Volkswagen Jetta Complaints

10,351 consumer complaints on file.

#10104168December 20, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. MY BOY FRIEND WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR A MAXIMUM OF 5 MINUTES WHEN THE SEAT HEATER BURNT A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, HIS JEANS, AND LEFT A SMOKING BLACK RING IN HIS LEATHER WALLET. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED. SO, NOW I HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CAR SEAT, JEANS, AND A WALLET THAT ARE RUINED. THE SEAT WILL COST MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX AND THE JEANS AND WALLET ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DEALERS, ONE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ANOTHER WHERE I CURRENTLY RESIDE, AND BOTH ARE SAYING THAT IT WILL NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE MY CAR IS 2,000 MILES OVER ITS WARRANTY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND THEY HAVE OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE JEANS AND WALLET, BUT NOTHING FOR THE SEAT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104092December 19, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
2003 VW JETTA FRONT PASSENGER HEATING ELEMENT (HEATED SEATS) FAILURE; FIRE BURNED THROUGH SEAT FABRIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104978December 16, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER FELT HEAT COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT STARTED TO BURN. CONUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103812December 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. TIRE WAS CHANGED, BUT THE TIRE LEANED INWARD INTO THE VEHICLE. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE REAR AXLE BROKE WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103035December 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I PURCHASED A 2000 VPLKSWAGEN JETTA IN THE YEAR 2002, PRE-OWNED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT, AND NOW AM TRADING IT IN, AND TAKING A $3000 LOSS. HERE IS A LIST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD IN THE LAST 2 YEARS LISTED FROM FIRST PROBLEMS TO MOST RECENT: 1. WINDOW TRAY BROKE, WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR. $300 2. TRUNK LATCH BROKE, HAD TO GET REPLACED $50 3. SUNROOF BROKE, WOULD NOT MOVE AND NEEDED THE ENTIRE THING REPLACED INCLUDING THE MOTOR. $1800 4. WATER PUMP LEAKED OUT ALL COOLANT, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $ 600 5. STRUT COIL SNAPED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING, NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES $500 6. LASTLY, (THIS IS THE POINT WHEN I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND TRADE THE CAR IN FOR ANOTHER BRAND) WATER LEAKING FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL ON TOP OF INSIDE ROOF. SUNROOF THEN MALFUNCTIONED, OPENING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AND THE KNOB WAS NOT TOUCHED. HAD TO PAY TO DISCONNECT POWER SUNROOF. WHATEVER YOU DO, PLEASE, DO NOT BUY A VW JETTA. THAT IS UNLESS YOU WANT TO HAVE IT CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP AND HAVING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103053December 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO FAIRFAX VOLKSWAGEN IN FAIRFAX, VA TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION COILS, WHICH HAD BEEN OUT FOR OVER A YEAR. I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE RECALL -- EVEN AFTER I TOOK THE JETTA TO STOHLMAN VW FOR SERVICE ON MY AUDIO SPEAKERS IN THE FALL OF 2004. THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. FAIRFAX VW TOLD ME THAT CHECKING FOR RECALLS IS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY, AND THAT IS HOW THE RECALL WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH STOHLMAN, AND THE SERVICE, OR LACK THEREOF, I RECEIVED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102941December 14, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY 2002 VW JETTA VR6 BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND LEFT A QUARTER SIZE BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT OF MY CAR AND THE SEAT OF MY PANTS. FORTUNATELY MY WALLET FORMED A BARRIER BETWEEN ME AND THE HEAT SOURCE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A VW DEALER IN MASSACHUSETTS AND I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A NEW SEAT CUSHION AND HEATER ELEMENT. IF ANYONE SHOULD ASK WHAT REALLY "BURNS ME UP", I TELL THEM THE SEAT OF MY VW JETTA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102851December 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VW JETTA 2002. CAR IS 21/2 YRS OLD AND HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES. THE IGNITION COIL HAS FAILED 2 TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE SELONIOD ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALL WERE UNDER WARRANTY. VW NEEDS TO GET THE QUALITY OF THEIR CARS UP TO PAR. ONCE MY LEASE IS DONE I AM TURNING THE CAR IN AND WILL NOT GET ANOTHER VW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103682December 13, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH HER HAND. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ORDERED A NEW SEAT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102762December 12, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
