Volkswagen Golf power windows problems

Filed Sep 8, 2015 · Visibility · 100,000 miles · NY

Window regulator switches and interior lights started to malfunction early in the life of the car, starting about 2003. My passenger window fell into the door once, and the same happened for my driver side window twice. The window switches are flaky and require intense concentration to tap them just right to make the window go in the direction that you want. If you tap too strongly or too long, the windows reverse direction. This is extremely distracting and dangerous when you are trying to focus on the road. Dealership and local mechanics replaced regulator switches and motors several times, years ago. I was tired of replacing them, so now I try to use the windows as little as possible. I keep a flashlight permanently on the passenger seat to compensate for 12 years of darkness in the cabin. Alarm system occasionally chirps for no reason, as if detecting an intruder, and sometimes will not generate the beep beep when I hit the engage button on my key fob. Alarm sometimes goes off when I start the car, as if I'm carjacking my own car. I suspect the 1999 batch of volkswagen cars had serious grounding or electrical issues. Car continues to run fine (current mileage is 392,000) despite the electrical demons, but with reduced safety and increased distractions.

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Visibility · 103,000 miles · CT

The driver's side window regulator recently failed on my 2002 vw golf. This part secures the window to the power window mechanism, and keeps the window up. The failure occurred while I was leaving a toll booth. I pressed the button to raise the window, heard a crack, and then the entire window violently crashed down into the interior of the door, and attempts to raise the window failed. I was lucky that I was only driving about 20 MPH at the time, but unfortunately I had to drive home five hours with the windows down. It was a very unpleasant experience. When I returned home, upon bringing the car in to the dealership, I learned that it was the window regulator that had failed. I also learned that this part has failed numerous times on golfs of this model year (and other years), and that an extended warranty of 7 years was placed on the part. I strongly believe that a recall should have been placed on this part instead of simply a warranty extension. I have heard numerous anecdotes of people having this same problem. The window crashes violently, and had I been driving fast or in traffic, this could have caused an accident very easily. What's more, one cannot protect the car from theft or water damage when the window won't close. According to vw, a sturdier replacement part was designed around 2002, and my car is now being fixed with this part.

Filed Oct 6, 2007 · Visibility · 81,290 miles · TX

I have a 2002 golf tdi with manual windows. The window regulator clips broke and the window dropped into the door. This is a known issue with vw's that a service bulletin, (0603), is out on, but only for power windows. The part that os defective is common to both types but since my windows are manual I have to pay $191.00 for the part. If vw is replacing one type free of charge they should be replacing both. The part is defective - manual or power windows...

Filed Sep 9, 2005 · Visibility · CA

Window regulator made of plastic clip is known to break and vw extended warranty to 7 years. However, they only specified for automatic window, when both uses same plastic regulator clip that is defective on both automatic and manual. When I contacted vw dealer hq, they both denied on warranty. Hq stated that because they have not received enough complaints, they will not cover manual window regulator, even though they use same defective plastic clip.

Filed Dec 29, 2004 · Visibility · 42,262 miles · NY

1) rolling down passenger window 2) whole window fell in 3) car was brought to the mechanic and all inside door panel had tp be replaced since plastic piece holding this window broke.

Filed Nov 22, 2004 · Visibility · 44,000 miles · UT

My rear passenger widow will not roll down because of a faulty window regulator. Vw knows the problem exists because they have to replace the front window regulators that have a similar desing using plastic window clips. *jb I have children that travel in the car frequently and if we were in an accident they would not be able to roll the window down and get out of the car. I feel that this is a safety concern. I realize that the gti version of my car doesn't have windows that roll down in the back but I didn't buy that car because I have kids that need to ride in the car. Therefore I need windows that roll down too. I took the car to a vw dealer because they told me that they would fix it under the extended service thing that the front window are fixxed under. After they took the car, they called me and told me that it doesn't cover the rear windows. So, I declined getting it fixxed by them and will repair it myself. The part costs $120 for the rear windows. The front window have a repair kit that sells for about $20 (it just replaces the faulty part, not the whole unit as the rear windows do). At a minimum they should sell a repair kit for the rear windows.

Filed Feb 18, 2004 · Visibility · 40,000 miles · CA

Passenger side window fell off its track on two occaisions. Renders window totally inoperative. Failure first occured around 40000 miles and then at 50000.

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.

Filed Aug 9, 2002 · Visibility · AK

When window regulator fails, the window drops in the door. If driving in rain or -20 degrees weather, it becomes a safety hazard. I'd like to see a recall soon on this.

Filed Jul 29, 2002 · Visibility · MD

Although my power window regulator and clips have not failed yet, this is a know problem to vw. They have recently designed a "kit" which has upgraded metal parts, and not plastic parts. They are replacing the pieces after they break, after window falls down into the track. Some dealers cover part of the cost ($200!?), some don't. This is a known defect and I think vw should be recalling the cars before failure to replace the window clips and regulators. The years affected are 2000 - 2002, the golf and jetta (and maybe the beetle). Presently repair parts are backordered due to the demand.