2000 Volkswagen Polo S (75 BHP) from UK and Ireland - Comments

Radio cut out intermittently shortly after purchase, and was eventually replaced.

Passenger side electric window motor failed at 11,000 miles, and was replaced.

Passenger side trim came loose.

Cigarette lighter failed at 13,000 miles - contacts were replaced.

At 15,000 miles the car refused to start - diagnosed as an ignition switch problem - contacts were replaced.

Airbag light on continuously - needed replacement part.

The quality of this Polo has been very disappointing compared to previous Volkswagens I have owned.

Some of the problems have been described to me as 'known faults' by the dealer. Why are owners not informed of potential problems?

My local dealer was disenfranchised by Volkswagen, leaving me 15 miles away from the next nearest dealer. I received no notification in advance that this was about to happen.

I am happy with the performance, economy and comfort.

We have had similar faults on our N reg VW Polo:

1. The radio was replaced and now the new one has similar problems... volume blasts & I can't adjust it.

2. Airbag O-ring needed replacing on steering the column.

3. Window handle mechanism on the driver's side failed.

4. Recently the windscreen wipers functioning may not start - intermittently!!!

5. Recent squeaky rear brakes.

I've also had trouble with, where will start?

1. Clutch replaced after 3 months.

2. Wiring burnt out on the driver's door from a shower of rain with an open window.

3. Ignition switch failed @ 15k.

4. Crankshaft seal replaced @ 17k.

5. Both front tires worn down to the wire at 14k on inside.

ps. Don't think I'll ever buy VW again.

As an addition to my first posting, the Polo has now suffered continual electrical problems - these include:

ABS Sensor failed

Starter motor burnt out (twice)!

Warning buzzer for lights failed

Electric mirror heater failed

Engine temperature sensor failed - unable to start the car!

The car is just over two years old, but VW refuse to accept there is an underlying problem - VW Customer Service will apologise until the cows come home, but will offer no practical help. Needless to say I will be disposing of this lemon as soon as possible - VW have lost my custom!

I have a VW polo 1.0L 1999 V reg. Intermittently when the rear window heater is switched on, approximately 20 / 30 seconds later it triggers the oil pressure buzzer and light. It will only stay on for 10 seconds or so.

Has anyone ever come across this?

Please email johnemery@blueyonder.co.uk.

I have a 2000 Polo SE 1.4. From new the gearbox has been very noisy when cold, and NOT quiet when warmed up. My dealer says it is all normal. However a Volkswagen mechanic friend says these gearboxes are known to be noisy and at his garage they are changing 3 or 4 gearboxes a month!!

I have a 2001 'Y' reg 1.4 TDi Colour Concept VW Polo. I bought the car a little over 4 months ago and have already had two sets of front brake disks and pads within 3,000 miles!

The car has 27,000 miles on the clock and (to my knowledge) is on its 4th set of disks.

Has anybody else had any problems like this?

VW also seem unable to fix the rear washer which fills the boot and boot lock with water; and now the light on the dashboard that indicates an open door flickers on and off constantly - maybe this is something to do with the washer?

No-one seems to want responsibility for the car as it was bought secondhand from a Toyota dealer. VW won't claim responsibility for it because Toyota have touched it; and Toyota don't want to know because VW have touched it.

Anyone want to buy a lovely-looking yellow VW Polo!?!

Hi

I've got a vw polo 16v 1.4 s reg.

It is now 3.5yrs old.

In order I have had the following repaired in the first 3yrs.

* exhaust (due to being very noisy)

* both side indicators replaced as they cracked

* sun roof repaired as it jammed

* drivers side door lock as it broke

* lose steering wheel.

Now after the 3yr warranty has passed I've had to have the following repaired at my own cost!

* exhuast again!

* drivers side electric window.

Also my rear brakes squeak at the slightest bit of moisture! and vw say that is a know problem which they cannot fix.

Also driving at 70mph the noise from the engine is so loud.

I am really disappointed with this car and WILL not be purchasing another VW again. The build quality is very poor!

If anyone knows how to solve the squeaking brakes, please let me know.

