My 1997 GTI has electrical system problems.

The electric sun roof doesn’t always respond to when I press the open/close button.

The driving lights no longer work. The mechanic tells me there is no power in the fuse box.

My airbag and anti-lock warning lights come go on and off at various times while driving.

This is the first and last VW I will ever own.

Nearly every 1996 and 1997 VW I see on the road is missing at least one, or more of the body side mouldings.

The mouldings fall off at about 4 years of age.

Why do VW’s fall apart so fast? Why don’t the dealerhships keep parts in stock?

My usual service routine is to make one appointment to diagnose a problem, and then go back two weeks later when they have the parts in stock.

I have a 1997 Golf. How hard is it to keep parts stocked at a VW dealership?

Hi to you all i own a 1992 VW G40 anda here in Portugal we are “”terrifried”" with the VAG Group (Seat Volks Audi )
the diesels (TDI) have constant Airflow meter and turbo troubles .
the breaks is round 20000KMS we change the pads ,in Europe its normal (we Break a lot ) im my case OF the G40 7.500Kms to 10.000kms its the life omy my pads (racing pads ) but they dont dust,overheat…. they just break hard and dont complaint .
Remember were talking about a car of 900 Kg of weight and 120HP thats over less than 10kg for 1HP ,belive me its fast anad rocks the litle Polo ….
problems Clutch (30.000Kms and 250 Euros Total repair with new clutch kit.
the compressor belts and pulleys are short of life…(20.000KMs)
i own a 318i 1985 model with the M10 engine 18 years and 375.000Kms after… Probs …. 1 a HEAD GASKET AT 285.000KMs and REGULAR MILAGE REVISIONS … Thats What the Polo Should be But….it Isnt…
that is my regular Pain in the ass..

Regards and Heil to end of probs in the volks…

Armando Belo

My brother just bought a 99 passat turbo and has a few problems.

The oil light came on just after he bought it(from a private owner).

The VW dealer said it could be a number of things but that they would start with an “”oil pressure switch”" replacement. While they had it at their shop they said the tie rods were loose (the passenger side was dangerously worn) and he had those replace as well. ($630.00)

They said the oil pressure switch may not fix the problem but that it would cost $140.

Well. They said it was done. I took him to the dealer to pick it up and when a mechanic pulled the car around, he got out and said, “”did you know your oil light was on?”" sheesh.

So they said the next step was to drop the oil pan and “”clean out the crud”" from the oil screen. Then, if that doesn’t work, they might have to replace the oil pump. Wow.

He took the car back home to research this situation before he takes it back in. So, I have been on the internet trying to find info that would help us learn more about the passat’s issues.

Also, he noticed fumes smell in the cab… is this a characteristic of this car?

I really hope someone can help. If these are things that we could fix on our own, it would be nice. Has anyone cleaned the oil screen in the oil pan?

Thanks for your time.

Was just told by the service guy that brakes going - 90% at 19K was NORMAL.

$410 later I’m wondering why I bought this piece of crap in the first place. No - Leased - so I can’t even get rid of it.

Hi All, Thats right, an apparent electrical fire caused my 1999 New Beetle TDI to burn to a crisp in less than 2 mintues.

Ok this is how it happened:
I was leaving the parking garage at work, making a right turn onto the street, only to realize that a burnt rubber type of smell is emanating from the dash, on the drivers side of the car. When I look to inspect my gauges, I see some smoke coming from behind my speedometer. I decide quickly that I should stop and have someone look at the car. I am barely on the street. I drive another ten yards and make an immediate right
into a parking lot where I pull into the very first stall. The smoke is still coming out, but very not much. I turned the car off. Thinking it would be best to have someone look at the car. Better yet, I’d have it towed to the dealer to get the problem fixed. I open the door to let the smoke dissipate.

Within 2 minutes, the car is on fire. I was parked near the local hospital and some paramedics had radioed the fire department when they noticed the smoke. A fire truck showed up and they put out the fire.

All the glass was broken, the seats completely burned, the steering wheel and instrument panel were lost. The source of the fire seems to have been under the hood on the passenger side (the source of the most intense heat) The tow truck decided it would be best to disconnect the battery before moving the vehicle. The hood had to be pried open.

Like I mentioned above, this happened in a span of 2 minutes… from when I noticed the smoke until when the car was on fire. I am lucky to be alive.

My insurance company has offered 12000 for the car it only has 52000 miles on it and I wonder if it is worth pursuing with VW…

Has anyone else heard of a Beetle burning up like this before?

Thanks

If I ever get this piece of crap running I gonna sell it and let somone else suffer the pains of VW. I hope anyone ever thinking of buying a VW sees this site. I hate my car. If anyone has a passat vr6 they know what I mean. I just found out my car was made in west Germany so the parts are twice the price and there is no after market parts.

Yeah well I bought my car brand new in 2000 it was a left over from 99 the first year the new body style was avaliable…

I have had nothing but problems with the car most of them being small…but now the automatic tranny is stuck in 3rd gear when it is in Drive…

So I called the VW dealer and they said that it is under warranty…But the thing is because I didnt leave the car totatlly stock I am worried they are not going to cover it…And we all know how expensive it is to fix a vw…Especailly if its a dealer item only…

Like when i paid 600bucks for an axel because it was a dealer item only….yeah i did that 2 times…

Im so scared of what they are gonna say is wrong with the car…I think its electrical a couple of sensors…But yeah im kinda scared cuz i have no idea how much sensors for the car are.

I love my car but i hate the fact that I have no idea how much it is going to cost to fix it and that It should be under warranty..Because I did not mechanical upgrades to the car its all visual add ons that i put on the car…but i will know next week I guess

VW owner screwed by VW? Come on, it’s a fine old AMERICAN tradition. The last VW I had was a 58 beetle. It was good transportation for its day. All the owner screwing I witnessed was other people. Buy used.

Went to the local pick-and-pull wrecking yard looking for parts for my 1985 318i (hardly a hot performer). Found one BMW (had been owned by a woman: no loyalty to marque), lots of Saab, lots of Volvo, lots of VW. Tell you anything? (And this area is fairly crawling with BMW.)