2001 Volkswagen Jetta Complaint Log

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY SON-IN-LAW LAST YEAR WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND THEY JUST WENT OFF. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS HURT. HAD HE HAD HIS KIDS IN THE CAR, LORD ONLY KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY LIVE IN TOLEDO, OHIO. THEY HAVE SINCE GOTTEN IT FIXED OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET, AND NO COOPERATION BY VOLKSWAGEN OF ANY KIND. MY SON ALSO HAS A JETTA AND IT CAUSED ME CONCERN FOR HIM AND HIS WIFE ALSO. THEY LIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON.*AK

JETTA SUFFERED A FAILURE WHERE THE CLUTCH PLATE SHATTERED AND THE PRESSURE PLATE FAILED. THE CLUTCH PLATE DID NOT SHOW DRASTIC WEAR, THE WEAR LINE ON THE CLUTCH PLATE WERE STILL VISIBALE. VW CONSIDERED THIS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVE THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND WINDOW AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK *MR

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE PA TURNPIKE AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH, THE RIGHT SIDE SEAT AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN OFF TO THE HIGHWAY SINCE THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A VW DEALER NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLE OR ROAD DEBRIS. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS FAULT WITH THE COMPUTER AND/OR SENSOR SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. THE VW DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE HEARD OF NO SUCH OCCURENCE EVENTHOUGH THERE APPEAR TO BE MANY SUCH OCCURENCES AS LISTED ON THIS WEBISTE. VW AMERICA CLAIMS THERE WAS AN IMPACT TO THE RIGHT REAR AXEL WHICH SET OFF THE AIRBAG. AGAIN THERE WAS NO IMPACT AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. TRAVELING AT THAT SPEED AND IN THE ENVIRONMENT I WAS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAN A SCRATCH ON THE REAR AXEL UNDERCARRIAGE. *AK

2001 VW JETTA VR6 TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ENGINE RPMS SPIKE/SURGE BEFORE ENGAGING NEXT HIGHEST GEAR, AT WHICH POINT THE GEAR IS SLAMMED INTO AS THE RPMS ARE TOO HIGH TO ENGAGE THE GEAR PROPERLY. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT VW DEALERS TWO DIFFERENT TIMES (FOUR VISITS TOTAL) AND DEALERS SAY THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR THAT THEY RESET THE SHIFTING POINTS IN THE FUZZY LOGIC. INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE BODY, ALL ELECTRONICS AND HARD COMPONENTS IN VALVE BODY FOR A COST OF $3425. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXITS UNLESS DIAGNOSED BY A VW DEALER AND WILL NOT PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS BY A THIRD PARTY MECHANIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED FOR OVER 15 MONTHS AND 30,000 MILES.

DIESEL FUEL GELLING IN LOW TEMPS. VW ADMITS TO HAVING NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE MECHANICS DID ADMIT THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS TOO SMALL. WE HAVE BEEN TOWED IN TWICE LATE AT NIGHT IN DANGEROUS TEMPERATURES. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE HAD A CELL PHONE-8 YEAR OLD BOY ON BOARD ALSO. STEPHANIEFP28@YAHOO.COM HAD SAME PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES ON MY 2001 JETTA, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE BEGAN FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, AND NO SQUEEL PRIOR TO THE GRINDING. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $375. THEY SEEM TO WANT TO BLAME IT ON ME USING THE BRAKES TOO MUCH. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I ALSO OWN A TOYOTA WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES ON IT ARE STILL THE ORIGINAL.

REAR BRAKES HAVE WORN TO NOTHING AFTER ONLY 20K MILES. ROTARS ARE NOW RUINED. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN. DEALER SAID THAT ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE A WARNING LIGHT. WHY WOULDN'T THE REAR BRAKES HAVE A WARNING SYSTEM IF THEY WEAR OUT MORE QUICKLY THAN THE FRONT?*AK

VW 20001 WOLFSBURG EDITION JETTA: PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED TO GO BACK UP. APPEARS THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND NOW THE WINDOW IS DOWN. I WILL BE REPLACING THE PART MYSELF, BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON VW PROBLEM. *CB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT O2 SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. *AK

MY PASSENGER REAR BRAKE LIGHT HAS BURNT OUT APROXIMATELY FIVE TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE - I ASKED THE DEALER TO INSPECT TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SHORT CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BURN OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. FUNNY THING IS THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAS NEVER BURNT OUT IN THREE YEARS AND I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM SAME SIDE AND EVERYTHING. *LA

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE SERVICED FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A TURBO PROBLEM, WHICH THE DEALER PROMISED TO COVER. IT TURNS OUT THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD AND EGR WERE SO CLOGGED WITH CARBON THAT MY TURBO FAILED. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER SINCE IT WAS NOT THE TURBO ITSELF.

