Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10075396June 14, 2004WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
WHILE ON THE FREEWAY WE HAD A BLOWN TIRE IN OUR 2002 VW JETTA GLS VR6 VEHICLE. WE COULD NOT OPEN THE WHEEL BOLTS SINCE THEY WERE GLUED FROM THE FACTORY, INTO THE WHEEL. IT TOOK A 4' PIECE OF PIPE TO OPERATE THE BOLTS WRENCH TO OPEN THEM. FURTHERMORE, THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE IS UNDERSIZED AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. IT SHIFTED WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A STEADY SUPPORT FOR RAISING THE VEHICLE FOR THE WHEEL CHANGE. AFTER A FEW TRIES, WE RESORTED TO USING A HYDRAULIC JACK SUPPLIED BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF DEPUTY WHO WAS PASSING BY THE LOCATION WE WERE STOPPED AT. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10073955June 14, 2004AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO REPAIR SHOPS FOR AN INSPECTION. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD JUST ACCELERATED FROM A RED LIGHT WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE STATING IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *SC *JB.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075292June 13, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADD OIL. EVERYTIME I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER HE JUST GAVE ME THE RUN-AROUND. THEY CONDUCTED 2 OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS BUT NEVER DID ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHILCE WAS PURCHASED IN NJ FROM DOUGLAS MOTORS. AT EVERY SCHEDULED SERVICE I COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX IT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075256June 12, 2004STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE STEERING IN THIS 1996 JETTA IS JUST HORRIBLE, NO MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT. IM TOLD THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE WHEEL BASE TORN (REAR) AND ITS GOING TO COST ME 800 TO FIX. YET, THE STEERING HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE IVE HAD THE CAR AND I HARDLY NOTICED UNTIL I RENTED A CAR (BECAUSE THE CRANK SHAFT IN THE JETTA BROKE TOO). THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION OR ANY MAJOR TRAMA TO HAVE ANYTHING TORN, IT ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT, YET IVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK SHAFT, LAST WEEK THE ENTIRE COMPUTER, 2 YEARS AGO THE ENTIRE ENGINE FELL TO THE GROUND (MY LAND LORD DISCOVERED) AND NOW THE STEERING. I THOUGHT VWS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WELL BUILT CARS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075248June 11, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
1. & 2. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DRAWN QUICKLY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP VIOLENTLY. SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN THE PEDAL IS ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE IS A LOUD SOUND OF AIR WHOOSHING AND THE PEDAL COMES BACK TO THE NORMAL POSITION. 3. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT I FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS REGARDING ON THE FORUMS AT WWW.TDICLUB.COM. MULTIPLE REPLACEMENT POWER BRAKE BOOSTERS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL THE VW DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENTS I CALLED IN MY AREA WHICH LEADS ME TO FURTHER BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. READING FURTHER ON THE TDICLUB FORUMS IT WAS STATED THAT FAULTY POWER BRAKE BOOSTERS ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR BRAKES DRAGGING AND WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THIS IS A HUGE POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR VW OWNERS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075185June 10, 2004VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 JETTA GLS AND HAVE HAD THE CAR JUMP STARTED FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THE BATTERY DIED, THEY GAVE ME A SOLAR PANEL TO HELP KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. MY BATTERY DIED AGAIN LAST WEEK WITH THE SOLAR PANEL PLUGGED IN. VW RAN ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STILL MAINTAINS THAT, AMONG A LONG LIST OF THE OTHER POSSIBILITIES THEY HAVE OFFERED ME, THEY ARE SURE IT IS BECAUSE I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH TO CHARGE THE BATTERY SUFFICIENTLY TO HANDLE ALL THE ELECTRONICS THAT ARE STANDARD ON THE CAR. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS EXPLANATION. IF THEY PUT ALL THESE "EXTRAS" ON THE CAR AND IT DRAWS TOO MUCH ON THE BATTERY WHEN NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS , THEN WHY PUT THEM ON THE CAR? IN ADDITION,I ALSO HAD THE FRONT WINDOWS CRASH INSIDE THE DOOR WHILE ENTERING A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THEY WERE REPLACED. AND, LAST MONTH WHILE I HAD THE CAR IN FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE TAIL LIGHTS, I HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW MECHANISM FIXED AGAIN DUE TO A FAULTY CLAMP. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. I NEVER EXPECTED A NEW CAR TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE AND A WASTE OF TIME. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10076003June 9, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE POWER RETURNED IN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER UNLESS THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DISCOVERED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ONE HAD TO BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IN MOVING TRAFFIC IF VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN IT COULD BE HIT FROM REAR. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10076032June 8, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
