VAG Spec Centre Menlyn
Claimed Business
|1.4|10 Reviews (last 12 months)|This business does not respond to reviews
VAG Spec Centre Menlyn
Claimed Business
|1.4
10 Reviews (last 12 months)
Does not respond to reviews
AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, VAG Spec Centre Menlyn is facing significant customer dissatisfaction, with a recurring theme of vehicles being returned in worse condition than when received. Customers consistently mention prolonged repair times often stretching into months, poor communication, unresolved misdiagnoses, and disputes over repeat invoicing and warranty claims. Several reviewers describe feeling financially exploited after paying substantial amounts upfront. A small number of positive remarks reference helpful individual staff interactions, but these are heavily outweighed by frustrations regarding workmanship, accountability, and customer treatment.
Performance(last 12 months):
Trustindex Rating
2.3TrustIndex
2.3
Review Distribution
1.4|10 Reviews
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Recent reviews (10)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperienceA
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
27 May 2026, 07:23
73 days for a same-day repair, my bumper damaged on drop-off still unfixed after 93 days, and they tried to bill the warranty for 2 injectors but only fitted 1
On 18 February 2026 I dropped my 2013 VW Amarok 2.0 BiTDI at VAG Spec Centre Menlyn for a same-day injector seal repair. What followed was 73 days at the workshop, six separate repair attempts, the cylinder head removed twice, and a list of failures that I have had to document and escalate to RMI Consumer Affairs. 1. THEY DAMAGED MY VEHICLE ON DROP-OFF DAY. A staff member reversed my bakkie into another vehicle, denting the rear bumper and gouging the body behind it. I was not told — I only found out when I phoned for an update at 14:26 that afternoon. Liability was verbally admitted and photos were sent to me. 93 days later, the bumper is still unrepaired and uncompensated. They want to fix it at a non-registered body shop, which is a major red flag. 2. THEY INFLATED THE QUOTATION BY R9,371.28. The revised quote billed me for a cambelt kit (R3,755) and thermostat (R1,500.55) that I had replaced 6 months earlier at another RMI workshop — both still under warranty, with the invoice in their hands. They also billed 12 hours of labour after verbally agreeing 8. Every disputed item was only removed AFTER I objected in writing. 3. THEY BILLED THE WARRANTY FOR 2 INJECTORS AND ONLY FITTED 1. AutoSure paid R39,455.03 — the full invoice — for two new injectors. On 20 April I checked the part-code stampings on the workshop floor: three injectors carried a discontinued Bosch code (the originals), only one carried the current code. They never disclosed this. Had I not noticed, R10,000+ of warranty money would have been kept against work never done. A second new injector was eventually fitted at my home address on 24 April — by a mobile technician who arrived with stretch bolts of the wrong length and asked me to drive to the workshop to fetch the correct ones. 4. THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED IN A DANGEROUS STATE AT THE FIRST ATTEMPTED HANDOVER (30 March). PDC sensor missing. Wrong battery fitted, securing bracket loose so the battery moved around freely, terminals loose. Engine bay saturated in diesel — on a common-rail system running above 2,000 bar this is a fire hazard and makes any new injector leak impossible to detect. Parts from other vehicles dumped on my camping mattress in the load bin. No post-work inspection was done. Elaine handed me the keys and said "everything is in order." I refused to take the vehicle. 5. COMMUNICATION WAS NON-EXISTENT. Almost every update came because I chased. The lead technician left mid-repair and nobody told me. The regional manager (Albert) ignored a formal request on 16 March, only engaged after I messaged him directly on 31 March, and disengaged again in early April. He acknowledged in writing that "communication has definitely been a big problem" and that this was "definitely not the experience you should have had." 6. A VERBALLY PROMISED COLLECTION DATE (Friday 27 March) was simply ignored — no call, no message — after I had already paid for alternative transport for an 800 km weekend trip based on their commitment. The mechanical repair was eventually completed on 1 May 2026 (Day 73) at the SIXTH repair attempt. I sent a formal written proposal on 14 May 2026 — incorporating RMI Consumer Affairs guidance — asking VAG Spec to either fund the bumper repair at a SAMBRA-accredited body shop, or settle the R16,600 third-party insurance excess so I can route it through my Auto & General insurance. They proposed routing the work through VAG Spec Centre Randburg, which is not on SAMBRA's list of VW-approved body repairers. Seven days later: no reply, no counter-proposal, no SAMBRA quote. On 21 May 2026 I formally escalated to RMI Consumer Affairs for mediation. The RMI Consumer Affairs Specialist (Tumisho Lekoloane) has since written to the MIWA Director (Pieter Niemand), CC'ing me, confirming that another consumer had already filed a complaint against the same company before mine — meaning MIWA is now being looped in ahead of a site visit. I am not the only one. MIOSA referral and a National Consumer Commission complaint under CPA s.54 remain on the table.
