Faults:

The first problem was my ABS system. Then after the dealer fixed it my brakes felt loose, so I had to get them bleed-ed.

All of my windows have had mechanical problems.

My 1st set of brakes wore off really fast.

My headlights, speedometer, and center console lights went out.

I find weird random parts that belong to my car on the floor of the car.

Once while driving I heard a huge bang coming from the bottom of the passenger seat. When I went to check it, I found that a huge spring had popped off from the seat. This soon happened to my driver's seat 2 months later.

While driving last year, my side rear view mirror cracked and popped off for no apparent reason. I didn't hit anything, and there were no other cars around.

The most recent problem happened 2 nights ago, when someone was changing lanes and almost ran me out of the lane. I went to honk the horn, and it didn't sound at all. That was extremely irritating.

Faults:

I had the oil consumption problem, a quart every 1200 miles.

General Comments:

I purchased my Golf new in 2001, put 100,000 miles on it and then bought another new one.

On the negative side, I had the oil consumption problem and it seemed like VW did everything possible to give me the runaround on it. I would have pushed them, but it was easier to just dump in a quart of oil.

In the end, I traded the car in to a VW dealer for a very good trade-in value and now THEY have a car with an oil consumption problem. (Hey, they kept telling me there was nothing wrong.) And I bought another one. Why buy another you ask? Because everything else about the car was great. The whole equation of purchase price, comfort, performance, economy, and reliability added up to a great experience. Nothing else I looked at gave me cruise control, power windows, power locks, a full size spare, heated mirrors, ABS, 3-way adjustable seats, adjustable steering column, etc., etc., etc., Other econoboxes with comparable features were over 19K USD. (I paid 15K.) And nothing else felt as solid on the highway at 85 MPH. (I have a long, high-speed commute.) And except for the oil problem, nothing at all went wrong with the car.

Faults:

Back tail light blew.

Driver side door hinges loose - got to point of not able to close/open door.

Blower motor went out after 1 year.

Back breaks worn through under 20,000 miles.

Cabin dash lights come on and off randomly, more often off than on.

Horn operates only partly.

Spoiler torn up by city roads, had to be removed.

Back wheels slide when going around corner (tires are fine, however)

Other electrical/cpu problems:see below.

General Comments:

At this point I am throughly disgusted with VW. I grew up with a VW rabbit from the 70's. It is still running. This 2001 Golf GL is now at the dealership after all of the electricity went out then came back on while my husband was driving. After parking the car it didn't start again, only random flashing lights when the key was in the ignition and a ticking noise. Had to have it towed to the dealership. Of the above list the lights, wheels & horn problems have not be fixed. I have taken it in regarding these problems and was blown off by the dealership.

I have had a VERY hard time trying to get the dealership to run a diagnostic or actually look at the car. Every time I go to the dealership I get a run around about the 'warranty' not being owned by anyone (!?!) I will never buy a VW again.

The car has good pick up/response and handles well.