2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

The aluminum trim piece around gear shift has come up from the plastic underneath. It is the front of the trim next to where there is a charging outlet and small item storage. When removing my phone one day, I caught my finger on the raised (delaminated) section of the aluminum and sliced my finger open. I did not need stitches, but did use butterfly closures while it healed. I removed the part that was sticking up so now the sharp edge is closer to the exposed plastic and not as much of a hazard. A quick online search shows this is a fairly common problem with many people reporting a cut finger/hand.

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. The contact stated that the sunroof was leaking and allowing water to enter the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

The vehicle had been making mild clunking noises for some time (at least 2.5 years) during some combinations of turns/bumps. When took to mechanic in January 2020, the sound would not reproduce during test drive, so problem was not diagnosed. Clunking sound became more pronounced over time, until on 8/27/21 while driving a neighborhood road, there was a loud clank, as if some metal part came loose. Then there was very loud clunking, as if a metal part was knocking around loose - more pronounced when turning or going over bumps. Upon inspection by a mechanic later in the day, the sway bar had come loose due to one of the bolts on the driver side sway bar bracket had come out. Both this mechanic and later, the Volkswagen dealer mechanic, said this was very odd, since they normally only see sway bar damage when a car has been in an accident. My car has never been in any kind of accident. Sway bars help ensure a vehicle doesn’t roll too much when handling turns. Aside from safety, sway bars help prevent lopsided wheel alignment and work to maintain an overall better grip on the road. A faulty sway bar puts the vehicle at risk for rolling during turns. My belief is that there was something faulty about the sway bar mounting bracket or bolt which explains the mild clunking I heard prior to deterioration (more frequent clunking) and ultimate failure (on 8/27/21). I have a write up of the inspection and repair from the dealer. I also have photos from the dealer prior to the repair.

Heard an odd clicking sound when turning right. Next time driving, turned steering wheel to make wide turn and suddenly several indicator lights came on: transmission error, airbag, cruise control. Concerned about airbag safety, and very concerning to have several issues come up instantly. Will bring vehicle to VW authorized dealership for service, will diagnose/confirm then.

While driving in light, medium or heavy rain, water makes it into the front and back of the cab of the vehicle. When it comes in through the front water drips on my wife while driving which is distracting. When it comes in through the back the humidity builds and fogs the windows which makes it unsafe to drive. My local VW service center tells me the drain tubes are clogged. I have taken my vehicle in five times for clogged drain tubes. Our service advisor Robert Dominguez confirmed the problem. Our service technician Paul Macfarland inspected the vehicle and components. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure.

LEAKING SUNROOF IS RUINING INTERIOR COMPONENTS, INCLUDING HEADLINER. MULTIPLE FIXES AND SERVICE BULLETINS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. VERY CONCERNED IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO LARGER ELECTRICAL, BODY ROT, AND MOLD ISSUES, NOT TO MENTION COMPLETELY RUINING ANY VALUE THE CAR HAS. MOST RECENT PHOTOGRAPH UPLOADED WAS FOLLOWING A RAINSTORM ON 4/11/2021.

SRS WARNING LIGHT FOR UNOCCUPIED PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR; IT DID GO OFF WHEN FASTENED THE SEAT BEAT (ON THE EMPTY SEAT). HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNED OFF TWICE; THIS HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITH NO REPEAT HOWEVER WITH COVID-19, I' PROBABLY DRIVEN ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES IN THE LAST YEAR.