Volkswagen Jetta Complaints (2008)

188 consumer complaints on file.

#10586454May 4, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I GOT LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR ON A HOT DAY WITH MY KID! I SAT IN THE BACK TO PLAY WITH HIM AND KEEP HIM COMPANY. THE DOOR CLOSED AND IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I WOULD PULL ON THE LEVER. I WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT (I KEEP IT PULLED BACK QUITE A BIT) AND THE DOOR. I COULD BARELY MOVE. MY WIFE HAD TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DOOR LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM HAS (SINCE THIS INCIDENT) FAILED ON BOTH REAR DOORS. BOTH!!! WE CAN NO LONGER LOCK THE CAR WITHOUT SPENDING 10-15 MINUTES OPENING, CLOSING, WORKING THE REMOTE ETC, UNTIL IT FINALLY PRODUCES THE DESIRED BEEP WITH THE CAR BEING ACTUALLY LOCKED. THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE, THE ALARM WOULD BE ACTIVATED BUT THE REAR DOOR (PASSENGER SIDE) WOULD REMAIN UNLOCKED. I PULL ON THE HANDLE, THE DOOR OPENS AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE POINT WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THE CHILD OUT OF THE CAR VIA THE FRONT DOORS. I AM NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE CAR PROBABLY GETTING STOLEN OVER THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS CHILD HAZARD! THERE ARE DOZENS OF THREADS ON VW FORUMS ABOUT THESE MECHANISMS FAILING EITHER ON: 1. ELECTRICAL HARNESS BEING DAMAGED. OR 2. DOOR LOCK/LATCH NOT ACTIVATING OR DEACTIVATING. OR BOTH HOW LONG IS VW GOING TO IGNORE THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $450 IN PARTS AND LABOR FOR 1 DOOR. THAT'S ALMOST A $1000 FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS VERY COMMON. VERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578444April 9, 2014
SUSPENSION
RECENTLY, I HEARD SOME BUMPING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET REPAIRED, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COIL SPRING IN THE RIGHT REAR HAD BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION AND THAT IT NEED TO BE FIXED OR THAT SPRING COULD POP OUT WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE VOLKSWAGEN MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL. I HAD THE SPRING REPLACED, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER SPRING MAY HAVE THE SAME FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE VEHICLE BEING ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR OTHER DRIVERS THAT DO NOT PAY AS CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SOUNDS THEIR CARS MAKE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568444February 27, 2014
POWER TRAIN
WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, AS I REACHED 60MPH THE CAR LUNGED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING OVER 6000RPM. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. THE GEAR/DRIVE MODE DISPLAY LED BEGAN FLASHING CONSTANTLY. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT UP TO A HIGHER GEAR SO I MOVED INTO SLOWER LANES AND KEPT THE CAR AT ABOUT 5000RPM/55MPH UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO STOP. THE CAR GEARED DOWN AS I DECELERATED BUT APPEARED TO SKIP A GEAR AND LUNGED AT EACH SHIFT. I TRIED SWITCHING BETWEEN DRIVE AND SPORT MODE BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP I DISCOVERED THE REVERSE GEAR DID NOT ENGAGE. IT SIMPLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I SHUT THE CAR DOWN, WAITED A MINUTE AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT NO LONGER HAD ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS OR ERROR MESSAGES. I LATER LEARNED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE 'DSG FLASH OF DEATH'.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566048February 26, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE ARE FAILING FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6 YEARS AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THEY FAILED, THE CAR WAS BARELY TWO YEARS OLD AND HAD 22,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY FAILED WAS TWO YEARS LATER, AT 40,000 MILES. THEY ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT VW HAD DISCOVERED A DESIGN FLAW ON THEIR 2008 JETTA BRAKES THAT WAS CAUSING THIS, BUT NO RECALL OR RESOLUTION HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED. VW NOW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE OR TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561937January 28, 2014
SEATS
WHILE MY SISTER WHICH IS CURRENTLY PREGNANT, WAS DRIVING MY JETTA THE HEATED SEAT OVERHEATED. THE HEATED SEATS BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED THE SEAT, HER JACKET AND HER SKIN. SHE RECEIVED 1ST -2ND DEGREE BURNS ON HER BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10561569January 26, 2014
SEATS
