2003 Volkswagen Jetta Complaint Log

JETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (ON OUR INVOICE IT IS PART NO. 1JO-945-511-E") ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT COMMONWEALTH VW, THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED AS DEFECTIVE IN OTHER VW'S, BUT NOT THE JETTA. WHEN IT FAILS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER, M. B., THE REGISTERED OWNER, AND I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA THAT SHE IS DRIVING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE TO AND FROM OUR HOME IN VILLA PARK, CA. TO SCHOOL IN RIVERSIDE, CA. (ABOUT 60 MILES ROUND TRIP) DAILY, AND AT NIGHT! THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED FROM ALL VEHICLES. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON WITH LEATHER, HEATED SEATS. I JUST NOTICED A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT IS CLEARLY BURNT THROUGH FROM UNDERNEATH. I CALLED MY VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. *JB I AM UNABLE TO TELL WHAT LED TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART ASIDE FROM USING THE SEAT HEATERS ON COLD MORNINGS. THE HOLE BURNED IN THE SEAT IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT BURNED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THIS POSES A TREMENDOUS SAFETY RISK. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS AS OF YET. *JB

VW CLAIMS THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTING SWITCH ISN'T A RECALL ITEM OR PROBLEM BUT NOT ONLY AM I HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ONE FOR ME CAR BUT THE OTHER VW OWNERS HERE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM

ENGINE MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS BROKE AND CAUSED CAR TO CRASH. ALSO INJURING MY DAUGHTER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOUR TIMES. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE GLOW PLUG, THE RELAY TO THE GLOW PLUG AND THE THERMOSTAT, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SMELLED AND COULD SEE SMOKE AND REALIZED DRIVERS SEAT WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND PUT OUT FIRE ON SEAT. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DID NOTHING - TOLD OWNER THEY HAD NOTHING TO SAY. DEALER REPLACED SEAT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEATING SWITCH FOR THE SEATS IN HER DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW SWITCH, BUT THE SWITCH FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE SWITCH BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED BLISTERS, A SCAR, AND MINOR BURNS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 10/31/02. I PURCHASED IT NEW. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY TEENAGERS TO DRIVE AS THEY BEGIN SINCE IT IS A SAFE CAR. LAST WEEKEND, (12/17/05) I WAS PERSONALLY DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE SEAT WARMER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GOT SO HOT THAT IT ACTUALLY BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT, AND THE CAR SMELLED TERRIBLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER. I THINK THAT HAVING TO FEAR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY CAR IS OUTRAGEOUS. *NM

EXCESSIVE BUILDUP OF CARBON IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE CAR TO START. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG VW DEALERS WITH TDI DIESELS AND THERE IS NOTHING VW IS DOING ABOUT IT. COST $700 TO REPAIR THIS. *NM

I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA 1.8T WITH FRONT HEATED SEATS. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SEATS HEATER 2 DAYS AGO ON 12/13/2005 AFTER THE HEATER WAS ON FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES. BURNING A SMALL HOLE TROUGH THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY LEFT SIDE (BUTTOCK) I HAVE COME TO FIND SINCE THIS HAPPENED, MY NHTSA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING 2002, 2003 VW JETTAS FOR SEAT FIRES WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. WHY, AS THE ORIGINAL REGISTER OWNER OF THIS MODEL WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE INSIDE MY CAR, WHILE ME, MY WIFE AND MY 5 YEAR GIRL ARE IN IT! THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABOVE IS THAT IT WAS NOT A POSSIBILITY, IT JUST WAS A MATTER OF TIME AND IN MY CASE, THE TIME WAS DECEMBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 7PM AT NIGHT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST 3,000 MILES, WITH WATER PUMPS AND DOOR LATCHES, FIRMWARE UPDATES, VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER STARTS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RANGING FROM ENTIRELY IMMOBILIZING AND STRANDING ME TO THE CAR PARTIALLY BEING IMMOBILIZED THE VW JETTA TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER ISSUES WHICH INCLUDE THE CARS SHIFTER BEING ABLE TO BE MOVED WHEN THE KEY IS NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION TO A POSITION IN THE SHIFTER SELECTOR BECAUSE A CABLE WAS NEVER CONNECTED TO PREVENT THAT, THAT SHOULD ALSO BE A NHTSA SAFETY ISSUE TOO ON THIS CAR. BUT FIRST I WANT YOU FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CONTACT THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS BEFORE REAL TRAGEDY HAPPENS IF THAT ALL READY HAS NOT HAPPENED. I HAVE JUST TALKED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE AT VW AMERICA, THEY HAVE NOT WARNED THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS, WHO WILL. AGAIN SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED I SEE MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. PLEASE NOTIFY THE OWNERS FIRST, THEN CONTACT ME SECOND. PLEASE! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A SLUSH COVERED HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND HIT THE RETAINING WALL IN THE MEDIAN. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING. ALTHOUGH A SMALL HOLE FORMED IN THE SEAT CUSHION THERE WAS NOT VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF A FIRE OTHER THAN SMOKE. *AK

