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Volkswagen Reliability?

dodong said:
In fact, it is no. 9 in Consumer Report's list of The Most Unreliable Cars last year. Sad because I love the beetle. But as you can see, it is in good company. Just look at the who's who on the list.
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I'm not too surprised by that list, but i would have expected a few more American cars on there.

BTW, i noticed that the majority of good VW stories are only on newer models with low miles. Would one attribute this more to increased quality or the fact that reliability can't really be measured until you reach high(er) mileage?
 
steamboat26 said:
I'm not too surprised by that list, but i would have expected a few more American cars on there.

BTW, i noticed that the majority of good VW stories are only on newer models with low miles. Would one attribute this more to increased quality or the fact that reliability can't really be measured until you reach high(er) mileage?
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I would suspect that the reason for good VW stories are both higher reliability and and the cars being newer. For some VW cars, its better to look across the pond to see how reliable they are since likely when the car is launched in the States, it's already been out in the EU for a couple of years, therefore the kinks are worked out.

Some people have horror stories with VW or those "my mechanic friends tell me that...", others have "bulletproof 600k+ miles and going". If a car is properly maintained it should be fine usually. I'll venture out to say that the key reason why VW and german brands have a bad reliability rep is because their parts are expensive in comparison to domestic and asian brands. So the owner really feels it and remembers when a repair must be made. People looking at german cars should keep this in mind so that they aren't surprised in the future.

But hey, at least the online VW community is a good one, on the 2 largest community sites for VW, most everyone uses macs :D so it must say something about taste :apple:
 
Love is blind, even for cars.

An old Volvo commercial used to state that people don't trade cars so much because they want a new one but because they wish to be rid of the one they have. I think there is much truth in that claim.

Still, if you "love" a car enough you will put up with its faults if you derive enough joy, and pride of ownership, in having it. The Corvette is a good example of this for though it is an unreliable car it still enjoys one of the highest owner loyalty scores. Not many cars enjoy such a loyal following or - are worthy of it.

I would never buy a car that has compiled a record of years and years of being unreliable because of a hope that this year they might be getting better. The fact that VW chooses to build their cars in Mexico tells you they have a goal to to build them as cheap as they can. Maybe such cooperate mentality can co-exist with building and delivering a quality, trouble free product, but it hasn't up to now.

I love the way the Jetta drives and feels, but I would never buy one. The day that Consumer Reports starts to recommend them as a good used car bet, maybe I will change my mind.
 
'04 VW Passat GL. Fun to drive (tiptronic) but a PITA to maintain. I haven't been the most diligent at maintaining the car, but at 80k miles, its had its fair share of problems. I'll keep it for as long as I can because I can't afford to go out and get another car right now. But when it gets paid off (or paid down enough) I'm trading it in. The Altimas look nice and I'm curious about the CVT.

j/k/Andy said:
check out the Nissan Altima Coupe
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Don"t Buy

I had a 01 Golf GLS. Never again will I buy. Horrible car. Passenger window fell off it's mount the first month I owned the car. I had multiple sensors which failed and contributed to the engine running lean (Check engine light never came on when any of the sensors failed.)

Brakes ran down to the metal only a few weeks after having scheduled service with VW (They were supposed to look at the brakes)

VW: Crappy Cars, Crappy Dealer Service
But Don't take my word for it. Look at their ratings with consumer reports. All of their vehicles rate poor. Even the new 05/06 Jettas, Golfs and Passats rate poor with consumer reports.

I sold my golf in 05 and got a Tacoma ... LOVE THE TACOMA

You said you were looking at the tacoma? You won't be disappointed.
 
As there are probably 5 other threads on VWs throughout MR, I'll re-iterate my experience quickly.

1985 GTI: Gasoline vapour lock in summer, regular maintenance expensive, soft alloy wheels easily damaged, brake rotors short lived.

1986 GTI: Missing weld and incoming water, regular maintenance expensive, brake rotors short lived.

1990 Corrado: Clutch overwhelmed by power, regular maintenance expensive, soft alloy wheels easily damaged. One hot ride--the most stable car I've driven with the factory wheels.

