vs
Alternator OEM KIA or OEM Volkswagen
Reviews
I Had a 200k mile 2011 Soul and didn't have any major issues. 3k mile oil change, 3-5 yr battery change, some tire change, alternator replaced at 190k.
Pros: no major issues
Vehicle:
Kia Soul
I have a 2013 Soul !. Got it about 2 years ago. Very reliable, only had one issue and that was the alternator going out on me a few weeks ago. 182k miles on it. It doesn\u2019t consume oil at the same pace others mention. It does currently idle a little rough, but Not terribly.
Pros: very reliable
Cons: rough idle
Vehicle:
Kia Soul
Mileage: 182000 km
Drove it for a day and the alternator crapped out. Installed a new one asap.
Pros: new one installed
Cons: crapped out
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
The alternator was dead (as expected), and was replaced with a used one that I sourced locally from junkyard.
Pros: cheap replacement
Cons: used part
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
oddly enough, I've only ever been completely stranded by failed alternators. once in my '98 Jetta GLX VR6 and once in my '09 Outback 3.0R
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Jetta
Replaced the alternator - twice. The second one failed as a result of a jump start scorching a relay in the voltage :-( Replaced the starter (in 2024), First alternator failed at 49K miles - oddly, when the car came out of the shop, the oil light came on and they found debris in the pick up so I got a new long block (under warranty so I suspect VOA knew of some defect for that model/year). Had one strut bearing fail at about 90K miles. I also had the AC recharged - car actually came from the factory with too much pressure (would ice up on humid days). I've stuck to dealer maintenance for everything except the strut repair and the usual annual CC alignments (well documented issue...) and keep all fluids (coolant/brakes/DSG) fresh. My car is still a daily driver - I'm probably due another battery soon but it runs great. I'm tempted to freshen the struts and control arms and add a rear sway bar - and possibly a tune, but I also see a Golf R in my future! I've run 3 other cars to 250K miles (Volvo 850, Highlander and an Audi 4KQ) and I don't see any reason why the dub can't get to 200K+ particularly if you keep up with a full maintenance plan. You may need to have some carbon blasting done at 100K, have the timing chain tension and service the PCV (leaving that too long leads to the carbon build up in the DI engines) but those are like 50K mile intervals
Pros: car runs great, good longevity
Cons: alternator failed twice, strut bearing failed
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
Mileage: 117000 km
I just put a new alternator and the batty is dead again but when I jump it the car run fine until the next .morning I am going Crazy trying to figure this.
Pros: car runs fine when jumped
Cons: battery dead again
I owned one for about a year. Loved the car, wish I could have kept it. That being said, it was only in drivable condition for about half the time I owned it. I replaced the alternator, fixed the air suspension, redid some vacuum lines, tried to repair the front diff, and that's where I gave up.
Pros: loved the car
Cons: difficult to work on, parts unavailable
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Touareg
Spent 300 on an alternator to get the whole car apart just to find out it was the wrong one
Cons: wrong alternator
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Passat
even a simple job like changing the alternator is difficult due to where they place it. There's not a ton of space to work on the car in the engine bay.
Cons: difficult to change, poor placement
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Jetta
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