Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10106555January 18, 2005LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON OUR 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MODEL, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH FAILED WHICH IS TIED INTO THE ALARM, THE CABIN INTERIOR LIGHTS, OPEN DOOR WARNING CHIME, ETC. ON MOST AUTOMOBILES, THIS IS A SIMPLE SWITCH BUILT INTO THE DOOR JAMB. BUT ON THIS POORLY ENGINEERED VEHICLE, IT'S BUILT INTO THE DOOR LATCH IN THE DOOR, RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE DOOR HAVING TO BE TAKEN APART TO GET TO THIS PART, A $250-350 REPAIR BILL. I CALLED 3 VW DEALERSHIPS TO GET ESTIMATES, AND ALL THREE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TOLD ME WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE ON THE PHONE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THAT IT WAS FAIRLY COMMON. THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS, NOR SHOULD THIS MECHANISM HAVE EVER BEEN ENGINEERED INTO A PART THAT GETS SLAMMED SHUT REPEATEDLY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AMAZING! WE ARE UNSURE IF THE LATCH ITSELF IS SAFE OR NOT AND HAVE DECIDED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. AS I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I CALLED VW SERVICE REPS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. ANY HELP YOUR AGENCY CAN BE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE HELPFUL. THIS ISN'T MY FIRST UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. SINCERELY, TODD & GWEN WHATLEY TRI-CITIES, WA. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106553January 18, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
2002 VW JETTA TDI WITH LEATHER HEATED SEATS. GOT SO HOT IN LEFT HIP CORNER THAT I ALMOST WAS BURNED THROUGH MY CLOTHES. BURNING SMELL ALSO NOTED. IMMEDIATELY SHUT SEAT HEATER TO OFF. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106563January 18, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 2001 VW JETTA WITH THE 1.9L TDI DIESEL ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED BY MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS BELOW 30 DEGREES F MY VEHICLE WOULD STOP RUNNING STRANDING ME AT NIGHT IN LOCATIONS WITH LITTLE ROAD TRAFFIC OR CELL PHONE SERVICE. THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES REQUIRING THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS THAWED IN THEIR SHOP AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "IMPROPERLY TREATED DIESEL FUEL". I METICULOUSLY PUT IN THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF VW ANTI-GEL ADDITIVE TO ALL TANK FULLS OF FUEL. I ALSO CONSISTENTLY PURCHASE MY DIESEL FUEL FROM THE SAME HIGH VOLUME SUPPLIER WHO HAS NUMEROUS FLEET ACCOUNTS. I HAD BEGUN TO TRIPLE DOSE THE DIESEL FUEL ADDITIVE IN ATTEMPTS TO AVOID THIS SITUATION. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF BEING STRANDED IN SINGLE DIGIT CONDITIONS AND HAVING THE SAME SITUATION OCCUR I CHECKED A TDI OWNERS WEBSITE TDICLU.COM IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FUEL TANK PICK UP WHICH HAS A RESTRICTION THAT ONLY SURFACES WHEN THE FUEL THICKENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE FUEL PICKUP/SENDING UNIT COMES IN A C, D, AND AN H MODEL. MY VEHICLE HAD THE C MODEL. APPARENTLY VW OF CANADA IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND WITHOUT QUESTION OR CHARGE WOULD REPLACE THEIR CUSTOMERS CARS WITH THE H MODEL. I PURCHASED THE H MODEL PICKUP/SENDER AND REPLACED IT MYSELF AND THE PROBLEM HAS DISAPPEARED. TO DATE I HAVE INCURRED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOWING AND REPAIR CHARGES FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY A VW DESIGN FLAW AND ONE THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY VW OF CANADA. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106565January 18, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
ON MONDAY MORNING I NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WARMER WAS BURNING THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUTT. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING AT THAT TIME. ON TUESDAY MORNING, MY SEAT WAS SMOKING AND IT BURNED A WHOLE IN MY LEATHER. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN A COUPLE OF THESE INCIDENTS. SAID I WOULD NEED TO BRING MY CAR IN AND LEAVE IT OR WAIT 45+ MINUTES FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I COMPLAINED THAT I CAN'T MISS WORK, AND I NEED A CAR THAT I CAN RELY ON TO GET ME BACK AND FORTH. I ASKED FOR A LOANER FOR THE DAY, TO WHICH THEY RESPONDED NO. AT THIS TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, AND I AM STILL DRIVING WITH A DEFECTIVE SEAT WARMER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106590January 18, 2005AIR BAGS
WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE CAR AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I COULD NOT STOP FAST ENOUGH. THE COLLISION DID $10,000-14,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SERIOUS INJURY WAS ONLY AVOIDED DUE TO MY WEARING MY SEAT BELT. SUBSEQUENT NECK PAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWED, SCRATCHES ON MY NECK WERE RECEIVED. THE CAR IS IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF EVALUATION/REPAIR BUT AGREEMENT IS THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. HAVE PICTURES OF CAR AND INTERIOR CABIN AND WILL KEEP ANY AND ALL PART NECESSARY. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106496January 17, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED WILE SET TO LEVEL (2) TWO. RESULTS WERE BURN HOLE TO SEAT, SMOKE ERUPTING FORM SEAT, BURN TO DRIVER?S JEANS, PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO DRIVER THIS WAS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION ON PUBLIC STREETS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106441January 16, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. SEAT HEATER TURNED ON TO LEVEL 3. PASSENGER AND DRIVER NOTICED SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, THEN PASSENGER FELT PAIN UNDER LEFT THIGH. TURNED SEAT HEATER OFF. WHEN STOPPED, EXAMINED SEAT TO DISCOVER BROWN HOLE IN SEAT WHERE HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE YET. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106309January 14, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
