Lou Bachrodt Rip on service charges after warranty expires Rockford Illinois

I purchased a new 2004 VW Passat from Lou's back in Oct of 2004. The next year I had a problem with no rear lights and took it in under the warranty. The sevices tech took 45 minutes to fix the problem (Bad brake switch). He told me this was a commond problem with this car. I remembered the problem started when I turned off the car with the gear shift in neutal. Earlier this year the same problem accured again when my wife was driving the car, she did the same as I did, turn the car off with the shift in neutal.

I took the car to Lou's again and asked them to replace the brake switch. Later I got a call that the switch was bad and the charge was $270+ for the repaires. The switch was $60 and the rest was for diagnosting the problem. I told them I only asked to have the switch replaced and was imformed that they wouldnt have performed there work without the diagnostics and were concerned about my safty. But when the car was under warranty there wasnt any diagnostics performed. So where was my safty a concideration then? I have 10 years experience in the automotive industry developing automotive software. I should understand the issues, so between that and the tech's original diagnoses, I was correct.

I contacted VW and they openned a report with the dealership. In the end VW decided it was a problem between the dealership and myself, we had to work it out.

I've had issues with American cars and the OEM's where great about helping out. They were concern about getting repeat customers and bent over backwards to get the problem solved. But Lou Bachrodt and VW have no concerns about there customers.

I will never purchase a car from Lou Bachrodt or VW again. This issues has been one of those (what can I do) for a long time. I'm glad to have found this website!

Dent
Rockford, Illinois
U.S.A.