2002 Volkswagen Jetta Complaint Log

HEADLIGHT LENS OXIDIZING(YELLOWING). CAUSING DIMMED HEADLIGHT INTENSITY, LOWERING NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE LENSES THIS YEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL AND CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,260 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

OIL LIGHT COMES ON, MOSTLY DURING TURNS. SWEET SMELL IN INTERIOR CABIN. WATER ENTERING INTERIOR FLOOR LEVEL. *AK

(1) MANY ELECTRICAL ANOMALIES. LOSS OF AIR CONDITION. DEALERSHIP ADVISES IT IS COOLANT MIGRATION CAUSING ELECTRICAL/POWER PROBLEMS. COOLANT MIGRATING FROM COOLANT BOTTLE INTO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND INTO ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. (2)COOLANT MIGRATION HAS CAUSED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE VEHICLE MUST BE RE-WIRED. COST TO ME $310.-TO BE DETERMINED(PROBABLY 6-10,000$) (3)DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH GETTING VW OF AMERICA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT MY REQUEST. VW HAS KNOWN SINCE 2001 (SEE TECHNICAL BULLETIN 97-01-01) THAT THE COOLANT BOTTLE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS NOT RECALLED IT, OR PROVIDED TECHNICAL BULLETINS AS TO HOW TO PREVENT IT. DEALER ADVISES THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. *JB

HEADLIGHT LENS BECOME VERY MILKY. LIGHT WILL NOT SHINE ON ROAD. CAN'T SEE THE ROAD OR OTHER CARS. CAN CAUSE DAMAGE AND DEATH TO OTHERS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD MAKE THEM LASTS LONGER AND REPLACE ALL MILKY HEADLIGHS WITH NEW ONES. ALL 1999-2005 JETTAS 1998-2005 PASSATS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. GO TO ANY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEM.

ENGINE HARNESS WIRING PROBLEMS - CHECK ENGINE, GLOW PLUG AND AIR BAG INDICATORS TURN ON POWER INTERMITTENT - WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2002 IN 2005 WITH 30,000 FROM A CERTIFIED USED VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. AFTER ONLY DRIVING THE CAR SOME 29,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY I HAD 11 MILES LEFT UNDER WARRANTY SO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP HONORED THE WARRANTY AND FIXED MY CAR. HAD IT NOT I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT $7-9,000. *TR

I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T, SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO I USED TO GET A MINIMAL KNOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT AND TRY TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS NORMAL. AFTER THE 1ST YEAR I NOTICED THE KNOCK A LITTLE HARDER BUT PAID NO MIND TO IT BECAUSE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND VW SAID IT WAS NORMAL, UNTIL THE DAY I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING, MOMENTS LATER INSTEAD OF JUST CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION TO ITS FULLEST THEY REPLACED A RECALLED BRAKE SWITCH AND SAID THAT THIS WAS CAUSING THE KNOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH A BILL OF ALMOST 2,000 DOLLARS I FIGURED FINALLY I GET MY TRANSMISSION TO WORK BETTER BECAUSE I WAS GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF GETTING WHIPLASHED BY THE KNOCK THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS TILL THIS DAY. IN APPROXIMATE TWO DAYS I GET THE SAME KNOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IM LIKE OH MAN I THOUGHT THEY FIXED THIS PROBLEM, I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID "WELL BRING IT IN AGAIN AND IF WE MISSED ANYTHING WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AT NO EXTRA CHARGE". I SAID "OK" WELL A FEW HOURS PASSED AND THE DEALER CALLS ME UP AND TELLS ME WELL WE FOUND YOUR PROBLEM BUT IT IS A HEFTY PRICE ON FIXING IT!, I AM THINKING PROB 1,000 BUCKS MORE! WRONG!, HE TELLS ME MY TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD WE NEED TO REPLACE IT WITH A REBUILT WHICH WILL COST AROUND $3,800 DOLLARS I'M LIKE JESUS CHRIST! IF THEY WOULD'VE STOPPED UP-SELLING ME BS FIXES IN MY CAR I WOULD'VE HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT! BUT SINCE THIS DAY I HAVEN'T GOT ANY RESOLUTION FOR MY CAR IM STUCK WITH IT UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION BLOWS ON IT! PLEASE FOLLOW LINK TO READ OTHER PEOPLES ISSUES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MINE AT HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN%20 TOUAREG 20% TRANSMISSION 20% PROBLEMS.HTM (THAT'S THE SAME PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH MY CAR WHY ISN'T VW DOING ANY RECALLS ON THIS????) COUNTING DUE TO OWNING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A LEMON!, VW NEEDS TO RECALL FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VW JETTA. WHENEVER THEREWAS HEAVY RAIN, THE WATER CAME THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. THE WATER DAMAGED THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED MOLD UNDER THE CARPET CUSHION. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE VEHICLE DOOR, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SMELLED LIKE MELTED CRAYONS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SMELL ORIGINATED FROM THE CARPETING AND THE SOUNDPROOFING MATERIAL IN THE DOOR AND THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND WASHED THE COILS; HOWEVER, THEY TOO COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

