Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10105707January 4, 2005STEERING:COLUMN, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A PUFF OF SMOKE AROSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND I LOST USE OF MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO THE SAME AFFECT. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL ITEM ? AVE HAD QUITE A FEW OTHERS PROBLEMS IN THE 6 MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE OWNED OUR 1996 JETTA. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105742January 4, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS TURBO, 26,000 MILES CAUGHT ON FIRE IN WASHINGTON STATE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I SMELLED GAS WHILE DRIVING AND PULLED OVER OPNED HOOD AND A FE SECONDS LATER A FIRE STARTED. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH 911 THERE WAS A MINOR EXPLOSION AND I RECEIVED MINOR BURNS TO THE FACE AND HANDS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED 20 MILES TO KARMART VW IN BURLINGTON, WA. THE NEXT VW OF AMERICA CALLED AND SAID THEY WERE INVESTIGATING IT. THREE WEEKS LATER THEY CALLED AND DENIED THE CLAIM FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. ABOUT $10,000 IN DAMAGES. MY INSURANCE COMPANY ALLSTATE IS INVOLVED AND HIRED AN ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE IT. HE DETERMINED IT IS MOST LIKELY A FACTORY DEFECT. VW DENIED TO FIX OR REPLACE THE CAR BECUASE THERE NO CLAMPS PRESENT WHERE THE FIRE OCURED. THE HOSES BURNED OFF ABOUT 3-6 INCHES. ALLSTATE FOUND THE ONE OF THE CLAMPS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THINK IT REDICULOUS THAT VW WILL NOT COVER THE DAMGES OR REPLACE THE CAR. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH A 2 YEAR CAR WITH MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE. I HAVE LOST TOTAL FAITH IN THE VEHICLE AND DON'T WANT. I WILL HAVE A HARD TIME SELLING IT WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, WHO WOULD WANT TO BUY CAR TWO OLDS KNOWING IT WAS IN A SERIOUS FIRE? WHAT PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE DUE TO THIS? I FEEL WITH MY MINOR INJURY AND BEING A NEW CAR VW SHOULD DO SOMETHING. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104932January 2, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
ON THE MORNING OF 12/15/04, BEFORE GOING TO WORK, I STARTED MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TO WARM UP. I ALSO TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER TO ITS HIGHEST SETTING (5). ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER I GOT IN THE CAR TO GO TO WORK. I WAS ABOUT 1.5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN I FELT A SHARP PAIN IN MY LEFT LEG. WHEN I PUT MY HAND IN BETWEEN MY LEG AND THE CAR SEAT, I GOT A TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON MY HAND. I THEN REALIZED THAT THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS MELTING MY SEAT! IT MELTED SYNTHENTIC ONTO MY WOOL COAT AND PANTS, AS WELL AS MY SKIN. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE ER. I CONTACTED A SERVICE MANAGER AT METRO VW IN IRVING TX. HE SAID HE COULD HELP ME FIX THE SEAT, BUT TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING THE OTHER DAMAGES. HE ADDED THAT C.S. WOULD ACT LIKE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, BUT HE KNEW IT WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM. C.S. DID OFFER TO HAVE MY SEAT FIXED AS WELL AS REPLACE MY COAT, BUT WHEN I MENTIONED A RECALL SO THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO OTHERS, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE, AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT MANDATING A RECALL, SO THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104945January 2, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THIS REQUIRED DRIVING HOME FOR SEVERAL MILES IN WEATHER APPROACHING ZERO DEGREES. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S, AS THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO MY MOM'S VW BEETLE (1999). *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104755December 30, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 14 DAYS IN DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN IT TO A INDEPENDANT VW MECHANIC TWICE WHO TELLS ME THIS IS COMMON. NOBODY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE IS FOR GLOW PLUG MALFUNCTION. I HAVE HAD REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, THE GLOW PLUG RELAY, ALL 4 GLOW PLUGS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL COSTS OF DIAGNOSTIC. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON, IT IS STILL A GLOW PLUG MALFUNCTION. I HAVE PAID $800 FOR UNNECESARY REPAIRS THAT THE DEALER TELLS ME IS THE PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE REPAIRS ON THE DOOR LOCKS AND WONDOW REGULATORS, AS WELL AS THE AC MODULATOR, MIDDLE CONSUL LATCH,GLOVE BOX HINGE, REAR SEAT ASH TRAY. THIS YEAR OF JETTA IS A TRUE LEMON! IF VW IS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEN LEGAL ACTION WILL BE REQUIRED TO RECOVER MY LOSSES.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104817December 30, 2004POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DRIVING ALONG, CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES, WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID THE PRESSURE PLATE IS COMPLETELY WORN AND ITS MY FAULT, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS IS QUITE COMMON. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE OR ANY NUMBER OF MANAGERS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104744December 29, 2004AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT AROUND 2:00P.M. IN THE AFTERNOON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG,SIDE SEAT AIR BAG AND THE REAR AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY COLLISION. MY CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL. THE SUPERVISOR TECHNICIAN AT TRANS OCEAN VW REFUSED TO COVER THE COST TO REPAIR THREE OF THE AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE COMPUTER SENSOR DETECTED AN IMPACT WHICH TRIGGERED THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. IT WAS LUCKY THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WASN'T ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE LOST MY CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL LEADING TO MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I WAS JUST IN SHOCK AT THAT TIME BUT THE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS MANAGED TO GUIDE ME OFF THE FREEWAY. AT LAST I CLAIMED MY INSURANCE AND PAID $500 DEDUCTIBLE FROM MY POCKET TO FIX THE AIRBAGS. THE INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASED A LOT AFTER THIS SO-CALLED "ACCIDENT". I HEREBY ASK VW OF AMERICA TO RECALL ALL DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103191December 29, 2004SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE:TORQUE ARM, STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TORQUE ARM SHEARED OFF. AS A RESULT, AXLE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FRAME. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND IT STARTED BUCKING AND MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM GEAR TO GEAR WITHOUT BUCKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY. EXHAUST BECAME LOUD. *TC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104680December 28, 2004EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
JACK SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE WOULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE UP AND SLIPPED OUT DAMAGING BODY OF THE VEHICLE. CAR IS A 2000 VW JETTA. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK AND WAS ADVISED BY TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT VW JACK'S WERE USELESS UNLESS YOU HAD A PERFECTLY FLAT SURFACE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104536December 27, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY 2002 VW JETTA GLS 1.8T BEGAN SMOLDERING THIS MORNING. I STARTED MY CAR TO WARM IT UP AND BEGAN TO CLEAN THE SNOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR I NOTICED A STRONG "BURNING" SMELL. I QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS SMOKING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE BURNING BY TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEAT AND PUTTING SNOW ON THE AREA. I WAS SURE IT WAS THE HEATED SEAT WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO BURN BECAUSE A PORTION OF THE HEATING ELEMENT IS EXPOSED AND IT WAS SPARKING. I NOW HAVE A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PENNY ON THE SEAT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104573December 27, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC SEAT HEATERS. AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES, THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT, BURNING MY BUTT. THE SEAT QUIT BURNING AFTER TURNING THE HEATER OFF. I HAVE SPOKE TO TWO VW DEALERS AND VW DIRECTLY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BY ANY MEANS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 1
- #10105374December 27, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER BECAME EXTREMELY HOT, BURNING THE PLASTIC OF THE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104412December 23, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
(1) DRIVING ON IH-35, SEAT STARTED BURNING AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAR, SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105197December 22, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WARMER CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING WARMED UP. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104333December 22, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THERE IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I AM GETTING REALLY WORRIED THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS SOMETHING REALLY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN,AND I MAY BE INJURED. I WOULD BUY ANOTHER CAR BUT I SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD IT. AFTER FIXING AN EXHAUST 3 TIMES WHO COULD AFFORD ANYTHING ELSE. I AM A LOYAL VOLKSWAGEN OWNER AND THIS IS THE SECOND VW I HAVE OWNED AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE OTHER CARS. IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED YOU. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105186December 21, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BURNED. ALSO, DRIVER'S COAT WAS BURNED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK ......*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10101587December 21, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10097635December 21, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE LOST POWER AT A COLD START. SEVERAL DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT LOSS OF POWER WILL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER WHEN THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105107December 20, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT BURNED THROUGH COMPLETELY; BURNING CONSUMERS BUTTOCKS AND HAND. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105113December 20, 2004SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATER ON DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH DRIVER'S SEAT, AND IT ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH HIS HAND. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0