VW Golf VI: reliability issues ? real or not ?

[Corey_R]

Well - I'd presume that 'iron block' would still refer to an alloy of some type. They'd not be using pure iron in a modern motor these days, surely?!

[logger]

No, they are made of an Alloy, Grey Cast Iron. So you are both right.

"The cylinder block on the 1.4l TSI engine is made from grey cast iron with lamellar graphite. This guarantees sufficient operating safety at the high combustion pressures of the TSI engine. Due to the high strength of a cylinder block made from grey cast iron with lamellar graphite compared with one made from diecast aluminium, the camshaft may be removed."

Wikipedia Grey Iron

I guess the term alloy was being transposed/confused with aluminium.

[cube_3]

I've read reliability rankings and every time it's the same. Lexus/Toyota first then Japanese brands, followed by European then American. I know it's best to take this with a grain of salt but it does get me wondering. Obviously things like the demographics of specific model ownership and their driving styles would influence these rankings

I would like to know (if there is such a thing) what the reliability stats actually are (in numbers, percentages, etc)

Realiability Rankings do need to be taken with a pinch of salt. AS you can see from the other posting a lot of luxury cars e.g. Merc's, BMWs, Audis etc are lower down. This may be due to "wealthier" people more likely to complain about squeeks, rattles etc and these complaints count against them in these surveys. Owners of cheaper brands are less likely to complain about rattles etc. as they expect things like that for the price they pay.

Toyota's have generally always been realiable cars and featured highly but after this 8 million recall and bad publicity they will probably fall in the next couple rankings, especially in the USA.

[ddalbusco]

Reliability issues are absolutely true. My Golf 118TSI which has just reached twelve months old has had the following problems: fourth cylinder died at six months, entire engine was replaced; headlights cannot be realigned to the car properly by the dealer; the entire locking system failed - all locks have now been replaced; the drivers window constantly resets memory and the window switch fails; the entire instrument panel has just been replaced as the speedo needle was flickering and not at the correct speed; the a/c temperature cannot be corrected and is about 3 degrees warmer than the actual display... all in all an unreliable car. MASSIVE fail for VW.

[Transporter]

Reliability issues are absolutely true. My Golf 118TSI which has just reached twelve months old has had the following problems: fourth cylinder died at six months, entire engine was replaced; headlights cannot be realigned to the car properly by the dealer; the entire locking system failed - all locks have now been replaced; the drivers window constantly resets memory and the window switch fails; the entire instrument panel has just been replaced as the speedo needle was flickering and not at the correct speed; the a/c temperature cannot be corrected and is about 3 degrees warmer than the actual display... all in all an unreliable car. MASSIVE fail for VW.

Just sell it and get something else. I couldn't stand up the car that has 3 degrees difference in temperatures.

All our 4 VW's are the most reliable cars we ever had.

[Someone]

I've owned 3 new VWs in the past 11 years. Overall quality has been good - ie, better than average, but not brilliant. Biggest issue to date has been aircon failure in my last Passat. My current Golf Mk 6 has been trouble free. The DSG is great in concept, but needs a few more years development, I reckon. Comparing it to operating systems, it's probably at Windows 98 stage, IMHO.

[Bertie]

The DSG is great in concept, but needs a few more years development, I reckon. Comparing it to operating systems, it's probably at Windows 98 stage, IMHO.

As a soon-to-be GTI DSG owner in the software industry, this analogy of your scares me

Windows didn't get much better either, it just got more popular.

[break]

I jumped ship from my 9N3 Polo GTI to an '03 Renault Clio Sport (yes, a French car!) partly because of the reliability issues of the Polo.

In all honesty, there was no reliability improvement in jumping ship

Although that says something, when a well known German manufacturer can only manage the reliability of a French manufacturer!

[MkVIGTI]

16,000kms of troublefree motoring so far in my DSG GTI. Hope it will be troublefree all the way! By the way break, I notice you have Remsa Pads in your Polo GTI. How do you find them comparing to stock pads? Maybe you can contribute your experience with them in the Mk6 Replacement Brake Pad thread?

