Volkswagen Jetta Complaints

10,351 consumer complaints on file.

#10079265July 4, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2025 HRS: TRAFFIC WAS GENTLE, WITH TRAILERS ON THE RIGHT AND SMALLER CARS AND TRUCKS PASSING ON THE LEFT THAT DAY. I WAS TRAVELING TO CROWN POINT FROM LAFAYETTE USING HIGHWAY 65 NORTH (60-65 MPH -WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC), WHEN 3/4 MILES AWAY FROM RENESELAER THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FROZE STILL HALFWAY. IT WOULD NOT RELEASE TO THE FULL POSITION, NOR WILL IT DEPRESS PAST HALFWAY. AT THAT MOMENT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND STARTED SPEEDING UP. I WATCHED WITH PANIC AS MY JETTA'S SPEEDOMETER READ 67, 70, 72 AND 75 PROGRESSIVELY. TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, I STEPPED ON THE BREAKS GRADUALLY; WHICH HELPED A LITTLE, BUT NOT BY MUCH. I HAD JUST PASSED THE "1/4 MILE TO RENESELEAR" EXIT NUMBER 215, WHICH MERGES WITH HIGHWAY 114. SEEING THE EXIT AHEAD (AND STILL STEPPING ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW ME DOWN), I TURNED INTO THE EXIT AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE EXIT, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ROLLED TO A STOP AT THE STOP SIGN ON TOP OF THE HILL EXIT. BEFORE I STOPPED COMPLETELY, I BEGAN TO SMELL MY BRAKE PADS SMELTING. AND WHEN I DID ROLL TO STOP, THERE WAS SMOKE RISING FROM THE FRONT WELLS. I GOT OUT AND POPPED THE HOOD TO INSPECT FURTHER AND TO CHECK MY TIRES. AS I BENT DOWN TO CHECK THE WHEELS, I NOTICED MY ROTORS WERE BOTH RED HOT. CHECKING THE LEFT WHEEL, AFTER INSPECTING THE RIGHT, REVEALED A SMALL LIP OF FLAME RIGHT NEXT TO THE BRAKE ROTOR. I THEN GRABBED A FULL BOTTLE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID AND EMPTIED IT ON BOTH ROTORS. THE THOUGHT OF LOSING MY BELOVED CAR TO A FIRE AND A HUGH EXPLOSION -MY GAS TANK WAS COMPLETELY FULL AT THE MOMENT- WAS MORBIDLY PETRIFYING. THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED AFTER I POURED IT ON THE FLAMES. TO MY WEST, ABOUT ~ 1000 METERS, WAS A SHELL GAS STATION WITH KELLY'S TIRES RIGHT BEFORE IT, WHERE I ASKED FOR HELP. A KIND TECHNICIAN -FROM KELLY'S TIRES- INFORMED ME, AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR, THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ACCELERATOR CABLE BEFORE ANY WORK IS DONE. I WOULD NEED TO SPECIAL ORDER THE PART AND THEN BRING IT TO THEM ON OR AFTER TUESDAY (7-6-2004. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079217July 3, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080190June 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF, AND THE BRAKE DRUM SPLIT IN HALF. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, AND RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY WEAK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079001June 29, 2004
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKWAY DOING APPROX 55MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL COMPLETELY OFF OF THE CAR CAUSING MECHANICAL AND BODY DAMAGE. THE REPAIR STATION STATED THE WHEEL BEARING HAD FROZEN AND BASICALY BURNED OFF. THERE WAS ALOT OF GREASE OR OTHER MATERIAL ON THE RIM WHEN IT WAS RECOVERED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079028June 29, 2004
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
DRIVERS WINDOW FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR WHILE THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR CHANGING OIL, FILTER, ETC. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH INSPECTION OF THE FAILED PART CLEARLY INDICATES INADEQUATE DESIGN......PLASTIC CLIPS FAILED RELEASING THE CHANNEL GUIDES AND ALLOWING THE WINDOW GLASS TO FALL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075501June 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SMOG CHECK POINT TEST. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE PASSED THE EMISSION TEST, BUT THE EXAMINER COULD NOT SEND THE FINAL APPROVAL TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT (DMV) UNTIL THE DEFECT WAS REPAIRED. *AK THE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF, BUT CAME BACK ON 6 MONTHS LATER. (CRANKCASE DILUTION/MALFUNCTION CAUSE FOR P1582 AND THE MOTOR RUNS OUTSIDE IDLE ADAPTION DUE TO HIGH BLOW BY/MALFUNCTION IN THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL MODULE -J338) *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078868June 26, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE CRUISE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT ENGAGEMENT. (WHEN THE SET BUTTON IS PRESSED, THE CRUISE DOES NOT ENGAGE). WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE VW DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CRUISE MODULE WAS BAD. WE DID NOT HAVE $380 TO PAY FOR CRUISE, SO WE ELECTED TO NOT REPAIR. BUT ONE TIME, WITHOUT WARNING , THE CRUISE ENGAGED AND PULLED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY SON IN THE CAR AND SHE SAID SHE IS POSITIVE DID NOT PRESS ANY BUTTON ON THE CRUISE. SHE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE PEDAL JUST STARTED PULLING DOWN. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED WAY UP. WHEN SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TRIED SHUTTING THE CRUISE BUTTON TO OFF , AND EVEN SHUTTING THE CAR OFF IT STAYED STUCK. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT UNSTUCK. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR AND OTHERS MAY ENGAGE THE CRUISE WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074153June 24, 2004
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 60,000 MILES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER DISCUSSED THIS WITH VOLKSWAGEN, AND ASKED MANUFACTURER FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, VOLKSWAGEN WAS NOT LISTENING. *AK THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT UP/DOWN LEVER SPRING BROKE. THE MICRO SWITCH FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE TRUNK LIGHT AND GAS LIGHT ON THE DASH WERE INOPERATIVE. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073843June 24, 2004
STRUCTURE
