2001 Volkswagen Jetta Complaint Log

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR TO GO TO WORK, IT STARTED TO MISFIRE AND RUN VERY BADLY. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD COIL PACK, #2 CYLINDER NOT FIRING. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMEN PROBLEM FOR VW. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH TO FIND OUT HOW COMMEN THIS WAS. TO MY SUPRISE, THIS IS EXTREAMLY COMMON TO VW. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1.8 TURBO MOTORS BUT NONE ON THE 2.8 V6 MOTOR. MY CONCERN IS WHY NO RECALL ON 2.8 MOTOR IF THIS IS SO COMMON ON THIS MODEL. PLEASE REPLY. THANKS KATJA HERRMANN

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT ON JUNE 15, 2003 BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH I MALFUNCTIONED. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON AFTER BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED. ALSO CAUSED TWO T BULBS IN THE BRAKE LIGHT TO BURN OUT. THERE WAS RECALL 04V096000 ON 2001 VOLKSWAGEN , BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX VR6. VW RELEASED A RECALL ONLINE STATING RECALL ON ALL 2001 COIL PACKS. MY COIL PACK ARC'ED AS DEALER CALLS IT. ARC BURNED UP IGNITION WIRES, SPARK PLUGS AND ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. DEALER WANTED $900 TO REPLACE FAULTY COIL PACK AND IGNITION WIRES AND PLUGS. COIL PACK NOT ONLY WENT OUT BUT TOOK OUT MULTIPLE PARTS. DEALERSHIP DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE PROBLEM NOR DID VWOA. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE I HAVE READ 1,000 OF SIMILAR CLAIMS FROM JETTA OWNERS ONLINE. RECALL SHOULD BE MADE AND DRIVERS SHOULD BE REPAID FOR REPAIRS MADE. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA HAD DEFECT IN THE FRONT LIGHTS. A PLASTIC HOUSING BECAME AMBER, REDUCING THE BRIGHTENERS OF THE LIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM MADE NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW ,AND THE PROBLEM WAS CONTINUOUSLY GETTING WORST. THE POLICE PULLED HIM OVER ONCE. THEY VERIFIED THAT THE LIGHTS WORKED. THE POLICE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT REPAIR THE FRONT LIGHTS. *AK.....*AK

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS OUTLINED IN RECALL 04V584000. THE EMERGENCY LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER WHEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT CLICKING ON WITHOUT HIS CONTROL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB *SC

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD START HER CAR AND TRY TO PUT IT IN GEAR, IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER FIXED IT. THE CONSUMER WAS AT DEALER BECAUSE OF A RECALL AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THIS AT THE SAME TIME. *JB THE CONSUMER WITNESSED ANOTHER MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHILE AT THE DEALER. *SC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 15 MPH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE SPEED FAILED TO INCREASE. AFTER THREE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED TO 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION COIL, BUT THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

SINCE 05/29/05 I AM SEING AIR BAG INDICATOR ON THE PANEL (DASH BOARD), I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR A CHECK. I ALSO SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR HAZARD SWITCH RECALL. WHILE CHECKING NHTSA AND OTHER SITES I CAME TO KNOW THERE ARE FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD SIMILAR SITUATION AND FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE MY CASE WITH NHTSA SO THAT IF I WILL BE INFORMED IF ANY RECALLS BE DONE ON THIS ISSUE. I REQUEST NHTSA TO ACT SOON TO HAVE THESE RECALLED BEFORE ANY UNWANTED INCIDENDENTS OCCUR AND BEFORE THERE ARE ANY MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS. PLEASE KEEP ME AND OTHERS INFORMED THE PROGRESS OF THE CASE.

MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. I WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND THEN A MONTH OR SO LATER I HAVE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT, OR THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT OR THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. I AM REPLACING ABOUT 4-5 LIGHTS PER YEAR ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR ALSO NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. 1/2 OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER WORKING, AND WHEN I UNLOCK THE CAR IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON ME WITHIN 15 SECONDS UNLESS I START THE ENGINE.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS HEATED, AND ONE NIGHT SMELLED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. SHE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS, AND THEN HER BACK AND LEGS WERE GETTING REALLY HOT FROM THE HEATED SEAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES ON 05/25/05 HEATED SEATS WERE ON AND A SHOCK WAS FELT IN CONSUMER'S LEFT LEG. CONSUMER TURNED IT OFF THEN BACK ON IN 15 MINUTES TO SEE IF IT WOULD REOCCUR AND 5 MINUTES LATER SEAT BECAME HOT AND EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK IN LEFT THIGH AGAIN.*SB *NM

DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA.*MR THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONSUMER WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TO 7 YEARS/70000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE FOR A STATE EMISSION INSPECTION BUT FAILED THE TEST. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *NM

DT: HOOD LATCH ABOUT 05/01/05 THE SAFETY FEATURE OF HOOD LATCH, WHICH PREVENTS HOOD FROM OPENING INADVERTENTLY FAILED. HOOD OPENED UP WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT LAND IN DRY WEATHER. WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35-40. ON A 4 LANE ROAD. DEALER IS INSTALLING NEW HOOD LATCH. HOOD LATCH IS BENT. THE ARM THAT HOLDS HOOD UP WHEN OPEN HAD TO BE REMOVED. AND FURTHER COSMETIC DAMAGE HAS RESULTED DUE TO THE HOOD LATCH. *NM

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HAS A FAULTY IGNITION COIL WIRING HARNESS.*MR THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ENGINE IDLE FLUCTUATION AND A MISS IN THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. *JB

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HAS ALWAYS HAD A BURNING CRAYON SMELL AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY MY CAR UNTIL I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS ABOUT THE SAME THING. THE MAIN CONCERN IS IF THIS SMELL IS TOXIC. ON DAYS THAT THE SMELL IS WORSE I TEND TO GET A HEADACHE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

THE 2001 V.W. JETTA: THIS VEHICLE BURNS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART PER MONTH, IN DAILY, EVERDAY USAGE, CITY TRAFFIC AND SHORT HIGHWAY TRIPS, AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF OIL, EVEN WITH REGULAR OIL/FILTER CHANGES. V.W. HAS NOT NOTIFIED ME OF THIS PROBLEM, NOR CORRECTED IT AND DEALERS' WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SHODDY, FLIP-BACK, PLASTIC ARM REST IS BROKEN, CHEAPLY MADE, IT WILL NOT RETAIN OR HOLD THE DRIVER'S ARM, IT IS LOCATED ADJACENT AND NEAR THE AUTO. TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT, IT COULD AND DOES FAIL, A SAFETY HAZARD. REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS BURN-OUT AT EXCESSIVE RATES, OFTEN ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE A NUISANCE, TO REPLACE THEM. PLEASE HAVE V.W. CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS @ THEIR OWN EXPENSE, NOT MINE, OWNER.

DT: CONSUMER STATED AT 51000 MILES TRANSMISSION BUSTED. CONSUMER SOME TIMES VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND E BACK FIRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SOMETIMES HESITATED OR BOGGED DOWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACTING THIS WAY SINCE APRIL. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN FLORENCE, KENTUCKY. . VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT BY DEALER, BUT TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY ANOTHER GARAGE. *AK

1.TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL ON EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH RECALL. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING. HE INFORMED ME THAT SOME MODELS OF MY CAR WERE RECALLED FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE BUT NOT MINE BECAUSE IT HAD A STANDARD TRANSMISION AND NOT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMITION. 2. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. 3. DEALER DIAGNOSED ($192.00 TO REPAIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH). OWNER REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SWITCH, LIGHTS NOW WORKING ($15.00). 4. DEALER REPLACED EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH (NO CHARGE).

(1) AT START UP (GENERALLY COOLER, OREGON NIGHTS) IS WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS, AND RANDOMLY; (2) CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE BEEN IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR TRYING TO CLEAR INTERSECTION WHEN CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON. *AK (3) HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER MANY TIMES - THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAR REMAINS DANGEROUS.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AND THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY WENT OFF. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TURN SIGNAL/EMERGENCY FLASH LIGHT FAILED, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON.*AK