1999 Golf GLS: power window regulators poorly designed but finally repaired 3 years ago, regular maintenance less expensive, less frequent, standard 2.0 litre reliable, air conditioning growls and causes check light.

The latest was the best but after that, apparently VW went crazy with unreliable parts. I can't say that I've had tremendous problems other than the vapour lock and the bent wheels leaving me stranded. The driving experience is such that I've had 4 VWs but the issue with the power window regulators, solved or not, is such that I am seriously considering Mazda or Subaru for the next car. The Audi A3 is likely more reliable than a Golf but then, at the price, it should be. Even if I had $100,000 for a car, I still like smaller cars because there are no pretensions and you don't have to worry about gawkers.

VW seems to be like Apple was in the transition from expensive machines to more economical, more cost effective machines. They've made a few mistakes that a lot of people notice.
 
You know it is bad when a reliable alternative to a Jetta is a Ford Fusion. :p

Anything to get away from some of the VW dealers which tend to make the VW experience much worse.

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As far as the CVT tranny in the Altima, if you can drive the stick (buy it).

Some of the CVTs have been problematic, so it is worth looking at some of the driver forums to see if it is durable in the vehicle you want.
 
I would not get a VW now.

My previous 3 cars were VWs and I drove them each for over 200,000 miles without too many problems.

My current car is a 2003 Jetta 1.8T and it's been in the shop for repairs more often then the other 3 cars combined.

VW no longer makes quality cars.
 
Sun Baked said:
You know it is bad when a reliable alternative to a Jetta is a Ford Fusion. :p

Anything to get away from some of the VW dealers which tend to make the VW experience much worse.

---

As far as the CVT tranny in the Altima, if you can drive the stick (buy it).

Some of the CVTs have been problematic, so it is worth looking at some of the driver forums to see if it is durable in the vehicle you want.
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What's so sad is that CVTs are simple. Subaru had one in the Justy and it didn't seem to be a problem. Nissan can mess up anything.

The Ford Fusion is the best American car Mazda could make.

VW dealers without competition certainly make it difficult to want another one.

I asked the service advisor about the problem with the brake rotors wearing out early on the 1986 GTI.

Me: What happened that they went so early? What made them do that?

SA: Your foot.

It was truly an enlightening conversation.
 
I really do not like CVT transmissions. I guess you have to get used to them but for me its really annoying not having the car shift and makes it feel not as fun. Also it makes the car feel less powerful. I like clearly defined downshifts. They're just too smooth or something. I'll stick with my 4 or 5 speed auto.
 
I've never driven a CVT, nor do I know much about them, but isn't it just like one long continuous gear, rather than 4, 5, 6 or whatever clearly defined different gears? Seems like that would really suck.
 
yg17 said:
I've never driven a CVT, nor do I know much about them, but isn't it just like one long continuous gear, rather than 4, 5, 6 or whatever clearly defined different gears? Seems like that would really suck.
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It's called continuously variable because there aren't any gears. The one I first saw in breakdown had a metal band and a pair of cylinders, one of which could shrink or expand on demand to fit the speed and acceleration. I'd imagine that they've become more complicated in order to keep selling parts but I cannot imagine that they could ever be as complicated as a typical planetary automatic gearbox.

I'm not sure why smooth acceleration, especially on slick surfaces, would suck. Then again, why do so many Honda cars around here sound like a whole herd of Honda cars?
 
How To Change A Lighbulb in a VW:

First: Look up keywords in the manual- Headlight, lights, bulbs, etc. Curious, nothing leads to how to change a bulb, just how to turn on your headlights, high beams, turn signals.

Dig a little deeper into the back of the manual where it tells you how you should properly clean your car and how to change your tire and there you will find out how to change a bulb.

