Skoda Octavia ABS fault (ESP light stays on)

[veitchy]

The ESP warning light in my Octavia VRS came on and stayed on two weeks after the manufacturer's warranty expired. Internet research shows that this indicates a fault in the ABS system. True enough the fault was diagnosed as a faulty presssure sensor (G201) within the ABS unit which is linked to the ABS. The repair is estimated to cost in the region of £1,500. This particular fault is known to occur in vehicles across the VAG group and affects cars between 3 and 5 years old. VAG has admitted there is a problem and Volksagen UK have offered to pay for the repair of VW models as long as they have been maintained by VAG franchises. Given that my Octavia was three years and two weeks old when the fault developed, had a full VAG service history and had covered only 25,000 miles I expected a similar gesture of goodwill from Skoda UK especially given their excellent results in customer satisfaction surveys. Nothing could be further from the truth. They took over two weeks to respond to my initial enquiry. I had to have the car diagnosed again and now they have offered to meet 50% of the costs not the 100% offered by the parent company. I am not happy and my next car will not be a Skoda (my Octavia is the4th Skoda I have bought from new.)