Humpty Posted December 24, 2005 Report Share Posted December 24, 2005 Hi, not sure if this question has been asked here before. I am quite new to this forum, but the amount of little niggly problems and leaks and overheats and MAF failures and blinky warning light stories from relatively new VWs is getting me worried. I have a 2 mth old VW and am worried it will start getting all these problems I am reading about here. Is VW that unreliable? Or are there 999 satisfied owners out there for every technical problem posted here? Merry Christmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted December 24, 2005 Report Share Posted December 24, 2005 No one posts here saying "My maf didn't fail again today" or "I'm so glad the warning light hasn't come on yet", and all the posts here reflect common problems. However, the number of people who don't have problems is far greater than that. If you're going to get a problem, chances are it'll be something documented on here, but don't sit waiting for it to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted December 24, 2005 Report Share Posted December 24, 2005 What type of VW do you have ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humpty Posted December 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2005 Its a B5.5 (thats what you guys call it round here?) Passat. Got it steeply discounted as its the last few pieces. AZM engine. Its a dinosaur but I am hoping that since the engine design is about 2 decades old and the rest of the car is about a decade old, VW would have ironed out any problems by now. I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted December 26, 2005 Report Share Posted December 26, 2005 German engineering is rock solid, but, sometimes VW and Merc have a tendancy to be 'unreliable,' but, only with a small amount of components. If you consider there are thousands of components on a car, and the list of ones that fail (in a fashioned sense - like you read about on here) is tiny in comparison, then it's not that bad. I'd much rather have a smart looking, exec car that had to go back to the dealers a few times (possibly), than an Avensis that wont go wrong, but will make me die of boredom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted December 26, 2005 Report Share Posted December 26, 2005 I can understand your concern. there does appear to be a lot of common faults with VAG cars. Unfortunately they are all too common and the reason for this is either because VAG can't or can't be bothered to rectify them even right down to the last cars at the end of production. On the up side, all the usual problems are well documented so with a little brains you don't even have to post a problem, just do a search and all the answers come up from previous posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted December 27, 2005 Report Share Posted December 27, 2005 I've owned numerous VWs / Audi / SEATs and yet to have MAF fail, coil pack go or warning light come on (except once in my 13 years old 80 TDi, but it was cos both brake ligh bulb had gone pop!) They are very well made and up at the top of the table for reliable cars!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted December 27, 2005 Report Share Posted December 27, 2005 [ QUOTE ] They are very well made and up at the top of the table for reliable cars!!! [/ QUOTE ] Tell that to some 'Jap Crap' owners, they may beg to differ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk3golfer Posted December 28, 2005 Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 my vw is the most reliable thing i have ever car ive ever owned... jap crap indeed !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted December 28, 2005 Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 Unfortunately I think we have to base this on a survey of more than one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 29, 2005 Report Share Posted December 29, 2005 I will make it 2 in the survey! I have done an average of 1000 miles a week for the last 8 years in VW Passats. Besides the minor (mostly) electrical faults they are great cars with an excellant build quality. The diesel engines are as good as any on the market (better than any in the similar price bracket). Don't you start winding me up again Tian!!!! Happy new year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted December 29, 2005 Report Share Posted December 29, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I will make it 2 in the survey! I have done an average of 1000 miles a week for the last 8 years in VW Passats. Besides the minor (mostly) electrical faults they are great cars with an excellant build quality. The diesel engines are as good as any on the market (better than any in the similar price bracket). Don't you start winding me up again Tian!!!! Happy new year [/ QUOTE ] See that? That's my foot, here goes.... I had a Subaru once, the only Jap car I've ever owned. It's also the only car I've ever owned that's broken down to the point of needing to be towed away. But that doesn't prove anything. Does it??