1 ) WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON, THE SEAT BECAME BURNING HOT, TO A POINT WHERE I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT. THIS IS WHILE I AM DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE I-580. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW WITH NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO FOUND FROM OTHER REPORTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES, TO A POINT WHERE SOME CAUGHT ON FIRE. VW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND THE SERVICE DEPT EVEN WENT AS FAR AS RECOMMENDING ME JUST SWAPPING THE PASSENGER TO DRIVER SIDE HEAT CONTROL. *JB 2) THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT HEATER ALMOST LED TO A ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WHILE NOT COMPLETELY SEATED TO PULL OVER . 3). VW HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE SINCE THEY STATE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102765December 12, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND BURNED ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SAFELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED, BURNING THE LEATHER SEAT AND ONCE AGAIN, BURNED ME. ALSO, THE SUNROOF HAS PLASTIC GUIDES THAT KEEP BREAKING, I HAVE HAD THESE PLASTIC COMPONENTS REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2002, AND I DON'T USE MY SUNROOF THAT OFTEN, PROBABLY LESS THAN 30 TIMES/YEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10102777December 12, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I USED THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE ON MY 2002 VW JETTA. 12-11-04, I NOTICED A BURN HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. I PLACED MY FINGER OVER IT AND BURNT MY FINGER. I ALSO HAVE A GOOD JACKET THAT HAS A BURN MARK ON IT. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY VW DEALERSHIP ON 12-13-04 TO LET THEM KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE THEM REPLACE MY SEAT AND COAT! I THINK THE FACT THAT THE NHTSA IS WAITING FOR A FATALITY OR TWO BEFORE MAKING THIS A RECALL IS JUST RIDICULOUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102788December 12, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAD JUST CUT ON MY HEATED SEATS IN MY 2003 VOLKSWAGON JETTA AND NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS GETTING VERY HOT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. I COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND COULD NOT SEE B/C IT WAS DARK. I STARTED FILLING AROUND IN MY SEAT AND FELT A WHOLE AND IT BURNED MY FINGER. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND SO I TURNED ON MY LIGHT IN MY CAR AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. MY SEAT STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE WHOLE. I TRIED TO SEE CLOSER WHAT WAS GOING ON AND NOTICED SPARKS COMING OUT OF THE WHOLE. THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF AT THAT MOMENT WAS MY HEATED SEATS. I TURNED THEM OFF AND THE SPARKS WENT AWAY. I NOW HAVE A WHOLE IN MY SEAT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM TAKING IT IN ON MONDAY, HOWEVER AFTER READING MANY WEBSITES ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN 2002/2003 JETTA'S I AM NOT SO SURE THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY TRY AND BLAME IT ON THE DRIVER MESSING AROUND WITH THE GRID WHICH IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. I AM WRITING IN ADVANCE AND CALLING AS WELL SO IT IS ON FILE THAT THIS HAPPENED. I FOUND THE COIL IN THE SEAT THAT WAS NOT PROTECTED BY ANYTHING AND LOOKS TO BE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SPARKS IN MY SEAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102789December 12, 2004
SUSPENSION