LEFT SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ON 1/30/07. VW CLAIMS THERE IS CRASH DATA IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. HOWEVER NO ACCIDENT / CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. I SEE ACCORDING TO NHTSA #PE04081 THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED ON THIS. I'LL BET THIS INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND ONLY AFTER SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND LAW SUITS FLY WILL SOMETHING GET DONE ABOUT IT. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO TURN ON WHEN ONE APPLIES THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WANTS THE SAFETY RECALL ON VOLKSWAGEN BRAKE LIGHTS TO APPLY TO ALL OF THE VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES. *JB

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THIS IS AN APPEAL LETTER**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST DENIAL LACKED AN ACTUAL REASON AND THE SECOND DENIAL STATED THE REPAIR TO HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED. *JB

BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V183000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, DOESN'T GRAB WHEN YOU FIRST PUT IT INTO DRIVE. SHIFTS HARD, BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. HAVE ALMOST BACKED INTO CARS WHEN IN DRIVE. THEN I HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALMOST HIT CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, WITH PARALLEL PARKING. ALSO JUMPS REALLY BAD WHEN I GIVE IT A LIL GAS SOMETIMES, LIKE AT STOP LIGHTS. *TR

FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL PACK AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP05004. COIL PACK FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT (WHERE WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AFTER IT DIED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). THE DEALERSHIP INTENDS TO BILL ME ABOUT $700 TO REPLACE THE COIL PACK. WHEN I MENTIONED THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN CITED IN THE ACTION SUMMARY ON YOUR WEBSITE, BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAID THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT IT AND WOULD NOT HONOR IT. *NM

THE SEAT HEATER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2002 JETTA BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT AND MY PANTS. I WAS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT, SO NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF MY WIFE OR I WAS DRIVING, OR IF THE SEAT HEATER WAS ON WHILE THE CAR WARMED UP WITHOUT US IN IT. I'M PURSUING MY OPTIONS WITH VOLKWAGEN AT THE MOMENT...THIS IS THE LAST STRAW, NEVER BUY A VW, ESPECIALLY A JETTA. IT HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT IT NEW. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A COUPLE OF HOLES ON THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER ON 11/29/06. UPDATED 12/15/06 *JB

IN APRIL 2006 WE PURCHASED A 2002 VW JETTA FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. THE CAR HAD 65,000 MILES. SHE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND HAD TAKEN METICULOUS CARE OF THE CAR. WE HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS DATING BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL PURCHASE. IT HAD BEEN IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED TUNEUPS. VW OFFERS A 60,000 MILE OR 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE DRIVE TRAIN. IN NOVEMBER 2006 THE RADIATOR WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WERE MIXING AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HE TRANSMISSION. ESTIMATED COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION $5,890. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC NEVER STATED WHAT CAUSED THE MIXING FLUIDS AND WOULD NOT SPECULATE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC. HE WAS ABLE TO ISOLATED THE PROBLEM WITHIN 20 MINUTES. THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS LEAKING ALLOWING THE TWO FLUIDS TO CO-MINGLE. AS A RESULT OF THE MIXING FLUIDS, THE BELTS, HOSES, RADIATOR, AND TRANSMISSION ARE ALL SEVERELY DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS SEALED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND IS NEVER MEANT TO BE CHANGED. IT'S POSITION IS PROTECTED FROM ANY ROAD DEBRIS AND NO QUALITY OF HOW THE CAR WAS DRIVEN WOULD EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS PART. IT'S HIS OPINION THAT THE PART HAD A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. SINCE THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED IN NOVEMBER IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN. WE ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING AN APPEAL TO THE VW AMERICA.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE BONDO IS RIPPING OF THE BACK PANELOF THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. THERE IS ALSO A CRACK BETWEEN THE BONDO AND THE DOOR. IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH NEAR THE DOOR, THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE RIGHT BACK PASSENGER SEAT A SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 64,500.

