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.
As we were driving home, all the lights on the dash started blinking. The accelerator pedal stopped working in the middle of a busy intersection. The car engine continued running, but it just stalled in the middle of traffic and could not accelerate to get out of traffic. So we coasted the car for about 1.5 miles to a family members house. When we arrived, we turned off the car and tried to restart it, it would not start. After opening the hood we noticed that the fuse box/harness that sits on the battery was very hot. We opened it and saw the far left black wire/cable was burnt up and melting the plastic in the harness. The black wire was extremely hot. I had this problem before, it was 3 years ago, but I did not know where to look. I spent over $500 fixing what seems to me the same problem as before. On the dealership receipt it said "found generator harness at battery fuse box melted causing high resistance in voltage circuit.....replaced fuse box and generator cable". on that occurrence it was so bad the burns had ruined my battery causing it to leak. I called VW manufacturing, but they were not very helpful and just told me to call my local dealer for assistance. They said it was not a safety issue, even if there was a fire hazard. My car is currently being looked, looking for an underlying cause for this...if it is the cable or something else in the engine. The connection was reset but the wire/cable continued to get excessively hot.
Started car and turned on headlights. Started driving home and the dashboard dimmer switch caught fire. Fire went out but all dashboard lights were out.
2003 Volkswagen Jetta gl was found to have fried cable from alternator leading to fuse box on top of battery. Problem was found and fixed 3 years prior to being found again at the dealership. Both times cable and fuse box were replaced. Pictures of the second incident are available. Also found that this incident has happened on other Jettas as well. Worried that could potentially cause a fire.
2003 VW Jetta: Digital display would shut off when key was removed from ignition. Unable to lock vehicle doors with remote. Vehicle had to be restarted for digital panel to appear (re-set) and for door to lock with remote. Engine would also shut off while at a stop light and while driving on freeway. Possibility to cause a crash. All digital panels still illuminated, key would be locked in ingnition, un-able to turn or be removed until car placed back in park and hand brake pulled up. Issues occured bi-weekly, weekly, and now daily. Vehicle brought to dealership. Was told that ignition switch failed and needed to be replaced. Would have been covered under warranty (warrant just expired last month). After trying to diagnose problem prior to bringing to dealership, I've found on several forums that this is not a new issue/repair for VW customers with the same make and model. Many customers have had similar complaints/experiences, all of which were taken in for repair after warranty expired. Vehicle is only 7 years old and is at approximately 85,000 miles. This vehicle has also had service for the following recalls: Catalytic converter, failed ignition coils, failed rear window/door locks. This car is a lemon!
Sun roof drain clogs!!! no direction in manual for cleaning nor warning that it can happen. I found nearly three inches of water in the floor and water all over the interior fuse block. My concern is fire related. Corrosion can lead to high impedence connections and after water intrusion I have no idea how safe my electrical system is. This is the second or third incident and I finally found out what was causing the problem by doing research on the internet. Many others have experienced this problem and it appears that the design of the outlet nipple is the issue.
- Winnabow, NC, USA
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I have a 2003 Jetta gls. I had about 65K miles on it and the speedometer first fluctuated wildly then died, or appeared to be dead. It would randomly start working for a few days and often would die again while I was driving. Non functioning speedometer affects function of auto locking doors, odometer, trip computer, and related functions (they do not work when speedometer not working). My mechanic tested the vehicle speed sensor located on the transaxle. It is fine. I had the entire instrument panel replaced (to the tune of almost $700, $500 of which is for the part!). now I am being told it may be a coolant migration issue similar to that of the my 99-01 cars. However there has been no tsb for 2003 Jettas and now my car is out of warranty. Replacing the wiring harness is a very expensive ($6K has been mentioned) repair. Internet research shows that my issue is not unique, many failed speedometers in this model year Jetta, although VW to date is silent w/customers.
1/10/08 I had my 2003 VW Jetta in for service. I was told the ignition coil #3 needed to be replaced. 4/11/08 ignition coil #1 needed to be replaced. I found the recall on your web site after the April problem. I was told that my car is not part of the recall, even though it states 2003 Jetta. On 12/4/08 I had to replace ignition coil #4 and on 1/21/09 another which also included the last two. I contacted Volkswagen of America, Inc and was once again told that my 2003 Jetta was not included in the recall.
