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.
Starter problem. When starting the car most times will screech really loud. Led to the conclusion it is the starter from online forums of owners of same generation Jettas. Seems to be a premature wear item. Car has under 130,000 miles and other cars of same age and mileage do not have this issue. Fell like there is a fault with the starter.
Car will stall at a 1/4 tank of gas when in motion. It will do this at any speed or on any road going uphill or down hill. Have put 3 new fuel pumps in changed the fuel pump solenoid and still have the problem. This has been going on for a year now.
Bought a 2001 VW Jetta 1.8T gls wolfsburg three weeks ago. Rains hit me for the first time today and although all door seals are 100% proper, water leaks into driver's side footwells via hood latch release as best I can tell. Found the car flooded with 1-2 inches of water, soaked into carpet and carpet padding. Replacing the carpet and padding would cost around 1500 dollars. Fixing the obvious defect in drainage will probably cost about 300 from reading up on this issue. This is a documented issue with vws. Check out www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_43960.html also see www.theautobahn.com/forum/showthread.php?T=12789&page=1&start=&pp=10 my only able course of action is to ascertain the cause of the leak and fix that myself with any luck. Then it looks like a game of cutting and peeling the carpet back to dry the pads to avoid mold and odor, neither of which will I be able to actually prevent fully. Of course the previous owner has no memory of the issue. But it's not just me, check out the forums I provided web addresses to.
Approximately 3 months after purchasing my 2001 Jetta, I noticed a crayon/wax smell throughout the interior of the car. Every one of my passengers has commented on the pungency of the crayon smell. A couple months later, I brought my car in to be serviced and notified the dealer of this smell, and he responded that this was the "standard Volkswagen smell". other subsequent dealerships have claimed that they have never even heard of this smell before. On hot days, the smell becomes grossly pungent and has caused me and my passengers headaches and nausea. The smell even stays in my clothes for days. I am afraid whether this smell is toxic.
I have had nothing but issues with my 2001 Jetta. I have replaced all the wheel bearings and the front bearing twice. I have also had to replace the engine coils twice on this car. Now in the last 2-3 weeks the clear coat has started to peel off the car. The paint is not coming off just the clear coat. I called the VW care center and they ran me around having me take the car to a VW body shop, and having the service manager look at it and neither one of them could tell me why the clear coat was peeling. They both did respond by saying the could be sure but in may have been over baked at the factory after it was painted but of course nobody want to admit that because then VW would be liable to fix it. So in calling the VW care center back the pretty much told me the car was 5 year old and it wasn't their problem any more but mine. Great customer service. I've owned other cars and never had a problem with the clear coat. Granted they were not VW cars. I recommend not to buy a VW of any kind because this company will not stand by their fault. I mean 5 years old that the clear coat is peeling off. That isn't right. Thanks for nothing VW. Don't buy a VW.
- Delafield, WI, USA
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2001 Jetta VR6 driver seat rocks because of broken gears. The dealer would not repair the seat free of charge because the vehicle was out of warranty. The dealer determined that there is a bad gear and it will cost over $700. To repair. The consumer considers this a safety issue and believes this may affect the proper operation of the side mounted air bags. The glove compartment also broke.
I purchased a new 2001 tdi Jetta. I have had three mass air sensors replaced, two of which were covered under my extended warrenty at approximately 37,000 miles, this last one was not. VW refused to assist with the repair. Also, a dealer previously told me back in August 2002 that I needed $700 worth of glow plug sensors and glow plugs. I had them replace the sensor for $400. They did not have the glow plugs in stock. Incidently my car started every time this winter in the freezing cold. It turns out that they were not bad after all and that I needed a glow plug harness for $118., which I found out last week when it broke down on me again. If I had replaced the plugs I would have wasted another $300. Last week my car displayed the same symptoms as it did when my mass air sensor failed the first two times. I took it to the first dealer that I could get in to and they told me needed to clean my intake mainfold, replace the fuel filter, air filter, glow plug harness and mass air sensor for $1200. I understand that they have to VW has to replace greater than 50% of their mass air sensors. Why are they not recalled. I drive 100 miles to work each way and this car has been an expensive let down. I have no faith in the VW company and once they get your money they do not seem to care at all. The car is unsafe. I will continue to pursue them until I get some resolution.
Vehicle has a burning rubber/wax smell. When engine gets hot smell gets really toxic. Vehicle checked by dealer, who replaced carpet between firewall and dashboard, since then smell is even worse.
L have had numerous "factory defects" with my new vehicle and no one can help me solve my dilema. The vehicle im submitting to you is not the orginially purchased car. They had to give me a 2nd vehicle. I have had numerous problems ever since with keyless remote uni (replaced), auto window unit(both driver, passneger-both units replaced),driver seat not bolted to floor. Had to get a new seat. New shocks, new packing between rear pass. Door panels. All claimed to be factory defects per the dealer. I have established a claim through VW of America but they cannot assist. They will only take my complaints.
Vehicle stalls at any speed/ any time. Shortly after purchase engine check light came on. Taken to dealer who repaired. However, vehicle stalls on a daily basis, taken to dealer 6 times, cannot remedy problem.
The vehicle has been seen by mechanics from two different dealorships on five occasions due to the check engine light to date. On the fourth trip to the shop it was evaluated by the mechanics as having defective gas tank that had a slow leak. On this occasion the auto was kept for 1 week for repairs. Here we are a week later and the light is back on and it's back in the shop again. Meanwhile I am on probation at my new job and am having to take considerable time off due to these repairs. I am still on probation at this job and I have also missed out on the opportunity of overtime because of continual trips to the dealors shops. I have only made three payments on the car to date and I am paying for something that is in the shop as much as it is in the driveway. Aside from the fact that I have reached the point where I am afraid to drive it for I fear it could possibly be a deathtrap! I am not sure about the belt question that are within this form.
Shortly after purchase of the vehicle the engine began to sputter and shake with the check engine light illuminating, consumer returned vehicle to dealership to fix temperature regulator in the engine system, however after repair the vehicle's engine light illuminated and consumer lost all braking ability. The dealership and manual state that it is ok for the driver to continue to drive the vehicle with the check engine light on, but when light is flashing do not drive, the brakes and engine failure occurred without flashing lights for proper warning.
Check oil light came on. After checking dipstick found that it was completely empty. Took car next day directly to dealer and found they know of problem with the car burning oil and it was "normal for the car to do that under 10,000." Car was serviced at minuteman VW for 5K service. Car taken to same location. They suggested we put oil in car and come back Tuesday. We drove away but retuned after 10 minutes to get rental car. The vehicle gave no signs about an oil leak beforehand nor heavy smoke from the exhuast. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to check the spark plugs. Is there any recourse we can have since this defect no matter how many times we take it back will devalue our vehicle? please advise.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marysville, OH, USA