MOST RECENTLY, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. APPARENTLY THIS IS ANOTHER COMMON FAILURE, WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. HERE IS THE LIST OF OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD: -BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED (COVERED BY RECALL) -TENSIONER PULLEY ON SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AT 40000 MILES ($400) -MAF SENSOR AT 47000 MILES (COVERED BY RECALL) -CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED 50000 MILES (COVERED BY EMISSIONS RECALL) -ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 55000 MILES ($450 - USING REBUILT ALTERNATOR) -WATER PUMP FAILED AT 60,000 MILES ($350 REPAIR BILL). THE QUESTION IS...WHAT'S NEXT? I PLAN TO SELL THE CAR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106182January 12, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I HAD TO COAST AND VEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, JUST NARROWLY AVOIDING BEING HIT BY TWO CARS. I WAS ABLE TO START MY CAR AGAIN, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING BY REVVING IT SO THAT IT HAD A HIGH RPM. THE ONLY WAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHENEVER I REACHED TRAFFIC, A STOP SIGN, OR A STOP LIGHT WAS TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND REVVING MY ENGINE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO VOLKSWAGEN, AND THE PROBLEM WAS AN IGNITION COIL FAILURE. THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT THE SIX CYLINDER JETTAS WERE RECALLED BY VOLKSWAGEN FOR, BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN A 10,000 MILE EXTENSION ON THE FOUR CYLINDER JETTAS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING BECAUSE THE PART "GOES" WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 18 MONTH OLD SON SEATED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. VW CHARGED ME A LITTLE OVER $1,000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS, AND REMAIN, EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED, AND HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO VW'S 1-800 NUMBER. THE REPRESENTATIVE AGREED THAT THE FOUR CYLINDER JETTAS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THE SIX CYLINDERS HAVE, BUT THAT VW ONLY OFFERS THE 10,000 MILE IGNITION COIL EXTENSION FOR THE FOUR CYLINDER JETTAS IN THE MEAN TIME.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107249January 12, 2005AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ON ROUTE 17 IN NEW JERSEY AND PASSED OVER RAILROAD TRACK AT A SPEED BETWEEN 20-30 MPH (ON 50 MPH HIGHWAY). AFTER CLEARING THE TRACKS THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT... IMMEDIATELY HE CAME TO MY JOB (I WORK AT A CAR DEALERSHIP) FOR ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS ,FOR ME TO LOOK AT.VEHICLE. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY DAMAGE OR ANY SIGNS OF A COLLISION. SO, I TOOK MY CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN SO THIS COULD BE FIXED. THEN, I WAS INFORMED BECAUSE DRIVING OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS TRIGGERED MY CRASH SENSOR CAUSING IT TO REGISTER A CRASH OR COLLISION, THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN INFORMED ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILE A CLAIM. NOW I WOULD LIKE YOUR ADVICE IS THIS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN, AND SINCE IT HAPPENED TO ME, SHOULD IT HAPPEN TO EVERYONE IF THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. WOULDN'T A FAULTY SENSOR RATHER THEN A BUSY ROAD TRAVELED BY THOUSANDS A DAY CAUSE THIS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106218January 12, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS PROBABLY IS THE SAME AS THE EXISTING COMPLAINT NUMBER 10079735 FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 04. 1. IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT IS COLD. IF IT IS COLD, THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE. 2. WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE, WE MOVE THE SHIFT FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE (IT'S THE SAME). THEN NORMALLY, TORQUE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH DRIVESHAFT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, JETTA DOES NOT FUNCTION AS SUCH. 3. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY CAN ENGAGES WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE ALMOST COMPLETELY. UP TO THE POSITION, IT IS THE SAME AS NEUTRAL. THAT INTRODUCES SUDDEN AND ABRUPT START OF THE CAR.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106029January 9, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER CAUGHT SEAT CUSHION ON FIRE. BURNED MY PANTS AND BUTTOCKS. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT TIME OF INCIDENCE. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. WILL DO SO TOMORROW.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106030January 9, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I JUST RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MY CATALYST SYSTEM ON MY 2001 VW JETTA. THE CAR STAULED ON MY WAY TO WORK, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER - COOLEY VOLKSWAGEN, IN N. GREENBUSH NY. THEY FOUND MISFIRE CODES AND CATALYST SYSTEM. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THE COIL PACK AND TUNE UP WERE NEEDED TO CORRECT MISFIRES. MY QUESTION AND CONCERN IS: WHY DID I NOT RECEIVE A WARNING LIGHT ON SOME SIGNAL TO ADVISE ME OF ANY PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT BE OCCURING. THIS WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY ALERTED ME TO GET THE CAR INTO A VW SERVICE SHOP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105989January 8, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STATION WAGON. ON JANUARY 5, THE DRIVERS SEAT CAME OFF, (UNATTACHED,WAS DISCONNECTED ) FROM THE TRACK ON THE CAR. WOLKSWAGON HAS FIXED THIS AT NO CHARGE BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIAGION INTO WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER CARS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IF I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR IT HAD UNATTACHED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THE VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SAY WETHER IT WAS A PARTS PROBLEM OR AN INSTALLATION PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105854January 6, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T... CAN'T LOCK DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WITH MY MASTER KEY, CAN ONLY LOCK AND SET ALARM ON PASSENGER SIDE. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON... VEHICLE CUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING... WITHOUT NOTICE!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105884January 6, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY POWER WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT ON MY 2000 VW JETTA AND THE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR, IN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ON SITES SUCH AS MSN.COM I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALMOST EVERY SINGLE VW OWNER THAT HAS INTERNET ACCESS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10109156January 5, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106851January 5, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEAD LIGHTS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106884January 5, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106735January 4, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS REPAIRED TWICE FOR FALLING OUT, AND ONCE FOR GOING INSIDE THE DOOR. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OUT TWICE.*AK.......*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0