meoncoast. The order specified "5 year unlimited mileage warranty". This is the "customer order" doc from the dealership:


I'll go talk to VW.

 

[Meoncoast]

Oh whao. Thanks @WelshGas and @Meoncoast. The order specified "5 year unlimited mileage warranty". This is the "customer order" doc from the dealership:

View attachment 148126
I'll go talk to VW.

100% you are covered. The only one they may say is not is the sink if it is cosmetic, how stainless steel should not rust. Good luck.

 

[Mehdime]

Alright - finding out how to contact VW in Ireland wasn't easy. Found two email addresses and emailed them to ask for details. In case it helps future Irish customers:

For complaints or feedback about vehicles and services of Volkswagen Group Ireland or our business partners (e.g. car dealerships, workshops), please contact Volkswagen Group Ireland Customer Care:
vwcustomer.service@vwgi.ie

Found on some random whistleblowing page: https://www.vwgcareers.ie/whistleblowing

And also:

Volkswagen Customer Care

Email: VW.Commercial-Sales@vwgi.ie

Found on a Contact Us page that is not the page you will land on if you click the "Contact Us" link (the Contact Us link just gives you a map of dealerships and no contact details): https://www.volkswagenvans.ie/en/contact-us1.html

 

[Wannabecamperman]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

Your dealer is simply lying to you. This makes me furious when you shelled out nearly a grand for the warranty extension. As others have said, if you can find the details for Eire VWCS I'd be making a formal complaint and if you had to pay for repairs yourself, asking for a warranty extension refund.

 

[Mehdime]

Your dealer is simply lying to you. This makes me furious when you shelled out nearly a grand for the warranty extension. As others have said, if you can find the details for Eire VWCS I'd be making a formal complaint and if you had to pay for repairs yourself, asking for a warranty extension refund.

It’s very frustrating indeed. Especially as it feels like Groundhog Day with them. But I’ll keep at it.

 

[L&R.]

It’s very frustrating indeed. Especially as it feels like Groundhog Day with them. But I’ll keep at it.

Thanks for posting this. Do you mind me asking who your dealer is?

 

[Mehdime]

Thanks for posting this. Do you mind me asking who your dealer is?

Bright Volkswagen in Swords. And to be fair to them, I've been mostly very happy with their service department. But the sales part has been a train-wreck.

 

[Mehdime]

OK - Volkswagen Ireland isn't being very helpful here. Here's their response:

We are sorry to learn that you are experiencing issues with your vehicle. We are always disappointed to hear of any concerns arising outside of normal servicing and maintenance.

Unfortunately, warranty terms and conditions are managed directly by the selling dealership rather than Volkswagen Ireland Customer Care. In order to assist you further, we would kindly recommend contacting the sales department of the dealership from which the vehicle was purchased, as the relevant warranty documentation and terms should have been provided at the point of sale.

We apologise that we are unable to offer further assistance on this occasion.

Kind Regards
[Name],
Volkswagen Customer Care Department
Volkswagen Group Ireland Limited

(removed the name of the specific person who answered as it's not relevant)

@WelshGas @Meoncoast @Wannabecamperman you wouldn't have a copy of the 5 year warranty option T&C by any chance? Or any written explanation of it you got from VW? No luck finding this on Google. I'll ask the dealership of course but if I could go to them with the T&Cs or some kind of statement from another VW dealership, it might help.

 

[Mehdime]

I've found the 2021 T&Cs of the UK equivalent. It's very clear:

Extended warranties offer you exactly the same level of cover as the original manufacturer warranty

Really annoying that the same isn't publicly available from Volkswagen Ireland.

 

[Keith Smith]

I’m just wondering if the dealer sold them a third party warranty? VW extended warranties cost £349 if you do less than 80,000 miles and £549 up to 150,000 miles, both plus VAT.

 

[Mehdime]

I’m just wondering if the dealer sold them a third party warranty? VW extended warranties cost £349 if you do less than 80,000 miles and £549 up to 150,000 miles, both plus VAT.

That would be rather shocking. But if they did, I’m definitely getting my money back.

 

[Keith Smith]

Sorry I didn’t realise you’re in Ireland, for some reason warranties in Ireland are way more expensive than in the UK, between 1,200 and 1,500 euros from a quick Google.

 

[Mehdime]

Although most of my interaction with the sales rep at the time happened face to face or over the phone, the extended warranty discussion happened entirely over email thankfully.

So I have all the written record of me asking if VW Ireland provided the same 5 year extended warranty as the UK, the sale rep replying that he was going to check with Volkswagen and then later saying that there was indeed a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty available in Ireland. No mention of any exclusion or that it wasn't the same one as the UK version.

Have now emailed to the dealership with copies of the emails.

 

[L&R.]