PURCHASED A 2001 JETTA TDI IN SEPT OF 2003 WITH 52000 KM'S. AT 64,000 KM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. CAR WAS DUE FOR 64,000 KM SERVICE ANYWAY. GLOW PLUG BUS BAR NEED REPLACEMENT. NOT ENOUGH, OR NO CURRENT GETTING TO GLOW PLUGS TO WARM THEM FOR THE CAR TO START. THREE WEEKS AFTER 64,000KM SERVICE, PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, CHECK OIL LIGHT FLASHES, BELL GOES OFF, GLOW PLUG LIGHT FLASHES, VEHICLE FEELS SLUGGISH WITH NO POWER. MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT (UNDER WARRENTY, $467). REPLACED NEEDLE SENSOR/INJECTOR ASSEMBLY, REPLACED FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCH, TRACED AND REPAIRED WIRIING SENSOR. COST $671. IN THREE WEEKS SPENT $1250 ON SERVICE AND REPAIRS ON A THREE YEAR OLD CAR.*AK

LAST YEAR I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECUASE MY BRAKES WERE GRINDING. THEY COULD FIND NO ISSUES. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR FOR A RECALL SERVICE ON MY IGNITION COIL, AND THEY TELL ME MY REAR BRAKES ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE FIXED. SO I GOT IT DONE. PROBLEM IS, I ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT SINCE AUGUST OF 2000 AND I DO NOT DRIVE VERY FAR IN A YEAR.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT.*AK WATER INTRUSION FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING 1/2" OF WATER ON FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER REPORTING THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN SLIPPERY PEDALS AND WINDOWS FOGGING UP. *MJJ

REPLACEMENT OF COIL PACK ON MY 2001 JETTA GLX. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY TO HAVE THE MASS AIR FLOW METER SERVICED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AND HAS BECOME COSTLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 115,781.*AK

MIL LIGHT ON WITH RICH FUEL MIXTURE ODOR FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DEFROST NOT WORKING O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN AIR MASS METER REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

CAR STARTS POORLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND THAT EGR VALVE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ARE PACKED WITH BLACK, NASTY CARBON BUILD-UP. I REMOVED THE EGR VALVE AND SCRAPED OUT APPROXIMATELY ONE AND ONE-HALF CUPS OF THIS BLACK 'GUNK' FROM THE EGR VALVE AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE INTAKE PORTS LOOK LIKE IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. *CB

IN NOV 2003, OUR 2001 JETTA TDI WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, CAUSING MYSELF AND MY SONS NUMEROUS TIMES TO BE STRANDED. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. AL SANCHEZ VW IN GILROY, CA, DIAGNOSED A SHIFTER PROBLEM AND REPLACED IT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I CONTINUED TO DISCUSS IT WITH AL SANCHEZ VW, EVEN LEAVING IT WITH THEM FOR ONE WEEK TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE PROBLEM AGAIN OCCURRED. I PHONED A TOW COMPANY WHO NOTED THE VEHICLE STUCK IN PARK AND MENTIONED THE BRAKE INVOLVEMENT. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND FUSSING WITH THE BRAKE/SHIFTER, IT ENGAGED. THE NEXT MORNING, I PHONED AL SANCHEZ AND WAS TOLD THAT IT SHIFTED FINE. LATER THAT DAY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT GOT A LITTLE STICKY.THEY DIAGNOSED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I HAVE SPOKE TO SERVICE ADVISORS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY MAINTAIN THE POSITION THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED REPLACING IN NOV 2003, AND NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDS REPLACING. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. SINCE THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST, THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN UNREASONABLE ASSESSMENT. ON 2/21/04, I DOWNLOADED INFO FROM YOUR SIGHT. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS FOR MY CAR. TODAY, 3/31/04, THERE ARE THREE, INCLUDING AN EXTERIOR LIGHTING;BRAKE LIGHTS;SWITCH. I DECIDED TO CHECK THIS SITE TODAY ONLY BECAUSE DURING DURING ONE OF MY MORE RECENT CONVERSATIONS TO NHTSA, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE THREE RESULTS. I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED IF MY VEHICLE IN ONE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. IF MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THIS IS TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE TO OVERLOOK. ALSO, THE LACK OF COOPERATION OF AL SANCHEZ VW AND VOLKSWAGON ADVOCATES CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED AS WELL. IDEALLY, I WOULD LIKE THE REPAIR COST OF THE SHIFTER REFUNDED TO ME AND THE RECALL TO COVER MY SHIFTING PROBLEM. *AK