MID-1999 VOLKSWAGEN INTRODUCED THE JETTA IV SERIES. THE COILS SUSPENSION SPRINGS ON THE 4-CYLINDER TDI DIESEL ARE TOO TALL AND TOO SOFT, LEADING TO EXTREME OVER STEER AND BODY ROLL IN CURVES AND EXTREME INTOLERANCE FOR WIND TURBULENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CREATED BY NATURE, TRACTOR TRAILERS AND (EVEN) SMALL CARS. THIS IS (NEARLY) AN ADMITTED DEFECT, AS VOLKSWAGEN OFFERS A SPRING UPGRADE KIT FOR 4-CYLINDER JETTAS IN ITS AFTERMARKET CATALOG! NESTLED RIGHT THERE BETWEEN THE CUSTOM KEY FOBS AND FLOOR MATS! FURTHERMORE, REVIEWS OF THE 2005 MODEL REVEAL A COMPLETE OVERHAUL TO THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH STIFFER AND WIDER TIRES, TO NO AVAIL. THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN TO TASK ON THIS ISSUE. I AM REPORTING TODAY, AS IT IS ONLY MODERATELY WINDY AND (YET) I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING STABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS COULD BE AN UNDETECTED FACTOR IN MANY INCIDENTS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103544December 10, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS WHICH MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEAT COILS BURNED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE DRIVER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10102627December 10, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE LEASE ON MY VW IT IS END IN ONE NEXT MONTH JANUARY 2005. THEY SEND A PERSON TO INSPECT THE CAR, HE FOUND EVERYTHING OK, HIS REPORT SAY THAT I NEED TO DO A WINDSHIELD REPAIR. THE WINDSHIELD DON'T HAVE NOTHING THAT YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE, HE USED A SPECIAL PEN, AND FOUND LIKE 60 CHIPS LIKE SAND CHIPS. NOW THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD, WHEN THERE IS NOTHIG WRONG WITH IT. PLEASE HELP ME I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY $350.00 IT IS UNFAIR. WHEN THIS CAR HAS GIVING US ONLY PORBLEMS AND SPEND HALF OF THE TIME ON HT E DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102438December 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
REPEAT INCIDENTS LEADING TO CONSUMER'S LONG TERM DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS. WORRISOME PANEL INDICATOR LIGHTS -- FLASHING: ENGINE WARNING AND GLOW PLUG (DIESEL) LIGHTS WITHIN CURRENT LEASE PERIOD. AFTER FIRST TWO INCIDENTS, THE THIRD (THEN UNDER WARRANTY) WAS FOUND TO BE DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. AND REPAIRED?...DEC 7 '04, AT ABOUT 55K -- BLINKING LIGHTS AGAIN. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED NO ENGINE PROBLEM (THIS WAS THE SAME RESULT OF THE TWO PREVIOUS BEFORE THE THIRD RESULTED IN A MAJOR WARRANTY REPAIR). THIS HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS AN ACCELERATOR SENSOR FAILURE. (THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THREE (3) DAYS; WE ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE "CAREFULLY UNTIL THE PART CAN BE REPLACED.) THIS SENSOR FAILURE IS THEN ONE OF SEVERAL OTHERS IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE: THE FUEL GUAGE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE OR TWICE; THE SEAT HEATER SENSOR JUST, AND OUT-OF-WARRANTY, BURNED A HOLE IN THE FRONT SEAT (THREE WEEKS AWAITING FACTORY REPS 'GET-BACK.'). AN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM (LEAK) WAS ALSO NOTED AND REPAIRED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102468December 9, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE AT WORK. I SMELT SOMETHING, LIKE BURNING. I PUT CAR IN PARK. FELT BURNING SENSATION ON UPPER LEFT THIGH/ BUTT. LOOKED DOWN AND THERE WAS A GROWING HOLE WITH SMALL FLAME. I TURNED OFF MY CAR, NOTICED MY JEANS WERE BURNT, JUMPED OUT, AND THE SMALL FLAME WAS STILL VISIBLE IN THE HOLE. ONCE I FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE SEAT HEATER I TURNED OFF THE SWITCH WICH WAS ONLY SET AT 2 OUT OF 5 LEVELS. ONLY THEN, WHEN BOTH MY CAR AND SEAT HEATER SWITCH OFF DID IT DIE OUT. TOOK DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND USED "UPDATED PART" BUT WOULD NOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS MEANT OR WHAT THEY DID. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME INFORMATION OR CLAIM THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102343December 8, 2004
SEATS
A 2001 VW JETTA HAS AN ISSUE WITH A METAL SPRING THAT IS PART OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE SPRING SEPARATES FROM THE MECHANISM THAT KEEPS THE SEAT FROM SLIDING FORWARD. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC REASON THE SPRING BECOMES LOOSE FROM THE CAR SEAT AND ONE WOULD NEVER KNOW IF THE SPRING IS NOT ATTACHED, IT COULD CAUSE MAJOR HARM TO THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT REMAINS LOCKED IN A POSITION, BUT IF THE CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT COULD SLIDE FORWARD, CAUSING INJURY. VW REFUSES TO COVER THE PART AS A SAFETY RECALL AND IS CHARGING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF 2 INSTANCES WHERE THIS SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE DRIVER SEATS IN A 2001 VW JETTA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099346December 8, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BECOME UNUSUALLY HOTTER THAN NORMAL. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE DEALER WANTED A NON REFUNDABLE FEE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO THE CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. *TC THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD A FAINT BURNING SMELL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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