Volkswagen Golf grinding brakes problems

Filed Oct 31, 2022 · Suspension · FL

GTI has an overly squeaky front suspension. Suspension is 100% stock and unmodified. Searching online yields many Golf owners experiencing the same issues (in the USA and worldwide). People say to lube up the suspension with grease, but this could cause a safety issue if it gets on the brakes. Volkswagen claims this is normal, but I've owned nine Volkswagen vehicles and this is the first one that's ever had this issue. This sound has been ongoing since the vehicle had 10,000 miles on the odo; the vehicle now has 60,000 miles.

Filed Sep 13, 2022 · Suspension · CA

While driving car on highway heard a loud boom from rear right side. Stopped car and inspected, but no obvious damage. Resumed driving, and began hearing a repeated squeaking noise and some body lean in corners. Took vehicle to tire shop, where they removed right rear tire and found the right rear spring had snapped at the mounting location near the top of the spring. The attached photo of the spring suggests the mount may have been defective. Dealer confirmed spring damage and is now replacing both rear springs. However, no coverage of the damaged part even though multiple 2016 VW Golf’s have been recalled for rear spring issues.

Filed Jul 9, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · OK

1. Brakes - backing and putting brakes on then into drive there is a popping noise from the rear end. Brakes squeak at low speeds, when braking at low speeds they squeal and grab, when braking at high speeds they grind. This has been from the beginning when the car was new until now. Two dealerships state "there is nothing they can do". 2. Coolant - continuous coolant smell in cab and around car after driving for any distance. Dealership has replaced cap, reservoir and hoses. State, "nothing more to do until a recall comes out".

Filed Aug 30, 2016 · Fuel system · 22,000 miles · TX

At less than 20,000 miles the glow plug light started coming on while driving at highway speeds and then the vehicle loses power, dropping down to about 30mph. Shutting engine off corrects but will reoccur next time vehicle is started after being parked for the day. Then the check engine light and service now lights also come on. Took to vw dealer, after 4 hours told it was a fuel problem with metal in the fuel. A sample must be sent to vws lab and it will take weeks for an answer. They are presumptively blaming bad fuel and will not cover under warranty. I believe the fuel pump is the source of the metal in the fuel as there has been a bearing squeal noise for about 2 weeks before this happened. I don't have any documents to attach as they still have the vehicle at the dealership.

Filed Jul 11, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 13,000 miles · DC

Car purchased november 2011. August 29, 2012 (much <10,000 miles) reported rough shifting of automatic transmission to volkswagen of alexandria. Told that experience was normal. Trusted mechanic and used vehicle. March 18, 2013--complete transmission failure while driving in a parking lot. Engine shut off while moving and abruptly brought car to a stop. This is the same problem that prompted recalls for this car in australia, china, and japan. Brought into volkswagen of alexandria and told problem was related to computer errors controlling transmission. July 10, 2013--(@15,000 miles) car loses reasonable amount of power, makes grinding noise, engine light appears. Blocks from volkswagen of alexandria. Just able to make it in. Technicians report that a number of faults were reported and have contacted vw of america to advise what to do next. Ultimately they decide that the mechatronics unit (part of transmission) should be replaced but will not be available soon. Alexandria volkswagen advises me to take the vehicle back into my posession and drive it as is until the part arrives. They claimed it to be just a noise issue. I object and have to point out the complaint about severe lack of power and previous complete engine/transmission failure (which they claimed to be unrelated). After complaint told I could rent a car. Finally able to complain my way into a loaner. I have read about this tactic for ways around lemon law liability. Was advised to report it here.

