Volkswagen Polo GTI (2010 – 2018) Review

• February 2010: Polo GTI unveiled
• April 2015: Second generation Polo GTI in UK

28-05-2011:

There seems to be a problem of tinklng noises from 1.4TSI engines. Google <1.4tsi engine failure>, but the posts date back to 2008. One failure awas at 80,000km. Others ahve heard tinklings at as little as 3,000 miles. Some owners who have had their cars chipped by Revo to 226PS are having problems, but that isn't really surprising, is it? As far as I can gather it's a timing chain / timing chain tensioner problem. The chains stretch, probably because they are not being properly lubricated, and that's probably because owners are not changing the engine oil and filters frequently enough.

17-02-2012:

Report of Polo GTI 1.4TSI 180BHP Twincharger suffering from excessive oil consumption. Piston rings replaced, but this caused the consumption to drop to 400 miles per litre of oil. This resulted in a new engine being fitted at the end of October. Since then, reader had to top up with 2 litres of oil, the first litre after 1,770 miles, the second after a further 1,300. This echoes spasmodic reports of piston problems with higher power supercharged and turbocharged 1.4TSIs (not TSI 122s), in various VAG models in high ambient temperatures, thought to be the result of the complex induction. (see entry for Fabia VRS that has the same drivetrain and a severe oil consumption problem.)

24-02-2012:

Now three separate reports of premature failure of front brake discs at 15 - 18 months old and around 15k miles.

05-01-2013:

DSG Mechatronics problem reported with replacement Mechatronics unit taking 6 seeks to arrive.

11-01-2013:

Warranty on 7-speed dry clutch DSG extended to 5 years or 150,000 kilometres in Russia and China.

05-06-2013:

Detailed report of DSG hesitation on a two year old Polo received: "My wife bought a Polo with a DSG box two years ago. At the first VW dealer service she complained about an intermittent hesitation from the car when starting from a stop. The mechanic said there was nothing wrong because we could not demonstrate the problem. One year later and intermittent has become more frequent, but is still unpredictable. The car is now dangerous. Imagine you are the first car at a roundabout, having stopped for traffic. The car is in D (Drive). You press the accelerator, the engine revs increase but for several seconds the car goes nowhere, then with a screech of tyres it shoots forward. While all this is happening you are hoping that a car already on the roundabout does not come toward you too quickly. Eleven months after the first service we took the car back to the VW dealer but could not demonstrate the problem on the ten minute test drive. The dealer kept the car but could not find the problem, though they upgraded some software. When my wife collected the Polo the hesitancy recurred as soon as she tried to drive away from the dealer's forecourt. She called a mechanic out and was able to demonstrate the problem to him. The VW dealer contacted VW, changed some different software, and told us they hoped to have solved the problem. They had not. Last week my wife and I were both in the car when the problem surfaced in a slightly different way. I started from standstill on level ground. The car moved forward a couple of feet, then stopped while the engine revs continued to increase to over 3,000 rpm. Not wishing to have the clutch engage at these high revs I backed off the accelerator and the car then moved forward. Fortunately we were not on a roundabout at the time, because either 1) a car already on the roundabout might have sideswiped us, or 2) the car behind might have driven into the back because they thought we were moving off."

22-09-2013:

Problem of cruise control failing to reliably 'set' on a Polo DSG.

07-11-2013:

Severe oil consumption problem reported on 2011 Polo 1.4 TSI GTI despite a replacement engine, same as widely reported on Fabia VRS. Thie engine is now being dropped from the VAG line-up.

12-12-2013:

Report of Polo 1.4 TSI GTI now on its third engine and still consuming a litre of oil every 300 miles. VWG may eventually be forced to buy these cars back at 'reasonable' market value. Additional complaint about 7-speed dry clutch DSG: "It either acts like an on/off switch, judders like driving over a cattle grid or bogs down at T-junctions leaving me stranded halfway in the road for a few hair raising moments."

22-07-2014:

Complaint of new 1000 mile March 2014 Polo GTI 1.4 TSI 180 DSG7 engine running shakily and unsettled, with a louder exhaust note after starting from cold

24-07-2014:

Reader reported that his Polo GTI 180 Twincharger ran problem-free and used 10% less fuel on Shell V-Power.

21-11-2014:

2013 Polo 1.4 DSG had transmission fluid oil change as part of recall, but software was not upgraded causing severe flat spots and very erratic running and a couple of times it accelerated after foot was removed from pedal. Software upgrade cured this, but 4 months later problem returned especially in slow moving 5mph traffic. Accelerated with foot completely off the brake and needs to be held back with pedal. Might be engine idle speed when cold.

19-12-2014:

Clutch pack of 2010 Polo 1.4 DSG-7 failed at 16,700 miles. Transmission flud had already been changed. Not clear if this was a straight failure or due to an oil leak as has been the case with Fiesta dry clutch Powershifts.

05-01-2018:

Coolant leaks reported from 2015 VW Polo GTI 1.8, partly from tghe thermostat housing, partly from the radiator. Fixed under warranty. (Car also suffered a front wheel bearing failure.)