2002 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 from Germany - Comments

I have an R reg Polo 1.4 CL. Needed an entire new clutch just after I bought it second hand! Now the drivers side window is down and won't come up - I've read on the Internet it might be the switch - anyone know ballpark how much this should cost to fix? Would be very grateful. simon@in2touch. c o m.

I have exactly the same problem as the original poster. EPC light comes on as well as the light for the fuel managment. In 1.5 years, I have been forced to take it in for service 6 times. The VW dealer mechanics don't have a clue what the problem is, and they are replacing random parts everytime from my understanding. I'm a mechanical engineer and I think that either VW is hiding something, or they are simply incompetent. Either way I don't see me buying another VW ever, even if I get reincarnated as the next VW chairman of the board or something.

I read in some US forums that the cause for this problem is sludge remaining within the engine. They said it's a factory fault, so not much you can do about it. One way to delay the inevitable breaking down is to use synthetic oils. The only way to deal with the problem once and for all is to actually sell the car, which is probably what I'll do.

My condolances to everyone.

I bought my 1.4 16v X reg polo 6 months ago as I thought a VW would be a more reliable option than my little saxo (which I have had from new without any problems at all!!!)

The air con doesn't seem to work very well and has a rather damp and dusty smell when its on. This evening when driving home (doing 70mph) along the motorway I heard a loud crunch and a swishing sound and then the EPC lights came on and engine management warings. I pulled into the side of the motorway, narrowly missing a car and then the car would not turn over at all. Police came as I was on my own and they thought it was the timing belt. When AA arrived they said Timing belt and towed it to my garage. The car has only done 35ooo miles!!! I'm so hacked off. Also the car overheats alot when I'm in heavy traffic for a while... had thermostat etc. checked, but no explanation... be aware : (

I have a VW GOLF 2002. It runs fine, only except the check engine light went on a couple of times. In the past few days, New York metropolitan area are suffering from over 100 F. heat. My EPC light went on and off a couple of times on the hot weather days. The check engine light came back too. I brought to the dealer. They said the sensor was too sensitive. Ignore it. But how can I drive on highway with EPC light and check engine light on? I am afraid the car might stop at any time on highway. Anybody has any good suggestions or same experience?

I planned to go for a Polo 2001 model. I took the car for a test drive. After going a 20 miles I stopped the car in a gas station for a drink. Coming back, when I tried to start the engine, the car did not start. There were different types of warning signals showing epc, oil, etc. I had to call the owner to take the car.

Everyone with a 2002/2003 polo, get rid of it... the only way you can solve the problems with your car is by selling it right now before it costs you more and more money. (and stress)

And everyone planning to buy a second hand one DO NOT BUY a 2002/2003 MODEL, no matter how nice it looks. (that is the only positive thing on ours)

We ran into other people with the same problems, who could have bought a second hand car with the money they spent on reparations. We all tell them : SELL IT!!

We ordered the new polo 2006 and we are selling our 2002 model. (to the garage of course, we wouldn't want to sell this car to an unknowing individual/we wouldn't even give it away for free to anyone) The garage owner gave us a bit better price for our 2002 model because they are ashamed of what has happened to our car. (read the Belgium review) Meanwhile we weren't planning on buying a new one in the next ten years so we 'lose' about 8000 euro's on this joke. If you have to go to a garage 15 times in 4 years it's a shame. We know some of the mechanics and believe me they don't know what to do with it anymore.

We told them that this website was full of the same complaints and that VW was supposed to admit the problem and change whatever is wrong with it... but that they hide the problem. The owner said it was true, but that it only happened with the 2002/2003 models. The new model doesn't have that annoying gas valve... so we shouldn't have any problems with it.

We told him (half laughing and half frustrated) if we get another 'wreck' car we would drive through his window with it... he looked a bit uncomfortable (a least we could laugh once with this car)...we hope we can have a bit more faith in the new model.

And hopefully the garage will use our car for spare parts instead of selling it to another poor unknowing soul.

I can;t believe this... I've just driven home in my 1.4 16v Polo Estate (2000). after being absolutely fine on the test drive the EPC light came on on the way home. I am going on holiday tomorrow and I need to take the car. it has a warranty on it, but I don't know whether I should get it looked at before I go or when I get there. I've saved up so hard for a new car, and reading the reviews about I'm gutted.

I did look at reviews before purchasing and they mainly seemed fine - didn;t come across these ones obviously!

Bought a then brand new 04 plate 1.2E polo from a main dealer for my wife 12 months later epc light came and the car lost power. Took it back to the dealer and they said couldn't ind a fault, but reset the memory and it solved the problem.

