2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS review from North America

We have been rear-ended in 2001 at slow speeds and the bumper and hatch door had to be replaced. From there on the trouble started.

First, the new hatch door didn't fit right and scratched over the new bumper. The door locks wouldn't work and the alarm was dead. After lots of complaining, the door was fitted in better by the VW dealership (still not perfect) and door locks and alarm was repaired, but during the process the car battery got totally discharged and caused the oxygen sensor to fail, so that the car did not pass the emissions test. That sensor was not covered by the warranty and we had to pay for it.

That sensor has failed once more now as did a heat sensor in the engine that kept the engine light coming on sporadically at the weirdest moments. None of that was covered in the warranty either.

Now, the glove box hinge broke - I found out that it is a common problem - as did the latch to close the armrest storage.

It is the little things that keep breaking that annoy me, and the hassle with a warranty that seems to cover only parts that never break - all that does not represent good German quality to me. Also the after-sell service is unfriendly and uninformed.

However, I am generally happy with the car, it has personality, looks good, and is fun to drive, and compared to the quality of American cars I'd rather put up with a broken glove box hinge every once in a while. So far it has never really let me down and I still enjoy every ride in this car today.

If Volkswagen trains its personnel and representatives to better experts of their own cars they are selling, and to respond in a friendlier fashion, it may be all less of a pain to have to deal with those problems.