A reading from the book of "You're Owner's Literature Touareg"

And VW Said...
""It is becoming increasing more and more difficult to replace vehicle light bulbs since in many cases, other parts of the behicle must first be removed before you are able to get to the bulb. This applies especially to the light bulbs in the front of your vehicle which you can only reach through the engine compartment. For your safety we reccomend that you have your authorized VOLKSWAGEN dealer replace any bulbs for you, since your dealer has necessary tools, the correct bulbs and the expertise."

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

What about a battery for the keyless entry?
"The remote transmitter and the batteries are located in the key. The receiver for the signal is inside the passenger compartment. Your authorized VOLKSWAGEN dealer can change the batteries for you."

The oil changing section is quite interesting. It tells you that need to change it on a regular basis, to avoid skin contact with oil, oil is poisonous, to dispose of it safely, and they recommend that you have your oil changed at an "authorized VOLKSWAGEN dealer".
 
Ive owned...

95 GTI vr6
92 GTI 16v
95 Jetta 2.0
93.5 Corrado (know what that is?)

Every single one of them (except for the jetta which was given to me by a friend when my 16v was broken) was HORRIBLE on maintenance.... Not that the wouldn't start, but that everything STUPID would break on them (sunroof, dash lights, window regulators, coolant system hoses/thermostats, wheel bearings)

Dont get me wrong they are FUN AS HELLLL to drive, and I just recently had to sell my DREAM car (the corrado) but if you do buy a VAG car, make sure you have another DAILY DRIVER that you can drive when the vw is broken. And I will say the MKIV & V's (newer ones, years 2000+) have more fancy electrical **** in them , which means more fancy $$ electrical **** that breaks
 
Our Touareg just had to go in for service because I was driving it and all of a sudden the oil light started blinking. The LCD on the dash went blank said STOP! in big red letters and the car was dinging like crazy. I slowed down and it said "Check Oil Pressure, see manual" or something like that.

The oil has been changed religiously in this car. Apparently it was some sensor within the engine broke.

I think VW used to make good cars, but the ones made within at least the past 7 years or so suck. I have many family members that have hated their experience with them.
 
Well, my friend, it is generally accepted that Japan cars are the most reliable ones.

German ones look as a more doubtful choice by this criteria.
Let me tell you my story.
In May 2005 I've purchased Audi A4 2002 year of issue in Official Dealer's store. I was sure that this car is nice and there is no need to check if it is good.
But I was disappointed because I found out that it has some serious problems with it's engine and I invested huge amount of money and eventually got rid of it. There was no any guarantee from Official dealers because it was second-hand. I even wrote a complaint message in Germany.

That was my great disappointment in German cars. After that I've bought Honda Civic VII 1.6 2004 year of issue. And it's really great! Surely, no doubt that German vehicles has better ergonomic (interior) characteristics but they are inferior to Japan's ones in reliability.

So, my conclusion: if you are looking for reliability, choose Japan car!
 
I must agree with what everyone is saying about japanese cars being the most reliable, i had 2 older honda civcs that were not in good condition but they still drove pretty darn well. I have also owned a 99 passat and there was one problem with it and it cost more than it would have if it were a japanese or american car.
 
My wife and I had a lease on a Jetta for 4 years and I have to say it is a great car for the first 3 but dropped off a cliff in reliability in the 4th year. All sorts of little things like radio knobs and such would break all of the sudden. I liked the car but I couldn't see owning one again for that long. We renewed to another and so far so good but this one is for 3 years rather than 4! :D
 
they're not the most reliable cars in the world, but that in part helped me to become more independent with fixing my car. I didn't just run to the dealership every time a light came on or I heard a noise anymore. It was cheaper, taught me a lot about cars, and feels a lot better to fix something yourself. If you do go with the vw, check out vwvortex.com, I got a lot of help from people over there
 
Fearless Leader said:
^^ great.

So I'm just confused, how can a "Japanese" car (The tundra I might buy is made 20mins from my house...) be that much better than a "German" car (which is made somewhere else in the US)?
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No, no, no. It does not matter where a car is made. All that matters is the design and the materials specified. If it is a good design and the materials are of the appropriate quality, the vehicle will be exactly the same wherever it is made.