BESIDES HAVING MANY, MANY, MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VW JETTA, I HAVE FOUND THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST ONE. WHILE DRIVING FOR A WHILE...SAY 45 MINUTES OR SO DEPENDING ON THE DAY...THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AND STAY ON WHILE STILL DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE SEPARATE TIMES TO HAVE THIS FIXED AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM ON THEIR LAME 10 MILE TEST DRIVE AND HAS YET TO REMAIN FIXED. THEY ALSO TRIED TO MAKE ME FIX SOME OTHER MEANINGLESS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNDER THE GUISE OF FIXING THE BRAKES WHICH I DID NOT AGREE TO. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR AND REFUSE TO DRIVE IT. *NLM

RECENTLY, MY ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. UPON DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION BY VOLKSWAGEN (VW), I WAS TOLD THAT ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WHEN I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAD RESEARCHED THIS AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE '01 JETTA ABS CONTROL UNIT, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS TRUE, BUT IN FACT MY PARTICULAR UNIT, AS DISCERNED BY THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION, DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL. I WAS OFFERED A 50/50 SPLIT ON PARTS AND LABOR BY THE DEALERSHIP B/C THE CAR IS ONLY SEVERAL MONTHS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. OF COURSE, AFTER TURNING BLUE IN THE FACE TRYING TO EXPLAIN MY DILEMMA TO THE VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT (THAT'S A REAL JOKE; THEY DID NOTHING FOR ME), I WAS LEFT W/NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THEIR OFFER, AS THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. CLEARLY, MY PARTICULAR UNIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RECALL LIST B/C IT WAS FAULTY AND REARED IT'S UGLY HEAD ONLY 3.5 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IT'S A REAL SHAME THAT VW IS MORE CONCERNED W/TAKING A CUSTOMER FOR ALL HE/SHE IS WORTH ONE TIME AROUND W/OUT ANY REGARD TO MAINTAINING TRUE CUSTOMER RELATIONS FOR THE LONG RUN. THE ONLY SATISFACTION I COULD HAVE AT THIS POINT WOULD BE A FULL REFUND ON THE LABOR/PARTS CHARGES FOR THIS REPAIR. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE UNDOUBTEDLY MYRIAD OTHER CUSTOMERS AFFECTED WHO ALSO DID NOT "QUALIFY" FOR RECALL, SHOULD BE VW'S STANCE. CORPORATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE RUN AMOK AND THE CONSUMER IS PAYING-$25000 IN MY CASE, AND A HOST OF PROBLEMS RANGING FROM PAINT ISSUES TO THE CURRENT ISSUE. THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR AND I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT PURCHASING IT. VW HAS LEFT ME FEELING VIOLATED AND PLAYED FOR A FOOL. *LA

I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY. HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. BROUGHT CAR TO MECHANIC. WAS TOLD REAR CALIPER FROZE DUE TO WEARING OF BRAKE PADS. THE CALIPERS HAD DAMAGED THE REAR ROTORS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $500, AND I WAS TOLD NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE DRIVER ASSISTED LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON IN MY CAR. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, THR CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER REPAIR FACILITY RAN THE CAR ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND SAID THERE WERE MULTIPLE FAULTS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD A VACUUM LEAK AND IT WAS ALLEGEDLY FIXED.I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LIGHT MIGHT COME BACK ON BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ELSE. THIS WAS ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2003. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS FIRST "REPAIR " COST ME $133.60. ON MY WAY HOME I STOPPED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IN ESSENCE SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT BE WRONG. SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. THROUGH RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE VOLKSWAGON JEETA 2001. AS A CONSUMER AND A TAXPAYER, I DEMAND THAT SOMETHING BE DONE. THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. I AM ALSO GOING TO WRITE TO VW. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FULL INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER. *LA

FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW BROKE. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT MY WINDOW BACK UP WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY NIGHT JOB. *LA

INTERIOR CONSOLE PAINT PEELING, FABRIC FADING, ENGINE RATTLE NOISE, WINDOW ACTUATOR FAILURE AND NOISE, THERMASTAT, FUEL DOOR ACTUATOR, SEAT SPRINGS SNAP, BRAKE PAD EXCESSIVE WEAR, A/C RUNS HOT.*AK