Helpful (0)
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
27 May 2026, 07:23
73 days for a same-day repair, my bumper damaged on drop-off still unfixed after 93 days, and they tried to bill the warranty for 2 injectors but only fitted 1
On 18 February 2026 I dropped my 2013 VW Amarok 2.0 BiTDI at VAG Spec Centre Menlyn for a same-day injector seal repair. What followed was 73 days at the workshop, six separate repair attempts, the cylinder head removed twice, and a list of failures that I have had to document and escalate to RMI Consumer Affairs. 1. THEY DAMAGED MY VEHICLE ON DROP-OFF DAY. A staff member reversed my bakkie into another vehicle, denting the rear bumper and gouging the body behind it. I was not told — I only found out when I phoned for an update at 14:26 that afternoon. Liability was verbally admitted and photos were sent to me. 93 days later, the bumper is still unrepaired and uncompensated. They want to fix it at a non-registered body shop, which is a major red flag. 2. THEY INFLATED THE QUOTATION BY R9,371.28. The revised quote billed me for a cambelt kit (R3,755) and thermostat (R1,500.55) that I had replaced 6 months earlier at another RMI workshop — both still under warranty, with the invoice in their hands. They also billed 12 hours of labour after verbally agreeing 8. Every disputed item was only removed AFTER I objected in writing. 3. THEY BILLED THE WARRANTY FOR 2 INJECTORS AND ONLY FITTED 1. AutoSure paid R39,455.03 — the full invoice — for two new injectors. On 20 April I checked the part-code stampings on the workshop floor: three injectors carried a discontinued Bosch code (the originals), only one carried the current code. They never disclosed this. Had I not noticed, R10,000+ of warranty money would have been kept against work never done. A second new injector was eventually fitted at my home address on 24 April — by a mobile technician who arrived with stretch bolts of the wrong length and asked me to drive to the workshop to fetch the correct ones. 4. THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED IN A DANGEROUS STATE AT THE FIRST ATTEMPTED HANDOVER (30 March). PDC sensor missing. Wrong battery fitted, securing bracket loose so the battery moved around freely, terminals loose. Engine bay saturated in diesel — on a common-rail system running above 2,000 bar this is a fire hazard and makes any new injector leak impossible to detect. Parts from other vehicles dumped on my camping mattress in the load bin. No post-work inspection was done. Elaine handed me the keys and said "everything is in order." I refused to take the vehicle. 5. COMMUNICATION WAS NON-EXISTENT. Almost every update came because I chased. The lead technician left mid-repair and nobody told me. The regional manager (Albert) ignored a formal request on 16 March, only engaged after I messaged him directly on 31 March, and disengaged again in early April. He acknowledged in writing that "communication has definitely been a big problem" and that this was "definitely not the experience you should have had." 6. A VERBALLY PROMISED COLLECTION DATE (Friday 27 March) was simply ignored — no call, no message — after I had already paid for alternative transport for an 800 km weekend trip based on their commitment. The mechanical repair was eventually completed on 1 May 2026 (Day 73) at the SIXTH repair attempt. I sent a formal written proposal on 14 May 2026 — incorporating RMI Consumer Affairs guidance — asking VAG Spec to either fund the bumper repair at a SAMBRA-accredited body shop, or settle the R16,600 third-party insurance excess so I can route it through my Auto & General insurance. They proposed routing the work through VAG Spec Centre Randburg, which is not on SAMBRA's list of VW-approved body repairers. Seven days later: no reply, no counter-proposal, no SAMBRA quote. On 21 May 2026 I formally escalated to RMI Consumer Affairs for mediation. The RMI Consumer Affairs Specialist (Tumisho Lekoloane) has since written to the MIWA Director (Pieter Niemand), CC'ing me, confirming that another consumer had already filed a complaint against the same company before mine — meaning MIWA is now being looped in ahead of a site visit. I am not the only one. MIOSA referral and a National Consumer Commission complaint under CPA s.54 remain on the table.