TURNED SEAT WARMER ON WHILE DRIVING. THIRTY MINUTES LATER AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION, FELT LIKE MY LOWER BACK WAS BURNED. HAD MY WIFE LOOK AT MY BACK. I HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SECOND TO THIRD DEGREE BURN. THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, THE BURN BEGAN BLISTERING. THERE IS AN IMPRINT IN THE SEAT WHICH MATCHES WHERE THE BURNT PART OF MY BACK WAS RESTING AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. A BURN MARK (HOLE), A LITTLE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF A PIN TIP, WAS LEFT IN THE SEAT AND THE FABRIC APPEARS TO BE MELTED AROUND THE HOLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10558275January 2, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING AND THE DOOR WON'T LOCK AT ALL. ANYBODY CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND HURT YOUR CHILD OR STILL THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER HERE IN AUSTIN, TX TODAY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTA MODEL AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF COSTUMERS. THE ELECTRIC LOCKS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556179December 16, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
FUEL CUT-OFF/SURGING WHEN ACCELERATING AND TAPPING NOISE FROM ENGINE. ENGINE IS THROWING ENGINE CODES; A LOSS OF POWER IS PRESENT WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAM FOLLOWER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON ALL 2.0T FSI MOTORS FROM VW. MY CAM FOLLOWER HAS A HOLE IN IT (HAVE THE PART) AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS WORN DOWN (HAVE THE PART) BECAUSE IT HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAM LOBE, WHICH HAS BEEN SCARRED (HAVE THE PART). REPLACEMENT REQUIRES A NEW CAM, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND CAM FOLLOWER. THE DESIGN HOWEVER WILL REQUIRE CONSTANT INSPECTION OF THE CAM FOLLOWER TO AVOID MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. ALL 2.0 T FSI ENGINES WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN HAS A TSB #2015153 DATED DECEMBER 16, 2009 THAT WARNS OF THIS PROBLEM UPON CEL LIGHT BEING SHOWN. BUT BY THEN THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT HAD A HOLE IN THE CAM FOLLOWER, WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAM AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REPAIR COST WAS OVER $2,000.00. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR. SO MUCH SO THAT VOA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO TEN YEARS AND 100,000 MILES JUST FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THEY USED VIN NUMBERS AND MY VIN NUMBERS IS AFTER THE CUTOFF POINT EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE EXACT SAME MOTOR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE EARLIER VIN NUMBERED CARS. THEY NEED TO COVER THE AFFECTED MOTOR NUMBERS NOT THE VIN NUMBERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555112December 6, 2013
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
PURCHASED 4 NEW NEXEN N5000 (225/45R17) TIRES AND HAD THEM INSTALLED ON 10/21/13. APPROX. 2K MILES ON THE TIRES, AND WE NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL MEET. NO SIGNS OF SCRATCHES ON THE SIDEWALL, AND WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY IMPACT WITH POTHOLES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553366November 22, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS DO NOT LOCK, OR UNLOCK, RANDOM OPENING OF SUNROOF AND DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551660November 10, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LED MIRROR TURN SIGNAL AND THE FRONT BUMPER ORANGE ILLUMINATED SAFETY REFLECTOR BOTH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SIMULTANEOUSLY STOPPED WORKING. I'M UNSURE IF THIS IS DUE TO FUSE ISSUES OR COMPUTER RELATED ELECTRICAL ISSUES. A SAFETY PROBLEM IS POSED WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545599September 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE PASSENGER DOOR(S) WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE KEYLESS ENTRY LOCK OR UNLOCK COMMANDS. THEY CAN ONLY CLOSE AND OPEN MANUALLY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A STANDARD DEFAULT IN MODEL YEARS RANGING FROM 2007 AND ONWARD. THE SUNROOF WILL PERIODICALLY OPEN BY ITSELF AND THE BLINKERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (EXAMPLE IS WHEN I FLICK THE BLINKER UP TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE LEFT BLINKER COMES ON INSTEAD). WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY, AND LIFE THREATENING, ISSUES? *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531564July 24, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 10 AND 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT, CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER, FUEL PUMP, AND A VALVE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524136July 10, 2013
ENGINE
THE CAM FOLLOWER FAILED RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE METAL THE PART IT IS MADE FROM IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH. THIS CAUSES IT TO WEAR THROUGH AND BREAK, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AND FUEL PUMP. AS A RESULT, ALL THREE PARTS MUST BE REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS CHOSEN TO COVER THIS REPAIR ON SOME BUT NOT ALL VEHICLES WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THEY STATE THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING WHICH VEHICLES TO COVER BASED ON VIN # ALONE AND NOT ALL VEHICLES WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILED PART EXTENDS BEYOND THEIR VIN # METRIC. THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE CHOSEN TO COVER THE REPAIR ON SOME, BUT NOT ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. THIS IS UNFAIR TO THOSE CONSUMERS STUCK WITH A BILL, WHILE OTHERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAVE IT COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520618June 19, 2013
