What are some weaknesses of volkswagen overall?

I am looking for some weaknesses that volkswagen might have either car model wise or within the business itself.. Please and thank you! need some very badly!|||I think the greatest weakness VW has is perception.





VW, like all car companies has had it's issues with reliability on some models, recalls and design flaws and poor timing for certain vehicle launches - these are not issues that go away overnight and might take years to mend in the eyes of the consumers and media.





Take for example VW launching the Tiquan, the compact SUV, it was really unfortunate that this launch happened to be in the midst of the highest gasoline prices ever... no one wanted to hear about anything like an SUV, despite the fact that it was a really great vehicle.





The Phaeton was an engineering marvel that a company like BMW or Mercedes would have gotten great press for, instead the V12 luxury car simply was not able to change the way people thought about a Volkswagen. The car was doomed in terms of people not thinking that VW could build a car worthy of spending $80k on, but that same engine and technology put into an Audi A8 will sell, right?





Then we get to the Routan. VW's minivan built on a Chrysler platform. It seems like a great idea right? Take the top selling minivan on the planet, and let Volkswagen designers and engineers analyze, deconstruct and test everything, and then put it all back together again. Ultimately, they transformed this seven-passenger minivan into something uniquely Volkswagen. But how many VW loyalists are going to want to drive a minivan? And how many Toyata and Honda minivan drivers are looking for a replacement or to switch brands, especially in this economy.





VW Reliability. Some of the other answers are right. VW parts typically cost more than a Honda and certain vehicles that are on the road now in the 90k-100k mileage range are certainly cars that VW would like to have back. But the new line of VW's out are amazing, reliable and priced really well. But those cars will not be in the 90k milage range for another 6-8 years right? So VW has to weather the strorm and current perception of poor reliability due to some mistakes they made in the past. Oh yeah, did i mention that for the fifth consecutive year, Volkswagen Certified Pre-Loved has earned IntelliChoice’s “Best Non-Luxury Certified Pre-Owned Program” title.





Otherwise, VW is in a great position. There sales numbers globally are great. The Clean diesel technology in cars like the Jetta TDI (named Green Car of the Year) has proven more environmentally friendly than a Prius (and much more fun to drive.)





If VW can change the way people think about VW and survive any association with this current US Auto implosion, they will be fine. Trust me....|||That is a pretty generic question. If VW was the first car you ever drove, then you would know how to drive it properly. When you have driven other types of vehicles(one tends to transfer that style of driving over from one make to another) then you are going to have problems. It goes both ways. The way the car is built is different and many mechanics hate to work on VW because it is different. So they got to think different. Some cannot. The engine is removed from underneath the car- not pulled from above. That is the way they were designed. Take it out with a floor jack. Things are taken right apart such as to drain the rad one must remove the lower rad hose(so the hose can be inspected as well as the thermostat) rather than the shortcut tap on the rad.


Many parts were reuseable. Door panels could come off and be put on multiple times because of reuseable clips (Chevy is a use once and buy new ones).


Many parts were interchangeable no matter the year or the model within a certain number of years(sometimes up to 10 years-even longer).





People liked that common sense approach. Price of repairs - same as any foreign car and yet you could do it yourself. You can still find cheaper parts than the dealer charges(and that applies to all cars) I'm debating on the new cars whether that is possible with the electronic mumbo jumbo and computerization. Unfortunately VW is following that groove too. Cars are less people friendly. And they still break down.





However Vw still continues to grow buying up other companies such as Lamborgini.|||I don't really agree with the answers listed above. I have owned VW's for many years now. These included many different models with all the different engines they offer.





While they do have their problems, for example the coilpack problem that plagued all Mk4 1.8T's at some point in their life VW corrected it.





Just like any car if you perform the necessary maintance at the correct times VW's can last a very long time. I know many people with VW's, especially the diesels, that have over 200,000 miles on them!!!!





One drawback is that they tend to be pricey when it comes to repairs. So if that is an issue for you then look for a VW that is certified pre-owned as it will come with a long warranty.|||RELIABILITY!!!! The VW's are very bad in reliability and and because of this, there sales are down the drain. I used to have a 2003 VW Passat and at first, I really like it. Handles well, drives well, But, when it becomes old, everything starts to fall apart. I am not talking about major fixes,but little thing that really annoys you. Headlight, taillight, power windows, etc.. But I can tell you that it handles very well and if you like the handling of BMW or Mercedes, you will love this one.|||Well VW has a consistent record of falling apart around the 90K mark where you put a bunch or work into it and then it breaks down every 20 to 30K after that. VWs are a very impressive car when they are new nice finish quiet and over all nice. BUT that soon all changes. Its a perfect example of you get what you pay for. We tech say VW Virtually Worthless and its no joke..|||WHICH Volkswagens.





THe old air cooled ones have been running for hundreds of thousands of miles and are still going..





The newer ones tend to run about 3 to 5 years and then cost a ton of money to repair.





BUT.. having said that its all also a major effect of how you take care of them.|||well from experience they are hard to fix on your own...you notice how they brag about having more engineers than nasa...yeah they are putting half of them to work fabricating different wierd tools so you absolutely have to go back to them for even seemingly simple repairs|||I have a 2004 Jetta GTI and I love it. I bought it used and it has no problems whatsoever. I have used Volkswagens all my life and never experienced any major problems.