Here are a few of the problems with the 2010-2020 Volkswagen Polo in Malaysia commonly reported by its owners.
For those out there looking for a cheap city runaround, a used Volkswagen Mk5 Polo is perhaps to look mighty tempting, especially when one of these German hatchbacks can be had from as little as RM 12,000 these days.
As the saying of ‘there is nothing more expensive than a cheap German car’ goes however, there are nevertheless to be a few issues with the Polo that have since been flagged up by its owners over the years. And thus here below is a list of some of the more prevalent parts that have a higher tendency to go wrong on each variant of this Volkswagen hatchback available in Malaysia, just so anyone who is looking at one of these on the used market can have their wits about during their search.
Disclaimer: The problematic parts listed below are what owners (of which this writer is currently one) have commonly complained about regarding their Polos, but it does not necessarily mean that it affects every single car. Do note too that as with any used car, the current condition of each individual car does of course vary wildly per car. And with early examples of the Polo being nearly 15 years old now, there will naturally be a bunch of wear and tear parts that is likely due for replacement as well.
Volkswagen Polo 1.6 MPI (2014 – 2020)
The locally-assembled Polo 1.6 MPI is arguably the most mechanically hassle-free way in to Volkswagen Polo ownership, as the engine is naturally aspirated and it is paired to a traditional 6-speed automatic gearbox. There are however to still be some moderately common issues plaguing this particular variant, which includes:
1. Gear selector linkage bushing
- Symptom: Car remains in one gear (typically park) despite gear selector being free to move
- Fix: Replace part (RM 200 est. part only)
2. Air conditioning compressor
- Symptom: Hot air coming from air conditioning
- Fix: Replace part (RM 900 est. part only)
Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI (2010 – 2013)
The first versions of Polo to arrive over here, the 1.2 TSI features under its hood the comparatively peppier 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (relative to the 1.6), and Volkswagen’s slick-shifting (but to put it kindly) also rather “well known” 7-speed DSG dry dual-clutch transmission. Here are a few common problems that have been known to plague this particular variant:
1. Ignition coil cable
- Symptom: Check engine light and EPC light illuminated on instrument cluster, car running very rough (aka misfiring)
- Fix: Replace part (RM 200 est. per coil, 4 coils total)
2. Dry clutch pack
- Symptom: Engine over-revs upon gear change (engine revs up upon changing gear)
- Fix: Replace part (RM 3,000 est. part only)
3. Mechatronic Unit
- Symptom: Gear shift indicator blinking, spanner icon appear on instrument display, jerky gear shifts
- Fix: Replace part (RM 3000 est. refurbished set parts and labour)
- Preventative maintenance: Replace mechatronic fluid every 10,000 km
Volkswagen Polo 1.4 GTI (2011 – 2015)
The Volkswagen Polo GTI pairs a 1.4-litre twin-charged EA111 four-cylinder as found in its larger Mk6 Golf TSI sibling, to the 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission of the Polo 1.2 TSI. This 180 horsepower powertrain combination combination has saw for it to result in a pocket rocket that is almost impossible to drive without a smile on one’s face, but unfortunately also results in the combination of common problems that are to be found on both these components.
1. Cracked piston
- Symptom: Excessive engine oil consumption, engine misfiring, smokey and oily exhaust fumes
- Check: Perform compression test
- Solution: Engine top-end overhaul (RM 6,000 est. parts and labour)
- Preventative maintenance: Fit forged pistons (though possibly overkill for unmodified examples)
2. Water pump
- Symptom: Low level on coolant tank
- Solution: Replace part (RM 1,000 est. part and labour)
3. Dry clutch pack
- Symptom: Engine over-rev upon gear change (engine revs up upon changing gear)
- Fix: Replace part (RM 3,000 est. part only)
4. Mechatronic Unit
- Symptom: Gear shift indicator blinking, spanner icon appear on instrument display, jerky gear shifts
- Fix: Replace part (RM 3000 est. refurbished set parts and labour)
- Preventative maintenance: Replace mechatronic fluid every 10,000 km
Affecting All Variants
Here are just a few more problematic parts that have been a commonly complained about by owners:
1. Wheel speed sensor
- Symptoms: ABS light illuminated on instrument cluster, hill hold assist feature not functional
- Fix: Replace part (RM 100 est. part only)
2. Sagging headlining
- Particularly affects 1.2 TSI & 1.4 GTI more due to different headliner material to 1.6 MPI
- Fix: Reupholster (RM 1,000 est.)
3. Central armrest latch snaps at the spring-loaded mechanism
- Solution: Replace part (RM 25 est. online, but from someone who tried this personally before: don’t bother)
So there you have it, just a few of the more common things that tend to go wrong with the Mk5 Polo in Malaysia. If any Malaysian Polo owner (both current and former) has anything else to add, please do feel free to sound off in the comments below!