[m3103]

My TDI has just over 10k on it and not once has it missed a beat. I take care of her fastidiously but I have to admit the poor thing does cop a fair amount of thrashing for a normal car. (I.e. It's not a purpose built sports car)
Also my sister has the new polo trendline and my brother in-law has a Mk V pirelli. No issues there either.
Overall very happy with vw and would be glad to recommend the product to anyone.

[rs73]

ultra-reliable

My mk6 GTI - an ex-demo with possibly been trashed by numerous tyre kickers - has been ultra-reliable in the past 24 months and 25,000km. Not a single glitch....

According to latest JD Power survey released VW is like the bottom rank, as per what TheAge posted on their website.
I'd say those survey reponders probably don't know how to operate a toaster let alone a car...
Considering their review period is 90 days, and it range from audio and electronics issue - which suggest that probably 80% of those issue can be solved by RTFM (read the f%$#n manual) - it also suggested that my MK6 VW Golf is indeed 8x more reliable than the survey indicate (since it still lasted 8x longer than the 3 month).

Maybe I should drive it back to my VW dealer and demanded a refund because they sold me an "abnormally reliable" car?

A colleague of mine also testified that her mk5 golf was also the most reliable car she has ever had.

[Tobes_WIR35]

As a huge fan and regular user and specifier of German engineering in general, and from an engineer's point of view, it's like this. If you design something from scratch with emerging technology which offers vast improvements in safety, dynamics, efficiency, comfort and convenience, (ie; Volkswagen) versus something that is basic, proven, and doesn't break the mould in any way (ie; Toyota etc) then there is no question that the high tech project should have far more reliability issues than the old stock.

The fact that VW (and others) remain not far off, or as good, or better, than your run of the mill Toyotas, Mazdas, etc in reliability stakes is a demonstration of the quality of engineering and quality management at Volkswagen. My advice to a potential buyer would be that if reliability is the only or the main criteria when buying a new vehicle, then you're wasting your time and money on a Volkswagen and a boring Toyota would be more appropriate (and cheaper).

I've got a MK6 GTI, with a few mods, and gets driven the way it was supposed to be including race track appearances, and so far my 30,000km has been problem free with the exception of a few minor noises. I've owned and operated (as company vehicles) quite a few different news cars from various manufacturers. It is very likely that my next car when the lease runs out on my GTI will be the MK7 GTI or R, or if they happen to bring out an "R" Tiguan, then maybe that.

[Candyman]

Owned a MKV GTI and now my R

A small sample but in my experience, VW, the two I have owned, and others I know, is generally not reliable at all

Electrical issues, mechanical issues, panel fit etc, all below average if not poor.

VW aren't advanced in terms of what they offer, hell, it took them until the MKVI to even offer bluetooth FFS and even then, it is flakey.

Their DSG, despite years in the market is still flakey

The MKVI is hardly "new" in design or mechanics. In fact, it is ancient by car standards.

This is why we sold our GTI just out of warranty and why we got extended warranty on the R but will sell it after that expires as well.

Still, no other offering comes close as an overall package for the price (specifically the R) so I accept the issues that come with it.

[Tobes_WIR35]

The MKVI is hardly "new" in design or mechanics. In fact, it is ancient by car standards.

I'm not sure what you're comparing it to, but compared to a Corolla, Mazda 3, and all of the other cars that sit around the lower model Golfs in terms of size and price (the lower models being what the OP is asking about), it is a generation ahead mechanically, even now that the MK5/6 platform is 7 years old. Granted that the Jap brands have followed a different mechanical path, a'la CVT transmission (fine if you want a smooth ride, total buzz-kill if you actually enjoy driving).

The only one that comes close is the Focus, which for now is probably considered an "equal" to the Golf, but I would make the forecast that once the MK7 hits the ground, that will change. But it's like you said, we can only offer our experiences up in the context of the microscopic samples of the market that we as individuals are.

[Finance_Analyst]

The JD power survey is pretty much industry standard and there are not many surprises - Lexus always top and so they should. Benz nornally does better than BMW, but Porsche is generally top of the Euros.

While I cannot speak for VW as my car is only 13 months old and 9,000km and I personally haven't had any issues (except for losing all 4 centre caps), there is no denying that VW have had their fair share of reliability issues. Jettas and Tourags from what I hear are most dodgy, followed by Polos. Funny that none of the aformentioned cars are built in Germany either.....