1996 Volkswagen Golf Problems & Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE SMOKE SUBSIDED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL # 98V160000, WHICH REFERS TO THE HOOD LATCH, APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW UP WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

INSTRUMENT DISPLAY CLUSTER ON 96 PASSAT WAGON GLX TOTALLY FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER READINGS. PANEL WAS REPLACED FOR $500. WRITTEN LETTER TO VWOA WENT UNANSWERED. *JB

ENTIRE DASH BOARD WENT DEAD AFTER A FEW DAYS OF EXTREME COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN'S AND FEEL THAT MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM PROPERLY. *JB

ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (FUEL, TEMP, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER DISPLAYS) FAILED DURING COLD WEATHER. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND VIA A GOOGLE NEWSGROUP SEARCH.

THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AND COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR JG *JB

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THEN, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE SHUT OFF ENGINE AND OPENED HOOD. BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. BATTERY WAS FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED BY DEALER. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER WAS BURNED FROM THE BATTERY ACID. *YH

OIL IS LEAKING FROM CONNECTOR SENSOR AND THIS IS GETTING DOWN INTO ENGINE. *AK

DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENGINE, STARTER TURNED SLOWLY BUT DID NOT START ENGINE. HOWEVER, STANDARD ALARM SYSTEM SOUNDED. I TURNED OF ALARM BY INSERTING KEY IN DOOR (STANDARD PROCEDURE). TOW TRUCK GAVE BOOST AT BATTERY. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED . THE BATTERY LOW POWER THING, OCCURRED ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR, IN VW DEALER'S CUSTOMER PICK UP AREA, AFTER DEALER HAD REPLACED A HEADLIGHT FUSE/ ALIGNED HEADLIGHTS/WHEELS. WHEN ALARM WENT OFF AND STARTER DID NOT TURN OVER ENGINE, SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY ARRIVED W/BOOSTER UNIT AND STARTED CAR. HE SAID BATTERY PROBABLY GOT LOW FROM TECHNICIAN HOLDING DOWN BRAKE PEDAL FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME? DUH? I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING MORE ABOUT PROBLEM AT THE TIME(DENIAL). PROBLEM H. *AK

AFTER CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN STARTED IT BACK ON CAR ALARM CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOK, AND REALIZED THAT WIRING SYSTEM BURNED OUT NOTHING THAT WAS MOTORIZED WAS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO FIX PROBLEM AT OWNERS COST.*AK

DROVE INTO PARKING LOT. HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STOPPED. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. GAVE INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING FIRE. PRIOR TO PROBLEM ,HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON/ DOOR LOCKS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HONORING EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS SOLD.*AK

WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE ON FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. TWICE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF, AND WAS WRONGLY DIAGNOSED AND THEREFORE WRONG PART WAS FIXED. WHEN COMPLAINT WAS MADE THAT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO LIGHT UP, THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN IN AND THROTTLE BODY WAS TO BE CHANGED. VEHICLE NOW MAKES A LOUD NOICE WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE AN ENGINE BLOCK.

DRIVING AT APPROX. 30MPH, BALL JOINT OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF. CAR CAME TO A SCREETCHING HALT!. *AK

THE LEFT DOOR HAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. IT NEEDS TO BE WELDED. DEALER SAID THAT VOLVO ISN'T RESPONSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPENED WITH OTHER VOLVOS. ARE THERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE? VOLVO IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP! *AK

2 SIDEWALL FAILURES OUT OF 6 TIRES (DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJWR19 TIRESIZE: 195/60R14)

THE SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED. YH

PRIOR TO RECALL HOOD LATCH FAILED (98V-160). YH

COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. YH

WINDSHIELD CRACKED. YH

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT, EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE AS WELL. YH

THE SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED. YH

PRIOR TO RECALL HOOD LATCH FAILED (98V-160). YH

COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. YH

WINDSHIELD CRACKED. YH

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT, EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE AS WELL. YH

CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND DEALERS DID NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING PIECES OF INTERNAL COMPONENTS TO CUT THROUGH DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ON TRANSMISSION CASE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN THIS VEHICLE. FIRST CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE IMMOBILIZED IMMEDIATELY IN TRAFFIC. SECOND AND MOST RECENT, RENDERED VEHICLE UNABLE TO MOVE UNDER IT'S OWN POWER, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALSO, SINCE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS PENETRATED IN NO LESS THAN SIX LOCATIONS, GEAR OIL WAS RELEASED ONTO ROADWAY, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD FOR OTHER DRIVERS. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AMONG OTHER OWNERS OF THIS AND SIMILAR MODELS. THERE IS SPECULATION AMONG ENTHUSIASTS THAT IT IS DUE TO THE USE OF RIVETS INSTEAD OF BOLTS TO SECURE THE RING GEAR (CROWN WHEEL) IN THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS APPARANTLY A COST-CUTTING MEASURE. VOLKSWAGEN MAKES AVAILABLE A KIT THAT INCLUDES BOLTS TO REPLACE THOSE RIVETS. STANDARD VW WARRANTY REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR SUCH A FAILURE CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT, BUT THE REBUILT UNITS ALSO USE RIVETS INSTEAD OF BOLTS. FOR THIS FAILURE, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA'S DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER IS DENYING WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF AFTERMARKET (NON-VW) PARTS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WHICH ARE NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SAID HE CANNOT KEEP TENSIONERS IN STOCK, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 40% OF 1996 AND LATER MODELS OF GOLFS COMING IN TO HAVE THE TENSIONERS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE HOLDING ASSEMBLY. THE COST OF THIS WAS QUOTED IN THE $300.00 RANGE. THE DEALER IS VERY SURPRISED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. *AK

EXTENTED WARENTEE NOT ACCEPTED,HAD TO PAY PARTS AND LABOR. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, FAILED OXYGEN SENSOR TWICE. DOOR LOCK LITERALLY FELL OUT OF DOOR AND LEFT HOLE, WAS REPLACED. STEREO DISPLAY FADED OVER LIFE OF CAR (3.5YRS) UNTIL NOW UNREADABLE. CANNOT BE FIXED MUST BE REPLACED. CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *AK

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMPLETELY FELL APART. IT WAS BEING USED FOR AN INFANT CAR SEAT CARRIER. WHEN I WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE BELT, TTHE ENTIRE BUCKLE FELL APART AND COMPLETELY CAME OFF THE STRAP. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED BY DEALERSHIP AT NO CHARGE. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HOW WILL IT WITH STAND AN ACCIDENT? I REALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE USING THE SEAT BELTS WITHOUT MORE INFORMATION. THE DEALER STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE BELT. PLEAS HELP

DOOR LOCK HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

DOOR PANEL AND HANDLE REPLACED.

ELECTRICAL FUSE FAILED.

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER FAILED. YH

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILURE DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

ELECTRICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW TIMES.

ALTERNATOR FAILED. QCAW

SUN ROOF MAKES NOISE SINCE OWNERSHIP.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

DOOR MOLDINGS FALLING OFF.

TIRES WORN PREMATURELY DUE TO ALIGNMENT PULLING.

COOLING FAN FAILED. ALSO REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.

COOLING FAN FAILURE. *AK

REAR BRAKE FAILURE.

PROBLEM IDLE SURGING, SEVER DIAGNOSIS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BAD CHIP IN ECM COMPUTER, UPDATE CHIP, WIRING PROBLEM-CUT WIRES ING THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS, THROTTLE BODY SWITCH BAD-REPLACED, ALL TO NO AVAIL.

BAD CHIP IN ECM COMPUTER.

OXYGEN SENSORS FAILED.

THROTTLE BODY SWITCH FAILED.

HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO FIND IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

COOLING SYSTEM/RADIATOR HOSE DEFECTIVE.

GEAR BOX POPPING OUT OF GEAR.

ENGINE ECM FAILED.

TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED.

THE RUBBER DOOR MOLDING HS SEPARATED AWAY FROM DOOR FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE AND ONE HALF YEARS.

POOR STEERING ASSISTANCE.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO 5TH GEAR AND IS MAKING GRINDING NOISE.

FITTING HOSE LEAKING CAUSING POWER STEERING TO PERFORM POORLY.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE.

AIR CONDITIONER FAN FAILED.

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

CIGARETT LIGHTER ADOPTER, AFTER BEING PUSHED IN, POPPED OUT AND THE ELEMENT STAYED INSIDE, CAUSING AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, SAW SMOKE. *AK

DRIVER REARENDED CAR IN FRONT AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . *AK

OTHER: AIR BAGS DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AFTER THE IMPACT, ALSO SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND CAN'T BE REAPPLIED.

WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH, VEHICLE OVERCAME WITH SMOKE, IMPAIRING VISION. DRIVER LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK

DURING FRONTAL COLLISION DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT

DURING FRONTAL COLLISION PASSENGERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT