My dad purchased a 2009 Volkswagen Golf; 2.0 TDI; 81 kw brand new with 3 miles on the clock. It now has 101; 788 miles. Then; he was deciding between a Kia Sportage and the Golf but he didn't get it because of Kia's higher fuel economy figures.
There were no flaws; no major or even minor repairs up to 2019. The car always ran like a champ.
2020 is when it started to drain our wallet. The turbocharger broke; the key ceased to function; the AC had to be replaced; the engine turns the check engine light on and off for a few moments then goes away.
Last summer the crankshaft position sensor was faulty.
Today the car died on the highway and it cranks but it doesn't start the engine.
According to my dad; when engaging first gear from a standstill (manual transmission) and upon gathering speed; the car jerked suddenly; no check engine light illuminated; it it just clunked out randomly.
He also mentioned that he can smell acetone coming from inside the engine compartment...? Is this somehow possible?
We had it towed back home.
I'm advising him to get rid of it ASAP but he's stubborn and doesn't listen. Plus; he doesn't take care of his car.
Can a diesel Volkswagen start having major problems at such a relatively low mileage for a 13 year-old diesel?
Are they really that poorly made?
We'll never buy another one.
Christian.
he doesn't take care of his car.
If you don't maintain your vehicle, then it will not last long.
Are they really that poorly made?
In terms of Volkswagen's reliability, if they were made in Germany (Deutschland) then you have the "good ones". In reality, all Volkswagens in the US are endless money pits.
The 2.0L TDI is nothing like the 1.9 TDI - these "marvels" of "German engineering" are just not good engines.
As far as your issue, did you change the timing belt? if no, you have your answer as to what probably went wrong.
SOME 2009 engines have OIL STARVATION issues, the turbo starves and fails and later the engine seizes.
Let's hope it's just a fuel pump.
Can a diesel Volkswagen start having major problems at such a relatively low mileage for a 13 year-old diesel?
Are they really that poorly made?
Yea, because of all of the "Ecology" crap they put on new diesels - European cars just don't last at all.
It's how PSA's and Renault's diesels were quite good before they got required to put NOx filters.
But that also applies to European petrols, and cars made for the European market.
(Like how Toyota's Euro offerings have bad K11? CVTs instead of K31? and dual VVT-i mated to ValveMatic, or EGR systems even on a 1.0L, or 3 cylinder "DynamicForce" engines that don't have power and sound like a buss, or turbocharged 1.2L engines, or using diesel engines developed by BMW with timing chain issues, ...)
VW diesels are one of the most reliable European cars, but they still need maintenance in order to last. The fact that your father did not take care of his car is probably the biggest reason why the car has started to experience all of these major failures. A properly maintained Golf TDI at that age and mileage should still be running strong, but the car hasn't been maintained and thus is now become an endless moneypit that many VWs here in the States become because a lot of people don't take care of their cars.