ON 30 OCTOBER 2006, I HAD TO HAVE MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER WIRE TO THE STARTER REPLACED. I'M BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS VERY UNCOMMON FOR THIS WIRE TO BE REPLACED. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM VOLKSWAGEN HAVE THEY RECEIVED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING OF A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *JB

TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. SEAT STARTED TO FEEL QUITE WARM, THEN I SMELLED SMOKE. PROMPTLY TURNED OFF SEAT HEATER AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN I SAW A SMALL BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT. RECEIVED A MINOR BURN ON MY BUTT. GLAD I WAS NOT YET ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

THE OIL PAN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE DRAIN PLUG IS METAL. WHEN MY MECHANIC CHANGED IT OUT IT WAS STRIPPED CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW OIL PAN, SCREW AND LABOR OF ABOUT 440.00. I AM REQUESTING A FULL REFUND AND ASKING VW TO REPLACE THE DRAIN PLAIN WITH AN ALUMINUM SCREW OR REPLACE THE OIL PAN. AFTER REVIEWING VW BLOGS OTHER CARS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE SECOND THINS IS THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I HAD BEEN REQUESTING OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS FROM THE DEALER THAT MY TRANSMISSION BE SERVICED BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SERVICEABLE. EVEN MY MECHANIC WHO CALLED TO FIX THE OIL THEY ALSO TOLD HIM THAT BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WAS NOT CHANGING GEARS PROPERLY. HE PULLED IT ANY AND FOUND THAT THE FLUID WAS BLACK AND THE FILTER WAS CLOGGED NOT ALLOWING IN FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH. HAD I WAITED TWO WEEKS MORE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER COAST OF ABOUT 120.00...TOTAL REQUEST FROM VW IS 1000 FOR REPLACEMENT COST AND LABOR. *NM

ON OCTOBER 19, 2006, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THIS INDICATED A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD EFFECT THE BRAKES ON THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 26, 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO FISCHER'S FOREIGN CARS, INC. FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $702.93 AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INC(VOA) DATED MARCH 12, 2002) AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH VOA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON FEBRUARY 16, 2002, AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2006, I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO VOA REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO ENCLOSED COPIES OF THE RECALL LETTER AND THE REPAIR BILL. ABOUT NOVEMBER 11, 2006, I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM A WOMAN AT VOA AND SHE SAID THAT THE RECALL LETTER DID NOT COVER MY CAR AND THAT BECAUSE THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2006, THAT VOA WOULD NOT HONOR MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SHE SAID THE DECISION WAS FINAL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RECALL WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL LETTER IS THE SAME AS MINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MORE CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS FROM MY DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, MY CAR HAD 38,631 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE OTHER CARS, LIKE MINE, THAT SHOULD HAVE WHEN COVERED BY THE RECALL OR A SUBSEQUENT RECALL TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD REVISIT THIS ISSUE TO DETERMINE IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE CARS. *JB

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO A FLAW AND MISREPRESENTATION OF GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 195/65 TIRES INSTALLED ON A 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T. HE TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVELY, AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE TRACTION IN THE RAIN AND CRASH. THE CRASH CAUSED $7,800 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER MISREPRESENTS THE TIRES AS HAVING EXCELLENT WET TRACTION, AND VERY DURABLE TREAD WEAR. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AS I HAVE ALSO HERD OF OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WILL ATTEMPT TO CONTACT GOODYEAR DIRECTLY. *NM

