Check engine light flashed while car urged/stalled/surged/stalled. Check engine light remained on. Brought vehicle to mechanic, coded category non performance. Cat replaced with O2 sensors at $900. Light/ surged/stalled and returned to mechanic immediately. He replaced genuine Volkswagen plugs, wires, and ignition coil. No cracks were found, but replaced anyway at $300. Light continued to illuminate, T and remained lit within 40 miles of reset, codes category, bank 1. ran rough and smelled of raw gas once light went on. Recall did not cover this model although the failure was identical. Only 2.0 aeg motors covered not 2.0 azg to 120000. Quirky operation will result in an accident. Self limiting use of vehicle until problem diagnosed and repaired- O2 sensors at $187 each X 2 in exhaust were next.

- Glen Head, NY, USA

I just found out that there is a recall for VW Golf for ignition coil. I had problems with that last year and I took it to a dealer but instead of replacing the coils they replaced my battery and starter... exactly a year after that the same thing happen (this January). I had to get my car towed and took it to a garage cause it was close to my house. My ignition coils had to be replaced. So I was wondering if there is a way I can be reimbursed for what I paid, at least for the parts. The first time this happened I can't believe that they didn't replace the coils at the dealership cause exactly the same thing happened, exactly year after. Is there anything I can do? thank you jana.

- Jamestown, RI, USA

2001 Volkswagen Golf gls 1.8T on Monday, Dec 2, 2002, the vehicle experienced a flashing check engine light (indicating the vehicle should not be driven), engine stuttering, and loss of power. Upon inspection by the dealer the cause was found to be a faulty ignition coil. A replacement was ordered but due to the national shortage of ignition coils for VW/Audi 1.8ts it was not known when the part would arrive. The replacement ignition coil was received and installed by the VW dealer on Thursday, Dec 5, 2002. Due to the parts shortage only one of four ignition coils was replaced. After replacement all previous symptoms were gone and the vehicle ran normally. On Thursday, Dec 12, 2002, the symptoms (flashing check engine light, stuttering engine, and loss of power) returned. Again the problem was diagnosed as an ignition coil failure by the same VW dealer. One of the ignition coils that had not been replaced after the first incident was faulty. I am very pleased with the dealers handling of the situation. I am not pleased with VW's usage of a part that has shown to be as failure prone as these ignition coils.

- Ayer, MA, USA