The only VW that I have ever owned was an '83 Rabbit. It was great and a lot of fun when it ran well, but keeping it running well was difficult and expensive. VW (at least back then) still required all work done on the car during the warranty period to be performed by the dealer or the warranty was voided; this got to be very expensive very fast. The required (scheduled) maintenance was also much worse than other cars (and much more expensive - $275 for a valve adjustment at I believe 15K miles). But as I said, it was one of the most fun cars I have ever driven when it ran well. I was considering a Jetta TDI for my next car in a few years, but this thread may have just dissuaded me, since it seems that their reliability hasn't improved.
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Volkswagen Reliability?
- Thread starter Fearless Leader
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My 2000 Jetta VR6 waited three years to start failing window regulator clips and changeover valves. I went through six of the former, and two of the latter in 30k miles of ownership.
I've had my Jetta for just over 2 years now, just broke 40,000 miles. It's been a great car, lots of fun reliable. The only problems I've had have been very minor, and actually very similar to issues I had with my last Toyota (all related to the interior of the car).
Really.
We have an 05 Touareg V8 that is pretty much loaded and it has been a nightmare. It has like 50,000 miles and is under warranty until 65k but its still a pain to bring it to the dealer. Everything from CV joints to CD player to the trunk lock mechanism to the CD player to the Air Suspension air bags and compressor dying, to the fuel pump failing, to the starter failing, to the ABS system screwing up, to power steering leaks, to the strips of headlining around the windows falling off, to the fuel injectors clogging etc, etc etc. Oh yeah it goes through light bulbs faster than you can replace them.
It actually hasn't been too bad lately now that everything but the frame has been replaced. My dad's coworker has a Touareg that eats through tires every 10,000 miles or so. They are great cars, fun to drive, comfortable, nice interior. The only things I don't like them are the poor rearward visibility, the atrocious navigation system, and the reliability.
I know a lot of people who have purchased VW's and sold them within 2-3 years because of reliability. Most of these people are Passat owners.
I think it says a lot when most of the mechanics and service people at the VW dealer don't actually own VW's.
I know people who've owned VW's and they have had tons of problems with them.
If you want a reliable Volkswagen, spring for a lambo
But I would go the Toyota route
If you want a reliable Volkswagen, spring for a lambo
But I would go the Toyota route
Wow, that is a huge suprise.
Personal experiences aside, VWs are a nightmare as are their Audi counterparts. FOUR VW products have been LEMONED where I work. Two Touaregs, a Jetta, and an A4 all were problematic enough to be lemoned.
My friends sister had a 2000 Jetta GLX for two years that was bought new and it was a terrible car. It was at the dealer twice for a transmission issue for three weeks that could not be diagnosed and VW refused to do anything about it, took it to a different dealer and same story. It constantly had electrical issues and some which prevented the vehicle from starting.
One of my best friends has a 2006 GTI and it too has electrical problems and rattles like a mid 90's Cavalier.
I would never buy a VW product, for every positive story I hear about one I hear five more people complaining that have direct experience. Someone else mentioned that Consumer Reports has already proven that they are unreliable, so arguing that they are doesn't really make sense since they survey thousands of owners...
I have found that ALL German products are generally unreliable, although there are some that seem to be reasonable. I am a car dealer and have owned many cars over the years, all shapes and sizes, all makes and models and have found that, contrary to popular opinion, German cars have been by the far the worst. Take one example, a few years ago a 2001 BMW 728i came in and I started using it as my daily driver, after less than 100 miles I noted 17 faults with the car, faults that I would NEVER have found (or very rarely) on other non-german brands, including, faulty Climate control circuit board and valve system, faulty Amplifier unit, faulty non-functioning parking sensors, faulty dash lighting (tried replacing bulbs to no avail), broken electric windows, broken door trim (cheap plastic and bad design), faulty lighting ECU, faulty circuit board behind clocks rendering the LCD display unit unreadable, the list goes on... People seem to think this is a recent thing that VWs have become poor, I remember back in the early nineties working in a VW dealer in the UK, having neverending nightmares with them, from premature rusting to continuous electrical issues, terrible trim quality (glovebox hinges were a particular favourite to break within a few months!), also, the electrical system must have been badly designed too, as there would always be regular trailer loads of recovered cars with blown main engine fuses and dead ECUs etc... I remember back in 1998 having a brand new Golf TDI as a demonstrator for a few weeks. This car broke down leaving me stranded with three seperate faults in three weeks!!! Week one, main engine fuse blew after pulling away from a roundabout, Week two, injector pump blew, making the car stall and not restart, Week three saw the car disabled again with a malfunctioning ECU!