ON MARCH 1, 2004, I PURCHASED AND FINANCED A 2003 JETTA TDI FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP IN CHICO, CA. I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH MY NEW VEHICLE IN LATE NOVEMBER 2005, WITH MILEAGE AT 47399. I SUFFERED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AND IN TRAVELING UP HILLS. DURING THE LOSS OF POWER, I ALSO NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT HEAR THE WHINE OF THE TURBO AND ASSUMED THAT THE PROBLEM MUST BE RELATED TO MY TURBO. THE CHICO DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WITH A SCAN TOOL BUT WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY MY COMPLAINT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURBO PERSISTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE CHICO DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 7, 2006, WITH MILEAGE AT 50856. ONCE AGAIN, THE CHICO DEALER WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY MY COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEIR SCAN TOOL DID NOT PULL A CODE. THE CHICO DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE LOSS OF POWER. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE CHICO DEALER ON JANUARY 7, 2006. FEELING DEFEATED AND FRUSTRATED, I SUFFERED THROUGH THE TURBO PROBLEM FOR ANOTHER YEAR. DURING THIS TIME, I WAS FORCED TO TAKE EXTRA SPECIAL PRECAUTION WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY IN CASE MY TURBO FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, WHEN I EXPERIENCED A LOSS POWER TRAVELING UP-HILL, I WAS FORCED TO UTILIZE MY HAZARD SIGNAL AND MOVE TO EITHER THE SLOW LANE OR THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO ALLOW OTHER VEHICLES TO PASS ME. WHEN MY TURBO FAILED TO RESPOND PROPERLY, MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL AT A MAXIMUM OF 45-55 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AND 35-45 MPH WHEN TRAVELING UP-HILL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, EVEN LARGE SEMI-TRUCKS PASSED ME TRAVELING UP-HILL. THE PROBLEM WITH MY TURBO JEOPARDIZED MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS' AS WELL AS THOSE TRAVELING AROUND US. THIS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG WITHOUT THE PROPER ATTENTION TO MY CONCERNS AND I FEEL UNSAFE WHILE TRAVELING IN MY VW. *TR

ENGINE FROZE 1 MILE AFTER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. NO SMELLS, WARNING LIGHTS, NOISES BEFORE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THEN I DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. CHECKED THE OIL, AND IT WAS DRY. PUT IN A QUART OF OIL AND DROVE IT TO SEE IF LIGHT WOULD GO OFF - IT LOCKED A COUPLE BLOCKS AFTER THAT. WHY DIDN'T THE OIL LIGHT COME ON SOONER? THE OIL LEVEL WAS VERY LOW , ENOUGH TO MAKE THE ENGINE FREEZE. WHY DIDN'T THE OIL LIGHT COME ON SOONER? *AK

THE SEAT ON MY 2003 VW JETTA CAUGHT FIRE TODAY. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A NICKEL-SIZE BURN IN MY SEAT AND MY PANTS. *JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 AM THIS MORNING I STARTED MY CAR AND TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES FOR THE RPMS TO DROP BELOW 1000, I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND BEGAN HEADING FOR WORK. I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I TRAVELED LESS THAN AN 1/8 OF A MILE TO A STOP SIGN. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING IT IN PARK, I OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, PULLED THE HOOD LATCH, AND QUICKLY STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN WHILE I OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT FOR THE SOURCE OF THE BURNING SMELL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES OF INSPECTION I DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING BURNING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CLOSED THE HOOD AND WHILE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY RAN TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DISCOVERED A SMALL FIRE IN THE FRONT SEAT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, TURNED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT OFF, AND MANAGED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRAUMATIC EVENT. REFLECTING ON THE TYPICAL USAGE OF THE HEATED SEATS BY MYSELF, OR WORSE YET MY WIFE, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE SEAT WAS LITERALLY ON FIRE IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT THE OUTCOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF THIS HAD OCCURRED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IF I HAD NOT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I WOULD HAVE SUFFERED BURNS. AFTER TALKING TO CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER THAT I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM SINCE DAY ONE AND THEY NEVER DID ANY RECALL WORK ON THE SEATS. I SEARCHED YOUR SIGHT FOR RECALL INFORMATION ON MY VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO DATA. I WANTED YOU TO BE INFORMED. I WOULD HATE TO FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE WAS BURNED IN THERE VEHICLE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. *JB

