Skoda implements so-called ‘Trust Building Measure’ as part of Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

Skoda is introducing a so-called “Trust Building Measure” which seems to try and address concerns and complaints brought as a result of applying the emissions software modification to EA 189 diesel engines affected by the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal.

The measure will reportedly be available for customers for two years from the date the modification is carried out on their affected vehicles, but the vehicle must have not done more than “160,000 miles at the time the Trust Building Measure is implemented.”

But, wait; didn’t VW assert that owners had nothing to worry about, and that their “technical measures” – also known as the “fix” – wouldn’t cause any problems to vehicles? If that’s the case, why bother with this so-called “Trust Building Measure”?

Skoda are a part of the Volkswagen Group, meaning thousands of their vehicles are fitted with the so-called “defeat devices” used in the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal that broke out in 2015.

This new “measure” has resulted in very mixed messages for owners: on the one hand, VW/Skoda maintains “the update has no negative effects” on vehicles, and will not affect key concern areas that experts say the so-called “fix” will be susceptible to causing changes. These include:

So, in that case, what is the measure for?

Surely, if there are no negative impacts arising from the EA 189 emissions software update, there is no need to set up this so-called “Trust Building Measure”, right?

It may be to try and rectify or address concerns and complaints that are being made. You see, we’ve had a large proportion of our client-base come forward having had the “fix” applied, and a lot of them are reporting problems and changes; problems and changes that VW appeared to promise wouldn’t happen. When you look at it this way, the reason for this seemingly conflicting “Trust Building Measure” may simply be down to combat the problems people are having.

What is covered by it?

The measure reportedly covers 11 vehicle components:

Funnily enough, these are the sorts of components that clients have reported having problems with having had the “fix” applied to their vehicle.

Coincidence?

It gets stranger…

Here’s an odd thing for a company who asserted their “fix” won’t cause an issue to say. Skoda promises to look into the situation and see whether they can cover costs if:

“…any customer has already incurred costs for relevant work performed on a vehicle, which they established to have arisen as a result of the implementation of the technical measure.”

This is baffling since Volkswagen / Skoda have already denied that the emissions update will create performance issues. If that’s the case, why would there be costs incurred?

Our clients are coming forward with numerous problems after having the “fix”

Here at the Car Emissions Lawyers, a worrying number of our clients have come forward to complain about all sorts of performance issues having had the “fix”, including things like faulty EGR valves. We therefore suspect that the emissions update can cause problems regardless of what VW say; although, paradoxically, Skoda’s so-called “Trust Building Measure” seems to completely contradict earlier promises about the “fix” causing no issues at all.

If Skoda really does want to regain trust from their customers, here’s what they could do:

Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/en/logo-skoda-car-skoda-auto-1843923/