Volkswagen Jetta Complaints

10,351 consumer complaints on file.

#10164332August 3, 2006
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
OUT OF NO WHERE MY RADIO ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON STOPPED WORKING. ALL I GOT WAS STATIC ON MY RADIO. AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL VW FORUMS, I FOUND OUT THAT MY RADIO ANTENNA HAD CORRODED INSIDE. I TOOK IT APART AND CLEANED ALL THE CORROSION AND FOUND THAT THE MAIN WIRE ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BROKE. I HAD TO SOLDER A NEW WIRE ONTO IT. MANY VW OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A ANTENNA SHOULD NOT GO BAD IN A THREE YEAR OLD CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164340August 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL PAN WAS CRACKED DO TO CONTACT WITH SPEED BUMP. ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. WHEN OBTAINING A REPLACEMENT OIL PAN FROM MANUFACTURER A REDESIGNED OIL PAN WAS USED AS A REPLACEMENT. INSTEAD OF CAST ALUMINUM IT WAS STEEL. IF THIS PAN WAS USED AS THE ORIGINAL PAN THE INCIDENT WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED. AFTER INVESTIGATING FOUND OUT THAT STEEL PAN IS USED IN GERMAN BUILT JETTA'S BUT US MADE USE CAST PRODUCT. VW REFUSED TO WARRANTY ENGINE WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164403August 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A WEEK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT SPEEDOMETER QUIT. NON VW REPAIR SHOP REPLACED SPEED SENSOR, THIS DID NOT FIX SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM SO THEY SENT ME TO NY VW DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANK SENSOR. COULD NOT EVEN DRIVE CAR OUT OF THEIR LOT AFTER THE REPAIR AS CAR WAS STALLING AND HESITATING. THEY THEN SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE NEEDLE LIFT SENSOR. I BEGGED THEM AT THAT POINT TO LOOK FOR A WIRING PROBLEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT 3 SENSORS COULD ALL GO AT ONCE WITHOUT A SYSTEM CAUSE. I WAS TOLD TO "TRUST THEM" AND THAT THEY HAD CHECKED WITH VW AND VW SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. "THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SAID THAT IS ALL THAT IS WRONG" . AFTER WEEK IN REPAIR SHOP VW DEALER TOLD ME CAR WAS "ALL FIXED". 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES LATER ON I-83 SOUTH OF HARRISBURG CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LURCHING OUT OF CONTROL, THEN STALLED. I WAS NEAR EXIT 32 AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF SAFELY, FORTUNATELY. HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER. NOW VW DEALER IN PA TELLS ME CAR HAD "COOLANT MIGRATION" WHICH WAS SOURCE OF ALL PROBLEMS, THEY THINK DEALER IN NY SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT. VW IS BACKING NY DEALER THAT THEY FIXED CAR CORRECTLY DESPITE OTHER DEALERS COMMENT AND MY NEAR MISS WITH BEING CRASHED INTO BY OTHER DRIVERS ON I-83. I FAIL TO SEE HOW COOLANT MIGRATION HAPPENED IN 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES. PA VW DEALER SAYS NY DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE MISSED THE COOLANT MIGRATION, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE REPLACED THE EXPENSIVE SENSORS BEFORE REPAIRING THE COOLANT MIGRATION PROBLEM. I CERTAINLY AGREE SINCE I TRAVELED LESS THAN 300 MILES AND I WAS JUST LUCKY THAT I WAS SO CLOSE TO AN EXIT AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP RESTARTING THE CAR AND COAST OFF I-83. HAD I BEEN FURTHER AWAY FROM AN EXIT OR IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN RUN INTO BY ANOTHER DRIVER AS THE CAR LURCHED AND JERKED AND STALLED. I ALSO FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY VW IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY -PA DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS "VERY CORRODED" AND THE WIRING WAS "FULL OF COOLANT". *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164211August 2, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONDITIONS: NORMAL DRIVING, APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET. FAILURE: FRONT LEFT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED THROUGH. THE LEFT CORNER OF THE CAR DROPPED, THE CAR JERKED SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE PRESENT. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S CURRENT STATE DUE TO THE LEFT CORNER BEING NOT LEVEL, SPRING MISSING PART OF IT'S LENGTH, STEERING (STRUT) BINDING. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS FAILURE. I DIRECTLY CONTACTED THE O.E.M. SPRING MANUFACTURER (EIBACH). THIS MAY RESULT IN A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE SPRING AND FAILURE ANALYSIS OF THE PART, TO BE DETERMINED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164219August 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AS I WAS DRIVING UPHILL THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS FAILING AND LOSING POWER. IT REGAINED POWER, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND FOUND MANY CODES ON IT, BUT NOTHING WRONG. HE CLEARED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I NOW HAVE 87,000 MILES AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY. NOW, I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR REGULARLY BY MY MECHANIC TO HAVE THE COMPUTER CLEARED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AFTER HE CLEARED IT LAST TIME. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164108August 1, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
