Engine Belts And Pulleys Problems of Volkswagen Golf

On the night of August 5 about 8:30pm, while driving at 45mph, my car lost power while driving. I was able to get out of the traffic flow and coast until I could get to a side road and then pushed it into a parking lot. I looked at the engine and saw the serpentine belt was damaged. I also noticed fuel sitting on top of surfaces in the engine compartment. I asked my son to verify if he smelled fuel which he did as I have little sense of smell. After seeing the damaged serpentine belt, I did not attempt to restart the engine. I had the vehicle towed. At the dealer, the service representative attempted to try to start the vehicle and move it and said it wouldn'¿¿t start, possibly causing additional damage since the serpentine belt was shredded. After some investigation the dealer'¿¿s service manager explained that their leading theory is that diesel fuel leaked from fuel filter gasket onto the serpentine belt. Then the shredded serpentine belt took out the timing belt and caused the engine to rotate out of time causing internal damage. Car had been maintained per manufacturer schedule by this dealer, and this failure occurred 6k miles after most recent service. Dealer was unsure why the diesel fuel leaked, but the high pressure fuel pump and fuel filter seemed viable problem points. After getting engine parts replaced at great expense and getting the engine running on Aug 30, 2014, dealer indicated that they couldn'¿¿t detect a fuel leak and said serpentine belt condition showed no condition to indicate failure but failed anyway causing the cavalcade of engine damage. Many parts were replaced or removed and reinstalled during the repair, so it is questionable that there was no fuel leak.

See all problems of the 2011 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.

At 2766 miles I was cruising down the highway at 70 mph on my way to work when the engine suddenly lost power and the epc light came on. The engine was completely unresponsive, I pulled off to the shoulder, called roadside assistance and was towed to the nearest dealer the service manager told me the water pump seized and seriously damaged the engine. I went to look and there was a big hole in the side of the engine. He told me they had to order new piston heads, rods, etc. . . Basically, needed to rebuild the engine. Speaking to the mechanic actually working on the car, he said it would probably need an engine replacement. They quickly realized repair wasn't possible and had a new engine en route. After a little searching online, I found that this has happened to at least 5 others (there are more now). It seems to be an issue with the water pump pulley. I am most concerned because vw denied they had ever heard of this. I have no confidence that the replacement engine will not suffer the same issue.

See all problems of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.

I Dec 19th 2011 I experienced what I believe was a hard start. Weather in the morning was in the teens, afternoon in the low 40s. Leave work, get in car, put key in ignition & turn to on position, put seat belt on, and start. Car starts right away but is idling rough, shaking violently like a washing machine off balance. I drop into neutral and rev it up to 2k, still idles rough for about a minute more but does not stall. I experienced something like this once when my Subaru legacy's #2 injector quit, a misfiring boxer engine does not idle smooth. The ride home was uneventful, stopped at the bank and restarted fine. Everything was normal this morning, temps in the low 40s. What I believe happened to my car was moisture accumulated in the inner cooler and was ingested into the intake tract causing a "hammering effect" as the engine tried to compress this moisture. Vw has issued a TSB #21 11 06/2025464 but no recall as yet. When I brought my vehicle in for service they found no moisture so nothing was done. I believe this to be a safety issue because the vehicle could ingest this moisture at any time without warning causing the car to stop and strand in an unsafe location. A recall and fix should be issued.

See all problems of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.

Vw dealer performed 2nd required timing belt/water pump change at 154626 miles, 5400 earlier than required, at approx 183600 miles, 30k miles later water pump failed upon removal of water pump found plastic impeller slipping / not attached to metal drive shaft. As a result of the failed water pump, the engine over heated. Due to defect history did not install new vw manufactured water pump, plastic/composite impeller,. Required an aftermarket oem built water pump, with metal impeller assembly to be installed on vehicle. The removed damage water pump is available for inspection.

See all problems of the 2001 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.

Car has 61000 miles on it and the "water pump went which took out the timing belt" per my mechanic. I purchased this car used and have no warrenty because vw only allows warranty to transfer to a family member who buys the car.

See all problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.

Owner was driving in traffic - merging onto the long island expressway - when a dull "pop" sound was heard. The engine quickly lost power. Owner was able to steer vehicle from right lane to shoulder and engage hazard lights. Car was towed to dealer. Dealer examined vehicle and advised owner that the timing belt was missing. Dealer advised that engine had seized and must be replaced. Owner lost use of car for 5 weeks. Engine and timing belt were replaced.

See all problems of the 2002 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.

Multiple problems included: malfunction indicator lamp on, vehicle cut off, trunk switch fell out, driver door lock inoperative, fuel gauge inoperative, engine rattle. Multiple replacements - camshaft sensor, trunk switch, power door locks, fuel lines installed, fuel sender unit, timing belt and tensioner.

Dealer reported that timing belt exploded.

The serpentine belt cracked. Yh.

See all problems of the 1996 Volkswagen Golf 🔎.