Deanhoy@hotmail.com.

I own an 'R' reg VW Polo 1.4 CL and have had this car from new. On 29th September 2001 the passenger side electric window failed. VW replaced the full window mechanism. Two years to the day - 29th September 2003, the same window failed again!! VW will offer no assistance, even though the dealer has told me it is a known problem. I find this appalling as the car has only done 16,000 miles and I hardly ever carry passengers! The attitude seems to be that when the car is over 3 years old they just don't want to know. This isn't the way to indear future custom!

Hi I have a vw polo 1.4se w reg.

Where do I start?

In order these are the things that have gone wrong in the two years I have owned the vechicle.

1) ABS Sensor on rear wheel

2) Electric sunroof would not open

3) Passenger Electric Window motor

4) Cigar lighter (contacts Changed)

5) Boot open light staying on

6) Radio Cuts out (intermitant)

7) Horn stopped working

8) Headlight leaks

9) ABS sensor (Again)

10) Clutch Jammed me out of all gears needed adjustment

11) Breaks squeek when slightly damp.

Never buy a VW POLO!! YOU WILL REGRET IT!!

I have a late 2000 polo E SDI.

So far not much has gone wrong, except for an extremely annoying rattle coming from, I think, the roof, which gets louder when the car is in neutral, but stops when the engine accelerates. I have brought it back to the VW dealer and they said that they have noticed nothing when test driving it. It's so bad that even my friend who was outside of the car at the time could here the rattle.

And for those of you who have had trouble with the rear windscreen wiper, you are not alone.

1. The hose that leads to the wipers leaked into the back seat, vw fixed it, but the seat is still damp, (3 months after)

2. The water also leaked into the boot lock, (luckily I don't have central locking) but it did mess up the sensor, the boot light stopped working and the warning light in the dash said that the boot was open all the time.

Has anyone else had any rattling like mine and how did you fix it.

Please reply me@andrewjk.demon.co.uk.

Reading this make me aware there are others cursing the VW name for an inferior and unreliable product.

I too have had:

Noisy/leaking exhaust with the added feature of a vibration at about 2,500 RPM.

2 starter motors in 4 months.

Broken ignition switch.

A passenger window that radomly goes down.

Broken electric wing mirrors.

Broken Radio (it actually gouges cd's)

Stuffed clutch at 25,000 miles.

A great body and interior ruined by crap quality.

My 2005 Polo dune 1.4tdi is now on it's second 'individual' mp3 CD radio unit within a year. The display gets very hot and then starts to fade. After a couple of hours, say on a run, you cannot see any display and therefore you can't control the unit!

Having contacted VW about the matter, they say, they have not had any other complaints like it, (but they would, wouldn't they!) I'll wait to see whay happens over this second unit. I think it's a case of airflow around the unit as it's getting too hot. I'd love to know how many more incidents there are like this. Other than that. No problems at all.

I have a VW Polo Y reg and have recently noticed that the passenger and driver electric windows suddenly seem to open by themselves. This is very annoying as I park my car on the road and have gone to my car in the morning only to find both windows open. Has anyone else had this problem?

The problem with the windows may be due to imminent failure of the driver's side door lock. The 6n2 (2000-2001) has microswitch controlled door locks. They commonly fail in this model year activating 'comfort closure' of the windows. The solution is to repair the microswitch in the lock or replace the entire lock mechanism.

We bought our 52 plate polo less than a year ago with only 13k miles on the clock and I can only thank the heavens that we bought it from a dealer and with a 3yr warranty.

In the 10 months we've own it we have had 2 serious engine failures, one which they blamed on the exhaust and attempted to make us pay for it and this was within the first month.

We've had issues with the ABS and handbrake, inferior quality door seals and front passenger door.

To top things off now the brake lights won't turn off the eps light is flashing on the dash yet again. and these last two are within 2 weeks of us forking out £90 quid for a lubricant and electric service.

They must have seen us coming a blinkin mile off. We are utterly disgusted at the quality of the car given that we decided to buy VW because it was meant to be a name you could trust.