German cars are infamous for their warning lights and messages. In addition to the classics like the check engine light, Volkswagens and BMWs like to announce their displeasure about a broken part with annoying triangle lights, blinking gear indicators, flashing glow plug lights, or just warning messages displayed on a screen. That’s not even getting into the error codes that you’ll pull from these cars. But, hey, Volkswagen, you missed a light!
Volkswagen has recalled new Jettas because they might just go up in flames without much of a warning. Sid Bridge:
A car burning to the ground with no warning is unacceptable and I fully expect Volkswagen to recall these Jettas and install a “Car is about to burn to the ground” warning light.
DialMforMiata:
Which will immediately illuminate and not go away, nor will the car actually catch fire. Eventually owners will get tired of it and cover the offending light with electrical tape.
ChefCJ:
To be honest, inexplicably destroying itself has been a standard feature on every VW since about 99.
Jason wrote about how some electronic door latch systems use supercapacitors for backup energy, which is just madness. Jason Masters:
Supercaps also don’t age particularly well. ive replaced hundreds over my career. this might be all well and fine right now, but after 10 years of thermal cycles, I doubt they’re going to be OK, which means someone isn’t opening a door, which may or may not be life-threatening.
Brian wrote about how Ford and Timberland have made a silly F-150 boot. Thankfully, unlike the Truckle, I will not be buying this one. TheDrunkenWrench:
On an unrelated note, Recalls on Timberland boots have increased dramatically.
Timberland CEO, when questioned, stated “Quality is Job 1.”
Thomas wrote about how someone is selling a Mullen EV prototype on Facebook. The listing had the perfect typo, with the seller saying that they had a “bill of self” rather than “bill of sale.” 5VZ-F’Ever and Ever, Amen:
I DO need a bill of self…
Finally, the Bishop turned my offbeat idea for a Dodge Charger ute into a new Dodge Ramcharger. Yes, as many of you noted, the Bishop somehow missed the legendary Smyth utes! Also, I forgot that some of the things that I say on Slack might make it into an article. 4moremazdas:
It’s less than a hot dog shorter than a Tahoe
The Charger is such an American car that not even SAE units are far enough from the metric system.
Have a great evening, everyone!
Topshot graphic image: VW
this website has been kind of a lame ~get a dig at volkswagen in at any expense~ circle jerk lately
it’s tired and boring and if you offered membership refunds à la costco i’d take you up on it
I think a VM bro is hurt. I had a Passat, it was great for a couple of years, then every possible electrical issue occurred, so I got rid of it. Audi same issue with my brother.
I think you tend to find what you are looking for.
Ask others and they’d say the website mostly dogpiles on GM/Stellantis/Tesla/etc…
Personally I haven’t seen much VW bashing other than their overpriced bus and stupid capacitive buttons (which are both deserved).
this is a great perspective, thank you
Yeah, and they actually go out of their way to say nice things about some brands, even when it’s not deserved. See their coverage of the Cybertruck, for example.
VW’s seem to have a much worse reputation in the US for some reason. I suppose partly it’s because parts will be more expensive and harder to get than here in Europe, but it seems like either VW (and Audi etc) don’t put as much effort into their export models, or Americans don’t look after them as well.
I’ve owned plenty of VWs for years with no serious problems (not counting the ones I inflicted, can’t blame VW for them), but parts are plentiful here, and I’ve not owned one newer than 2006, can’t speak for the brand new ones.
I had a 2012 Golf TDI for 5 years and 75k flawless miles. I sold it back because the dieselgate offer was too much to refuse. I replaced it with a 2017 Golf R. That is up to 127k miles, and I’ve replaced nothing but oil, filters, belts, and tires.
I also had a 2001 Allroad from 2004 to 2025. We sold it with 310k miles and the original clutch. We wore out a lot of parts through those miles. It wasn’t flawless, but it sure was fun.
VW needs to have a warning light in case a warning light is burnt out.
My first car had an airbag light that came on shortly after I bought it. It strayed on all the time for a couple of years and then eventually burned out…..or so I thought. A couple years later I saw it illuminate with all the other warning lights when I turned the key to ‘on’ but didn’t start the car. Obviously the airbag fixed itself! The other issues that car had did not….
Did Torch retire?!? Or die?!?!
Because that’s the only way I could see Autopian having this many negative posts about VW.
His ghost is going to haunt the Autopian offices until they go back to their regularly scheduled bashing of GM programming.
I think the fact that my follow up comment was saying that I also love VW is the only thing keeping me safe
Getting COTD mentions is Job 1.
This is not your BEST quality, but it is one of your best qualities?