Overated doesn't even begin to describe them!!!
Overated doesn't even begin to describe them!!!
You obviously don't really know what you are on about, VWs are poor in most areas, fit and finish is no better than any Jap/korean car and basic engineering flaws are in abundance, for instance Passats needing new suspension rubbers after less than 10k miles and or course the constant electrical glitches.
I can remember VWs being ridiculed back in the 90s for their apalling quality/engineering
You are either VERY lucky, are mentally ill, or have a vested interest in the VAG group, which is it?
Toyota is still the best!
What ever you says, no one can beat the Toyota! I had an Audi and didn't last long. Very problematic if you don't service after service interval. Unlike Toyota especially the Corollas. I have a 1999 model and will soon reach 300,000km and still running like new.
Though I don't prefer driving it on long drives but still take it for high way trips cause when it comes to reliability Corollas/Toyota is always the best. After all on highways reliability is always priority.
Get a corolla and you can pass them on to your kiddos or siblings!!! It's a great investment.
Love the corollas!!
What ever you says, no one can beat the Toyota! I had an Audi and didn't last long. Very problematic if you don't service after service interval. Unlike Toyota especially the Corollas. I have a 1999 model and will soon reach 300,000km and still running like new.
Though I don't prefer driving it on long drives but still take it for high way trips cause when it comes to reliability Corollas/Toyota is always the best. After all on highways reliability is always priority.
Get a corolla and you can pass them on to your kiddos or siblings!!! It's a great investment.
Love the corollas!!
My 2005 Tdi Polo has been no more or less reliable than any other car I`ve owned.
They are average for reliability imo.
My first `dub (A mk1 Golf) was a total dog.
Overall my Jap motors have been better, Nissan mostly but my Mitsubishi Legnum V6 was a
total money pit.
They are average for reliability imo.
My first `dub (A mk1 Golf) was a total dog.
Overall my Jap motors have been better, Nissan mostly but my Mitsubishi Legnum V6 was a
total money pit.
We have a 2000 Cabrio GLS. I'd say it's worked out a lot better for us than many of our friends' Jettas and Passats over the past ten years. From what I can tell the 1.8L engine they used for a long time was a source of a lot of issues, whereas our model has a less problematic 2.0L engine.
Still, I'd say our car requires more service and TLC than your typical Japanese car. The thing eats lightbulbs and hoses, that's for sure.
When it comes time to buy another car, we'll certainly consider another VW, but I can probably see us buying another make instead.
Still, I'd say our car requires more service and TLC than your typical Japanese car. The thing eats lightbulbs and hoses, that's for sure.
When it comes time to buy another car, we'll certainly consider another VW, but I can probably see us buying another make instead.
pretty much what i expected: reviews are all over the board, leaning towards the negative end in terms of reliability. i think it is kind of a crap shoot depending on how lucky you get.
i've got a 2000 Golf GLS 2.0L with 130,000 and haven't had anything major enough to make me regret owning it. 2010 was a bit expensive - sway bar, axle bushings, thermostat stuff, etc. plus the timing belt was that year. i can't remember exactly but it was in the $1500-2000 range for repairs that year. 2010 was definitely my most expensive year as far as repairs go.
my fiancee's sister had a similar year Jetta and wasn't too pleased. i think she had transmission (auto) issues.
i will say you are missing out on a lot of the "fun" factor if you get auto.
i've got a 2000 Golf GLS 2.0L with 130,000 and haven't had anything major enough to make me regret owning it. 2010 was a bit expensive - sway bar, axle bushings, thermostat stuff, etc. plus the timing belt was that year. i can't remember exactly but it was in the $1500-2000 range for repairs that year. 2010 was definitely my most expensive year as far as repairs go.
my fiancee's sister had a similar year Jetta and wasn't too pleased. i think she had transmission (auto) issues.
i will say you are missing out on a lot of the "fun" factor if you get auto.
