This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I bought my Jetta III gls in 1995 brand new. Within a year the molding on the doors started peeling off and eventually falling off. The dealer sent it to a body shop to have it glued and it never stuck. I've been driving for years with one molding missing. I have replaced multiple power window motors and parts. Failure of these power windows are consistantly failing one after the another. I had smoke and an electrical burning smell coming from the steering column and failing blinkers which were both related. I replaced the blinker system and problem was solved. The lock freeze easily in cold weather and I have had the driver side lock completely fall apart while unlocking the car. The seal on front windshield is wearing away causing leaking of rain and this will be fixed with $100 resealing of windshield. Rusting is occurring under car and on underside of doors, VW said it must be rusting from the inside out to be covered (wouldn't that be bigger problem if it occurred from the inside??). the oil seal is leaking. The oxygen sensor has been replaced and needs replaced again. The middle console was permanently locked and dealer took it lock out saying it was broken. The windshield washer fluid container has broken twice. This is all with 85,000 miles. These are common problems with Jetta but window motors and molding are by far two main problems that should be covered with a recall, ask any Jetta owner.
Master computer originally blown 4/15/00, mileage 93,000. Repaired and replaced 5/00. Blown again 4/01/01. 11 months and 17,000 miles later at 110,000. Master computer timing mechanism controlling throttle section only went out and causing the car to react to late to throttle pressure or overthrottle. The car surges, hesitates to start and loses all power including steering if any other heavy electrical componets requiring additional amps such as A/C unit are engaged. April 1st car would refused to start, finally started and smelled of fuel. April 2nd car was taken to VW of concord ca. Diagnosis, spark plugs and $80. April 3rd car driven and same problem. April 3rd-7th car parked unable to drive safely. April 7th or 8th dropped in the night drop for diagnosis on April 9th. Car was in shop from april9-april24th. April 24th picked up car and $250 bill. Diagnosis, fuel injector cleaning and throttle adjustment. April 25th car stalls 2 times in moving traffic. No warning lights, no sounds and no warning. Car went dead and was completely silent and no steering and no braking. Rolled to stop on highway and turning in traffic. No warning either time, just completely dead. Owner called dealer and car was driven back to shop April 25th. April 22th-may2nd car in shop. May 3rd, dealer thought it was the fuel pressure regulator. May 4th, dealer called was not the fuel pressure regulator. May 5th dealer phoned, perhaps it is the master computer, yet again. May 6th confimed it is the master computer. May 7th-9th no call from dealer, car still in shop. May 9th, owner calls VW-America to find out about getting a possible extention on this warranty and was given reference number. VW-America was quite rude and non-informational and refused to speak of any possible defects in replacement parts. May 14th, called back VW-America, once again rude and all ownership information was still incorrect that was to be changed on 5/11/01. 5/15 car still at shop
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Columbus, OH, USA