Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10148215January 20, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2001 VW JETTA GLX VR6 WITH APPROXIMATELY 45K MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN A PRIVATE SALE WITH 25K MILES. INITIALLY, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BAD COIL PACK, WHICH DID NOT BECOME PROBLEMATIC UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD A NEW COIL PACK INSTALLED FOR $836, WHICH INCLUDES A $99 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND $560 FOR THE PART. DURING THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD A CASE OPEN WITH VW CUSTOMER ADVOCACY REGARDING THE COIL PROBLEM AND YESTERDAY I RECEIVED THEIR RESPONSE. THEY HAVE STATED THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE WG COIL REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN CONTRARY TO THE WORDING OF THEIR ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE. PLEASE REFERENCE TSB 10005665. AS A RESULT OF THIS COIL PROBLEM, I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT 25K MILES AND HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE BACK FIRE ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE PAID THE $836 TO RETRIEVE THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AND I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE FAULTY IGNITION COIL THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO ASKED VW CUSTOMER ADVOCACY TO SEND ME A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO MY CLAIM. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY 2001 JETTA VR6 OWNER WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, ONLY TO FIND THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PROMISE TO REPLACE FAULTY COIL PACKS IN 2001-2003 VR6 ENGINE CARS. THE ORIGINAL CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTION WAS INTENDED TO PREEMPT THE ISSUING OF A FORMAL RECALL AND VW IS NOT HONORING WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY PROMISED IN HAVING ISSUED ONLY 15 TSB'S WITH A MUCH NARROWER SCOPE THAN ORIGINALLY INTENDED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10148118January 19, 2006AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A SLUSH COVERED HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND HIT THE RETAINING WALL IN THE MEDIAN. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10148053January 18, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS COMES ON RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RUNNING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V096000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147673January 13, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION BROKE ON MY 2002 JETTA TDI (AUTOMATIC) WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE U.S. MARINE CORPS BASE, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA. IT ONLY HAS 66,500 MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE THE DESERT VW DEALERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CHECK THE TRANSMISSION THOROUGHLY AS I REQUESTED TWO MONTHS AGO. VW AMERICA IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL WITH MY REQUEST TO HAVE THIS REVIEWED BY THEM. THE DEALERS TELL ME TO CALL VW AMERICA AND VW AMERICA TELLS ME TO CALL THE DEALERS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147748January 13, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 VW JETTA. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH MY BRAKE LIGHTS 8 TIMES. INCLUDING MY HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES. MY INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK AND THEN THEY DON'T. I KNOW I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT ONCE BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I MUST HAVE BOUGHT A BAD BULB! YESTERDAY WAS THE 8TH TIME MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147351January 10, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A 2005 JETTA TDI, BRAND NEW. WHEN IT HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON IT, IT DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND AFTER 20 MINUTES IT FINALLY RESTARTED. THEN 6 WEEKS LATER, WITH LESS THAN 4500 MILES ON IT, IT DIED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS GOING 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY. I HAD MY 3 KIDS IN THE CAR. AGAIN, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO A NARROW SHOULDER. I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT AGAIN, AFTER 20 MINUTES I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART IT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WITH MY CHILDREN SINCE WE TRAPPED BETWEEN A GUARDRAIL AND THE FIRST LANE. IT WAS TERRIFYING. THE ONLY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WAS THAT AFTER IT DIED QUIETLY, A LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP." THE DEALER SAYS IT'S RUNNING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY A BRAND NEW CAR HAS QUIT TWICE WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART FOR 20 MINUTES EACH TIME. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147235January 9, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ONE COMMENT I HAVE IS REGARDING THE REAR EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. OTHER THAN THE SMALL ORANGE SIDE MIRROR INDICATORS WHICH ARE A MARGINAL BACKUP TO THE REAR TURN INDICATORS IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT TO SEE THE REAR TURN SIGNALS ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING AS THEY ARE RED, THE SAME COLOR AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN I FOLLOWED MY SON HOME LAST NIGHT I KNEW HE WAS BRAKING BUT WITHOUT THE SMALL ORANGE MIRROR INDICATOR I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS TURNING. IS THERE ANY PLAN TO REPLACE THE REAR TURN SIGNAL LENSES WITH ORANGE COLORED LENSES? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147250January 9, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS DEPRESS. THE FIRST 3 TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THE COMPUTER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN AREA REPRESENTATIVE. HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 02/06/06. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146885January 4, 2006SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING. ALTHOUGH A SMALL HOLE FORMED IN THE SEAT CUSHION THERE WAS NOT VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF A FIRE OTHER THAN SMOKE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146706January 2, 2006UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER RAIN, THE INTERIOR IS FLOODED WITH WATER. BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR IS SOAKED WITH WATER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146613December 30, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN JUNE AS A LEFT OVER, HAD IT A MONTH AND THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED IT WITH METAL CLIPS AND IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. 5 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME WINDOW. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146367December 29, 2005AIR BAGS
I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE A PROBLEM ON MY NEW MODEL 2005 JETTA. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 3 TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2005. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO THE LEMON LAW PROGRAM IN CT. I HAVE SPOKE TO THE ATT GENERALS OFFICE AND THIS FALLS UNDER THE SAFETY CATEGORY AND FEELS I SHOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED NOT KNOWING FOR SURE IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN FIXED OR NOT SINCE THIS PAST WEEK WAS THE THIRD ATTEMPT OF THEM FIXING THE PROBLEM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146106December 27, 2005LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. DESPITE USING THE UNLOCK BUTTONS ON KEY, THE DRIVERS DOOR, AND THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE DOOR LATCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. EACH TIME ONE OF THE MENTIONED UNLOCK BUTTONS IS PUSHED, YOU CAN HEAR THE ELECTRONIC MECHANISM SOUND LIKE IT IS UNLOCKING THE DOOR, BUT THE LATCH STILL DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET, BUT FELT THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED HERE DUE TO THE DANGER OF THIS ISSUE IN CASE OF A CRASH / FIRE IN WHICH IT COULD PREVENT A QUICK EXIT OF THE PASSENGER. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146161December 27, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 10/31/02. I PURCHASED IT NEW. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY TEENAGERS TO DRIVE AS THEY BEGIN SINCE IT IS A SAFE CAR. LAST WEEKEND, (12/17/05) I WAS PERSONALLY DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE SEAT WARMER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GOT SO HOT THAT IT ACTUALLY BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT, AND THE CAR SMELLED TERRIBLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER. I THINK THAT HAVING TO FEAR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY CAR IS OUTRAGEOUS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146181December 27, 2005STRUCTURE
VW JETTA'S (1999 AND LATER): DRAIN SYSTEM ORIGINATING AT SUNROOF HAS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT RESULTS IN WATER BACKING UP INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. IN SEVERE STORMS, THE CAR WILL BECOME INUNDATED WITH WATER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145780December 21, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT HAD RECALL 04V096000 REPAIRS ON BRAKE LIGHTS COMPLETED OVER A YEAR AGO, AND NOW THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145857December 21, 2005AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER SUSPECT A DEFECT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE THE HIGHEST IMPACT (1 OUT OF 14 SCALE) DAMAGE ON THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED FOR AN INSPECTION; THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT WAS NO MORE THAN A DESCRIPTION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO SEND A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS FOR A THIRD-PARTY EXPERTS INSPECTION. 1) ACCIDENT NARRATIVE (BASED ON CITY OF WHEELING, WV, POLICE REPORT): THE VEHICLE (VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2004) WAS ON THE FIRST LANE OF I-70 W. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST A CONTROL AND WENT ONTO THE SECOND LANE AND WENT BACK ONTO THE FIRST LANE. THE VEHICLE HIT THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE FRONT LEAVING 25 FEET OF THE GUARD RAIL DAMAGED; THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF AND STRUCK A TRUCK TRAILER WITH THE RIGHT REAR END. 2) DESPITE THE SEVERE DAMAGE ON THE FRONT (THE CONSUMER HAS PHOTOS; THE FRONT IS ALMOST GONE), NONE OF THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO SEND A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS FOR A THIRD-PARTY EXPERTS INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLE TO NHTSA FOR AN ANALYSIS. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145745December 20, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 04V096000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145589December 19, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
EXCESSIVE BUILDUP OF CARBON IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE CAR TO START. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG VW DEALERS WITH TDI DIESELS AND THERE IS NOTHING VW IS DOING ABOUT IT. COST $700 TO REPAIR THIS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145649December 19, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LURCHED FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. HOWEVER , THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0