RECALL NOTICE FOR CHECK/ REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.*MR THE FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT TO REMAIN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM (VOLKSWAGEN JETTA). THE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST $6000. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THE SERVICE DEALER'S STAFF SUDDENLY BECAME RUDE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10076029June 8, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC LOCKING SYSTEM ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *MR THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BECOME LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPROGRAMMING THE LOCKING SYSTEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT ACTUALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAD CURRENTLY SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE DOOR ACTUATOR. *SC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075896June 8, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF THIS BY A PASSING MOTORIST. THERE WAS A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH RECALL 04V090000 ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075913June 8, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE BECAUSE THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE ABS ECU RECALL 02V03100 OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDEDIN THE RECALL DUE TO MODEL YEAR AND VIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075926June 8, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V096000 CONCERNING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. AFTER HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10074907June 7, 2004AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE EXITING THE BALTIMORE HARBOR TUNNEL NORTH BOUND AT 55 MILES PER HOUR I HIT A POTHOLE. THE POTHOLE SLIGHTLY DAMAGE THE RIGHT FRONT(PASSENGER SIDE) RIM AND BROKE THE TIRE SEAL. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK ALSO CAN NOT RETRACT OR ADJUST MY SEAT BELT. MINOR MEDICAL INJURES OCURRED. DECIDED TO CHECK FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS VOLKSWAGEN IN ALL THOSE CASES WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, SO I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. WILL SPEAK TO MY DEALER ASAP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10074922June 7, 2004FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VW JETTA TDI 1.9 LITTER DIESEL HAS EXTREMELY POOR FUEL MILEAGE. ADVERTISED IS TO GET 50 MI/GALLON. I GET AT BEST 40 MI/GALLON HIGHWAY AND AS LOW AS 25 MI/GALLON MIXED HIGHWAY/CITY. DEALER AVOIDS THE ISSUE BY SAYING LOW MILAGE IS DUE TO BAD FUEL, EXTREME COLD, POOR DRIVING HABITS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10074777June 4, 2004VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
JUST PURCHASED MY FIRST VW JETTA. MAY BE MY LAST VW PERIOD. MY WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW TAKES NO REPONSIBILITY FOR. FIXING IT MYSELF, IT COSTS ME $150 EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I SHOULD CHARGE VW $70 AN HOUR FOR LABOR!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10074796June 4, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TOOK CAR FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A VW DEALER, HOWEVER, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THE ENGINE BLOCK WOULD GET A CRACK. IN FACT, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD ONLY EVER SEEN THIS INCIDENT ONCE BEFORE. MY CAR HAD NEVER OVERHEATED OR ANYTHING PRIOR TO THIS. THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT. IT CANNOT BE SOLD AND I CAN'T AFFORD $7100 FOR A NEW ENGINE. IN FACT THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR...THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS (SUCH AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACE TWICE, THE TRUNK LATCH BROKE ONE DAY, THE REAR BREAKS HAD PREMATURE WEAR, GLOVE BOX LATCH BROKE). THESE ARE POORLY CONSTRUCTED VEHICLES. I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075721June 4, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10074806June 4, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE. THIS PART HAD TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT COOLANT LOSS. I HAD TO PURCHASE THE PART AND PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10072373June 3, 2004EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I HAD A VW JETTA 2002 MODEL WITH 13880 MILES. PRIOR TO THAT INCIDENT, I HAD NO ACCIDENT OR TROUBLE. I HAD SERVICE CHECK UP DONE AND THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON MAR.16, 2004. ON APR.5, I PARKED THE CAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARKING LOT. I TOOK OUT THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE CAR WAS STILL SHAKING AND VIBRATING AND THE SOUND WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. I CALLED OUT FOR HELP AND THE JANITOR CAME TO OPEN UP THE HOOD. BY THE TIME, THE BURNING SMELL WAS ALL OVER AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT. THE CABLES ATTACHED TO THE BATTERY WAS ON FIRE AND THE BATTERY WAS MELTING. THE JANITOR HAD TO CUT OFF THE CABLES IN ORDER TO STOP THE FIRE. IT WAS TOWED AWAY TO VW SUNNYVALE. AFTER THE INSPECTION, VW SAID THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE SAFETY KEY DEVICE WHICH WAS INSTALLED AT THE BOB LEWIS DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THEN THE STARTER DISENGAGED. VW SAID IT WAS AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT THAT THEIR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR. WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS CAR, IT WAS NEW AND WE REFUSED TO HAVE AN EXTRA SAFETY DEVICE, BUT BOB LEWIS HAD LEFT IT THERE WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE. THEY ALSO DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT MODIFICATION WAS DONE NOR AFTER ANY MODIFICATION. THE CAR WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. NOW THE SUNNYVALE DEALER ESTIMATED THE COST OF REPAIR FOR $14500. MY INSURANCE HAD SENT 2 APPRAISERS AND I AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPORTS. I TRIED TO REACH BOB LEWIS, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER CALLED ME BACK. *LA THE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS IN THE WIRING. THE STARTER DISENGAGED AND THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE AFTER MARKET PRODUCT DUE TO A MODIFICATION ON THE ORIGINAL WIRING. (THE DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE DIRECTLY BELOW THE BATTERY) *SC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10075520June 2, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD,THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0