0
Replies (0)JP
Judith P
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
5 May 2026, 15:05
Unhappy Client
I took my car in for a minor repair (a coolant leak repair) but it took two days and I got it back in a worse state. My car overheated after 13 km and I had to make a 4-hour trip to get it back home without causing damage. I took it back and they invoiced me again. Three days later I contacted them to hear when I could expect my car to be fixed. They sent me another invoice gor an amount I cannot afford to pay. I went to collect my car today. In short, my car is worse than it was before I took it to VAG Spec and I spent thousands to get it back. I do not recommend taking your vehicle there.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)JP
Judith P
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
5 May 2026, 15:05
Unhappy Client
I took my car in for a minor repair (a coolant leak repair) but it took two days and I got it back in a worse state. My car overheated after 13 km and I had to make a 4-hour trip to get it back home without causing damage. I took it back and they invoiced me again. Three days later I contacted them to hear when I could expect my car to be fixed. They sent me another invoice gor an amount I cannot afford to pay. I went to collect my car today. In short, my car is worse than it was before I took it to VAG Spec and I spent thousands to get it back. I do not recommend taking your vehicle there.
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Replies (0)U
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Regomoditswe
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
31 Mar 2026, 10:16
chance takers and bad customer service
Don't take your car to them especially high-performance vehicles. I sent in my car for a timing chain replacement, and they ended up messing up my car . When i took it back to them they wanted to invoice me again instead of fixing the mess they did. they also keep your vehicles for more than 2 months. my advice take your cars to RautoMech or V&N they are professional and know what they are doing .
Helpful (0)
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Regomoditswe
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
31 Mar 2026, 10:16
chance takers and bad customer service
Don't take your car to them especially high-performance vehicles. I sent in my car for a timing chain replacement, and they ended up messing up my car . When i took it back to them they wanted to invoice me again instead of fixing the mess they did. they also keep your vehicles for more than 2 months. my advice take your cars to RautoMech or V&N they are professional and know what they are doing .
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Replies (0)ER
Elvis R
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
4 Mar 2026, 08:00
VAG Spec Centre Menlyn Services have deteriorated
I would like to share my experiences with this company and advise against taking your vehicle there. Last year, I took my bakkie in because there was a noise coming from the pulleys. I submitted warranty claims to address what I believed were incorrect diagnoses, but the noise was never resolved. Their communication is also very poor. Often, I would be informed at the last minute, around 5:00 PM, that my vehicle was not ready. On one occasion, I visited the shop after not receiving any updates, only to find my bakkie parked and scheduled to be attended to the following day without any notification to me. Two weeks ago, I made another claim to address the noise, which they attributed to a faulty air conditioning compressor. After they replaced it, the noise continued. I ended up taking my bakkie to another shop for a diagnosis, where they identified the actual problem: the alternator needed reconditioning. Once that was fixed, my vehicle was finally running well. Unfortunately, I had to pay for this out of my pocket because my warranty stated they could not cover more than two claims for the same issue. I am extremely disappointed with my experience. Things have deteriorated there!!!
