This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
On two occasions, about two weeks apart, the power cut off while driving. The car became very difficult to steer. The alternator light came on. After turning the ignition off and on again once or twice, the car started again, and the light was no longer on. On the first of these occasions, the car was being driven on a city street. It was a minute or two after first starting the car that day. The second was also on a city street. This also occurred just after starting, while turning a corner. On a third occasion, about one week before the above-mentioned two incidents, the epc light came on and power was diminished, but the engine did not cut out totally. This occurred on an expressway, after the car had been driven for some time. After dropping in speed, the engine returned to normal before the car stopped. Both problems would appear to be electrical problems. VW customer service told me that as there was no light on the dashboard, they could not diagnose the problem. Needless to say, this is a very dangerous problem.
I was sitting in traffic and when I began to accelerate the car just died in the middle of the road. I turned on my hazard lights for people could go around me so I could figure out how to get to safety. As soon as the car died I tried to turn the key to get it started again. Once I did that a bunch of lights came on and got a clicking sound once I turned the key. I then quickly put the car in park and was able to start the engine. Could be a very dangerous situation if this happened while trying to cross a dangerous intersection. I told dealer and they wrote it up but found nothing.
Driving in freeway traffic at around 35-40 mph. Prior, to this incident, car has been well maintained and trouble free. Engine died, subsequently power steering stopped working and I needed to steer vehicle to shoulder of road. I consider myself to be an experienced driver and was able to adjust to situation, concerned that a less experienced driver could have had an accident in the same situation.
After exiting the freeway, I was driving in stop and go traffic and the engine cut out without warning. I was unable to change lanes due to lack of power and power steering, so I tried to re-start the engine while coasting in the fast lane. The hud indicated that I had to put the car in park, so I stopped the car in the fast lane in order to do so. The engine started and I was able to drive away. The car was 6 weeks old at the time, and had about 1100 miles on the odometer.
Brand new car drives somewhat erratic. Took the car to dealer for alignment check. Was advised by dealer that car is delivered with suspension adjusted outside of manufacturers specifications. No reason given why. I consider car unsafe as it doesn't drive as expected. Checking some owner websites, this seems to be a common problem with this car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Brooklyn, NY, USA