2001 VW JETTA WOLFSBURG 40K MILES - WATER LEAKS INTO THE CAR FROM UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE DRAIN CHANNEL FROM THE SUNROOF. WEEK LATER THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY'RE IN PROCESS OF TAKING THE CAR APART. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT BEING HELPFUL AT ALL. I'VE SEEN AT LEAST TWO COMMENTS ON THE WEB ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER AND THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANY ADVISE BEFORE MY CAR GETS TOTALLY DISASSEMBLED? NOT TO MENTION WATER DAMAGE TO THE CARPETING...*AK

VIBRATION AND GRINDING WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS. *AK

I BOUGHT A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VW JETTA GLS WITH 25,000 MI ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AS I WAS PARKING AT HOME. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND IT WAS DRY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND IT WAS TOWED AND CHECKED AND A FLUORESCENT PROBE WAS PUT IN AND I WAS TOLD THERE WERE TWO QUARTS OF OIL REMAINING. WHERE DID THE OIL GO? MY CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO IN FOR A CHECK ON THIS PROBLEM THIS WEEK. THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE GROUND AND THE SERVICE TECH SAID THEY HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONCE BEFORE. HAS THIS PROBLEM EVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY OTHER CONSUMERS? THANK YOU. *AK

THE 2001 VW JETTA I PURCHASED IN APRIL 2003 SEEMED TO BE A GREAT CAR UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF DEALERSHIPS OR "SPECIALTY" VOLKSWAGEN AUTO SHOPS AND NOONE IS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT IS ON UNLESS I PAY THEM $600-$1500 TO GO IN AND DIAGNOSE MORE THOUROUGHLY. THE COMPUTER ON THE JETTA PUTOUT A "FUEL-INJUECTION" PROBLEM AND NOONE IS ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT EXACTLY THIS COULD BE. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH THE LIGHT ON AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE WITH THE LIGHT ON IF IT BEGINS TO FLASH. VERY FRUSTRATING.*AK

REAR BRAKE PADS/ROTORS: PREMATURE WEAR, AT 25K. WENT TO DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR USING THE BRAKES TOO MUCH AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE $650 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. WENT TO A MIDAS HAD THEM REPLACED FOR $250 AND WAS TOLD THERE THAT BRAKES SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THAT SOON ON A NEW CAR.

THE CLUTCH IN MY 2001 JETTA 1.8T DIED AT ONLY 28,000 MILES. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS "WEAR AND TEAR" - SERVICE MANAGER WHISPERED THAT THE DMF CLUTCH IS DEFECTIVE ON THESE MODELS. VW WAS UNRESPONSIVE AFTER REPEATED LETTERS AND CALLS. HAD LOANER FOR 40 DAYS. DEALER AGREED TO PAY LABOR - I PAID FOR THE PART. *AK

MY 2001 VW JETTA 1.8T CLUTCH FAILED AFTER JUST 16,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO "DRIVER ERROR". HOWEVER, AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 1.8T CLUTCHES ARE A DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) DESIGN WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IT SEEMS THEY CANNOT HANDLE THE UPPED POWER/TORQUE OF THE TURBO. THEY ARE KNOWINGLY SELLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND CHARGING US UPWARDS OF $1300 TO REPAIR IT WITH THE SAME FAULTY PART!*AK

BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON WHILE CAR IS PARKED AND REMAIN ON UNTIL BATTERY DRAINS. MUCH AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA03002 . THIS OCCURRED IN A 2001 VW JETTA. DEALER INSISTED THAT OFFENDING SWITCH WAS ONLY COVERED IN VW BEETLE. CURIOUSLY SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY 1JO945511D. *NLM

MY 2001 VW JETTA'S BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AND DO NOT TURN OFF. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALER WHO SAID THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS BAD. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE 2001 VW BEETLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE JETTA. THE PARTS ARE THE SAME AS PER THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT HALTERMANS VW IN PA. *NLM