I have had 27 things break or fail on my 03vw Jetta 1.8T. I bought the car used in 01/06 with 32,000 miles. After buying the car the first five mins the window shattered. First two months 2 tires blew out, front rim cracked, back tires out of alignment. Dealer paid to fix rim broke 2 weeks later the dealer paid fo used set of similar rims. Every light inside and out went out by 05/06 driver seat wont raise up cargo net in trunk falls apart dealer wont cover. Gas and trunk release buttons fell down inside of door. Radio stopped working front door speakers are shorting out. Driver window switch goes up when you push down and down when you push down have to fiddle with it for it to go up. Exhaust hanger broke causing chatter. Swaybar bushing fell out causing grinding and shaking when ever moving. Not cover by warranty all these happened by 05/07. Now its 10/08 and I have 84,000 miles. Current problems are rear spoiler brake light hangs down(dealer just glued it in place lasted about 4 months) cam and crank seals leaking oil cause odor inside of cabin. If I drive for more then an hour I get sick and light-headed. Seat, cargo net in trunk, is still broken. Radio still isn't fixed so I just went and bought an after market. Speakers still shortening out only when its cold out. Keyless entry only works within 4ft of the car. In the winter the car only gets 18mpg on the highway and about 14 in the city and the car is parked in a heated underground garage.
2003 VW Jetta gls wagon with 62K miles, abruptly shut down while driving. After towing to local mechanic, it was determined the main fuse holder had shorted out and begun to melt, risking an engine fire. Part was replaced and problem repaired for $237.
Lost power, radio stopped working, A/C starting blowing hot air, epc light came on, battery light came on, ABS light came on. Then the car would not crank. I thought the battery was dead so I jumped the car. I made it home then the car would not start the next morning. After examination I found that the fuse box on top of the battery had melted. The wire from the fuse box to the alternator overheated. Was told by two different Volkswagen dealerships in birmingham, al that this was a very common problem. If it is a common problem why is there no recall?
My 2003 VW Jetta has been in the shop more in the past 6 months than in the last 5 years. The latest two problems were; 1) the engine coil (was replaced once by recall) and 2) my fuse box on top of my battery melted. I have spent over $1,500 in the last two months on the car. Was told that only one engine coil was allowed under the recall, and was told the fuse box melting was a common occurrence even though they did not ever find the "real" reason for it to melt.
Driving home from work. Has made two stops. On the way to my home my ABS and airbag lights came on, radio froze, then car shut off. Was advised fuse panel on the top of the battery had melted. Mechanic found no reason for this to happen. No other issues.
There are many problems which seem to be a cause of the electrical system. The car will simply die when you stop at a red light, stop sign, etc. It will try to die while driving down the road. The digital display constantly resets itself, especially when you turn the car off, but also while driving. The radio does this too. The back brake light also has some type of short in it. It goes out and comes back on. We have replaced it twice in as many months.
I turned on the driver's seat heater to 5 (highest setting) on my 2003 VW Jetta tdi when leaving my house at 7 am. I used this regularly to warm the seat for a few minutes on cold mornings, then would turn it off (lower settings never produced noticeable heat). Within one minute I felt a burning/electrical sensation in my upper left thigh. I was driving on a mountain road and the pain made me jump in my seat and nearly lose control of the car. I pulled over and turned off the seat heater (having heard of problems with the heater). The leather seat had a blister about the size of a cigarette burn but had not burned completely through. While I stopped the heater before it burned through the seat (and my pants), the real danger was in a possible accident from the burn/shock that caused me to momentarily lose control of the car. The seat heater is no longer safe to operate. My understanding from reading similar posts here and elsewhere is that the wiring is now broken in the seat (and many have had it break in the same spot). If I had not guessed the source of the problem quickly, or if someone were to unknowingly use the heat setter in the future, it could lead to a serious accident, personal injury, and car fire. Similarly, this poses a serious risk for other drivers of these vehicles who may not be aware of the problem and react too late. I request that the NHTSA urge VW of America to issue a recall on this dangerous and pervasive problem (many reports here and elsewhere, such as tdiclub.com and vwvortex.com). VW has issued a recall on this problem in Canada but not in the U.S. they also have a voluntary repair for passats of similar years, but not Jettas or golfs. Thank you.
