I’m leasing a Passat 1.8T with the terrible triptronic transmission. Evertime the transmission shifts it feels like I just hit the biggest pothole in the road. A loud “”THUNK”". At first it only happened when I slowing down from 40mph to 30mph. Now it is every shift and sometimes if I feel it about to happen I can control how violent the “”THUNK”" is by hitting the brakes real hard. Using the transmission manually at first made it less violent, but now it doesn’t help at all. The car is out of warranty. I heard it may have something to do with the TCM. Anyone out there know anything about this????

This is easily the worst car I have ever, ever owned! I’m on the second engine. 2000 miles over the warranty and the engine dies something to do with the turbo malfunctioning and metal going through the whole engine. Needless to say I’m leasing so I had to make the repair. VWoA did nothing for me.

Here is a quick list of some things that have gone wrong. New fuel pump, both back windows stopped rolling up or down, radio just stopped working, fog lamps died, rear cigarette lighter does not work, knock sensors bad, 1st engine died, engine mounts replaced on second engine already, new altenator, back windows currently don’t roll up or down again.

Please stop whoever you know from buying, leasing or even looking at or parking next to a VW. We should get some VW SUCKS! bumper stickers printed up!

I have a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLX. I hate it with a passion. It has given me problems since the day I bought it and I am in the process of getting a new car and trading it in - poor soul who gets it next Check engine light is constantly on - so much so I want to take a sticker or piece of paper and cover the darn thing! Every time it comes on I get a knot in my stomach because I know I will have to take the car in for service and something else will be wrong with it. I have had both windows fall into the door; a new battery (YEAR effin TWO!); a new cooling system; my airbag malfunctioned and smoke come out of the steering wheel - scared the crap out of me!; I had my premature wear on my brake pads; O2 sensors out a few times; knock sensors issues; taillights out; the armrest friggin breaks all the time - not to mention the sides of the armrest have come apart and well apparently thats an issue that cant be fixed; my gear shift no longer lights up; the computer display of mileage and MPG is slowly fading away; right now the EPC light was on and I could not get it out of park - needed a tow and more money to get it fixed and that is all from memory - there is probably more I am forgetting! The service department sucks and when I get mad they do nothing so when I get postal they tell me that I shouldnt be speaking to them that way well screw them I paid a lot for this POS and if I want to yell, scream and curse tough sh*t plus, it smells like a cat died in my engine apparently it will cost a heck of a lot to get the stink out - fantastic!

Dont get a VW they are terrible! Get on a first name basis with your mechanic and bring your checkbook.

oh did I mention my car is almost 6 years old - has a little over 41,000 miles on it and burns oil like its going out of style apparently it is common to put oil in the car in between oil changes - WHAT? Its a new car! The engine knocks and there is a slight friction and drag from the brakes, but it is not abnormal according to VW service - yeah, ok, where is the logic there????

I am trading it in - it is a huge loss of money for me, but the peace of mind will make up for it in the long run …

Post edited 07/25/06 10:22 PM by iH8VW

Last October, I bought a brand new 2006 Golf TDI. It was love at first drive….at least, it was until the problems started rearing their ugly heads. The problems started during the FIRST WEEK of owning the car.

I loved the car and how it drove, but it had chronic electrical problems. Some of them were serious safety issues (headlights, turn signals, and wipers sometimes didn’t work). I talked to the Volkswagen “”Customer Care”" center several times and they were absolutely no help. I am convinced they just exist to pacify the customer until the warranty/lemon law period runs out.

My car came from the factory with at least 3 ground wires that were loose or not connected. There was also a wiper defect. What does it say about Volkswagen’s quality control that a car could make it out of the factory with this many defects?? I really worried about the future when the car had this many problems during the first 6 months. Volkswagen kept asking what they could do for me. I kept saying replace the car or buy it back so I could get another car. I was told they dont have a policy for this. After 6 months of non-stop problems, I traded the Golf for a Honda. Because of the problems with the car and how I was treated by the Volkswagen corporation, I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN!!

While racing along the U.S. Forest Service fire roads in southern Colorado, I hit a tree stump and a huge hole with my ‘02 GTI (almost flipped over!), which resulted in a cracked 17″ rim and a torn off oil pan. After the oil light came on, I drove as fast as I could back to Denver and to an authorized VW dealer, who told me that I shouldn’t have used the GTI for off-roading and that I would be responsible for the repairs to my 5 year-old VW. And that they wouldn’t replace my broken rim under warranty. What BS! I paid good, hard-earned money for this car! It’s outrageous that VW won’t pay for damage caused by so-called “off-road” use! Who the hell do those Germans think they are? They wouldn’t shampoo the carpet to get rid of that moldy sour milk smell from the venti latte that the got spilled cause of that damn tree stump either. I’m with “VW Victim” (even though his/her name and obsessive whining makes it sound as though VW slipped him/her a roofie at TGI Fridays, then…you know). The should at least, I dunno, send someone over to blow me or something. VW SUCKS!

Engine light came on. VW says I need a new Secondary Air Pump (02 Jetta 1.8T, Auto, 55,000 miles).
Had Catalytic Converter replaced a few months ago.
Both will be covered under warranty (luckily I am near dealer ) but should this be happening on a car with 55K ?
Thought I could keep this car for 100,000 miles but its looking like this isn’t the car for that.

I cannot start my car, i can open the drivers door and the alarm doesnt sound, if i open the hood, trunk, passenger door the alarm sounds.

How does your vehicle compare?

Sales for the first six months of 2006 are up 20% over last years abysmal figures. VWOA has accomplished this by introducing a number of new models, a massive ad campaign, and selling and leasing cars at a loss. After four years of declining sales the projections for this year will still be substantially down from their peak year of 2001. 2006 will be another year of financial loss for VWOA. How long will VWAG continue to subsidize VWOA? The wolves are yelping at VWAG’s door.

It just astounds me how low the brits have gone to.This Adrian ” watermark” character has assumed control of VWOA. He is reponsible for VWOA. Ferdinand Piech ( nephew of Ferndinand Porshe ( who probably sat on uncle “Adolphs” lap) must be lauphing that he has a Brit trying to foist VW’s on America. Winston Churchill must be rolling in his grave. Sad, very sad.

Here’s my problem. About 3 weeks ago the area I live in got flooded, thus my property too. While we were working on saving the most important things, I dropped my keyless entry (laser cut switchblade, all-in-one remote) into a huge puddle. I hurriedly picked it put and tried to unlock my car, lock it and open the trunk…all three worked. I did it again, and it worked. I tried it the next day, it worked. I didn’t start my car, but I knew that when I would get in it that I would need to lock/unlock the doors so that the security system would shut off. Well, when I tried starting it on the third day after I dropped my remote into the puddle, my security system will not disarm. I have no owner’s manual. I tried what was posted on here about touching the two battery cables together for 15 seconds…doesn’t work. On top of positive side of my battery is another red cable…my dad and I noticed that each time he touches this wire to the post it is connected to, my LED light flashes (this is the ONLY time it does) but there is an arc, which my dad thinks there is a short somewhere…does anyone have any advice, heard of this problem before. Oh, and I put the wrong code into my radio and it now says “2 safe”. I also cannot get this to reset so that I can put the correct code in to unlock my radio.