Faults:

Window Regulator: The window fell off its track and down into the door three times when I was attempting to roll it down. I have had the regulator replaced -- once paid, and although Volkswagen has now issued an extended warranty for the part valid through the next 7 years, I was not reimbursed for my expense.

Mass Air Flow Sensor: The mass air flow sensor went bad before my warranty expired. I researched the symptoms of my car's performance, took the car into the dealer and clearly explained both the symptoms and the part that I believed it was (which turned out later to be correct). Their response was that because no "check engine" light had come on, there was nothing wrong with the car. I took it back again and had the same response. Soon after my warranty expired at 20,000 miles, the warning light came on and Volkswagen wanted to charge me nearly $400 to fix the problem. They did not tell me I had an extended warranty -- though I had never received the information card from them in the first place! I left the dealer and went to my trusted personal mechanic who had fixed my Toyota for years. He charged me $300 to fix the problem. Volkswagen America has now launched a massive reimbursement campaign for this problem.

Throttle Body: At 55,000 miles, my throttle body went bad -- to the tune of $415 for the part alone. My personal mechanic (because I refuse to deal with the dealership anymore given that they "accidentally" canceled my paid-in-full warranty and would not reinstate it) cleaned the part so that I could keep driving without fixing it. He spoke to Volkswagen, who said that they have many of those in stock because they go bad so often.

Rotors / Brakes: I am now at 74,000 and the rotors and brakes have gone bad. I've already replaced the brakes once, but this time, the rotors are destroyed as well.

Stereo: Also at 74,000, the stereo (Monsoon in-dash CD player) popped and stopped working, complete with black marks across the front. I called Volkswagen and they said it sounded like a fuse... which in German engineering terms means that the whole stereo needs replacing. Again, since this happens so often, they said it wouldn't be a problem to purchase a "re-manufactured" (i.e., repaired) stereo through the dealer for only $205. The new and not-yet-broken stereo would be $380. They come with the same one-year warranty.

General Comments:

I will never, never, never buy another Volkswagen. I have spoken to the dealer to emphasize my displeasure, and they told me to call Volkswagen America because they didn't have the ability to discount the repair. Volkswagen America told me to call the dealer because they are "authorized" to discount repairs up to 50%, and Volkswagen America does not issue free or discount repairs from the corporate office.

Basically, I have had a terrible experience with the dealer, with corporate Customer Service, and with the car. It's fun to drive, when I'm not paranoid about the next thing that's going to break on it, but the stress has been terrible.

Faults:

This car was purchased as a demonstrator from a Volkswagen dealer. Within the first months of ownership to just this week, I have had 23 incidents (including 3 roadside assistance and 3 tows to the dealer) for unscheduled maintenance performed by a Volkswagen dealer. The list of things that have gone and continue to go wrong with this car are the following:

Passenger and driver side window failure;

Interior courtesy light failure (twice)

Handle for access to rear seat broken

Passenger and driver side door poorly adjusted

Rear window washer and motor malfunction

Front wiper malfunction (replaced twice)

Cruise control malfunction

Driver side rear-view mirror heater malfunction

Second gear grinding

Passenger door handle trim coming apart

Car dead after one-week absence for vacation (3 times)

Rear brake disks and brake pads finished after 32000 km (front still OK)

Rough idling

Gas pump failure

The major problem: engine misfiring causing power failure (8 visits to the service department). For this last problem, every “ground wire” (I don’t know what these are) was tightened. Ignition coil packs, ignition wires, spark plugs, sensors, relays, etc…etc and finally the on-board computer were all replaced. That same day I picked up my car and two weeks later, it again would not start.

The car has been in the Volkswagen service department for a total of 40.5 days over a period of 36 months. After complaining to Volkswagen Canada (after 15 months of ownership), they agreed to extend the basic 24-month bumper-to-bumper warranty by 12 months (I asked for a 24 month extension). Because of the persisting problems and failures, I recently (summer 2003) wrote to Volkswagen Canada stating that my car was a lemon. I offered $6000 and my car in exchange for a new one. Their response: “a $3000 discount toward the purchase or lease of your next Volkswagen or Audi product”. Total disbursement on my part considering their offer is $12000.00. I refused the offer and am ridding myself of this nightmare this fall. Buyer beware.

General Comments:

Volkswagen has serious quality control problems it needs to address if as it's directors state they are to compete with Mercedes and BMW. More importantly, failure to take responsibility for a lemon they produced is not conducive to the future purchase of a Volkswagen or Audi product from customers.