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE HAD THE CAR IN THE BODY SHOP FOR A REPAIR! DENT IN THE REAR CORNER PANEL THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE DAYS LATER WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE BODY SHOP THEY TOOK IT THE COLUMBUS GA VW DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD AND THEY WERE GETTING QUITE A FEW CARS BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.WELL IT TURNS OUT ALL YOUR ELECTRONICS HORN, RADIO,CRUISE CONTROL, AIR BAGS,DASH LIGHTS,ALL THE WIRES FOR THESE ANY MANY MORE ITEMS TRAVEL THRU THE CLOCK SPRING! THERE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ITEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? THEY HAD A RECALL ON THERE 2011 JETTA HONK YOUR HORN AND YOUR MOTOR MIGHT TURN OFF! THE CAUSE CLOCK SPRING! (SO THE BODY SHOP WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY DID CAUSED IT TO GO BAD THAT THEY JUST GO BAD). THE CAR IS FIVE YEARS OLD THEY DON'T JUST GO BAD!!!! BAD DESIGN MAYBE? MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY???? SAFETY FIRST!! OH YA AND THE HORN IS NOT WORKING! I GUESS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE NEXT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME........[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513073May 21, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE PROBLEM IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE INTAKE VALVES STUCK FROM EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP. IT WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2011 AND NOW NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. PROBLEM IS, NOW I'M OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE DEALER IS SAYING I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS MYSELF. THEY ALSO ADDED THAT THERE WAS ONLY A 1 YEAR WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2011. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND NO RECALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN. IF THE DECARBONIZATION HAD BEEN DONE WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512420May 16, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS
APPARENTLY THIS CAR WAS IN A SERIOUS FRONT END ACCIDENT THAT WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM CARMAX. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WAS ONLY UNTIL I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER TAKING A STONE TO IT THAT MANY PROBLEMS WERE SHOWN TO ME INCLUDING PARTS MISSING, BENT RIM, FRAUDULENT REPRESENTATION BY CAR MAX. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503128March 15, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR, ALARM HORN FAILS TO SOUND WHEN ALARM IS ACTIVATED. REAR DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR DOESN'T HAVE AN EXTERNAL KEY HOLE TO UNLOCK DOOR AND THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS FROM THE INSIDE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WITH A CHILD IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A DELAY OF REMOVING THE CHILD FROM A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP CHARGES BETWEEN $450 TO $550 PER ACTUATOR. AFTER AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET AND NUMEROUS FORUMS, THIS ACTUATOR REPAIR IS MORE COMMON THAN VOLKSWAGEN WOULD LIKE ANYONE TO BELIEVE. THIS PART IS KEPT IN STOCK AT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY ARE VAGUE WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF REPAIR. THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE A PROBLEM WITH NEWER MODELS. I'VE OWNED A USED 2003 VW JETTA FOR OVER 5 YEARS NOW AND HAVEN'T NEEDED AN ACTUATOR YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501896March 6, 2013
ENGINE
I WAS TOLD BY THE VW DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE MOTOR THAT IS PART OF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSES THE VALVES TO STICK AND NOT ALLOW THE PROPER MIXTURE OF AIR/GAS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE....AT TIMES, THE MISFIRE CAN BE INTENSE AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE ("BUCKING SENSATION"). I FOUND MANY THREADS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE VW JETTA (2.0T ENGINE) AND A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT YET, VW HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500687February 27, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST A WEIRD SMELL IN MY VENTS BUT WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING A CLOUD OF SMOKE FILED THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY YET AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. NOT KNOWING WHERE THE SMOKE CAME FROM I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE CAR. IT WHEN THEN THAT I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE, THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN MY DRIVER SEAT. I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVER THE ISSUE HOWEVER I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR EVENTS AND YET NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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