I PURCHASE A 2001 JETTA NEW AND IN ABOUT 3 YRS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE FOR AN AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCE OF 19 MONTHS. TALKING WITH THE DEALER, I WAS INVORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BASE NO AVAILABLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND IS NOW STARTING TO BECOME AVAILABLE AGAIN. CURRENTLY MY MECHANIC HAS FOUND ONLY 1 BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE EAST COAST. HE HAS CALL THE LOCAL DEALERS IN A 100 MILE RADIUS AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY, CONTACTED VW REGIONAL AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY. INTERESTED TO KNOW IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TO ME 19 MONTHS BETWEEN SWITCHES IS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE TO REPLACE. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER POWER WINDOW, PART FAILURE RESULTING IN WINDOW FALLING INTO DOOR. CONTACTED NEAREST DEALER, WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE PERFORMING LABOR FREE OF CHARGE, BUT I MUST PURCHASE THE PARTS. IF THE PROBLEM IS THAT WIDE SPREAD, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE PART ALSO.*AK

A DEFECT WITH MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS DETECTED OVER TWO WEEKS AGO. IT IS FAULTY. MY CAR HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR ITS REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AND SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. HOWEVER, HE LATER CAME BACK AND SAID VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT COVER IT. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT VOLKSWAGEN (I CALLED THE COMPANY DIRECTLY) SAID THEY WOULD "NOT OFFER ANY GOODWILL IN THIS CASE". I KNOW THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, YET VW IS REFUSING TO TAKE 100% CARE OF IT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY.*AK

READ BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURLEY. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THAT WE HEARD GRINDING AND BOISE IN THE REAR, THEY WERE QUITE SURPRISED. THIS RESULTED IN $283.05 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE PADS.*AK PARTS 1J0-615-601-C (2) AND 160-698-451-D (1)

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2001 VW JETTA. IN THE LAST MONTH SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD BOH OF THE REAR BRAKES FAILED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL PADS AND CALIPERS ON THE REAR BRAKES. THEY WERE BOTH DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT IT AND FIND OUT SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH 2001 JETTA BRAKE SYSTEM.*MR REAR BRAKE FAILURE CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS, CALIPERS AND REQUIRED A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED AS TO WHY THE ABS WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ACTIVATE. *PH *JB

AT 28,000 MILES THE ELECTRONIC ODOMETER HAS FAILED. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARANTY, THE REPAIR WILL COST $500+ AND THE CAR TRUE MILLAGE UNKNOWN.

CONSUMER STATED SAFETY CHIP FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WINDOWS ON VW JETTA'S SEEM TO BE FALLING DUE TO A DEFECT IN PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HOLD THE WINDOWS. VOLKSWAGEN IS COVERING THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE CLIPS WITH REDESIGNED METAL ONES. THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING JUST FINE FOR ME, THOUGH I'M SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS WEB SITE. *PH

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN AND THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *PH

I OWN A 2001 VW JETTA GLS AND THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP. I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. SINCE THE WARRANTY IS 24,000 MILES, I CURRENTLY HAVE 30200 AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MISHAP DUE TO THE FAULTY PART. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNACCEPTABLE IN GETTING THE PROBLEM FIX. *AK

RIGHT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BECAME SLIGHTLY OUT OF ROUND BY ABOUT 30 THOUS. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY ANY REGULAR MEANS EXCEPT THE DEALER SAYS WE MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING . IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HIT THE SHAFT BECAUSE IT IS PROTECTED . I BELIEVE THIS IS METAL FATIGUE THAT COMES FROM HIGHSPEED HIGHWAY DRIVING AS I COMMUTE DAILY ABOUT 250 KM.THE CAR IS ONLY 22 MONTHS OLD BUT I NOW HAVE 125,800 KM ON IT.I SUSPECT THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURED IF I WAS ONLY DRIVING THE AVERAGE 20,000KM PER YEAR AND ON THE HIGHWAY FROM TIME TO TIME. DEALER WAS NOT EVEN INTERESTED IN CONTACTING VOLKSWAGON TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY HELP AVAILABLE.

WHEN TRYING TO ACCLERATE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, CAUSING A DISTRACION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *TS

SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINT #8000894 REAR BRAKES WORE TO BARE METAL WITH NO WARNING AT 2500 MILES. NO AUDIBLE WARNING, AND THE PRIOR SERVICE AT 2000 MILES REVEALED NO IMMINENT WEAR PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON WEB SEARCHES ON THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS MADE UNSAFE BY THIS AGGRESSIVE BRAKE WEAR AND REDUCED STOPPING ABILITY. WOULD LIKE TO SEE VW ADD SOME SORT OF WARNING DEVICE. LACK OF WARNING LEAD TO ROTOR DAMAGE AND REPLACEMENT (UNNECESSARY EXPENSE).*AK