ON 4/5/05 @ 5:15PM.... MY WIFE (DRIVER), 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER(REAR FACING CAR SEAT IN BACK CENTER), & I (FRONT PASSENGER) WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN WE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WITH CARS IN FRONT/BACK OF US) WE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AFTER COMPLETING THE LEFT TURN ONTO ROUTE 117. ONCE WE HIT THIS SMALL POT HOLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED (CURTAIN & PASSENGER SEAT BAGS) WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE WARWICK POLICE DEPT. OFFICE THEODORE INSISTED THAT THIS HAD TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR... NO FLAT TIRE... NOTHING EXCEPT FOR THE MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS IN THE CAR HAVING BEEN DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INTERIOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I WENT TO THE VW DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND SUGGESTED GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE (LIBERTY MUTUAL), WHO ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. INTERIOR DAMAGE: CEILING PANEL, CURTAIN AIRBAG, PASSENGER LEATHER SEAT RIPPED AND ITS AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT I NEED THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED SINCE WE NEED IT FOR TRANSPORTATION... SO I MAY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT REPAIRED AT MY COST FOR NOW. (BETWEEN $2,000 - $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE). *AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER RUNNING OVER A SMALL POT HOLE AT 15 MPH. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK

I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING IN THE PAST MONTHS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A VW DEALER BACK IN APRIL TO SEE WHY MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE STUTTERING. THEY SAID THE WINDSHIELD MIGHT BE ON TOO TIGHT OR SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BLADES. I CHANGED THE BLADES AND GOT A NEW WINDSHIELD SINCE I HAD A CRACK IN IT ANYWAYS. BOTH DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NEVER TOLD IT COULD BE THE WIPER MOTOR. I HAVE HAD A FEW INSTANCES WHERE I WAS DRIVING NOW ON THE HIGHWAY OR JUST ON A SIDE STREET AND IT WAS RAINING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WIPERS WOULD JUST STOP!!! I ALMOST GOT INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS NOW, AND I FEEL IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD THAT I SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. *NM

CAR STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION AND STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES UPON STOPPING. EPC LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY ONCE, THEN NOT AGAIN. TODAY, THE CAR STARTED DECELERATING ON THE FREEWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AGAIN, WHICH SEEMED LIKE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. MECHANIC REPLACED THE AIR FLOW METER AND TOLD ME THAT HE REGULARLY REPLACES THEM ON VOLKSWAGENS AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME BEHAVIOR ON THIS SITE, THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. IF THIS IS A PART WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS, WHY HAS VOLKSWAGEN NOT RECALLED IT?*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED RECALL 04V584000 CONCERNING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

I SIGNALED WITH MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FOR A RIGHT-HAND TURN, SUDDENLY THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED FLASHING (NOT THE QUICK FLASHING & CLICKING FOR A BURNT OUT BULB), THE LIGHT STAYED ON. TRIED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. KEPT TRYING THEM AND WOULD NOT WORK. SUDDENLY BEGAN OPERATING. THE HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK EITHER. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN WORKING. I CONTINUED DRIVING, WHEN I SIGNALED ANOTHER RIGHT-HAND TURN THE AGAIN THE SIGNAL REPEATED THE PREVIOUS FAILURE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT I USE AND SETUP AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE THREE DAYS LATER. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENLY BETWEEN THE FIRST OCCURRANCE AND THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BUT THE HEADLAMPS WOULD NOT GO TO BRIGHT. HE DID EVENTUALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. THE END RESULT WAS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH: HEADLAM DIMMER/TURN SIGNAL/CRUISE SWITCH 8L0953513J01C (PART #). THIS IS AN INTEGRATED SWITCH. I HAVE LISTED THE THREE COMPONENTS SEPARATELY ON THE COMPLAINT LIST. THIS SAME SHOP HAD CHANGED THE SAME SWITCH ON AN AUDI. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE REPLACED PART WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE.

CONTINUING PROBLEM-RANDOM OCCURRENCES: ALL DOORS WILL LOCK UNEXPECTEDLY AND ALARM SYSTEM ARMS ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS UNEXPECTED OCCASIONS WITHOUT ANY ACTIVATION BY REMOTE LOCKING KEY FOB. DOORS WILL LOCK WITH DRIVER OR PASSENGER(S) INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE OR OPEN DOORS WILL TRIGGER THE ALARM AFTER THE DOORS HAVE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AND ARMED. STARTER IS DISABLED WHEN ALARM IS TRIGGERED. SAFETY CONCERN FROM BEING LOCKED OUT OF CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. CAR HAS LOCKED WITH KEYS IN THE CAR AND DRIVER OUTSIDE OF CAR, SUCH AS AT GAS STATION FILLING TANK. PANIC IS INDUCED WHEN DRIVER INADVERTENTLY TRIGGERS THE ALARM WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE WHILE UNAWARE THAT THE CAR HAS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED ITSELF AND ARMED THE ALARM. FEAR OF SMALL CHILD BEING TRAPPED INSIDE CAR WHEN AUTO LOCKING/AUTO ARMING OCCURS. *JB