DT:THE CONTACTS STATED WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE/CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN IN A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BLACK BOX CONTAINS CRASH DATA AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04081.*AK

GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRE FAILED DUE TO CRACKS ON THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL LEADING TO A BLOWOUT AND NEAR SEPARATION OF THE TIRE FROM THE WHEEL. *NM

I OWN A 2003 JETTA TDI WAGON AND MY FRONT SEAT HEATER HAS BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. *NM

2003 JETTA GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THIS IS CAUSED BY A PLASTIC SUBMITTER THAT CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFT AND BRAKES. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE 2002 MODEL BUT NOT 2003. *JB THE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS PAID BILLS PAID THAT WERE ACCIDENTALLY PLACED IN AN ENVELOPE. UPDATED 07/11/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTY. THE CONTACT STATED S DASHBOARD CONTROL SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. LAST NIGHT WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. GOT CLOSE TO HOME AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. BY THE TIME SHE GOT WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE HOUSE THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE. HUSBAND CAME OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HUSBAND USED EXTINGUISHER ON VEHICLE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. FIRE DEPARTMENT GAVE ALL CLEAR, BUT NOT TO TRY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THIS MORNING CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SEEING WHAT THEY COULD DO. HUSBAND SUSTAINED RIGHT LEG INJURIES. CUSTOMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF EYES BURNING FROM SMOKE. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TAKEN. NO CRASHES. WE HAD JUST PICKED VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER.*AK

ON SEPT. 22ND, 2005, OUR 2003 VW EUROVAN BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, ROGER JOBS VW IN BELLINGHAM, WA. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWN WAS THAT THE OIL FILTER CAP HAD SPLIT, CAUSING ALL THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT, RUINING THE ENTIRE ENGINE WITHIN MOMENTS. FIVE VW EXPERTS EMPLOYED WITH OR ASSOCIATED WITH ROGER JOBS VW (ANGELA MATTIX THE SERVICE ADVISER, PETER DRAKE THE SERVICE MANAGER, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE JUAN GARCIA, AND TWO TECHNICIANS, BOB GORSUCH AND PAUL TIEGROB), UNANIMOUSLY AGREE AND ARE UNEQUIVOCALLY CERTAIN, THAT BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM, THE OIL FILTER CAP SPLITTING WAS DUE TO AN OVER TIGHTENING OF THE CAP BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP (PACIFIC VW), AND, WAS NOT THE RESULT OF, AS CLAIMED BY PACIFIC VW AND SUPPORTED BY VW OF AMERICA, A STONE FLYING UP UNDERNEATH THE CAR, WHICH WOULD CLASSIFY IT AS DAMAGE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, THEREBY EXCLUDING IT FROM COVERAGE UNDER THE LIMITED NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY. AS POINTED OUT BY THE FIVE VW EMPLOYEES LISTED ABOVE, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS STRONGLY PROTECTED AGAINST SUCH OCCURRENCES WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF HARD PLASTIC SHIELDS, ALL OF WHICH SHOW NO SIGN WHATSOEVER OF ANY KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL FILTER IN THE CAR WAS A FACTORY VW OIL FILTER. WE BOUGHT THE CAR (ALONG WITH A FULL WARRANTY) DIRECTLY FROM PACIFIC VW IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE SPRING OF 2004. ACCORDING TO THE EXPERT OPINION OF FIVE VW EMPLOYEES, IT''S CLEAR, THAT THE FAILURE OF THE OIL FILTER CAP WAS DUE TO FAULTY SERVICE ON THE PART OF PACIFIC VW, AND WAS NOT DAMAGE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ABS LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED . THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ALTERNATOR CABLE BURNED THE FUSE BOX AND COVER. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THEY SAME PART WILL BE PUT BACK ON THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD THAT WAS NEWLY GRADED GRAVEL AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. BOTH THE SIDE AIR CURTAIN AND THE SEAT AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THE SEAT BAG HIT MY WIFE ON THE BACK OF THE UPPER ARM LEAVING SOME BRUISING AND WHAT LOOKED TO BE LARGE WELTS AND BURNS. THE SWELLING AND BURNS WENT AWAY AFTER WE FOUND SOME ICE AND PACK HER ARM IN IT. VW SAYS THAT WE WERE IN A COLLISION BUT WE WERE AROUND NO ONE AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR FOR ANY COLLISION. MY INSURANCE COMPANY FIXED THE CAR UNDER A COMP. CLAIM AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY COLLISION DAMAGE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE SPEED AT THIS TIME WAS ABOUT 60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY DEBRIS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW, AND THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. THIS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 2005.*AK

