VW announces Carefree Maintenance Program for 2009 models
Volkswagen announced today that its entire 2009 lineup will come with a new Carefree Maintenance Program standard. What this means is that all scheduled maintenance for your 2009 Vee-Dub will be done and paid for by Volkswagen for the length of your limited warranty, which is 3 years or 36,000 miles. The program will debut with the new Tiguan crossover and Routan minivan, and should come in handy considering the former requires at least three scheduled service stops for maintenance before it hits 36,000 miles and the latter requires six. Other automakers like BMW and VW's own sister brand Audi offer free scheduled maintenance programs as well, but this is the first time we've seen it offered to folks who aren't buying a luxury car. Would free scheduled maintenance lure you into a VW dealership when shopping for a new car or is this program required by the German automaker to improve its perception of quality in the U.S.? Check out VW's official press release on the new program after the jump for more details. [Source: VW]
PRESS RELEASE
VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES CAREFREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Program designed to improve owner loyalty and brand distinction
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program on its entire 2009 model line. With this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in each vehicle's maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty-three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. The Carefree Maintenance Program will launch with the introduction of the Tiguan, Volkswagen's all-new crossover utility vehicle.
"Volkswagen's Carefree Maintenance Program is a great way to improve our owner loyalty for our brand, as well as increase consumer consideration" said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "This program also differentiates us from our competition by allowing us to be the only automaker among our key competitors to offer a no-charge maintenance program" added Barnes.
The maintenance intervals covered under this program and detailed in each vehicle's maintenance booklet are 10K, 20K, and 30K miles for all 2009 model year Volkswagens. Since all current Volkswagens use synthetic oil, combined with state-of-the-art European engineering, a 5K oil change is no longer necessary. This means that Volkswagen customers can drive further between oil changes.
This program also covers the forthcoming Routan, Volkswagen's all-new seven passenger minivan, which arrives in dealer showrooms later this year. Maintenance intervals for the Routan are 6K, 12K, 18K, 24K, 30K and 36K.
The Carefree Maintenance Program also includes a courtesy vehicle check. This allows owners to return to the dealership from which they purchased their 2009 model year Volkswagen within 90 days or 6,000 miles, whichever occurs first, for a full review of the vehicles benefits and features, and to have their vehicle checked at no charge.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Eric D-J 1:04PM (4/23/2008)
Can you find out if all models will be getting a shortened warranty to three years? Will the dealer offer extended full coverage warranties?
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Eric D-J 1:06PM (4/23/2008)
All are shortened it appears. Hope they offer longer than 3 years where the two big sericings currently are.
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LBuzzer 1:07PM (4/23/2008)
The warranty used to be 4 years. Me thinks this change is because the 4th year of warranty claims was abnormally high and they want to steer from that.
"state-of-the-art European engineering" apparently only lasts 3 years.
This raises a big red flag for me. Mind you, I'd never consider a VW in the first place, so...
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Zerk 1:09PM (4/23/2008)
I'd rather have a 4 year warranty than a few oil changes.
VW service departments are TERRIBLE. The worst!
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summazooma 1:32PM (4/23/2008)
VWoA used to have 2 years free maintenance (my 2001 Jetta had it) and, yes, the service department was understaffed to both deal with the increase in sales volume that VW experienced around that time and the increase in returning owners... Of course, in addition to the free maintenance bringing owners back, they also had several back for recalls & TSBs related to, among other things, coil packs and window regulators.
All-in-all, if they are prepared for the onslaught, it should work for them; If not, and they have more widespread but unplanned-for work, they'll produce the kind of owner frustration that has given them such poor reputation with so many.
For me, despite a $1,500 inducement to re-lease with them, I walked away... $1,500 isn't something to sneeze at for me but I just couldn't stand the attitude, not to mention the stream of problems.
drunkenpublicness 1:34PM (4/23/2008)
I'm not so sure about that. I just brought my '08 GTI in for it's first oil change to the tune of $104.00! You'd think we were driving Porsche's or something?!
beaz 2:03PM (4/23/2008)
drunkenpublicness: you got ripped off by your dealer. mine charged like $60. the gti "requires" synthetic oil as well.
Artoo 4:17PM (4/23/2008)
That's why I always do my own oil changes. I don't trust "mechanics."
Armen 1:12PM (4/23/2008)
Audi dropped their free maintenance in the US. BMW is the only other manufacturer I know of to offer it.
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albeik 1:38PM (4/23/2008)
yup, that's what I thought too. I wonder if the VW warranty comes close to what BMW offers (brakes, replacing parts, etc..) and not just oil changes.
Seminole 2:09PM (4/23/2008)
Volvo does it. So does Mercedes.
Hooper 5:49PM (4/23/2008)
"Audi dropped their free maintenance in the US."
Autoblog's fact-checking is sleeping on the job again.
I _think_ Saab offers free scheduled maintenance, too.
Rick 7:38PM (4/23/2008)
Yes, as Armen stated, Audi stopped in '06 offering the free maintenance.
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gotsmart 1:16PM (4/23/2008)
When we bought our 2000 Golf in 1999, it had a two year, 40,000 km with free scheduled maintenance.
The following year, they switched to a four-year warranty with no scheduled maintenance included.
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greg 1:17PM (4/23/2008)
that is a good thing when i am in the market for a car i might consider a VW b/c i really dont want to change my own oil
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Justin Benson 1:55PM (4/23/2008)
there are two types of VW's. Those still built in Germany and those built elsewhere. The "elsewhere" are the bigger cause of issues.
This is a clever idea and will work well. I bought a VW 5 months ago to go with my BMW which has spoiled me on free service. So, I think it will help people and the increased foot traffic to the service department will up their game too I suspect if that's an issue.
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Kevin 2:06PM (4/23/2008)
Key word being "bigger"; the German built cars may not be AS bad as the Mexican/Brazilian cars, but they're still terrible.
Jared 7:10PM (4/23/2008)
Sorry, but that simply isn't true. My 2000 GTI GLX was built in Germany. I can't remember all the stuff that broke in the first 40,000 miles, but here's what I can remember:
- rear shocks and shock top mounts twice (and it needed them again when I sold it around 40,000 miles).
- rear brakes
- starter motor
- spark plugs
- plug wires
- MAF
- coil pack
- A/C condensor or compressor (can't remember which)
- thermostat
- turn signal indicator
- about a dozen running light and headlight bulbs
This POS was designed and built (poorly) in Germany. Regardless of where the cars were assembled, most of these problems did not come from poor assembly. They came from poor design.
Justin Benson 8:34PM (5/13/2008)
I know how frustrating it is to have a "lemon". Having said that I obviously didn't say anywhere that the German cars were perfect. Just key to note when buying a VW.
FThorn 1:18PM (4/23/2008)
MINI has it, too. (Yes, it's BMW technically)
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