Car shows overheating on dash but not low on coolant what could be the problem?

Probably need to get system flow checked to ensure coolant is circulating. Possible stuck thermostat, faulty water pump or blockage in system. Need inspection to be sure. Even the ECT sensor could be bad. Flow check will tell the tale....

This is a common problem. Several things can fail like the water pump has a plastic impeller that cracks and spins on the shaft causing poor coolant circulation. Pull the cap when cold and start engine, watch for coolant flow from small hose at top of reservoir. If there is no flow the pump is bad. Thermostats fail to open, we only use VW thermostats after replacing many failed aftermarket parts. Also check radiator fan operation, fans seize, control modules burn out, and the 30 amp fuses on top of the battery get high resistance and melt the fuse block. Engine coolant temp sensors (ECT) fail regularly but tend to just not read correctly. ECT is relatively cheap from VW and should be replace if readings are different in ECM and Instrument panel.