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA - FRONT SEAT HEATERS MUCH MUCH TOO HOT ...WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF TURNING THEM ON I COULD FEEL A DIME SIZE BURN ON MY SKIN. *NM

VOLKSWAGEN STEERING SAFETY: THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 2002 VW JETTA WILL NOT LOCK IN ANY REACH OR RAKE POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE STEERING COLUMN TO MOVE UP & DOWN, AND BACK & FORTH WHILE DRIVING. THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO SEVERAL POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND/OR FATAL SITUATIONS: - THE DRIVER MAY BE UNABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE CAR. - UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR MAY ENDANGER HIM/HERSELF & PASSENGERS, OTHER VEHICLES PASSENGERS, PEDESTRIANS, & PROPERTY. - IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY IN THE WRONG POSITION (TOO HIGH, TOO LOW, TOO CLOSE, TOO FAR AWAY) RESULTING IN A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS (OR FATAL) INJURY. THE LOCAL VW PARTS DEPT SAYS NO PART IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION; AN ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN IS THE ONLY FIX. SUCH EXPENSE IS UNREASONABLE (SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS); STEERING COLUMNS SHOULD LAST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES, NOT 93,000 MILES OR FOUR YEARS. I MADE THREE GOODWILL CONTACTS WITH VAG (VOLKSWAGEN AUDI GROUP) PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. MY INTENT IN CONTACTING VW WAS TO: - SEE THAT OTHER VW OWNERS WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MAY NOT BE SECURE AND SAFE. - THE ONLY CURRENT REPAIR AVAILABLE FROM VW IS AN EXCESSIVELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. MANY OWNERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EASILY AFFORD THIS REPAIR COSTING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. SUCH A CONDITION MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND POTENTIAL FATALITIES. - THE CORRECTION OF THIS CONDITION IS A POTENTIALLY INEXPENSIVE CORRECTION (A PART THAT IS PROBABLY LESS THAN 50-CENTS PER CAR). I FEEL VW SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPLIER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A VOLUNTARY CALL-BACK & REPAIR TO VWS HAVING SUCH A STEERING COLUMN, AT NO EXPENSE TO OWNERS, IRRESPECTIVE OF MILEAGE OR TIME SINCE PURCHASE. IN EACH OF THE 3 CASES VW SAID THE REPAIR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESS MILEAGE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE AND INFORMED THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE 3 BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE IN RAPID SUCCESSION AND REQUIRED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, AS WELL AS, THE LIGHTING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BY THE HEAT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06V183000 FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH DUE TO THE VIN, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS WERE SIMILAR.

ENGINE REVS HIGH WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, BUT DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD SEND A TECHNICIAN FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER KNEW IF SUCH INSPECTION EVER HAPPENED. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT AN UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. 1/31/2007 - *NM

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS - DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT BEGAN TO BURN AND SMOLDER. VOLKSWAGEN STATED THERE IS AN 'OPEN CAMPAIGN' ON THIS ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD CORRECT. *NM

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY MIL LIGHT SINCE MY 5 YR/50,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED-IN FACT, I HAVE LOST COUNT AS TO HOW MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN (THE NUMBER OF FAILURES LISTED BELOW IS JUST AN ESTIMATE). THE FIRST TIME THIS LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR HAD 52 OR 54 MILES ON IT. IT WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS OLD. APPARENTLY SOMETHING HAD CRACKED. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, THREE OF THE CABLES BROKE, THEN NOT TWO WEEKS LATER THE OTHER THREE BROKE. THE PROBLEMS JUST KEPT ADDING UP. I HAVE TRIED TO BE PATIENT WITH THIS DEALERSHIP, BUT SIMPLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY ON AVERAGE, I END UP BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP, GETTING MY CAR SERVICED ON AVERAGE, TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CAR'S INITIAL APPOINTMENT. THE LAST TIME I WENT IN, I SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER. FIRST, HE DISPARAGINGLY ASKED ME IF I WAS MAKING SURE TO FILL THE GAS TANK WITH PREMIUM GAS, AS IS WRITTEN ON THE GAS FLAP. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO ASK IF I WAS TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP. HE REASSURED ME THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC PART, BECAUSE ALL THE PARTS PERTAINING TO THIS SPECIFIC LIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. LO AND BEHOLD, TWO DAYS AGO, MY MIL LIGHT WENT ON. ON AVERAGE, EACH TIME I VISIT THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I END UP PAYING $350-600 DOLLARS. SOMEHOW, THAT DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S INSTRUCTIONS, AND TO MY DISMAY, THIS LONG-STANDING, EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *JB