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 2001, THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEM MAINLY WITH THE CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I HAD MINOR PROBLEMS THAT GOT FIX AND IS FINE NOW. NOW MY MAIN ISSUE IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT BEEN ON AND OFF EVER SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR. WE ARE IN 2005 AND I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING RID OF IT. USUALLY WHEN THE CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER AND SHAKE AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS. THANK GOODNESS THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED I WASN'T ON A BUSY ROAD. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE BRAKES SEEMS TO FAIL TO WORK BECAUASE I WOULD HAVE TO STEP ON IT REALLY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. AFTER GETTING FIX THE LIGHT WOULD REAPPEAR A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. SO I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS SINCE ALL THE TIMES I DID TAKE IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WHICH THEY HAVE REPLACED ALREADY. TOMORROW (4/1/05) I'M TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM BECAUSE LATELY THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WORST. NOW WHEN I FIRST TURN ON THE CAR, I HAVE TO WARM IT UP FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STEP ON THE GAS AND GO OR ELSE IT'LL SHUT DOWN ON ME. EVEN WITH THAT THE CAR BARELY MOVES THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT WILL JERK AND DRIVE ON A NORMAL SPEED. I HAD MAJOR SERVICE DONE ON THE CAR AND THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. TOMORROW WILL PROBABLY BE THE THIRD TIME AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS NEW. I DOUBT THAT THE PROBLEM WILL EVER GO AWAY BECAUSE I BEEN HAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR AND I OWN IT FOR FEW YEARS NOW AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIX. I HONESTLY THINK I BEEN SOLD A LEMON, BUT SPEAKING WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE VW DEALER, THEY DON'T THE ISSUE IS BIG.

DT: TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK, TAKEN TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE HAZARD FLASHER. THEY REPLACED THIS PART. THIS IS NOW WORKING. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND SEND IN PAPER WORK FOR REFUND. NOW THEY INSIST THAT SHE TAKE HER CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BEFORE THEY WILL REFUND HER. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,295.

WHILE TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS THEY FAILED TO COME ON THEIR OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE HEATING ELEMENT FOR THE HEATED SEAT BECAME SO HOT IT MELTED THE LEATHER SEAT OF THE CONSUMER'S 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *NM THE DEALER STATED THAT LIQUID APPEARED TO BE SPLIT ON THE LEATHER SEATS CAUSING THE DEVICE TO SHORT OUT AND OVERHEAT WHICH CAUSED THE DEVICE TO SHORT OUT AND OVERHEAT WHICH CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT COMPENSATION. *SC *JB

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY 2001 VW JETTA WAS REPLACED BY A VW DEALER IN JULY OF 2004 AS A RESULT OF A RECALL NOTICE FROM VW OF AMERICA. THIS SAME SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A VW DEALER ON 2/28/05 AS A RESULT OF A FAILURE.*AK

2001 JETTA- MAKES WINDING NOISE AT 40 MPH, EAR PIERCING, TECHNICIANS CLAIM THIS IS NORMAL BUT OVERPOWERS RADIO? UNACCEPTABLE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY ALL THE TIME, CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHEN AT A STOP WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF BRAKE PEDAL. CAR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. *NM

MY JETTA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN NOT. THE LATEST INCIDENT BEGAN WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER 1300 DOLLARS LATER, THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THIS YEAR OF THE JETTA HAS A PLASTIC PART THAT SITS ON WATER PUMP. THAT PART HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY MANY JETTA OWNER'S AFTER THE REPLACING OF THE WATER PUMP. *AK

PAASENEGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION IN DECEMBER WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER. ALL TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DEAD AS OF FEBRUARY 11, 2005. I SAW SOME POSTINGS ABOUT A RECALL ON AN INTERNET SITE. THE DEALER HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE YET . THE NHTSA WEB SITE LISTS THIS PROBLEM TO BE RECALLED THIS MONTH. *AK

THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 ON THE HAZARD SWITCH DOES NOT EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

MY 2001 VW JETTA, VIN 3VWSB69M100479, EXPERIENCED TURN SIGNAL FAILURE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER/SWITCH. THIS SWITCH IS SUBJECT TO RECALL ID 04V5840000. VOLKSWAGON HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FAILURE IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED ON THE WEB POSTING FOR THIS RECALL. IS THERE ANY CRITERIA RELATED TO THIS RECALL WHICH EXCLUDES MY VEHICLE?*AK

2001 VW JETTA TDI - TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ 68,000 MILES. WARRANTY WAS UP AT 50K. VW STATED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, EXCEPT CHARGE ME $3800 FOR A FACTORY REFERBED TRANSMITION (PART ONLY). 68,000 MILES ON THIS CAR WOULD BE CONSIDERED A GOOD BREAK IN MILAGE NOT AN OOPS YOU GOT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMITION. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED THAT VW WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. 68,000 MILES ON A TOTALLY SEALED TRANSMITION. NOT EVEN A DIP STICK TO CHECK FLUIDS. NO LEAKS WERE PRESENT, NO WARRNING SIGNS, JUST INSTANT FAILURE. FIRST AND LAST VW FOR ME. CONSUMERS BE AZWARE!!!!! *AK

MY 2001 VW JETTA TIMING BELT BROKE, LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND COST OVER $3300.00 TO REPAIR THE BLOWN ENGINE, NOT ONCE WAS I TOLD UPON PURCHASE OR TRIPS FOR SERVICE AT ANY VW DEALER THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED AT 60 OR 70,000 MILES. , MY CAR HAD 97,000 AT THE TIME. THE CAR FROM DAY ONE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN COSTLY REPAIRS FOR A VEHICLE I THOUGHT TO BE VERY RELIABLE, LOVE THE LOOK OF THE CAR AND IT HAS GREAT PICKUP BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE OF THE REPAIRS FOR ITEMS THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *AK

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. OWNER SAYS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD CAME ON AND STAYED ON SINCE MONDAY 02/07/2005. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SEEN FOR THIS DEFECT UNTIL 02/23/2005. *JB *BF *NM

I WAS AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO CROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY. AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES HARDER. THIS DID NOTHING. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING TO SUCH A RATE THAT THE BACK END STARTED FISHTAILING AROUND TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE A CDL LICENSE AND REACTED BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS REACTION DEFINITELY SAVED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS DOING ITS BEST TO FORCE ME INTO MOVING TRAFFIC. THE NEXT PERSON THIS HAPPENS TO MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER KEEPING MY CAR 2 WEEKS, THEY STILL COULDN'T COME UP WITH A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY DID REMOVE THE ON/OFF BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNTION. NORMALLY THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DE-ACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED. I REMAIN WITHOUT A REASONABLE EXPLANATION OR REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V584000; VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED A HAZARD SWITCH RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH THE HAZARD SWITCH NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH TRANSMISSION JERKED BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE FILLED IN CAR, FLAMES APPEARED BETWEEN DRIVER SEAT & COUNSEL. MY 17 Y/O GOT 2ND DEGREE BURNS PUTTING OUT FLAME. AIRBAG, DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED WHILE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND SEAT WAS BEING MOVED BACK. THIS CAUSED PAIN TO MY HUSBAND'S ARM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER'S FRONT/REAR SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON OUR 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MODEL, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH FAILED WHICH IS TIED INTO THE ALARM, THE CABIN INTERIOR LIGHTS, OPEN DOOR WARNING CHIME, ETC. ON MOST AUTOMOBILES, THIS IS A SIMPLE SWITCH BUILT INTO THE DOOR JAMB. BUT ON THIS POORLY ENGINEERED VEHICLE, IT'S BUILT INTO THE DOOR LATCH IN THE DOOR, RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE DOOR HAVING TO BE TAKEN APART TO GET TO THIS PART, A $250-350 REPAIR BILL. I CALLED 3 VW DEALERSHIPS TO GET ESTIMATES, AND ALL THREE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TOLD ME WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE ON THE PHONE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THAT IT WAS FAIRLY COMMON. THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS, NOR SHOULD THIS MECHANISM HAVE EVER BEEN ENGINEERED INTO A PART THAT GETS SLAMMED SHUT REPEATEDLY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AMAZING! WE ARE UNSURE IF THE LATCH ITSELF IS SAFE OR NOT AND HAVE DECIDED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. AS I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I CALLED VW SERVICE REPS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. ANY HELP YOUR AGENCY CAN BE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE HELPFUL. THIS ISN'T MY FIRST UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. SINCERELY, TODD & GWEN WHATLEY TRI-CITIES, WA. *NM

