2007 VW Jetta 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition (I didn't know the "L" stood for Lemon)
FIVE trips to dealer service for the same engine problem spanning 9500-10200 miles between Jan. 2008 and March 2008 (continues today, resolution not reached yet):
1) 1/9/08: 9,500 miles - All of a sudden, then consistent massive loss of power exactly at 3000 RPM. No throttle response, gas pedal to the floor, no response. Followed by solid yellow check engine light (CEL) and continued loss of power right at 3000 RPM.
- Dealer gets me in and out in 1 hour. Finds knock sensor fault code. Cleans knock sensor(s), clears CEL.
2) 1/22/08: 9600 miles - While entering freeway same issue as in #1 (almost hit by an 18-wheeler). I achieved zero to 55 in about 40 seconds.
- Dealer keeps car one full day. Finds knock sensor(s) fault code. Cleans, retorqued and replaced existing knock sensor(s), clears CEL.
3) 1/28/08: 9700 miles - Same CEL issue, loss of power, no throttle response at 3000 RPM. It is like car keeps going into "limp mode" otherwise performs normally from 0-2900 RPM, but engine will not rev over 3000 RPM.
- Dealer keeps car 3 days. Calls VW Tech Line because the tell me now "it is a warranty issue". Finds knock sensor(s) fault code. Replaced with new knock sensor(s), clears CEL.
4) 2/4/08: 9800 miles - Same CEL, loss of power, no throttle response at 3000 RPM.
- Dealer keeps car for 3 days. Calls VW Tech Line. Finds knock sensor(s) fault code. Replaced knock sensor(s) AGAIN, clears CEL.
5) 3/20/08: 10200 miles - SAME ISSUE. CAR TOWED BY VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE because I almost got into ANOTHER car accident. I'm done putting my life in danger!
- Dealer still has car (as of today 3/31/08). Tells me VW Tech Line options are exhausted. They cannot duplicate the origin of the fault, therefore they don't know why it keeps happening. Tell me a VW corporate "regional technician" is coming to town to look at the engine approx 3/31/08 (which is today, but I didn't hear anything).
I will add more detail as I live it. I'm also contacting an attorney this week. This is insanity. Car has been in service a total of 20 days already for the same issue.
Update from Oct 9, 2010: Update: 10/2010 - (sorry it took me so long)...
After the car was returned to the dealer for the 5th time, the dealer decided to give me a long term courtesy vehicle so that they could resolve the issue. After 25 days in their shop and a regional technician dispatched to fix it, they determined that the entire electrical harness needed to be replaced. They claimed it was entirely faulty wiring that kept tripping the CEL and loss of power.
When I picked up the car I demanded copies of all technical reports, diagnostics, etc. I kept extreme cool with the service manager, and when I left with all of that I dropped off my certified letter containing my NYS Lemon Law claim against VW. I had met the entire burden of proof that the same issue kept happening to me, the car was knew, and they had it in their possession "working on it" longer than the law allows them to.
Final Result
The 2007 Jetta was successfully returned to VW via New York State (new car) Lemon Law proceedings. I filed complaints with the NY State AG and within 30 days it was over. I feel really bad if there is someone who bought it after me unless it really was the electrical harness and it is now fixed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007 VW Jetta 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition (I didn't know the "L" stood for Lemon)
FIVE trips to dealer service for the same engine problem spanning 9500-10200 miles between Jan. 2008 and March 2008 (continues today, resolution not reached yet):
1) 1/9/08: 9,500 miles - All of a sudden, then consistent massive loss of power exactly at 3000 RPM. No throttle response, gas pedal to the floor, no response. Followed by solid yellow check engine light (CEL) and continued loss of power right at 3000 RPM. - Dealer gets me in and out in 1 hour. Finds knock sensor fault code. Cleans knock sensor(s), clears CEL.
2) 1/22/08: 9600 miles - While entering freeway same issue as in #1 (almost hit by an 18-wheeler). I achieved zero to 55 in about 40 seconds. - Dealer keeps car one full day. Finds knock sensor(s) fault code. Cleans, retorqued and replaced existing knock sensor(s), clears CEL.
3) 1/28/08: 9700 miles - Same CEL issue, loss of power, no throttle response at 3000 RPM. It is like car keeps going into "limp mode" otherwise performs normally from 0-2900 RPM, but engine will not rev over 3000 RPM. - Dealer keeps car 3 days. Calls VW Tech Line because the tell me now "it is a warranty issue". Finds knock sensor(s) fault code. Replaced with new knock sensor(s), clears CEL.
4) 2/4/08: 9800 miles - Same CEL, loss of power, no throttle response at 3000 RPM. - Dealer keeps car for 3 days. Calls VW Tech Line. Finds knock sensor(s) fault code. Replaced knock sensor(s) AGAIN, clears CEL.
5) 3/20/08: 10200 miles - SAME ISSUE. CAR TOWED BY VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE because I almost got into ANOTHER car accident. I'm done putting my life in danger! - Dealer still has car (as of today 3/31/08). Tells me VW Tech Line options are exhausted. They cannot duplicate the origin of the fault, therefore they don't know why it keeps happening. Tell me a VW corporate "regional technician" is coming to town to look at the engine approx 3/31/08 (which is today, but I didn't hear anything).
I will add more detail as I live it. I'm also contacting an attorney this week. This is insanity. Car has been in service a total of 20 days already for the same issue.
Update from Oct 9, 2010: Update: 10/2010 - (sorry it took me so long)...
After the car was returned to the dealer for the 5th time, the dealer decided to give me a long term courtesy vehicle so that they could resolve the issue. After 25 days in their shop and a regional technician dispatched to fix it, they determined that the entire electrical harness needed to be replaced. They claimed it was entirely faulty wiring that kept tripping the CEL and loss of power.
When I picked up the car I demanded copies of all technical reports, diagnostics, etc. I kept extreme cool with the service manager, and when I left with all of that I dropped off my certified letter containing my NYS Lemon Law claim against VW. I had met the entire burden of proof that the same issue kept happening to me, the car was knew, and they had it in their possession "working on it" longer than the law allows them to.
Final Result The 2007 Jetta was successfully returned to VW via New York State (new car) Lemon Law proceedings. I filed complaints with the NY State AG and within 30 days it was over. I feel really bad if there is someone who bought it after me unless it really was the electrical harness and it is now fixed.
- 07 jetta 2.5l_emon, Clifton Park, NY, US