WHEN IT RAINED THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME WET. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY FIXED IT AND TOLD THE OWNER THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FLOORBOARD CONTINUED TO GET WET WHEN IT RAINED. THE DEALER HAS NOT PROVIDED A PERMANENT SOLUTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057212June 24, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CONTINUALLY FAILING. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. EACH TIME THE SENSOR FAILED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW OF AMERICA WHICH EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE SENSOR TO 7 YEARS OR 70000 MILES ON JETTA'S FROM 1999 TO 2001. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS AN IMPROPER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM THE FRONT SEAT FRAMES CONTINUED TO BREAK. VW HAVE REPLACED THEM ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE 5-6 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079856June 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *MR THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOST OF POWER AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE INJECTOR SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS MUDDY DIESEL FUEL BUT COULDN'T PRODUCE THE FUEL FILTER TO BACK UP THE CLAIM. THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE AND A LOST OF POWER DOWN TO 25 MPH ON THE ROAD. THE ENGINE HAD A #3 VALVE GO THROUGH THE PISTON AND RUN UP AND DOWN THE CRANKSHAFT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH ANOTHER INJECTOR SYSTEM AND FUEL PUMP WAS ADDED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, A HIGH PRESSURE OIL LINE BROKE FROM THE WELD AND SPEWED OIL EVERYWHERE. THE AXLE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED AS WELL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079735June 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD/BACKWARDS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079755June 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON OR OFF A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078481June 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
GAS GAUGE FAILURE SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078300June 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW MY 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL HAS FAILED TO START.BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT AND ALMOST ALWAYS AWAY FROM HOME THIS HAS BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE CAR MAY BE WORKING FINE AND THEN THE NEXT TIME IT IS TIME TO START IT, IT SIMPLY WON'T START. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. ONCE OUT OF A PARKING GARAGE -AT 5:00 PM DURING RUSH HOUR. ONCE I WAS BY MYSELFON A SUNDAY IN A TOWN I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH AT A NOT VERY NICE GAS STATION GETTING GAS WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO START. I WAS THERE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I COULD GET IN CONTACT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME AND RESCUE ME. EACH TIME WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEARLERSHIP AND HAD IT "FIXED". MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT FIXED???? I HAVE GONE ON VARIOUS SITES AND THE COMMENT IS THAT THE 1997 JETTA HAS STARTING PROBLEMS. IF THIS IS SO THEN DOESN'T THIS MEAN THAT THE STARTER OR THE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. GRANTED THE CAR PROBABLY WON'T BLOW UP BECAUSE OF THIS BUT A CAR SHOULD BE RELIABLE ENOUGH JUST TO START - SHOULDN'T IT? WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START EVENTUALLY BUT WE HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN IT WOULD NOT START AND IT WENT IN FOR REPAIRS. TWICE ( TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A BAD STARTER AND IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED. THE COMBINED COST - $1100.00. THE THIRD TIME WE PROTESTED AND DEMANDED THAT IT BE FIXED - THAT TIME - $150.00. NOW WE ARE UP AGAINST A FOURTH TRIP TO A DEALERSHIP. I AM 56 YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT CARS - OLD & NEW, BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS!!! AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079310June 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1995 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH AREA. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075408June 15, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, AIR BAGS
WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SKIMMED A POTHOLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR FILLED WITH POWDERY SMOKE AND I COULD NOT SEE OUT MY WINDSHIELD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. IN ADDITION THE NOISE STARTLED ME SO MUCH, I AM PRETTY SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR AFTERWARDS HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALSO THANKFUL MY INFANT SON WAS NOT IN THE CAR. MY RIGHT EAR WAS BOTHERING ME FOR ABOUT A DAY AND A HALF AFTERWARDS, I'M SURE HAD MY SON BEEN IN THE CAR, HIS SENSITIVE EARS MAY HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DAMAGED, NEVER MIND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TRAUMATIZED HIM. VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS THE CODES THEY DOWNLOADED FROM THE CAR INDICATED A SIDE IMPACT OCCURRED AND THAT A "MARK" ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE VERIFIES THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CORRECTLY. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WITH 90K ON THE CAR THERE ARE SEVERAL "MARKS" ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE UNMOVED BY THE INCIDENT AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. CLAIM WAS FILED WITH METLIFE, WHO COVERED THE $3500 REPAIR BILL TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COVER. NO REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED TO THE CAR FRAME, UNDERCARRIAGE, AXLE, REAR TIRE ETC, YET STILL THEY CLAIM AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075430June 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. FRONT RIGHT ELECTRIC WINDOW FELL INTO DOOR AT 65,000. REPLACED SPOOL AND BROKEN RETENTION CLIPS. RADIO HAS FAILED 3 TIMES AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THIRD TIME I HAD TO RESET FUSE #42. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076176June 14, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ACCELERATOR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076218June 14, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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