MY SITUATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10136903. I HAVE A 2003 JETTA. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH, MY ABS WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AND MY RADIO TURNED OFF. AFTER STOPPING MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT MY FUSE PANEL (ABOVE THE BATTERY) HAD MELTED AND HE WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT MY CAR HADN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. A JUMP START STARTED IT. NEXT DAY, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. A JUMP START STARTED IT. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MECHANIC. MY ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS FINE LAST WEEK, IS NOW FRIED (AFTER TWO DRIVES), MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THE FUSE PANEL BURNT IT OUT. THE ALTERNATOR IN MY 2003 JETTA IS A 90 AMP ALTERNATOR. VW STOPPED MAKING THESE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR THE CARS. I REPEAT, 90 AMP ALTERNATORS ARE NO LONGER MADE FOR MY CAR BECAUSE IT REQUIRES 120 AMP ALTERNATOR. HMM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164149August 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), SUSPENSION
DEALERSHIP: LINDSAY VOLKSWAGEN OF DULLES MANUFACTURER: VOLKSWAGEN I HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM VW CUSTOMER CARE SINCE MY INITIAL COMPLAINT, FILED 10.27.05 AT 9:12 P.M., REFERENCE NUMBER 804030825. I CALLED IN NOV 05' TO CHECK ON THE STATUS AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME I SHOULD FILE AGAIN (I HAVE A REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THAT, TOO). I'VE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM TO THIS DAY. SINCE I BOUGHT MY VW JETTA TDI 05' IN MARCH 05, I HAVE DOCUMENTED HOW THE VW DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE COMPONENT, DEALT WITH OCCURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE ASR LIGHT AND A SEPARATE GLOW PLUG LIGHT SITUATION, PLUS UPPER FRONT STRUT MOUNTS REPLACEMENTS. EACH INCIDENT HAS EQUALLY COLORFUL STORIES TOO DETAILED FOR YOUR DATABASE CHARACTER LIMITATIONS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164058July 31, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING IN THE PAST MONTHS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A VW DEALER BACK IN APRIL TO SEE WHY MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE STUTTERING. THEY SAID THE WINDSHIELD MIGHT BE ON TOO TIGHT OR SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BLADES. I CHANGED THE BLADES AND GOT A NEW WINDSHIELD SINCE I HAD A CRACK IN IT ANYWAYS. BOTH DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NEVER TOLD IT COULD BE THE WIPER MOTOR. I HAVE HAD A FEW INSTANCES WHERE I WAS DRIVING NOW ON THE HIGHWAY OR JUST ON A SIDE STREET AND IT WAS RAINING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WIPERS WOULD JUST STOP!!! I ALMOST GOT INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS NOW, AND I FEEL IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD THAT I SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163870July 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH ON MY HUSBANDS 2006 JETTA TDI IS GOING OUT. IT ONLY HAS 44, 000 MILES ON IT. HE HAS OWNED SIX MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS IN THE PAST, NEVER HAVING TO REPLACE A CLUTCH IN LESS THAN 110,000 AND EVEN THEN IT WAS NOT THE CLUTCH WORN OUT BUT THE THROW OUT BEARING FELL APART. WE HAVE DONE SEVERAL SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET ON VW TDI CLUTCHES. ONE THING WE FOUND OUT IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005.5 AND EARLY 2006. VW OF EUROPE HAS ISSUED RECALLS ON THE 2006 PASSAT TDI ONLY SOLD OVERSEAS. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME CLUTCH WAS USED IN THE EARLY 2006 JETTAS. AUDI HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THERE A3 WITH THE TDI ENGINE THAT WAS PRODUCED FROM JUNE OF 2003 TILL THE END OF 2004. ON 6/24/2005 THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTS THAT VW IS RECALLING 44,000 OF ITS TOURAN VANS WORLDWIDE TO FIX A CLUTCH PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON WWW.UK-MKIV.NET WHERE THE GOLF AND JETTA ARE REFERRED TO AS MKV OR THE 5TH EDITION AND ON WWW.AUDI-SPORT.NET FOR THE AUDI A3 TDI AND ON WWW.TDICLUB.COM AND HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM. ALSO THERE IS A REUTERS NEWS REPORT DATED JUNE 29, 2006 THAT STATES THE PASSAT RECALL AND MAKES MENTION OF EARLIER RECALLS FOR THE GOLF, GOLF PLUS, JETTA AND TOURAN. VW SELLS FAR MORE TDI DIESEL CARS IN EUROPE SO IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEN TO ISSUE A RECALL THERE. ALL OF THE CARS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS HAVE THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL AND MOST ARE TDI DIESEL CARS. VOLKSWAGEN IS BLAMING THE OWNERS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF THE TDI VEHICLES IN THE USA AND HAS NO 2007 TDI DIESEL CARS DUE TO EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. WHEN MANY ARE EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVERS THAT HAVE NOT HAD CLUTCH PROBLEMS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. WHILE THE FOREIGN CARS ARE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME MOST SHARE MANY COMMON PARTS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163768July 28, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
I OWN A 2002 VW JETTA. RECENTLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE AT TIMES AND REMAINS ON EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING. I HAVE COMPLETED SEVERAL SEARCHES ONLINE AND HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SAFETY RECALLS FOR 2002 JETTA'S EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED TO BE 377,130 IN 2004 AND 362,000 EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE VW DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT RECALL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DAY OF THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT I WAS TOLD OTHERWISE. THE GENTLEMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL IN THE VIN RANGE OF THE RECALL. I THEN CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT INDEED THE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED FREE OF CHARGE. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTICS TO BE COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS COVERING THE CHARGES FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE ISSUE REMAINS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT IS MALFUNCTIONING, THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL WHICH IMPACTS 2002 JETTA'S BUT I SEEM TO GET CONFLICTING INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. CAN SOMEONE HELP? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163828July 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH ON MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI HAS STARTED TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS 43,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE CLUTCH FAILING ON 2006'S DUE TO NOT BEING BUILT HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE ADDITIONAL TORQUE OF THE NEW TDI ENGINE. LUJAK'S VW IN DAVENPORT, IA TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1300 TO $2500 AND THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING VW WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM AFTER 12,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163666July 27, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES MAKE A RATTLING NOISE, AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 02V031000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163556July 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FAULTY COOLANT TEMP SENSOR DETECTED ON VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163426July 25, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THERE IS A FAILURE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO BREAK EVEN THOUGH FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LOOSE SPEED AND I AM UNABLE TO MAKE THE CAR ACCELERATE UNTIL THE CAR IS PLACED IN A LOWER GEAR. VERY HAZARDOUS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT WAITED TO MAKE NHTSA AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163342July 24, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