A/C FAN SIEZED, CAUSING ENOUGH HEAT TO START A FIRE. THE SHROUD, UPPER RADIATOR MODLINGS, A/C HOSE, HOOD INSULATION AND PAINT WERE DAMAGED.

* 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH 38,116 MILES / ONE OWNER * VW CASE # 50260581 * REPAIR LOCATION: NORTH POINT VW, SHERWOOD, AR (501) 945-5353 THE PROBLEM THIS VEHICLE'S CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL BOTH FAILED (COMPLETELY WORN) AT 38,116 MILES, WELL BEFORE THE AVERAGE EXPECTED LIFE... POSSIBLE MATERIAL DEFICIENCY. BACKGROUND ALL SERVICE FOR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND DOCUMENTED WITH VW. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY EXTREME DRIVING IN ANY WAY. MANUFACTURER'S ASSISTANCE NONE. THE CLUTCH IS A WEAR ITEM AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER AGREES THAT A CLUTCH SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS LOW MILEAGE, NEITHER HE, OR THE VW HELP CENTER (800 411-6688) WOULD HELP IN THE $1,600 REPAIR. BOTTOM LINE AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "VW JETTA CLUTCH FAILURE", I NOTED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PREMATURE VW CLUTCH FAILURE. IS THIS A "WEAK LINK" IN THIS VEHICLE? IS VW TRYING TO HIDE AN INFERIOR PART?

NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. HOWEVER, WHO OR WHAT COMPANY DO I EMAIL TO GET INFORMATION ON WHY VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PUT FORTH A RECALL ON THE SUNROOF OF THE JETTA MODEL 2001 AND 2002? I AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THIS COMPANY. HOWEVER, FROM THE CONSUMER REPORTS I SEE THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS PART ON THESE CARS. CAN YOU PLEASE DIRECT ME TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT I MIGHT GET AN ANSWER? IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE COLULMS OF THIS VEHICLE. IF THEY GET WET THEY WILL NOT WORK. THEREFORE IT IS A HAZARD THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD ADDRESS.THANK YOU

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY NAME IS [XXX]. I OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI THAT I PURCHASED NEW ON 3/10/03 FROM AUTOHAUS OF LANCASTER IN LANCASTER, PA. IT NOW HAS 56,700 MILES ON IT. (MOSTLY HIGHWAY) WHILE DRIVING ON 6/21/05, I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES GOT MUSHY AND THEN GRABBED AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR IN A SUDDEN STOP. AS IT WAS STOPPING YOU HEARD A SOUND LIKE THE VEHICLE NOW HAD AIR BRAKES. I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AGAIN THE BRAKES LET UP. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE GARAGE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BRAKE BOOSTER. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT 48,000 MILES, I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT WAS IN BECAUSE SEVERAL TIMES I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN THE SNOW AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP. THIS VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. AT THIS TIME THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID ALL WAS OK. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I GOT IT OUT OF THE SHOP. MY CURRENT MECHANIC (ROBERTS AUTOMOTIVE) WHO SPECIALIZES IN VOLKSWAGENS MENTIONED THAT HE BELIEVES THAT TWO PROBLEMS ARE VERY LIKELY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC ([XXX] @ ROBERTS AUTOMOTIVE) ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (AUTOHAUS OF LANCASTER, PA) FOR THE PART, AND HE WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED 8 OF THESE BRAKE BOOSTERS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I ALSO TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT AUTOHAUS. DAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL BRAKE BOOSTERS GO BAD ON THE TDI MODELS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF AUTOHAUS. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP HERE. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. BY SHEER LUCK I WAS NOT HIT BY THAT TRUCK. I WILL BE SENDING A SIMILAR LETTER TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WITH MY COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VW JETTA UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION, CONTINUED WHEN IT TURNED GREEN. I HIT A SMALL SIZED POTHOLE AT THE OTHER END OF THE INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS BELOW 15MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE WRONGFUL DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS AS WELL AS LOCKING THE SEATBELT TENSIONER MAKING IT INOPERABLE. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND FOUND NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER TO ALL BODY PANELS AND WHEELS/TIRES. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE CAR FOR ANY SUSPENSION OR STEERING PROBLEMS AND NONE WERE FOUND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT TO HAVE IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA HAVE DENIED WARRANTY REPAIRS AND HAVE NOT YET DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 500 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN 2002-2004 VW JETTAS, GOLFS, GTI AND NEW BEETLES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