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted December 30, 2005 Report Share Posted December 30, 2005 Yeah, your right, me and you can't provide enough data for anything of meaning. The only car i have had that broke down and needed towing (3 times in 2 weeks!) was a wonderfully built VW Passat. This forum does show that VW's seem to have a number of problems. I still like them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlosthejackal Posted December 31, 2005 Report Share Posted December 31, 2005 Regardless of any problems I've had with the VW's I have owned, I have loved them all, and always argued that they are well worth paying the extra money for. However in the future, if I were to buy another I would have to make sure it was still under manufacturers warranty. Simply becuase, in my experience, once you go over 60k VW don't want to know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainy Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 My last 5 cars have all been VWs or Audis. MK3 16V Golf GTI - Run for 55K - No Problems A3 1.8T Sport - Run for 50K - No problems A4 Avant 1.8T Sline - Run for 5K - No problems TT 225 - Run for 32K - Coil Packs Replaced - Whole Dashpod Replaced- corrosion on roof rails - dropping windows MK5 GTI - Run for 1K miles and 6 Weeks - Faulty Mulitichanger, Fuel leak - supposedly repaired by VW after 7 days Fuel leak again - still unresolved after a total of 14 days @ VW I'm a BIG fan of VAG cars but after my current MK5 episode I'm begining to doubt their quality and VWs ability to resolve issues competently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugboy Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 The quality of the materials used is good and VW's do have a solid feel about them. However it would seem that the mechanical side of things are no better than a Ford or Vauxhall. Mind you thats not the end of the world as most modern cars are very reliable these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The quality of the materials used is good and VW's do have a solid feel about them. However it would seem that the mechanical side of things are no better than a Ford or Vauxhall. Mind you thats not the end of the world as most modern cars are very reliable these days. [/ QUOTE ] The quality of the materials is on the way down, that's obvious to me as someone who has driven VAG cars for years. The materials used in the Mk5 Golf are poor compared to what they used to be like. Mechanical reliability is a different matter, problems used to be bigger in the old days but easier to solve. These days dealers appear to have trouble fixing or even finding various small, silly glithes that don't stop a car being used but spoil all the fun. Nobody wants to drive their car when they know it's just not right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FedupwithVW Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Hi mate, sorry to tell you, its 99% rubbish. Its all marketing, Ive been duped too and feel totally cheated. I had a coil pack replaced YESTERDAY and another one has just gone TODAY! The problem is the second time it has been when I was 60 miles away from home and I had to call the RAC who just towed the car to the nearest VW franchise. I was left stranded with my wife and kid and have just spent the best part of £50 and 2 hours getting home in the freezing cold. Mine is a Golf 1.6 Match on a 53 plate first registerd Oct 2003 and bought Brand New. So far I've had, Faulty Brake sensor, Faulty CD unit, Faulty Radio unit volume control, Wiring fault behind Dash board requiring whole dash to come off, faulty electric windows, Door trim needed replaced, Drivers seat base needed replaced, Have suspected faulty crank sensor code 16706 causing car to cut out but they are refusing to replace even after the RAC diagnosis, faulty coil pack no.3. and I think the last two are seriously affecting fuel consumption as contrary to their statistics the best combined rate I can get is about 32mpg and recently has been average of about 29mpg ie just went to Edinburgh at steady 70mph and it didnt get above 29.5mpg. spending £45 a week on fuel right now. Sell it and get a Japanese car, thats what all me mates are saying. Read on a US site that there is a recall press release saying that apparently all coils should be replaced and that VW should cover courtesy cars, WE NEED TO FIND THIS!! email me at [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Very interesting first post, and an interesting name you've given yourself. I suggest you sell your VW and buy a japanese car. That's BOUND to cure all our problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 OOOOOOOOHHHH talk about being bitter, it is your fault for buying a Petrol engined VW, And yes you are right the coil packs should be changed and VW will pay for them all to be replaced but they will not pay for a courtesy cars as it is a 30min job to change them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] it is your fault for buying a Petrol engined VW [/ QUOTE ] R32, GTI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 R32 end flow on the crankshaft ! GTI mooing nosie under light load ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyp Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] R32 end flow on the crankshaft ! [/ QUOTE ] Whats that all about mulkyb, simple answers if poss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 On the V6 R32 engine there has been cases of the crankshaft trust bearing (white metal bearings) becoming worn and the crankshaft being allowed to move side to side (End float) and causing noise when the clutch is dipped due to the pressure acting on the crankshaft causing the crankshaft to move side ways. Also excessive end float on the crankshaft can cause noise from the lower timing chain area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyp Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Just out of interest mulkbear, don't suppose you no what sort of noise you would get, especially from the lower timing chain area, and also all that crankshaft stuff is that in the block, (not mechanically minded). Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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