VW JETTA 2001 1.8T 5-SPD HAD A CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP TO 6000 RPM BUT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN DRAMATICALLY. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS IN THE LANE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAR WITH A CLUTCH PLATE FAILURE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY ($1200). INSPITE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASE, VW DOES NOT COVER THIS AS IT RELATES IT TO "WEAR AND TEAR". THE CAR ONLY HAS 68K MILES ON IT, AND MOST OF IT IS HIGHWAY DRIVING (80%). AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT LOOKS LIKE VW USES INFERIOR PARTS THAT CAUSE CLUTCH FAILURE IN MOST OF THEIR JETTAS. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN. VW PUTS THE BLAME ON THE DRIVER, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE FAULTY PARTS. CHECK OUT WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM. *JB

CLUTCH MECHANISM SUDDENLY BEGAN ENGAGING ONLY AT THE UPPER END OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL TRAVEL WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 39,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, EITHER ROLLING BACKWARDS ON AN INCLINE, LURCHING AHEAD OR STALLING. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT, PARTICULARLY IN AN INTERSECTION OR IN CROWDED STOP AND GO CONDITIONS. INCLEMENT WEATHER WOULD COMPOUND THE SAFETY RISKS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER REPORTED A CLUTCH FAILURE, THAT THE CLUTCH IS A WEAR ITEM AND THAT NO WARRANTY IS OFFERED. AS I HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH WEAR OUT IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING , I RESEARCHED VIA THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON AMONGST SIMILAR VW VEHICLES WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE AND THAT MANY SIMILAR FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT EVEN MUCH LOWER MILEAGE. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE AND VW DENIES THERE ARE ANY INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEMS, CITE DRIVER ERROR AND CONFIRMED WITH A RETURN CALL THAT NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE. OTHER SOURCES, INCLUDING A VW MECHANIC HAVE INDEPENDENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT VW HAVE SELECTED THE SAME FLYWHEEL, PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH COMPONENTS AS ARE USED ON THE BASE NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINE, AND THIS ARRANGEMENT IS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THE MORE POWERFUL 1.8T. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THE REPORTED FAILURE IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH A PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE THAN CLUTCH WEAR. ONE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THEY ARE REPLACING AT LEAST ONE OF THESE CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES PER WEEK, OFTEN ON LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. SO FAR I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND IT SITS IDLE WHILE I INVESTIGATE THE APPLICABILITY OF AFTERMARKET, HEAVIER DUTY COMPONENTS. *NM

FOR SOME TIME NOW I'VE BEEN AWARE THAT IF I PULL TO FAR UP TO A TIRE BUMPER ANYWHERE, MY FRONT END WILL CATCH AND PULL PART OF MY FRONT BUMPER OFF. AS I LIVE 120 MILES FROM A VW DEALERSHIP, I LET MY FIANCE FIX THE BUMPER EACH TIME IT FELL OFF. RECENTLY, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF PULLING UP TO FAR AGAIN AND MY BUMPER PULLED OFF PARTIALLY ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF CAR. I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN. WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE AND PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE. FOUND THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS RUBBING ON PLASTIC TIRE GUARD DUE TO BUMPER PROBLEM. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED SLOWLY BACK HOME AS THIS COULD CAUSE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL IF TIRE PUSHED TO HARD. TIRE HAS SINCE WORN THROUGH TIRE GUARD AND BUMPER STILL HANGING AS SCREWS ARE STRIPPED! THE LOW BUMPER GUARD IS OBVIOUSLY A MISJUDGEMENT IN THE MANUFACTUERS MAKE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE AS IT HAPPENS TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.