Volkswagen Jetta Complaints

10,351 consumer complaints on file.

#10158720May 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DURING WORK OUT OF STATE. DIAGNOSIS AT A SERVICE STATION INDICATED BOTH ELECTRICAL COOLING FANS HAD FAILED. I REPLACED THEM WITH AFTERMARKET FANS IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FANS AND FOUND THE COOLING TEMP SENSOR HAD BEEN SHORTING OUT. I WAS CHARGED OVER 900.00 FOR THE FANS AND TOLD THEY WERE NOT COVERED SINCE I HAD PUT AFTERMARKET FANS ON THE CAR. I OFFERED TO GIVE THE DEALER THE STOCK FANS SO THEY COULD VERIFY THEY WERE NOT WORKING BUT THEY REFUSED. GIVEN I DID NOT CAUSE THE OEM PARTS TO FAIL AND MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR OR IT'S WIRING WITH THE TEMPORARY FANS I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED. ALSO, A SEARCH OF ONLINE VW USER GROUPS INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, (HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL REPORTS ON ONE SITE). I WAS ALSO CHARGED FOR THE OEM COOLING PARTS WHICH HAD FAILED SUCH AS TEMP SENSOR, TEMP SWITCH AND FAN CONTROL MODULE. FOR THE RECORD, I CALLED VW AND REQUESTED A TOW TO SERVICE AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158427May 27, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2004 TDI JETTA WAGON FAILED IN TANK FUEL PUMP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158334May 26, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL #04V096000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO SUGGESTED ALERTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 01/09/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158235May 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNAL STALK IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING A FULL ELECTRICAL LOOP CAUSING A FAST CLICKS AS IF THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER WAS ON, BUT IT'S NOT. AT TIMES IT HAS CAUSED THE FLASHER LIGHTS TO COME ON WHEN I HAD NOT EVEN TOUCHED THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158075May 23, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
UPON APPLICATION OF THE CAR'S BRAKE, THE UPPER REAR BRAKE LIGHT BLEEDS LIGHT INTO THE REAR WINDOW. THIS OBSCURES VISION THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN VERY LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEIR POSITION IS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY OR DESIGN ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW, BUT I DO CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158010May 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE AND UPSHIFTING INTO 5TH GEAR, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CLUTCH DISC WHICH DISINTEGRATED AND WAS NOT COVERED SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE SO THE OWNER THEN PAID TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157913May 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1. COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON (1ST TIME). 2. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE SYSTEM AND REPORTED NO LEAKS. THEY TOPPED THE SYSTEM AND CHARGED ME $100 3. COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON (2ND TIME). 4. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP, THEY NOW REPORT THAT PROBLEM AS THE EGR COOLER. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT VW OF CANADA TO DISCUSS THIS FAILURE AS IT IS BECOMING VERY COMMON. 5. CALLED VWOC AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157853May 19, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2002 VW JETTA, VIN [XXX] OPERATES AT RANDOM. THIS CONDITION SOMETIMES OCCURS AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS OR AFTER COMPLETING A LANE CHANGE MANEUVER. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS IN THE CENTER, OR "OFF" POSITION BUT THE TURN SIGNAL / HAZARD FLASHER STARTS AND/OR STOPS AT RANDOM. VW'S SAFETY RECALL VX DATED MARCH 2005 CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VINS BUT CLEARLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CONCERN AND CONSIDER FORCING VW TO DO A MORE EXTENSIVE RECALL AS THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST ANNOYING, IT IS POTENTIALLY A SAFETY CONCERN. AN ACCIDENT OR ELECTRICAL FIRE COULD POSSIBLY RESULT FROM THIS CONDITION. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157841May 18, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY WIFE'S 2002 JETTA STATION WAGON TURBO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. ONLY 30 K AND TODAY A $2,600 REPAIR. VALVE FOR AIR CONDITIONER PUMP BROKE AND SENT METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGH THE SYSTEM NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF AC PUMP. COOLING FAN NOT WORKING- THAT'S $800.00. LAST REPAIR WAS AUTO WINDOWS- IDIOT DESIGNERS PUT IN PLASTIC COMPONENTS. MY WIFE TAKES EXCELLENT CARE OF HER VEHICLE (OIL CHANGE, ETC.) AND THIS INFERIOR BIT OF WORKMANSHIP JUST COSTS HER MORE MONEY. SHE WILL SHORTLY BE DUMPING THIS PIECE OF CRAP FOR TOYOTA COROLLA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157717May 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODES DISPLAYED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A COOLANT MIGRATION PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO AWAIT REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157632May 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PROBLEMS ON JETTA 2000. CLUTCH FAILED ON ME WHY DRIVING ON THE FL TURNPIKE ON SATURDAY 14, 2006. I WAS AT THE TOLL PLAZA AND WHEN I LEFT MY CAR WENT INTO GEAR AS NORMAL, WHEN I PUT IT IN 4TH GEAR I HEARD THE ENGINE REV HIGH BUT MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I COASTED OFF THE FIRST EXIT I SAW AND LUCKILY, KEPT COASTING RIGHT INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY