GTI Plus Rear Light Smashed

[nathan.larose]

Hi all,
I have a 2019 Polo GTI + since June 2019.
Came back from walking dog today and noticed that both of my rear lights have shattered on the inside!!!!
No cracks or penetration points on surface to indicate a stone chip or anything like that.
Has anybody else had this?
I'd like to see if I am the only one, if not then I can build a case for VW because they aren't the cheapest things to replace.

Thanks!!!!!
Nathan

[monkeyhanger]

How about a few pics so we know what we're looking for?

If there's no external impact points, I'd hope that you won't have to battle with the dealer/VW to get a warranty replacement.

[nathan.larose]

Sorry thought I added two.

[Harrihealey02]

Considering it's happened on both lights it seems like it's a manufacture defect. Have you used a car wash that you haven't used before with it? Could be a reaction to chemicals that's been used. Are the lights fully secured to the chassis? It looks like it could have cracked due to the force of the boot hitting the plastic backing plate.

[monkeyhanger]

Considering it's happened on both lights it seems like it's a manufacture defect. Have you used a car wash that you haven't used before with it? Could be a reaction to chemicals that's been used. Are the lights fully secured to the chassis? It looks like it could have cracked due to the force of the boot hitting the plastic backing plate.

That doesn't look chemical. You could be onto something with boot lid impact. My Polo (and a fair few others here) needed a good slam to close the boot, due to incorrect placement of the striker plate. The bottom edge of the boot was hitting the top of the back bumper on mine. I don't think the boot could contact the rear clusters 7nless the boot alignment is massively out, those pics seem to show a healthy gap between boot lid and clusters.

Maybe a dodgy batch or a really good seal on the access to the bulbs has prevented venting, with thermal expansion/contraction in use causing internal stress lines (highly unlikely)? Do you power wash your car? Powerful blasts of the water causing flex of the casing and internal stress lines/fracture?

[monkeyhanger]

I did go out and check mine this morning - no issues, despite my early ownership issues of needing to slam the boot lid to close it due to incorrect placement of the strike plate.

Stone chip damage is almost impossible - unless you go hurtling around gravel tracks at 40mph...in reverse, just behind someone driving in front of you.

If there's no external impact damage then it should be a straightforward warranty claim. Just take plenty of pics now so if it gets worse over the coming weeks until the dealership workshop reopens, you can show hiw it was when discovered.

[Ima]

A similar fault was common in the pre facelift mk 3 Seat Leon where the rear lights would crack internally. It was resolved in the facelift but Seat did replace the lights under warranty and I’m sure VW will do the same. The advice to have lots of close up photos is a good one as it’s clear from your pictures that there’s no evidence of external impact that could have caused this.

[nathan.larose]

Thanks. Seems I’m not the only one who’s boot isn’t the easiest to shut. I’ll get onto them when the service centre re-opens.
If anybody else has this problem, please comment so I can build a case for VW!!

Thank you