2002 Volkswagen Polo E 1.2 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

This car is poorly built and unreliable, so I will never buy another VW

Faults:

Today at 48000 miles - drivers door lock jammed. Needs to be replaced, but won't match the ignition.

48000 miles. Intermittent electrical fault, causing the dash back-lighting to flash on and off by itself. Doesn't seem to affect the engine, but you can't see the speedo at night. Tried pulling fuses out and replacing them in case of a bad connection, and this might have fixed it.

Anti-role bar failure. The design is poor, so it can shift sideways and doesn't run in its bearings properly, making a creaking noise. This damages the bar and it has to be replaced. About 39000 miles.

Coil pack failure again, around 35000 miles.

Internal trim on seats where they fold forward fell apart. About 30000 miles.

Coil pack failure - only 2 of the three cylinders running, but made it to the garage to be fixed at about 25000 miles.

Brake failure due to some part of the rear drum falling apart about 22000 miles. Had it fixed, but shortly afterwards the hand brake failed totally and needed fixing. Garage said it's a poor design, with a wedge shaped piece which doesn't fit in very well.

Rear light cluster fell out at about 20,000 miles - no obvious reason, hadn't reversed into anything.

General Comments:

I bought this VW because my last Polo was 14 years old, and I really liked the old car.

This car has been very unreliable.

The build quality of this car is very low. Internal trim and the rear lights just fall off.

The car is only 5 years old, but is now having the type of faults my previous one got after 12-13 years.

The repair costs and time wasted are too great. I will never buy another VW.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 13th December, 2007

3rd Apr 2008, 10:08

My comment is to do nothing more than vent my frustration at VW. I have a 2002 Polo 1.2, bought it 2nd hand in 2006 and the past 18 months have been a complete disaster! I have seriously been at the garage with the car about once a month, usual problems I've seen from other Polo drivers on this site: EPC & Exhaust lights coming on, engine revving for no reason, cutting out for no reason, slowing down without warning while driving (a particularly dangerous one) as well as finnicky bits and pieces like squeaky brakes, a clutch that is really difficult to manage, flooded boot & backseat floor etc. All in all, a total disaster. Writing this as I wait for the mechanic to come over and fix it again. Selling it this weekend. Will NEVER buy another VW, what a con.

2002 Volkswagen Polo SE 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A car that I love, that drives like a Jaguar

Faults:

When I got my Polo I had the Engine Management light coming a month later. I took it to Volkswagen for an Engine Diagnostics check and they found out the fuel injector no 4 was faulty, but they didn't replace it up until today, when, after a series of taking the car back and fourth, I eventually had fuel injector number 4 & ignition coils replaced and the car has been perfect ever since.

But also asked for the 'Air Flow Meter' to be checked as this can't be detected in the Engine Diagnostics.

General Comments:

My Polo has been a very nice car to own as a first car with good handling control, and a sweet car to have (when all problems are corrected). It's big enough for me, and it handles the motorway with ease.

I'm happy with this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th November, 2007

2002 Volkswagen Polo SE 1.2 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Very disappointed with this car

Faults:

Engine management light has been on constantly since 4 months after purchase.

Exhaust emission problem, C02 sensor problem, air conditioning problem, cylinder fault, sensors replaced. The car has been to the garage 11 times to fix the problem. Has also been to a VW dealership who can't fix the problem either.

Just picked car up again today after it had been in garage for 2 weeks, and the light has come on the dashboard again, and the car is misfiring.

General Comments:

Very good in bad weather - snow driving.

Feels safe.

Very very unreliable though.

Feels nice and roomy inside.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th July, 2007