Filed Dec 17, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 7,500 miles · CA

The car is a 2012 vw golf tdi, purchased around april of 2012. It had approximately 7500 miles at the time of the incident. I was on a short drive to the store and back (5 miles round trip from home). On the way back, I heard a metal grinding sound coming from the engine compartment and noticed a lack of power. I turned off the radio to confirm that the sound was coming from my new car and it was. At the next stop light, the car died and could not be restarted. I confirmed that I still had diesel fuel, and sure enough, I still had 1/4 tank. So I was not out of fuel. The engine would crank, but not start. Thankfully this happened at a stop light instead of on the hilly interstate I take to work 20 miles each day. Aside from hearing the metal grinding sound for approximately 30 seconds, I had no warning. The car had to be towed back to the dealer. The dealer took a few days to diagnose the problem as a faulty fuel pump. Apparently, the fuel pump malfunctioned and shot metal shards through my entire fuel system. It took the dealer well over a week to replace every component and the cost of labor and parts was over $10,000. Thankfully, vw covered the repair as being under warranty. A quick google search confirmed that hundreds of other vw diesel engines have had the same problem. Unfortunately, the dealer did not replace the fuel tank. Based on reports I have seen online, I can expect another failure any day. Please investigate this further and force vw to issue a recall. I have owned 5 volkswagens in the past (own 2 right now) and love them, but I will never buy another one after this incident.

Filed May 21, 2004 · Body, Locks · 200 miles · GA

The car has had squeaking and creaking front doors since two weeks after delivery. The dealer has tried several times to lubricate, adjust the door and striker. The problem has never been solved. It can be heard whenever the car accelerates, decelerates, or changes direction. It also has buzzes, creaks, squeaks, and rattles in the dash. The problem is growing worse and no one knows how to solve it. This car has been doing this since it was two weeks old. It only has 30,000 miles on it at present.

Filed Jul 7, 2003 · Brakes · 27,000 miles · NY

My volkswagen golf tdi had to have the rear rotors and brake pads replaced with less than 30,000 miles. The front brakes were still in good shape. The service person noted that brake dust sticks to the sliding parts and causes the brakes to stick and wear. The rear brake pads were totally worn and the rotors scored. At 36,000 mile my car's brakes are making a grinding noises again when the brake pedal is not depressed.

Filed Sep 17, 2002 · Visibility · CA

Once again, inconvenienced by window slider/regulator failure. First it was the passenger side window, now the driver's side. The window froze in the down position with only a grinding noise when I attempted to power the window back up. I immediately got on the phone and attempted to schedule an appointment for repair. Unfortunately, none of the local dealerships could offer me an appointment that would get make back on the road in a couple of days. Thus, I just showed up at one dealership when it opened and managed to get my car serviced quickly and the repair was billed as a warranty item. Filing this report because this is the second window on my car and this could be a safety issue depending on the conditions involved. Thank you.

Filed Sep 12, 2002 · Visibility · CA

On memorial day weekend, as I was preparing to leave for work, I powered down my front passenger window. When I went to power back up, the window would not move and it made a terrible grinding noise. The window was frozen in the down position. The window was rarely powered up/down in the first two years of use. When I attempted to schedule a service appointment with a local dealership (not niello), I could not be seen for several days. Due to my busy work schedule, one forty-five dollar cab ride to work, and a recently expired automobile warranty, I asked my husband to repair the car. After carefully removing the glass, the internal door panel, and electrical wiring harness, he removed the internal door panel/lifter assembly. The problem was immediately visible. A poorly designed, cheaply manufactured, inferior plastic slider had been unable to resist the weight of the window, the resistance of the riser, or the pull of the cable when powered by the window regulator. On may 29, 2002, I visited roseville volkswagen's parts department. Unfortunately, one cannot purchase just the plastic slider (the defective part). This part if sold alone, could not amount to much more than $20. Instead, the whole internal door panel part must be purchased at $160. According to the parts department employee, volkswagen is covering this repair up to 40,000 miles. Thus, I submitted the invoice for the $160 part, the defective slider, and a letter requesting reimbursement for the part to volkswagen of america. My request for reimbursement was denied. Fortunately for me, I was not in an unsafe place when the window froze in the down position. Considering all of the listings for this problem on the federal safety agency website alone, I would hope that volkswagen is making an effort to change this flawed design. I would also expect that volkswagen should make the slider available for purchase as an individual part. Thank you.