SENT OUT A TOW COMPANY TO PICK MY CAR UP. ON MONDAY, MAY 15, 2006 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT THAT I HAD SOMEHOW ACTIVATED THE ANTI-THEFT ON MY CAR AND THEY HAD DISABLED IT AND IT WAS FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE WHEN THEY TOOK MY CAR TO GET WASHED THE CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE CLUTCH. TURNS OUT THEY ARE CHARGING ME 1800 DOLLARS BECAUSE THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO REPLACED, WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157529May 14, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. I STARTED TO HEAR A STRANGE NOISE AND BEGAN TO PULL OVER. AS I SWITCHED LANES THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE CAR WAS SCRAPING ALONG THE GROUND. I GOT THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND PULLED OVER. WHEN WE GOT OUT TO LOOK WHAT WE SAW AMAZED US. THE ENTIRE STEEL BELTED RADIAL HAD BLOWN OUT OF ONE SECTION OF THE TIRE. IT RIPPED THROUGH ALL THE LAYERS OF THE TIRE ALL AT ONCE. I FEEL VERY UNEASY ABOUT THE OTHER 3 THAT REMAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157405May 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL ITS POWER AND WAS I COULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH. WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO NOT GET HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, ENGINE/EXHAUST LIGHT, ESR LIGHT, ESP LIGHT ALL CAME ON. IT ALSO STALLS OUT WHEN SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION. VW UNABLE TO FIX AS OF YET, BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES ALREADY FOR THE SAME THING. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, CAR VERY UNRELIABLE!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157463May 12, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS BOTH DEPLOYED. AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIRBAG SENSOR HAD ACTIVATED AS IF IN A CRASH HOWEVER NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156887May 5, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, SEATS
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SMELLED AND COULD SEE SMOKE AND REALIZED DRIVERS SEAT WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND PUT OUT FIRE ON SEAT. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DID NOTHING - TOLD OWNER THEY HAD NOTHING TO SAY. DEALER REPLACED SEAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156716May 3, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW VW JETTA TDI. FROM DAY ONE, THE CAR'S FRONT SUSPENSION FELT AND SOUNDED "LOOSE." AT 700 MILES I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE CAR'S TIE RODS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY LIKE THIS. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156592May 2, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
IN LATE FEB 2005 PURCHASED A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (WHICH WAS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE) AND IN (APPOX) SEPT 2005 WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PACKED FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE FLEW UP. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND IT VISUALLY LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF CARDBOARD CRUMPLING HOWEVER THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT IT CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. I CONSIDER MYSELF AND THE PASSENGERS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AND/OR DID NOT CRASH. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED TREMENDOUS BODY DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND CAN NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND AS I MENTION PREVIOUSLY THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. I AM UNCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT SIMILAR VEHICLES TO MINE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BUT I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT / FAILURE DUE TO THE FACT OF THE SAFETY LATCH MALFUNCTION. I AM NOT 100% SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE HOOD WAS NOT SHUT COMPLETELY BECAUSE I DID NOT PHYSICALLY CHECK IT BEFORE THE INCIDENT BUT REGARDLESS THAT IS WHY I THOUGHT SAFETY LATCHES WERE PUT INTO USE ON VEHICLE HOODS TO PREVENT SUCH DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156108April 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
2002 JETTA GLS AUTOMATIC CARS. THE SIDE BUTTON YOU PUSH ON THE SHIFT HANDLE GETS STUCK IN AND DOESN'T POP OUT. THIS CAUSES ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OR CAN ACCIDENTALLY SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR IF IT DOESN'T POP OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155952April 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
THE CAR WOULD NOT START, MADE A CLICKING SOUND WITH EACH ATTEMPT, AND THE RADIO AND AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WOULD NOT TURN ON/RESPOND TO CONTROL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE STARTER WAS FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR (3YRS. OLD), 40000K. HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY READ ANECDOTAL COMPLAINTS THAT VW'S HAVE STARTER PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155877April 22, 2006
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FELL OFF THE JACK WHILE MY SON WAS CHANGING A TIRE THIS MORNING. THE JACK, PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH THE VEHICLE, APPEARS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DESIGN DEFECT. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE TIRE USING THE JACK PROVIDED WITH A 1994 VOLVO 940. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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