 All of the problems listed here I have dealt with too, except for the green stuff in the door.  The latest: it thinks it is in reverse when it is in park.  It won't start in park (only in neutral). When I have it in drive all the gears light up on the instrument panel.  My mechanic called TWO VW dealers and VW claims that they have never heard of such a thing!  Mechanically the car is in park, but the computer senses it's in reverse. (I replaced the neutral safety switch because that's what they thought was wrong, but it wasn't that ... $250 down the drain).  I will NEVER buy another VW.  