If I had to sum it up, my experience with VWs is that they are good designs, and mechanically reliable. Their problems stem largely from build quality issues on the cars assembled in Mexico, and electrical gremlins are the most common issue, though rust seems to be a problem on some of the Mk I and Mk II Jettas and Golfs.
The 1.8L engine (the old non-turbo 8v) had one design flaw that I personally experienced: the ECU is located close to the exhaust header, separated by a flimsy sheet metal heat shield. In my case the heat shield corroded (in just four years of driving in Ohio) and the heat from the exhaust header literaly melted the ECU - a thousand dollar issue.
I have heard that the Golf GTIs were and continue to be made in Germany, and that their build quality and reliability is superior to the Mexican-assembled cars.
The 1.8L engine (the old non-turbo 8v) had one design flaw that I personally experienced: the ECU is located close to the exhaust header, separated by a flimsy sheet metal heat shield. In my case the heat shield corroded (in just four years of driving in Ohio) and the heat from the exhaust header literaly melted the ECU - a thousand dollar issue.
I have heard that the Golf GTIs were and continue to be made in Germany, and that their build quality and reliability is superior to the Mexican-assembled cars.
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If you must get a VW avoid the four c turbo 1.8. I had one and with it came tons of oil leaks, breakdowns, and sudden losses of power while accelerating.
I would just get something more reliable. VW in my opinion gives you all the hassles of a German car without the bling factor. Just 2 more cents.
I would just get something more reliable. VW in my opinion gives you all the hassles of a German car without the bling factor. Just 2 more cents.
I was considering the new 2011 Jetta with the 2.5 liter engine. Any input on that? Reliability, quality?
The 2011 Jetta looks good, but the quality decreased considerably in comparison to the MK V models from what I've read. Though, I imagine a Jetta with the 2.0 TFSI to be quite fun to drive.
That sucks. My wife really has her heart set on it but I'm a bit cautious. I really can't show her much in that price range that comes with the same features and size either....
Corollas are fine cars, but bland as cold oatmeal and as exciting as a stump.
Not sure how they fit in with VW reliability though.
Anyway, another VW=negative vote here.
2000 Jetta 1.8T and have had trouble since the beginning. Coolant temp sensor failed, leaving me stranded. O2 sensor failure. Window mechanism fail. Turbo bypass hose fail. Oil leaks. Suspension mounts coming loose. Emissions components failing. Throttle body failure. Dealer-installed thermostat no good.
True, I have had the car almost 11 years and 100,000 miles... but I'm forgetting a slew of other faults in the same vein. I had a Honda Civic that had zero issues over the same mileage. Take your pick.
The car gets me where I need to go, but it has cost me a lot of money to keep it going.
I agree that there is unfortunately something inferior about the build quality of the Mexican-made cars.
I have never owned a car with the Audi/VW 1.8L turbo, but several friends do and in my experience they are excellent engines. I would not hesitate to buy one. Especially when you consider that the contemporary base VW engine was the old 8v SOHC 2L.
Autos are getting way to complicated. I had a '68 Beetle that blew one of the spark plugs out of the block. It ran on three cylinders until I got it fixed for around $25.
Dale
Dale
Modern cars can still do that, and unlike the Beetle, have heaters that heat and won't crumple like a discarded beer can when you hit something.
Modern cars can still do that, and unlike the Beetle, have heaters that heat and won't crumple like a discarded beer can when you hit something.
True. Especially the crumple like a beer can thing.
Dale