Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10049434December 8, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WE OWN A 2002 JETTA TDI WAGON AND THE DRIVER SEAT HEATING DEVICE BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND STRAIGHT THROUGH MY OVERCOAT. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN 1 MILE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IF I DID NOT HAVE A THICK JACKET ON, I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED AND IF I DID NOT CATCH IT IN TIME, A FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049380December 7, 2003ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2003 JETTA TDI WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT TO THE CAR TO GET IN IT, I FOUND IT WITH SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS I STARTED TO PULL THE HOOD RELEASE TO INVESTIGATE, I NOTICED FLAMES. I DID NOT OPEN THE HOOD AND INSTEAD QUICKLY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY RESPONDED ASAP. BY THE TIME THEY STARTED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE, FLAMES WERE ENGULFING THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER THE FLAME WAS EXTINGUISHED IN REIGNITED AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR IS INOPERABLE. I ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE MONTHS AND IT WAS NOT EVEN DUE FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE. NOW VOLKSWAGEN (VW) IS STALLING AND HAS NOT EVEN BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM ITS INVESTIGATION. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AFTER TWO WEEKS NO ONE HAS GIVEN ME A PROGRESS UPDATE. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10050145December 5, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING UNDER 55 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BECOMING TOO HOT. CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATING UNIT BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND IN CONSUMER'S PANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW SEAT HEATER WAS NEEDED.*AK WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BECOMING TOO HOT. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATING UNIT HAD BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND IN THE CONSUMER'S PANTS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT HEATER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*MR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049245December 5, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
MY ELECTRONICALLY HEATER DRIVER SEAT OF MY 2002 VW JETTA OVERHEATED AND BURNED MY SEAT CUSHION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049230December 4, 2003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, 1996 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS, FROM THE STORE, I NOTICE THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY THERMOSTAT STARTED TO GO BACK AND FORWARD LIKE IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF MY VENTS INSIDE OF MY CAR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE, THAT SMOKE(WHITE SMOKE) CAME FROM INSIDE MY CAR, SO I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD, BUT NOTHING WAS BURNING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOLD MY HUSBAND ABOUT THIS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS GONE OR WAS BURNED OUT. I THEN ASKED HIM HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO GET IT FIXED AND HE STATED THAT THIS COULD BE A COSTLY JOB. I NEEDED MY CAR FIXED SO I TOOK IT TO A EUROPEAN SPECIALIST AUTO SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT FOR A COST OF $800.00 PLUS TAX!!!!! THIS WAS OUTRAGEOUS, BUT I NEEDED TO GET IT FIXED. WHERE CAN I CALL TO GET MY REFUND??? THIS IS ENTIRELY A LOT OF MONEY!!!!! *NLM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049137December 3, 2003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BESIDES HAVING MANY, MANY, MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VW JETTA, I HAVE FOUND THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST ONE. WHILE DRIVING FOR A WHILE...SAY 45 MINUTES OR SO DEPENDING ON THE DAY...THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AND STAY ON WHILE STILL DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE SEPARATE TIMES TO HAVE THIS FIXED AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM ON THEIR LAME 10 MILE TEST DRIVE AND HAS YET TO REMAIN FIXED. THEY ALSO TRIED TO MAKE ME FIX SOME OTHER MEANINGLESS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNDER THE GUISE OF FIXING THE BRAKES WHICH I DID NOT AGREE TO. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR AND REFUSE TO DRIVE IT. *NLM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049944December 3, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
VEHICLE'S SEAT HEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING AND ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW ABOUT THREE INCHES DUE TO THE RECENT FOREST FIRES. SHE THEN FELT A BURNING SENSATION, LOOKED DOWN AND SAW A 6-8" FLAME COMING UP HER LEFT SIDE. SHE WAS BURNED AS WELL AS HER CLOTHING AND SEAT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PICTURES WERE SENT TO NHTSA VIA EMAIL. *PH
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049943December 3, 2003VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS WITH REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER AND TRANSMISSION.*MR REAR DEFOGGER DIDN'T TURN OFF. CONSUMER FEARED IT WOULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD. TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND WOULDN'T MOVE TO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH WAS INSTALLED. ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE SALESMAN STATED HE WASN'T USE TO A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND IGNORED IT. *PH
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10042483December 3, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE TRAVELING WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER ON. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE CONSUMER. *AK *SCC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049036December 2, 2003ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VW JETTA GLS WITH 25,000 MI ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AS I WAS PARKING AT HOME. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND IT WAS DRY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND IT WAS TOWED AND CHECKED AND A FLUORESCENT PROBE WAS PUT IN AND I WAS TOLD THERE WERE TWO QUARTS OF OIL REMAINING. WHERE DID THE OIL GO? MY CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO IN FOR A CHECK ON THIS PROBLEM THIS WEEK. THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE GROUND AND THE SERVICE TECH SAID THEY HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONCE BEFORE. HAS THIS PROBLEM EVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY OTHER CONSUMERS? THANK YOU. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049918December 2, 2003AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS TO ARMS AND HANDS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10049075December 2, 2003POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ON DECEMBER 14TH OF 2002 I PURCHASED A 2003 VW JETTA FROM SMITH VW ON KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY DELAWARE. ALTHOUGH THEY HANDLED ALL MY TRANSACTIONS AND VEHICLE DELIVERY POORLY, I CHOSE TO OVERLOOK IN THINKING I WILL NOT BE DEALING WITH THEM AGAIN. *AK SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR: IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS I HAD A FLAT TIRE. IN ONE CASE THE JACK FELL OVER WHILE THE CAR WAS ON IT DUE TO HIGH WIND. THESE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE IN THE WINTER WHEN WE HAD HEAVY SNOW. LATER I DISCOVERED THAT MY TIRES WERE OVERINFLATED. I DID NOT TOUCH THEM SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND HAVE BEEN FOR AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH PRIOR AT VW. I STOPPED GOING TO SMITH VW AND STARTED USING GARNET VW AFTER THIS. ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 6TH AT 9:30PM I GOT INTO MY CAR AND I COULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF PARK. THIS WAS A SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE SOME FRICK WAS STANDING AT MY WINDOW ASKING ME FOR MONEY. HE FINALLY LEFT, BUT I WAS STRANDED WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. ROADSIDE WILL TOW YOUR CAR, BUT THEY DO NOT DRIVE YOU HOME. IN MID AUGUST MY KEYLESS KEY BATTERY DID NOT WORK. I WAS IN VA AT THE TIME. ON AUGUST 25TH DURING RUSH HOUR MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS IN VEHICLE POWER. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN AREA THAT I COULD PULL OVER. VW FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON SEPTEMBER 8TH DURING RUSH HOUR AGAIN MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER. THIS TIME VW REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. AT THIS TIME I ALSO FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO VW CORPORATION AND ALSO SPOKE TO GM AT GARNET VW. ON NOVEMBER 22ND I TOOK MY CAR IN BECAUSE OF HESITATION WHILE INCREASING SPEED FROM 20 MPH TO 40 MPH. A VW TECHNICIAN TOOK A RIDE WITH ME AND AGREED OF THE PROBLEM. I AM SCHEDULE FOR SERVICE IN DECEMBER. THIS IS DELAYED MAINLY DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE, BUT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE MY LAST VISIT. I WILL BE SENDING YOU A FOLLOW UP NOTE WITH MORE INFORMATION LATER THIS WEEK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10048952December 1, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT OF MY 2002 VW JETTA SEDAN GOT EXTREMELY HOT WHILE I WAS SITTING ON IT CAUSING THE LEATHER SEAT TO START TO BURN AND MY BUTTOCKS TO BURN SLIGHTLY AS WELL.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10048808November 29, 2003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I HAVE A 2002 1.8T VOLKSWAGEN JETTA - I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS FAILURES. 1)RADIO HAS FAILED TWICE - IN EACH INSTANCE FAULT WAS TRACED TO A FUSE - FOLLOWING RADIO FAILURE I EXPERIENCED REPEATED DEAD BATTERIES UNTIL THE RADIO WAS REPAIRED. 2) ABS FAILURE DETECTED WHEN I WAS GETTING MY RADIO FIXED THE SECOND TIME 3)VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON TWO OCCASIONS - I WAIT A MINUTE AND TRY AGAIN - IT WORKED 4)MY WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR 5)I EXPERIENCED AN ACTIVATION OF NUMEROUS ENGINE FAULT LIGHTS THAT RESET FOLLOWING ENGINE RESTART 6)THE COATING ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SURFACES PEELS OFF EASILY 7)THE CHROME RING AROUND THE SHIFT KNOW IS PEELING. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10047617November 26, 2003LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCKS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10047621November 26, 2003STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL BLOCKS ENTERING THE CURVE WHEN ROADS ARE WET. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10047628November 26, 2003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL PACK ON VW JETTA, '99 NEW BODY. HINTS OF FAILURE BEGAN LONG BEFORE CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP BUT DID NOT WARRANT A SERVICE. (IE, JERKS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING HEAVY RAIN) AFTER ROAD TRIP, PROBLEM GREW IN SEVERITY, BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, AND REALIZED COIL PACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10047652November 26, 2003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING, IT FALLS BACK, TURNING OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (INCLUDING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS). VW HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS A PROBLEM IN THE 1996 AND 1997 JETTAS (AND SENT OUT A RECALL ON THE PART) BUT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS A PROBLEM FOR THE 1998 MODELS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A VW SERVICE PERSON THAT THE 1998 MODELS USE THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH AS THE 1996/1997'S. VW REPRESENTATIVES CLAIM THAT THEY DO NOT SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE 1998'S. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY VW. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10047569November 25, 2003SEATS
FRONT LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) SEAT MATERIAL SPLIT ON THE SEAM HOLDING THE FRONT MATERIAL TO THE SIDE MATERIAL. DIRECTLY UNDER THE SPLIT IS A METAL BRACKET THAT IS NOT PADDED. THIS BRACKET LIKELY CAUSED THE SEAM TO SEPARATE. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VOA) HAD ME BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO ONE ONTO VOLKSWAGEN FOR INSPECTION. REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WAS DENIED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER (CARL SCHIDZICK) DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE I WAS BEYOND THE 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE VOA REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER WHOSE NAME WAS REFUSED TO ME BACKED UP THE DEALER AND REFUSED REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. VOA WOULD NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF THEIR REPORT, WOULD NOT PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY APPEAL. THEY SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS REGARDING SEAT MATERIAL FAILURE ON JETTAS. IF THE SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED BEFORE 12,000 MILES THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED OR REPLACED THE ITEM. MY NEW CAR SEAT COVER BLOCKS DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAG. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10047577November 25, 2003SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS 2002 THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED TO SMOKE DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0