Helpful (0)
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Elvis R
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
4 Mar 2026, 08:00
VAG Spec Centre Menlyn Services have deteriorated
I would like to share my experiences with this company and advise against taking your vehicle there. Last year, I took my bakkie in because there was a noise coming from the pulleys. I submitted warranty claims to address what I believed were incorrect diagnoses, but the noise was never resolved. Their communication is also very poor. Often, I would be informed at the last minute, around 5:00 PM, that my vehicle was not ready. On one occasion, I visited the shop after not receiving any updates, only to find my bakkie parked and scheduled to be attended to the following day without any notification to me. Two weeks ago, I made another claim to address the noise, which they attributed to a faulty air conditioning compressor. After they replaced it, the noise continued. I ended up taking my bakkie to another shop for a diagnosis, where they identified the actual problem: the alternator needed reconditioning. Once that was fixed, my vehicle was finally running well. Unfortunately, I had to pay for this out of my pocket because my warranty stated they could not cover more than two claims for the same issue. I am extremely disappointed with my experience. Things have deteriorated there!!!
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Replies (0)PM
Peter M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 Feb 2026, 13:10
Bad service from VAG Spec Centre Menlyn
I took my vehicle for repairs on 18 December 2025, i got it back about two weeks back now with more problems than before it went there, i managed to find the regional manager's numbers gave him the story and copy of invoice since then he never spoke to me and doesn't take my calls.
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Peter M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 Feb 2026, 13:10
Bad service from VAG Spec Centre Menlyn
I took my vehicle for repairs on 18 December 2025, i got it back about two weeks back now with more problems than before it went there, i managed to find the regional manager's numbers gave him the story and copy of invoice since then he never spoke to me and doesn't take my calls.
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Replies (0)TN
Tlotlo N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
5 Feb 2026, 12:43
Gearbox mechatronics A4
The worst place to take your car too, my car has been with them over 2 months, I had paid them upfront till today they are failing to fix my car, today I get to Be told I must come fetch the car, while I’m own my way they say the car is not okay they won’t release, I have for petrol of over 1200 they enjoy driving my car but they not fixing it, Never take your car there, I was recommended to vagspec Menlyn by a friend, trust me it’s a mess, I had to follow up on my car all the time before they tell me what they are busy with, they do not update us as clients nor value us I gave them close to 80k but still was not a priority that’s how bad it is
Helpful (0)
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Tlotlo N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
5 Feb 2026, 12:43
Gearbox mechatronics A4
The worst place to take your car too, my car has been with them over 2 months, I had paid them upfront till today they are failing to fix my car, today I get to Be told I must come fetch the car, while I’m own my way they say the car is not okay they won’t release, I have for petrol of over 1200 they enjoy driving my car but they not fixing it, Never take your car there, I was recommended to vagspec Menlyn by a friend, trust me it’s a mess, I had to follow up on my car all the time before they tell me what they are busy with, they do not update us as clients nor value us I gave them close to 80k but still was not a priority that’s how bad it is
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Rachel M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
5 Jan 2026, 07:34
HIGH Regretfully (Sitting with a broken car Cause of them)
The worst place ever NEVER NEVER TAKE YOU CAR TO THEM , THEY BREAK YOUR CAR EVEN MORE AND THEN TAKE YOU MONEY. THE QUOTE THEY SEND YOU IS A FORTUNE SO THEY KNOW YOU WONT BE ABLE TO PAY. DONT EVERY USE THIS PEOPLE YOU WILL HIGHLY Regret!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful (0)
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Rachel M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
5 Jan 2026, 07:34
HIGH Regretfully (Sitting with a broken car Cause of them)
The worst place ever NEVER NEVER TAKE YOU CAR TO THEM , THEY BREAK YOUR CAR EVEN MORE AND THEN TAKE YOU MONEY. THE QUOTE THEY SEND YOU IS A FORTUNE SO THEY KNOW YOU WONT BE ABLE TO PAY. DONT EVERY USE THIS PEOPLE YOU WILL HIGHLY Regret!!!!!!!!!!!
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