Although most of my interaction with the sales rep at the time happened face to face or over the phone, the extended warranty discussion happened entirely over email thankfully.

So I have all the written record of me asking if VW Ireland provided the same 5 year extended warranty as the UK, the sale rep replying that he was going to check with Volkswagen and then later saying that there was indeed a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty available in Ireland. No mention of any exclusion or that it wasn't the same one as the UK version.

Have now emailed to the dealership with copies of the emails.

Thanks for the info. I also took out the extended warranty, but am only into year 2 from new of the original warranty, so am definitely interested in finding out how you get on, so please keep us updated. I got the van from Western Motors in Drogheda, and remember the sales guy specifically stating that the full warranty (standard and extended) was from VW and valid with any dealer, no matter where we were.

 

[Amandajane]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

It covered my entertainment system (£3500) when the sat nav screen stopped working. Apparently heat caused the laminations to separate……Never been so glad that my secondhand ocean came with extended warranty

 

[Blue Yonder]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

If it’s a true “extended factory warranty” then it covers everything the would have been covered in the standard 3 year warranty. Mine did back in 2018. Check to see if it the extended warranty is just a limited extended warranty. I had cupboard doors and sliding table fixed in the extended period. The “rusty sink” may not be as it is stainless steel and the most likely cause is that you used steel wool “Brillo” type pad to clean it or caustic cleaners as this typically causes rust specs. Not VWs fault. My suggestion check the fine print of your extended warranty, if extended factory then go back and demand they fix doors and hoses. If still refuse try another dealer. The process for an extend factory warranty is the dealer looks at the issue THEN sends a report of the issue to VW for THEM to approve or deny the fix.

 

[Taylor]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

 

[Taylor]

I’m afraid after 5years of paying extended warranties fees!
I’ve come to the conclusion that the VW customer service has gone down hill big time!
All they are interested in is selling you a new van getting you on a hp or plp credit!
They can’t be bothered with current owners!
Our van bought from new and looked after properly with no expense spared!
Is now suddenly too old to have the warranty and package we’ve been paying for over £1100.00 per year!
It’s also too old to part ex ! They suggested I go (to we buy any car ) or they could send it to the auction house!
The warranty they offering couldn’t be discussed at the service center as it’s nothing to do with them??

I went to two separate service centres at Breeze and came out like a second class citizen!

So I have made a decision to tell VW to stick there services where the sun don’t shine!

We will keep our van for the rest of our days and get it serviced locally! Put the money we used to spend on the warranty into a pot for when things go wrong!

VW will not be getting any more money from me

 

[Scoobz1]

WHat is the overall cost with VAT - someone must know what they were charging overall in 2022 for a factory warranty or even ask the garage themselves

Edit in In Eire / Republic of Ireland

 

[Jay586]

I got the limited miles extended warranty back in 22 and it was the same cost as quoted above. I used the extended warranty on the previous van for bits and it was fine. But a lot of dealers don't seem to know about it and I had to get them to log into different databases to find it.

 

[ALTYGEZZER555]

When I purchased my T6.1 Ocean in Ireland back in 2022, I took the two year extended warranty option - bringing the manufacturer warranty from 3 to 5 years. Not a cheap option but I had seen it recommended as an essential option here many times. And it made sense: everything breaks in Californias so the warranty will pay for itself.

The van is now 4 years old and I had it in for a few warranty items: broken kitchen cupboard door, rust in the sink, split show hose. Answer from the dealership: none of these are covered under the extended warranty. Apparently, the extended warranty isn't an extension of the 3 year warranty at all but a completely different type of warranty (used vehicle warranty) that doesn't really cover anything. Or at least, it doesn't cover any of the stuff that actually break in a California and that you'd want a warranty for.

Is that correct? What's the point of the extended warranty in this case?

Very similar to my situation. Bought my Cali 2022 (Sept') 3yr VW warranty plus one year extended warranty via the dealership which I paid £890 for. Took my van in to have a roof "dropping down" problem on May 27th 2026 only to be told three days later that this was not covered! That for me was a total nasty surprise.
When I complained via phone to the warranty company they said the policy didn't cover "campervans" just the base vehicle (a van without any internal fixtures and fittings). I could not believe it. I thought I had paid to have 4 full years cover. None of this negativity was mentioned to me during the vehicle purchase negotiations.
I am not sure what to do next. Any suggestions?

 

[Jay586]

When I was mystery shopping cars, I once accompanied a guy who'd been sold a warranty at cost when he should have had free cover...he was exceptionally unhappy and put his point over well, knowing it was all on video.

It sounds like you've been sold a 3rd party warranty, not the VW extended warranty and I would be going into the original dealership to discuss this. But they won't sell you a VW warranty, other than an All-in policy as it's limited to the first 3 months post-registration.