Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10177767January 4, 2007SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SINCE I HAVE HAD MY JETTA THE SEAT WARMERS HAVE BEEN HOT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THAT IS HOW THEY WORK. SINCE THEN MY SEAT WARMER HAS BURNED A HOLE IN THE CLOTH SEAT AND HAS BURNED ME. IT ALSO CREATES SPARKS WHEN TURNED ON. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177679January 3, 2007POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
2003 VW JETTA AT 40K MILES TRANS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB 06, JUNE 06 SAME SYMPTOMS, TOLD BY DEALER NOT TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE SENSORS TAKE TIME TO ADJUST TO NEW TRANS, EMISSIONS LIGHT ON DEALER SAYS NOT TO WORRY IF IT DOES NOT STAY ON, CONTINUE TO CALL,WITH SAME RESPONSE. DEC 06 CAR LOSES POWER ON INTERSTATE TAKES TWO WKS TO MAKE AN APPT TO GET INTO DEALER, TOLD IT IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, VW WILL NOT WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THIS PART WAS NOT CHKD WHEN TRANS REPLACED, TOLD THIS PART IS THE BRAIN TO TRANS IT TELLS TRANS WHEN TO SHIFT. DEALER AND VW OF NO HELP. LOOKED AT CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON THE INTERNET NOTICED HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AS I SAME YEAR SAME MODEL. THE ECM LIGHT STAYS ON AND IS NOT EMITTING SMOKE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177575January 2, 2007FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
2001 VW JETTA. ENGINE TUNE UP (REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, SPECIFICALLY) AT 77K; ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND IS IDENTIFIED AS MAF SENSOR. WARRANTY EXTENDED THROUGH DEALER TO 70K. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE OPTIMUM FUEL EFFICIENCY WITHOUT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING SENSOR. SENSOR WAS CLEANED AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WORKED FOR 4 DAYS, LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED RATHER THAN JUST HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY!! IT'S EXPENSIVE!*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177579January 2, 2007EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I NOTICED HIGH BEAMS WERE VERY HIGH RIGHT AFTER I TOOK DELIVERY IN NOV. 2005. BECAUSE, AT THE TIME, I DID VERY LITTLE NIGHT DRIVING, IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME. IT WASN'T UNTIL ABOUT OCTOBER,2006, WHEN I HAD SOME NIGHT LOCAL DRIVING TO DO, THAT I NOTICED HOW THE HIGH-BEAMS SO NICELY LIT UP MY NEIGHBORS SECOND STORY WINDOWS. I QUICKLY LEARNED TO USE 'LOW-BEAMS ONLY" IN OUR DEVELOPMENT!!! I CALLED TON BUSH MOTORS IN JACKSONVILLE TO ASK IF THEY HAD FOUND A CURE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THE SERVICE MGR SAID HE THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE CARE OF IT. AS I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THESE COMPLAINTS FOR A WHILE ON THE 'NET, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS "OH, SURE." ON 12/20/06, I LEFT THE CAR WITH THE SERVICE PEOPLE. WITHIN 30 MINUTES THEY PAGED ME, SAYING THAT IT'S ALL SET. THAT NIGHT, I DROVE THE CAR ALL THRU' THE DEVELOPMENT....... NOT A SINGLE CASE OF SECOND STORY LIGHTING !!! AND THE LOW-BEAMS GIVE ADEQUATE COVERAGE. I DROVE ONTO FLORIDA A1A THE NEXT NIGHT SOUTH TO ST AUGUSTINE, AND HAD GREAT VISIBILITY THE WHOLE WAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT "TECH 336" DID, BUT MY LIGHTS ARE NOW FINE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177443January 1, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2006 JETTA, TDI READS 5 MILES PER HOUR LOWER THEN INDICATED SPEED BY GPS AND HIGHWAY RADAR. THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE SITES THE SAE GUIDELINES ALLOWING AN ERROR OF UP TO 6 MILE PER HOUR. WHEN ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT PURCHASE THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WERE IN ERROR ON ALL JETTA CARS. THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ERROR WAS NOT DISCLOSED ALTHOUGH THE EXPECTED MILES PER GALLON WERE DISCLOSED BASED ON FAULTY INSTRUMENTATION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177321December 29, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE 2001 TDI WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY GLOW PLUG. UPON TRYING TO REMOVE THE GLOW PLUG, THE DEALERSHIP BROKE THE PART. NOW, THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE THE GLOW PLUG IS TO TEAR APART THE ENGINE, AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK EITHER. CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE FINE WITH THE DEALERSHIP HOLDING MY CAR HOSTAGE. VW MUST HATE THE CUSTOMER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177058December 27, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
OUR JETTA WAS REAR-ENDED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE GAS TANK EXPLODED, CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME A FIREBALL. THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY TOTALLED, AND WE LOST ALL OF OUR BELONGINGS INSIDE THE CAR.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177096December 27, 2006POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION (4 YEARS/48,000 MILE WARRANTY). A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THAT I HAD LESS AND LESS POWER TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT WAS IN GEAR. ON DECEMBER 7, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH HAD WORN OUT AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THUS, THE COST OF THE REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO BE $1,800! MY CAR HAS 30,700 MILES ON IT, I AM 34 YEARS OLD AND THERE ARE CERTAIN DAYS WHEN I DRIVE IT LESS THAN 5 MILES A DAY! OF COURSE, I WAS TOLD BY MY CAR-SALESMAN, THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE TELEPHONE OPERATORS AT VOLKSWAGEN AND THE GENERAL MANGER AT THE PLACE WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT I (THROUGH POOR DRIVING HABITS AND LITTLE EXPERIENCE DRIVING A CLUTCH) WORE IT OUT. I REQUESTED TO PERSONALLY SPEAK TO THE AREA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM VOLKSWAGEN YET, I WAS NEVER GIVEN HIS/HER CONTACT INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, I GAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REACH THE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO HAVE THEM CONTACT ME. OVERALL, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL. I HAD 6 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE ON A FORD WITH NO CLUTCH PROBLEMS. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND AN INTERESTING WEB SITE HTTP://WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM/UBB/FORUM1/HTML/000155.HTML IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE (SOME DIFFERENT YEAR DATES THAN MY CAR)! *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177108December 27, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED THREE TIMES . THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AT 23,000, 40,000 & 42,000 MILES. WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED THE EPC LIGHT TURNED ON AND SOMETIMES IT TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK UPDATED 1/30/2007 - *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176672December 20, 2006POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MY 2006 TDI SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A CLUTCH FAILURE AT 8950 MILES. I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND GIVING OFF A LARGE AMOUNT OF NOXIOUS FUMES AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I WAITED FOR TOWING OUTSIDE ON THE FREEWAY IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURE. IT WAS A SATURDAY SO WAITED UNTIL MONDAY FOR IT TO GO TO THE SHOP. THE DEALER SAYS THEY WERE UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND SENT ME OFF WITH THE FAIL-PRONE CAR. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH VOLKSWAGEN, IF THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176511December 18, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT. THERE IS NO DEALER IN THE CONTACT'S AREA, BUT THERE IS A REPAIR CENTER. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY INCIDENTS WITH HIS VEHICLE; HOWEVER WANTS TO PREVENT THE INCIDDENT BEFORE IT OCCURS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176214December 15, 2006POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WE ASKED OUR DEALERSHIP TO ACQUIRE IT FOR US AFTER OUR 2004 TDI WAS TOTALED. CURRENT VEHICLE IS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WE PURCHASED APRIL 25, 2006 WITH 10583 MILES ON IT. PREVIOUS OWNER WAS VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. ON JULY 2, 2006 WHILE ON VACATION THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY FAILED AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC IT STARTED SMOKING AND THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE THEN HAD ABOUT 14-15,000 MILES ON IT. A MAINE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND THE ENTIRE CLUTCH FAILED. TOOK MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY OUR VIRGINIA DEALER IT WAS REPORTED TO US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED DUE TO IMPROPER RE-INSTALLATION. VEHICLE THEN HAD 17632 MILES ON IT. IT TOOK ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO FORCE THE MAINE DEALER TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE IT. ON DEC. 6, 2006 MY WIFE THE VALET PARKING SERVICE BROUGHT THE CAR TO HER WITH CONSIDERABLE SMOKE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH AND THE STATEMENT THAT IT HAD "BURNED OUT" WHILE TRYING TO COME UP A RAMP. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS ABUSE CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO FAIL AND CRACK THE FLYWHEEL IN THREE PLACES AND WARRANTY FOR THE FLYWHEEL WAS DENIED. WE HAVE OWNED MORE THAN SIX STANDARD TRANSMISSION AUTOMOBILES OVER OUR MORE THAN 3 0 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH FAIL OTHER THAN THE 2 FAILURES IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS WITH THIS VOLKSWAGEN. INTERNET RESEARCH INFORMS US THAT THIS IS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGENS. CLEARLY THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IS DEFECTIVE IN THIS VEHICLE AND THE CLUTCH IS IN GENERAL PRONE TO VERY PREMATURE FAILURE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176266December 15, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V183000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176026December 13, 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 5-25 MPH ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT ANY BUMP OR POTHOLE ON 50-70 OCCASIONS. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 02/06/07. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175910December 12, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. A NHTSA RECALL, #04V096000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL. A REVISED RECALL #06V183000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175748December 11, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #04V096000, REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE YEAR. UPDATED 08/1/07 *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175803December 11, 2006SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER WILL NOT TURN OFF. WHILE THE KNOB THAT CONTROLS THE SEAT HEATER IS SET AT 0 (OFF), THE SEAT HEATER REMAINS ON. THE PROBLEM BEGAN OVER A YEAR AGO WITH IT JUST BEING WARM, BUT IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY HOTTER. IT IS GETTING SO HOT THAT THE LEATHER SEAT IS BURNING AND TURNING BLACK AND BROWN. VW HAS HAD RECALLS ON SIMILAR MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT FIX MY CAR UNDER SIMILAR RECALLS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175798December 11, 2006AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SIDE AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FIVE PEOPLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 5
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175666December 9, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ON OCTOBER 19, 2006, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THIS INDICATED A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD EFFECT THE BRAKES ON THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 26, 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO FISCHER'S FOREIGN CARS, INC. FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $702.93 AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INC(VOA) DATED MARCH 12, 2002) AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH VOA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON FEBRUARY 16, 2002, AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2006, I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO VOA REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO ENCLOSED COPIES OF THE RECALL LETTER AND THE REPAIR BILL. ABOUT NOVEMBER 11, 2006, I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM A WOMAN AT VOA AND SHE SAID THAT THE RECALL LETTER DID NOT COVER MY CAR AND THAT BECAUSE THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2006, THAT VOA WOULD NOT HONOR MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SHE SAID THE DECISION WAS FINAL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RECALL WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL LETTER IS THE SAME AS MINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MORE CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS FROM MY DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, MY CAR HAD 38,631 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE OTHER CARS, LIKE MINE, THAT SHOULD HAVE WHEN COVERED BY THE RECALL OR A SUBSEQUENT RECALL TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD REVISIT THIS ISSUE TO DETERMINE IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE CARS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175572December 8, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NON RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #04V096000 REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0