2000 Volkswagen GTI GLS from North America - Comments

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.

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.

I would like to say that I am very happy with my vr6, it's a great car. I have had some minor problems with it, besides that it runs perfect, smooth and handles awesome. This car is powerful, comfortable, and also reliable therefore I am very satisfied with my 2000 gti vr6.. buyers I encourage you to get a vw...

Two words: LEMON LAW!!

Get a lawyer... if your car is in the shop three times for the same repair and is never fixed, and you have documentation, it is eligible for a dealer buy-back!

2001 GTI has major wiring harness problems with no recall by Volkswagon. The engine light comes on constantly and after my reliable mechanic checked it out and made some inquiries was advised by Volkswagon that the wiring harness is a problem and needs to be replaced (wiring harness $750.00 plus installation). This should have been done under warranty, but it turns out that the Volkswagon service departments have bandaided the problem by carefully taping parts of the harness which eventually breaks down again because of the heat build up near and around the coils. Nice surprise at 78,000Km.

It is my uderstanding that this is a common problem, but every other computerized component in the system is changed before they get to the harness problem.

Have your nechanic check the harness on the 1.8T GTI. Apparently Pasat has a similar harness proble.