CAR STARED PUTTING OUT ALOT OF BLUE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE ON START UP AND GAS MILAGE WAS DROPPING 5-6 MPG AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS ALOT FOR A DIESEL ENGINE. CAR LOST POWER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD BARELY RUN. ENTIRE INTAKE SYSTEM TO THE HEAD WAS FULL BLACK STICKY CARBON CHOKING THE ENGINE FOR CLEAN AIR. INTAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE COMPLETLY DISASSEMBLED (MANIFLOD,EGR VAVLE,CCV TUBE) AND CLEANED OF CARBON, WHICH BY SEARCHING THE INTERNET IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW TDI 1.9 ENGINE.

I WAS ON MY WAY TO FLORIDA, DRIVING SOUTH ON I-95 (GOING THROUGH THE TOWN OF ST. MARYS) WHEN I RAN OVER A GREY METAL GRATE (THE SAME COLOR AS THE ROAD) THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT LANE (I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH). THE GRATE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1FT X 1FT AND ABOUT 1 INCH THICK. AS SOON AS I RAN OVER IT, THE SIDE CURTAIN AND THE SIDE SEAT AIRBAGS (ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE) DEPLOYED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SEAT, SEAT BELT, AND MY LEFT ARM WAS BURNT. *JB

DT: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DIESEL TDI. THE ENGINE DIED AT 70 MPH. THE CONSUMER KNEW IT WAS NOT THE TIMING BELT AND BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE SIGNALS. LIGHTS TO FLASH, FLASHERS ALSO WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE TIMING BELT IS IN PLACE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. *TT *SC *JB

PASSANGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AVOIDING THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. DRIVER SUFFERED EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS, IN ADDITON TO DAMAGE TO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE SENT TO THE DEALER IN THE AM.*AK

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH MOVING 2003 VW JETTA AND PARKED HONDA/TOYOTA? DRIVER OF JETTA CAME AROUND THE CORNER, LOOKED DOWN & AWAY FROM THE ROAD MOMENTARILLY WHILE DRIVING APX. 30 MPH WHEN SHE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY BREAKING. THIS FULL FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THIS JETTA WAS TAKEN OUT AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE ARE CURRENTLY BEING TOLD "NO CHANGES OR ALTERATIONS WILL BE MADE WITH REGARD TO THE AIRBAGS".

THIS MORNING, 4/5/05, I TURNED ON MY HEATED LEATHER SEATS IN MY 2003 JETTA GLS AND IN A MATTER OF ABOUT A MINUTE, I FELT SOMETHING EXTREMELY HOT ON MY LEG. I IMMEDIATELY LIFTED MYSELF UP FROM THE SEAT BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. I LOOKED DOWN AND THERE WAS A HOLE BURNT INTO MY LEATHER SEAT, SMOKE COMING FROM THE SEAT AND A BURN IN MY PANTS...NOT TO MENTION MY SKIN. WHAT I FIND DISTURBING IS NOT THAT IT HAPPENED BUT THE FACT THAT I TOOK MY CAR IN LAST THURSDAY AND WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED. IF VW HAD BEEN PROACTIVE, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.*AK

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CLUTCH BURNED OUT AT 21,851 MILES NEED TO REPLACE CLUTCH

WHILE DRIVING/PARKING DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT WHEN IN USE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAD THE HEATER SEAT ON AND IT BURNED THROUGH CONSUMER'S COAT AND BURNED HER PANTS. CONSUMER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THE PART FOR REPAIR WAS ON ORDER.*AK