NO EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALLS RELATING TO MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS RELIABLY ON '00 JETTA WITH 70,000+ MILES; CAR DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED REPEATEDLY AND THEN ONLY WORKS INCONSISTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE- THERE IS AN APPARENT MALFUNCTION WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND RELATES TO DESCRIPTIONS OF RECALLS ON 99-02 JETTA / NEW BEETLES. I CALLED VW REGARDING OPEN RECALLS FOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DEFECTS AND I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALLS. WILL FOLLOW UP WITH LOCAL DEALER WHO WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM- I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY NHTSA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RETAIN MY RECEIPTS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR MATTERS RELATING TO THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO RELATE TO RECALLS: 03V-265 OR 04V-096 AND VW RECALL NO. N4. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163368July 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE NOTICED A CHEMICAL SMELL SIMILAR TO WET PAINT OCCASIONALLY EMITTING FROM THE A/C VENTS. IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, IT HAS BECOME CONSTANT AND I HAVE REFRAINED FROM USING THE A/C FOR FEAR THAT IT IS SOMETHING HARMFUL. WE HAVE LOOKED THE CAR OVER, RAN THE A/C AND BLOWER WHILE OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED EVERYTHING WE CAN THINK OF WITH NO SOLUTION. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED WE SPRAY LYSOL IN THE AIR INTAKE AND SEE IF THAT HELPS, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO MASK THE ODOR ESPECIALLY IF IT SOMETHING WITH WHICH WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162932July 20, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRE FAILED DUE TO CRACKS ON THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL LEADING TO A BLOWOUT AND NEAR SEPARATION OF THE TIRE FROM THE WHEEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162959July 20, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
TIRE RIMS ON 2003 JETTA WOLFSBURG EDITION MODEL CORRODE AND CAUSE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LEAKS. MY DAUGHTERS HAVE CALLED CRYING SEVERAL TIMES WITH NEARLY FLAT TIRES. HAD THEY NOT NOTICED, WE COULD HAVE HAD DISASTROUS RESULTS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS AND VW USA ABOUT THE UNSIGHTLY CORROSION. THE HAVE DISMISSED IT AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN NORTHERN WEATHER WERE THIS SALT ON THE ROAD. IT'S NOW A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO DRIVES THAT CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162986July 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI GLS. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FAITHFULLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTED IN THE USER MANUAL. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED ON THIS COMPLAINT, THE A/C CEASED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THERE WAS NO COOL AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTDOWN, THE RADIATOR FANS WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN UPWARDS OF 15 MINUTES. NEITHER EVENT HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO A VW DEALERSHIP ON THE INCIDENT DATE TO HAVE ITS NORMAL 110,000 MILE SERVICE AND TO HAVE THE ISSUES (NOTED ABOVE) DIAGNOSED. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP LATER IN THE DAY ON THE INCIDENT DATE STATING THAT A FAILURE IN THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO BE WICKED INTO THE VEHICLE'S WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO CONTAMINATION / CORROSION OF THE ENGINE AND BODY HARNESS. THE QUOTE TO REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $6,000. THIS PROBLEM IS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HARNESS ITSELF, ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT COULD BE AFFECTED SUCH AS THE AIRBAGS, ABS, SRS, ETC. ALSO, FROM MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND SOME PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM HAVE ALSO HAD SMOKE OR FIRES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. VW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (ID# C 97-01-01) FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE ON 1999.5 - 2001 MODEL YEAR JETTAS, BUT NEVER FOR THE 2003 AND NEVER A RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN. VW HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162734July 18, 2006
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT CLICKS/CLUNKS AND NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT CAN BE FELT IN THE SEAT AROUND WHERE THE SEAT BACK CONNECTS TO THE SEAT BOTTOM ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING, OR MAKING TURNS. THIS STARTED OCCURRING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER - THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE NOISE/MOVEMENT. WAITED A COUPLE WEEKS, THEN TOOK BACK TO DEALER. DEALER WAS ABLE TO VERIFY NOISE AND MOVEMENT - THEY SAID THAT THE SEAT FRAME BOLTS WERE NOT TORQUED TO SPEC AND TIGHTENED THE SEAT BOLTS. THE NEXT DAY THE NOISE AND MOVEMENT RETURNED. THIS CONCERNS ME FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT - I DO NOT WANT THE SEAT TO COME APART IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Jetta