I have owned a Volkswagen Jetta (turbo - 2003) and have had one horrible problem after another. Without fail, I have taken my vehicle in for random mechanical repairs every few months since purchasing the vehicle. I found out the car was manufactured in Mexico and that VW was aware of how bad their car's manufactured in Mexico were. If that is the case, how can so many car owners with so many mechanical issues continue to sell in this country? I would like to report VW for lackluster performance and for continuing manufacture in an area well known for its below average standards and for continuing to bleed the consumer when it is fully aware of the issue.
No advance notice. The car shut off in heavy traffic, almost causing an accidents. The Volkswagen dealer, carl gregory in columbus, ga, could not find the cause of the problem at first. Later they found the problem and replaced: 1. harness P/N 1J0-971-349-hg, 2. holder P/N 1J0-937-617-D, .fuse P/N N-104-249-0. they did not return the parts to me. Since no one was sure what caused the problem or if this fixed the problem. I own a Volkswagen with only 56622 miles that I could not trust to drive out of town.
A week before this incident speedometer quit. Non VW repair shop replaced speed sensor, this did not fix speedometer problem so they sent me to NY VW dealer who replaced crank sensor. Could not even drive car out of their lot after the repair as car was stalling and hesitating. They then said I needed to replace needle lift sensor. I begged them at that point to look for a wiring problem or electrical system problem because I couldn't believe that 3 sensors could all go at once without a system cause. I was told to "trust them" and that they had checked with VW and VW said that was all they could do. "the diagnostic computer said that is all that is wrong". after week in repair shop VW dealer told me car was "all fixed". 3 days and 300 miles later on I-83 South of harrisburg car began jerking and lurching out of control, then stalled. I was near exit 32 and was able to get off safely, fortunately. Had to be towed to VW dealer. Now VW dealer in pa tells me car had "coolant migration" which was source of all problems, they think dealer in NY should have caught it. VW is backing NY dealer that they fixed car correctly despite other dealers comment and my near miss with being crashed into by other drivers on I-83. I fail to see how coolant migration happened in 3 days and 300 miles. Pa VW dealer says NY dealer should not have missed the coolant migration, and should not have replaced the expensive sensors before repairing the coolant migration problem. I certainly agree since I traveled less than 300 miles and I was just lucky that I was so close to an exit and was able to keep restarting the car and coast off I-83. Had I been further away from an exit or in heavier traffic I could easily have been run into by another driver as the car lurched and jerked and stalled. I also fail to understand why VW is not responsible. Obviously this problem started while the car was still in warranty -pa dealer said engine was "very corroded" and the wiring was "full of coolant".
As I was pulling out of a grocery store parking lot, my 2003 Jetta gli VR6 began to sputter and lose power. Engine light came on and would stay lit or start blinking as I tried to drive home. I contacted VW roadside assistance along with my VW dealership (strong VW, slc ut), and they informed me that I must bring it in. Seeing that I was barely going to make it home I contacted roadside assistance which was provided with my Jetta and they informed me that they could tow it to the nearest VW dealership (not where I originally purchased or had my car serviced) to have it looked at. Needless to say it was actually closer for me to drop off the Jetta at the nearest dealership rather than take it home, so I did that. I found out the following morning that the ignition coils were bad and needed to be replaced. That was done under warranty and apparently everything was fine. Three days later, each and every time I started my Jetta a noxious smell would fill the cabin. I reported this to my original dealership and had it in for service to fix the problem. After 5 days of trying to determine what the problem was they informed that since they couldn't duplicate the problem that there was nothing they could do. Ironically it hasn't happened since. My major complaint is that in the year and a half that I have owned my Jetta, I have had it in for non-traditional or non-scheduled service more than 3 times. My major fear is that when the warranty runs out what will happen next. I have been a loyal VW customer for 20+ years and haven't had this many problems with my previous 4 VW vehicles combined. Sadly enough, I possibly may never buy or lease a VW again!
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- Johnson City, TN, USA