12 months later its done it again. Rang the dealer yesterday

and the said even though the cars under warranty if they run a diagnostic check and don't find a fault they will charge me £65.00 for the check. So been down today and spoke the manager to discuss this and they said it's a build of carbon in the injector and needs to be flushed with redex. Because we are using unbranded petrol from the supermarkets that's the problem he said. The salesman at the time of purchase said only use premium unleaded which my wife has done religously, he did not say only use shell or esso quality.!! In short the manager said it's a fault with design and can't be remeded.!!! anyone wanna buy a 10,000 miles only 04 polo still under warranty (what good it is)... never buy a vw again. just cancelled my order of new passat and the guys who work for who wanted one as their company cars. stay away totally unhelpful and this isn't the first My 2yrs old golfs flaking paint is another story..

I have a 2002 VW Beetle. When I first bought it back in April 2003, it was driving well with no problems whatsoever. Nine months later, the EPC light came on, and it will lock the transmission if it was on Neutral or Park, and you cannot go back to Drive or Reverse. I had to turn the car off and on to get this matter resolved and be on my way. The EPC light would stay on for a while, but it would turn back off. I took it to the dealer and they said it was fixed. I took it back home couple of weeks later, and the problem returned. After a couple of resets, it went back to normal. I took it for another service at the dealer and they said that they took care of it. From August 2004 till today, it was fine. In October 2006 the problem came back again, and my warranty has expired. I don't know how much it would cost to fix this, since now they can come up with a reason and charge me a bundle to fix the car. This problem is making me go nuts. It embarasses me sometimes when I park the car and it takes me some time to get it going again!!!

To the above poster - your problem is your brake light switch. It's a common, cheap part that VW has recalled, I believe. The dealer should not have to reset much or charge you and arm and a leg to fix the problem.

When the brake light switch fails, your car doesn't know that you're pressing on the brake to shift out of park, and therefore the shift interlock safety feature is not disabled.

Hope it helps!

I bought a brand new VW Polo 1.2E in October 2002, using a finance deal to pay for it (my first mistake). As my boyfriend at the time and I were both paying for it, it seemed to be fairly inexpensive and I wanted a car that was reliable as my job involves a lot of driving.

Things changed and I had to pay the finance repayments myself, which were costly, but I managed. I have refinanced it a couple of times, consolidating it with other things like student loans, etc., to make my repayments smaller (Yeah, I know, I've learnt my lesson now).

It has been serviced regularly and MOT'd, with me forking out almost £400 for the total of the service and MOT last year.

This year the ABS light came on. On Monday I took it for its MOT and service. It requires a new ABS pump, new brakes as they are now worn and dangerous (and no I don't drive it like a maniac!!), wipers, indicator lights are showing white, and lots of other things. The total cost just to get it roadworthy is now £1,600 and I cannot afford it (esp as we have a baby on the way). As a result, I have had to declare it off the road and use my husband's car. However, I still have a loan to pay for the next five years, most of which is for the car which is unsafe, unless I take out further finance to pay for the repairs - but then God knows what will go wrong with it afterwards. The car is only four years old and has had to retire.

In the words of Frank Bruno, I am not HP.

I own the 2002 1.4 16v Polo.

I can tell you I am not at all satisfied. The fuel consumption is too high and when the car was less than a year old the EPC light was coming on. It was taken for repair several times but on the fourth visit I was told that the problems were caused by an electrical fault. The wiring was repaired as necessary.

These particular symptoms have not recurred but when I checked the oil level I noticed that the car had been using oil and after the 75,000 km service I had to add 1.5 litres! The car has now travelled 82,300 km in total.

On one occasion the car would not start and this was apparently caused by a loose fuse connection.

I also had to replace the radiator due to a hole, the air valve, the 4 spark intensifier (which 4 years after were under guarantee and cost 42 euros each), 2 engine sensors (L and another one).

If you have one of these cars my advice is sell it as soon as possible!

I have had my Polo now for Three years and the EPC light has been on and off for the last 6months. The car is now in the garage and I am dreading the next 6months with the car, if it is true what everyone else has wrote. Although y car has never cut out like some of yours YET!

It is a shame that the VW reputation has fallen rapidly in the last couple of years. What happened to the good old days in the eighties when VW were renowned for robustness, durability, dependability, reliability and affordability?

A mystery!

In the past, Ford had a reputation for production some lemons, but I often see many mk3 Escorts and mk1 Fiestas on the road still going strong. It's a pity that a company that everyone believes is so great, has trouble making cars that survive barely four years. A lot of people still criticize Ford, but Ford have improved a lot recently.

I drive a 2000 VW JETTA VRS.. I been having so many problems with it, one of them is the epc and check engine light.. could anyone tell me what the epc light means.. I can't believe a German car is having so many problems..

Any advices will be appreciated.

Kmarckwordt@hotmail.com.