They are all assembled the same way. If the hole is in the right place, then the bolt is too and the part assembles perfectly, every time everywhere. It does not matter if a car is assembled in Germany, the US, Bangladesh, it doesn't matter.

Assemblers do not whittle parts out of blocks of metal or shape sheets of metal. They simply assemble and they are given no choices as to how to do that. The powered wrenches are set for the correct torque, the holes are in the right place and tab A goes into slot A.

If a VW is not as reliable as a Toyota, it is because VW's design is inferior and/or they specified less appropriate materals, alloys, etc.

If you switched employees from one plant to another the results would be exactly the same.

What is variable is the price they charge for the car, its replacement parts and to service it. If Brand A is more reliable, the replacement parts are less and the service costs are less, then Brand B will obviously suffer by comparison.

And, as we all know, the badge on the car has a lot to do with its price and cost to own, even if all else is equal.
 
carlgo said:
No, no, no. It does not matter where a car is made. All that matters is the design and the materials specified. If it is a good design and the materials are of the appropriate quality, the vehicle will be exactly the same wherever it is made.

They are all assembled the same way. If the hole is in the right place, then the bolt is too and the part assembles perfectly, every time everywhere. It does not matter if a car is assembled in Germany, the US, Bangladesh, it doesn't matter.

Assemblers do not whittle parts out of blocks of metal or shape sheets of metal. They simply assemble and they are given no choices as to how to do that. The powered wrenches are set for the correct torque, the holes are in the right place and tab A goes into slot A.

If a VW is not as reliable as a Toyota, it is because VW's design is inferior and/or they specified less appropriate materals, alloys, etc.

If you switched employees from one plant to another the results would be exactly the same.

What is variable is the price they charge for the car, its replacement parts and to service it. If Brand A is more reliable, the replacement parts are less and the service costs are less, then Brand B will obviously suffer by comparison.

And, as we all know, the badge on the car has a lot to do with its price and cost to own, even if all else is equal.
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One factor we must remember is the design of the car, most VW cars are not designed for our roads which are sub-par in comparison to other western countries. This accounts for a lot of rattles and such that many VAG users experience. As with the quality control , VAG has been improving as have all car companies in recent years. If you want reliable, check out a domestic they are decent. Imports from Japan are considered to be more reliable, but in my experience they are the same as any domestic my family has owned (new or used).

Its also personal choice, I chose because my car is so much fun to drive, torque all throughout the range, the japanese cars in the same class are high revving low torque cars that are just too teen.

KilGil27 said:
they're not the most reliable cars in the world, but that in part helped me to become more independent with fixing my car. I didn't just run to the dealership every time a light came on or I heard a noise anymore. It was cheaper, taught me a lot about cars, and feels a lot better to fix something yourself. If you do go with the vw, check out vwvortex.com, I got a lot of help from people over there
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This is very true, taught me a lot, and if I could choose again I'd make the same choice, and the Tex is a great place.
 
I've owned four VWs. Never again.

I always say "volkswagen reliability" is an oxymoron... like jumbo shrimp.
 
carlgo said:
No, no, no. It does not matter where a car is made. All that matters is the design and the materials specified. If it is a good design and the materials are of the appropriate quality, the vehicle will be exactly the same wherever it is made.
Click to expand...

I quite disagree with you. Many car specialists say that American cars are often worse than European ones. Moreover, sometimes they absolutely different. Let's take Honda Civic.
European Civic has 1.6 engine, American one is 1.7. The have different interiors as well (there is no original radio-recorder in European one).
When I was choosing Honda Civic only among Europeans cars.

My mum has Toyota Matrix from USA. Not far ago we had serious problems with cardan shaft.

I would be glad if I and many car experts are wrong in our conviction that USA cars are worse than European ones. :cool:

Another interesting fact. Do you now that the Japaneses don't exploit they cars more than 3 (or 5?) years? :)
 
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