WAY TO MANY TO LIST HERE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE START. MORE THAN $7000 WORTH OF REPAIR (PLUS MORE THAT WAS COVERED BY WARR) THE FINAL ITEM THAT CAUSED ME TO SAY I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER ANOTHER VW PRODUCT WAS THE ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A TIMING BELT FAILURE. ALL SERVICES WERE PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE USERS MANUAL STATES INSPECTION OF THE BELT AT SERVICES (THAT I PAID FOR) AND REPLACEMENT AT 120,000 MILES. I ONLY HAD 92,000 MILES. IT WILL COST $5,000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO REPAIR THIS CAR. IT WAS A GREAT CAR TO DRIVE BUT QUALITY CONTROL IS POOR AT BEST. *NM

I OWN A 2002 JETTA 1.8T MANUAL SPEED WAGON PURCHASED ON 3/31/06. LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS ON 2002 JETTA'S WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART, HOWEVER MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. AS THERE ARE FEW MANUAL WAGONS PRODUCED AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS SEEM TO DECREASE THE FAILURE SLIGHTLY, THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS THE SAME PART AS THE RECALLED 2002 JETTAS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR AT LEAST BE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED BY VW AS IT IS A KNOWN FAULTY PART. I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE MY VIN ON THE RECALL AS IT IS USING THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART (AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES). *NM

I OWN A 2002 VW JETTA GLI, AND IT HAS MERELY 54,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS COME IN STANDARD TRANSMISSION, AND WE BOUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS ISSUED AS NEW. AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME HEADING TOWARDS NEW JERSEY, FROM NEW YORK. MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN TO LOOSEN UP. I TRIED SWITCHING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH, AND THE CLUTCH LOOSELY WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND IT WOULD NOT POP BACK UP. AS MY CAR ROLLED ON THE BRIDGE, IT STAYED IN NEUTRAL. HENCE, I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE BEEN READING OTHER FORUMS AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ISSUE. *NM

THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I TURNED OFF MY CAR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. I READ THE MANUAL, AND IT WAS NOT HELPFUL. IT JUST STATED THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER OR QUALIFIED SPECIALIST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (NOTE: THIS IS WHAT THE BOOKLET SAYS FOR THE MAJORITY OF ITEMS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). UPON RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, I STARTED MY CAR ONCE MORE. MY ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE AUTO SHOP INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD A "FEATURE" THAT DISABLED THE CAR FROM SHIFTING GEARS DUE TO A TAIL-LIGHT FUSE THAT BLEW OUT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT DISABLING THE VEHICLE SERVES THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING SAFETY ON THE STREETS- A VEHICLE IN MOTION WITHOUT TAILLIGHTS IS APPARENTLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN A DRIVER STRANDED ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEIR CAR HAS STRANDED THEM. LUCKILY, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE IN A BAD SITUATION. SO FINALLY, THE CAR WAS FIXED, OF COURSE AFTER I PAID YET ANOTHER HEFTY BILL FOR MY CAR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOCK SHIFT TWICE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED, WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS ON OR OFF. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V096000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V183000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN .

WHILE DRIVING IN THE AFTERNOON, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON AND BLINKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I AM INFORMED MY 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T HAS "3 FAULTY COILS." THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING. I MAINTAIN MY CAR ACCORDING TO VW SPECS. IN 02/2003 VW ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THIS IN OVER 530,000 2001 TO EARLY 2003 VEHICLES. I FEEL THE FAILURE WAS PREMATURE (AS TO WHAT COULD BE TYPICALLY EXPECTED OF AN ENGINE/VEHICLE FOR RELIABILITY), AND A DANGER. OBVIOUSLY THE FACT THAT IT HAS REMANIFESTED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SHOWS THAT IT WAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED WITH THE ORIGINAL FIX ONLY 2 YEARS AGO. MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ITSELF WITHIN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO THE 'SLOW LANE' WITHOUT INCIDENT. VW DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR OTHERWISE AND SAYS THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY PERIOD I AM RESPONSIBLE ($454.00). I WILL PAY THIS, BUT HOW CAN I DRIVE KNOWING THAT THESE COILS COULD STOP ALL OR ANY ONE CYLINDER FROM CORRECTLY FIRING? THIS COULD KILL ME AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT CARE.. AS THEY QUITE BLUNTLY STATED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY ELECTRICAL BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE TO CHECK ON RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE'S SYMPTOMS, RECALL #04V096000 IDENTIFIED SIMILARITIES. THE DEALERS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE PART FOR A COST.

TURN SIGNAL UNIT CLICKING AT TWICE THE SPEED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS NOT EVEN TURNED ON. LIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN ACTUATED YET, BUT VW DEALER TOLD ME IT COULD HAPPEN AS MALFUNCTION PROGRESSES. VEHICLE ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH 88 000 KMS. NO RECALL BY MANUFACTURER YET, ALTHOUGH DEALER TOLD ME IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. COST OF REPLACEMENT FOR STEERING STALK FLASHER UNIT IS 250 DOLLARS. *NM

7TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CAR IS IMMOBILIZED BY A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH - HAS HAPPENED EVERY SIX MONTHS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, # 04V096000, WERE PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE. THE DEFECT HAS REAPPEARED.

I OWN A 2002 VW JETTA. RECENTLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE AT TIMES AND REMAINS ON EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING. I HAVE COMPLETED SEVERAL SEARCHES ONLINE AND HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SAFETY RECALLS FOR 2002 JETTA'S EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED TO BE 377,130 IN 2004 AND 362,000 EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE VW DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT RECALL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DAY OF THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT I WAS TOLD OTHERWISE. THE GENTLEMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL IN THE VIN RANGE OF THE RECALL. I THEN CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT INDEED THE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED FREE OF CHARGE. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTICS TO BE COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS COVERING THE CHARGES FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE ISSUE REMAINS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT IS MALFUNCTIONING, THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL WHICH IMPACTS 2002 JETTA'S BUT I SEEM TO GET CONFLICTING INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. CAN SOMEONE HELP? *JB

2002 VW JETTA WITH WHAT IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE A/C UNIT STOPPED WORKING. ALL ITEMS WERE CHECKED AND NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF LEAK, ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR OTHER WAS FOUND. DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE ALL ITEMS IN THE A/C SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AC CLUTCH IS HELD ON BY A NYLON NUT AND THESE ARE NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THIS FLAWED DESIGN. A SEARCH ON ANY VW DISCUSSION BOARD WILL PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SUBSTANDARD DESIGN. THIS WAS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY VW. HOW MANY OTHER CONSUMERS PAID FOR A NEW A/C SYSTEM (FAN, COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH ECT.) WHEN ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED CLUTCH. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DESIGN WAS ONLY IN EXISTENCE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS REPLACED BY VW. SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO ALL OF THE CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS DESIGN. THIS PART IS ALSO FOUND A LOT OF TIME BY VW TECHNICIANS WHEN THEY REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE BELLY PAN. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO WINDOW REGULATOR RECALL WHERE THE USED A PLASTIC CLIP INSTEAD OF METAL. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE DRIVER AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DETERMINED BY COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT A CRASH OCCURRED ALTHOUGH NO CRASH ACTUALLY OCCURRED. THE DEALER CAN GIVE NO OTHER REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT.

2002 VW JETTA WITH LEATHER SEATS - SEAT HEATER BURNED DAUGHTER'S LEG AND MADE BURN MARK ON THE SEAT, SMOKE, BUT NO FIRE. IS THIS A RECALL? *NM