ON MARCH 24,I TURNED MY SEAT WARMER TO LEVEL 2,ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A BURNING SENSATION. I KEPT DRIVING THINKING MAYBE I WAS BIT BY A BUG OR SOMETHING. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER,I SAW AND SMELLED ALOT OF SMOKE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WHEN I LOOKED DOWN AT MY SEAT,IT WAS DARK AND RAINY SO I TURNED ON MY DOME LIGHT,THERE WAS A DIME SIZE HOLE IN MY SEAT. I HAD TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER WHEN I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I GOT HOME AND THERE WAS A BURN ON THE BACK OF MY LEFT LEG. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED OUR CAR IN ABOUT 10 DAYS. THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THEY REPLALCED THE SEAT AND FIXED THE ELECTRICAL.*AK

2003 VW JETTA WAGON HEATED SEATS MALFUNCTION. DRIVER RECEIVED A STRONG SHOCK FROM THE SEAT FOLLOWED BY A STRONG BURNING ODOR.*AK

MY TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAD HAPPENED AND FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER ABOUT A QUARTER MILE LATER, BY THAT TIME THE TIRE HAD SPLIT COMPLETELY AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE. THANK GOODNESS THIS HAPPENED JUST AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE INTERSTATE, AND I WASN'T GOING VERY FAST AT THE TIME. I WAS TOLD LATER BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT THESE LOW PROFILE TIRES SPLIT LIKE THAT FREQUENTLY BY JUST DRIVING A SHORT WHILE ON IT AFTER IT BLOWS. I AM VERY FEARFUL OF THESE TIRES NOW.(GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A 225/45R17. I WAS TOLD MY THE MANUFACTURER OF MY CAR VW THAT THEY DIDN'T WARRANTY TIRES ON THERE CARS. THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS TIRES DIDN'T HAVE A MILEAGE GUARNTEE, THAT THE TIRES SHOULD GO 50,000 MILES. MY CAR ONLY HAD 24,000 MILES ON IT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VW AND GOODYEAR AND THESE TIRES. SO MUCH FOR SO CALLED PERFORMANCE TIRES. *AK

FAILURE IN THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT RESULTED IN A SMOKING HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT LEATHER. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN A SMALL BURN TO THE PASSENGER.

VERY SIMPLE: I WAS DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!! THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE DEPLOYING OF THE AIRBAG SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I ALMOST CRASHED OVER THIS!*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION PROBLEMS WERE NOTICE WITH THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BLACK BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE PURPLE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE. THE BLACK BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD A RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE 2003 MODELS. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH, WHICH INCLUDES THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM AND THE PARK POSITION LEVER WHICH LOCKS OFTEN. ALSO THE CONTACT ONCE BECAME STRANDED ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. ALL REPAIRS MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN COVERED BY THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT BRAKE LIGHTS BECAUSE REPRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM

SEAT HEATER ON DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME VERY HOT IN ONE SPOT, STARTED TO SMELL AND SMOKE AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL, MY JACKET AND TO MY LEG (NO BURN TO SKIN NOTED).*AK

FORD PICKUP TRUCK WAS STOPPED TO MAKE LEFT TURN. MY ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED AND I FAILED TO STOP. HIT TRUCK IN REAR. PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER AIR BAG OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT. SEAT BELT PREVENTED PERSONAL INJURY. *NM

NOTICED THE SEAT WSA HOTTER THAN NORMAL A FEW DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I SMELLED BURNING, THEN NOTICED MY LEG WAS HURTING, THEN NOTICED SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. I PATTED OUT THE FIRE/SMOKE WITH MY HAND. THERE WAS A BURNED HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER IN THE SIDE OF MY SEAT. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL BURN IN MY PANTS AND ON MY UPPER LEG. I IMMEDIATLY CALLED THE DEALER. THEY COULD TAKE MY CAR THAT DAY, THEY KEPT IT FOR A DAY AND A HALF AND REPLACED THE HEATER AND COVER. I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE LOOK OF THE SEAT, IT IS NOT TIGHT AND DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO WAIT FOR THE LEATHER TO GET TIGHTER. IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS AND IT IS NOT ANY TIGHTER. I AM HAPPY THEY FIXED THE SEAT BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO LOOK LIKE IT USED TO.

ON EARLY MORNING START-UP, THE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON. WITHIN ABOUT 1 MINUTE IT BEGAN TO SMOLDER, MELTING THE SEAT FOAM CUSHION AND BURNING A HOLE IN THE UPHOLSTERY FABRIC AND MY TROUSERS. HAD I NOT QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE HEATER, IT MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA. THEY TOOK MY INFORMATION AND REPAIRED IT AT THEIR EXPENSE THROUGH MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. *JB