u/Dolphinicity

Bit of a weird one, but advice / experience would be appreciated.

We bought a used 2021 VW ID3 in March 2025 from a large non-VW dealer with an extended warranty (let's call them dealer 'A'). 16 months later (warranty having elapsed), the HUD and infotainment system was delivering messages saying 'warnings and information unavailable' and, basically, most info was missing and some functions inaccessible although car was drivable.

I booked it into a VW dealer (call them dealer 'B') and they told me it was subject to two recalls from VW from BEFORE we owned it - a software update and something relating to a battery cell. Long story short, dealer B still has the car 6 weeks later because the software won't update and they can't work out what's wrong with the car. They have been back and forwards talking to VW in Germany. We have a loan car in the meantime from dealer B (who have been lovely). We are being warned it may be an expensive repair in the end.

So: Should dealer A have known there were recall notices on the car they sold me? They are non-VW and it may originally have been a trade-in to them. And, if the answer is 'yes', are they liable for the costs for this repair? The car is out of warranty. Finally, is this something the motoring ombudsman could potentially help with? Thanks for your time.

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Hi all, I posted previously that my 2021 ID3 was being updated at a VW dealership (UK) following various faults with the HUD and infotainment system. I bought it from a non-VW dealer 16 months ago, not realising it was on an old software (2.3.0). I then discovered the car was subject to a recall notice on the software a few years ago (which previous owner did not respond to). Now, the VW dealer is telling me there is a technical problem preventing the update and they don't know what the problem is. They are in contact with VW in Germany to try to resolve. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm anxious because we really stretched ourselves to buy this car (and we love it) but with it being out of warranty could this be a costly problem? Or, because it has arisen as a result of a recall notice, will VW cover the cost themselves. Anyone willing to put my mind at rest??!

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Hi all. Long story short, we bought an ID3 about 16 months ago. Things went wrong with the HUD and infotainment system and it turned out the previous owner hadn’t followed a recall on the software (version 2.3,0). Today I took it to a VW dealer (in the uk). They just rang and said it could take several days to do the update because it’s huge!!! I know it’s Friday afternoon but still…. Have other people had this experience? This update couldn’t be done over the air. Do subsequent updates take as long?

UPDATE: well, all my fears about hi-tech cars have been realised (I won't tell you how old my last car was, which I traded in last year for our first EV). Just had a phonically from dealer to say master technician has been having difficulties since Friday updating the software. It is now Tuesday. They are trying to correspond with VW in Germany about it. The update hasn't even started yet. So, they've granted me a courtesy car if it's not resolved by tomorrow! I love the car but I was anxious that something like this would happen and that, with it being out of warranty, it would cost me a lot to fix. We'll see...

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As title. Does anyone have any recommendations? Seem to be quite a few out there. Nothing super pricey, just something to keep me going for a few weeks until the dealer can take my car and fix the HUD/infotainment.

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