There was a loud pop and the radio stopped working. Dealership said that the only thing they could do was replace it. I liked the features so I had them replace the radio.
After replacing the first radio, the new one that was put in, as an OEM part, by the dealer, has now failed three years later. This time the radio flickers, like there is a bad ground connection. Not sure where that could be, however I have never had a radio completely fail before, in any of my other cars and this is the second time in 7 years on this one car.
My 2010 Jetta radio just went black two days ago! 43,800 miles. I was planning on calling dealer, but from what I've read, that may not be the best solution. With so many complaints, why isn't there a recall? I have never had a radio go bad on me in any car I've ever owned! My hands free Bluetooth is also lost, and from what I've read a dead car battery is in my near future. German engineering at its best?!!
So a little more than a week ago I was driving home from work listening to my radio in my 2010 Jetta Wolfsburg, when all of a sudden there was a popping sound and the radio turned off and wouldn't come back on. I pulled over at the next place I could and turned my car on and off thinking it my fix the issue. It didn't. I came home and checked the fuse and also not the issue.
A little quick background on this car... I had purchased the car off my lease back in April 2013. In June 2013 the radio also stopped working and they had told me that there was a "malfunction" internally that could not be fixed. Back then from the same dealer the radio was supposed to cost $600 installed. Luckily, after fighting back and forth with the dealer and VW Corporate, they were able to "good will" the radio to me since they sold me an extended warranty that didn't cover any electronics when they told me it would. Now back to 3 and a half years later, the same amount of time the first radio lasted, this one goes.
I brought it to the same dealer since they had a record of the previous issue, and of course, they tell me the same thing is wrong. Something malfunctioned internally and they are not able to fix the issue so it would have to be replaced out of pocket. But here's the kicker... now they want $950 to replace it! Not to mention the $129.95 "diagnostic fee" that they will charge me. When I told them that this was the second time this had happened they had no sympathy and told me to take it up with VW corporate again. Also I asked them why the price changed from $600 to replace and install the radio 3.5 years ago all the way to $950 today. They told me that the radio costs $650 but the installation and coding cost $300. I asked how long it would take to install and they said an hour and half. Since I had already looked up how to replace this on my own on youtube, the video I watched had it removed and a new one installed in less than 15 minutes. I told him that to which he replied "well the coding is what takes up more time." I have still yet to get through to VW Corporate since it was a long Thanksgiving Weekend, and their online live chat is "down" until this Friday. The service rep also told me that he had never seen this as an issue before with Jetta's. Which after finding this page as well as others, I find absolutely to be BS.
Will update after I speak with VW Corporate, but most likely will be ordering one online and doing it myself for less than $200. My only hesitation is with my Sirius radio. Anyone have any insight please let me know.
The loss of the radio, as annoying as it is just the first phase of an overall electrical system failure. The battery drains, the other systems stop working.
- Kate J.,
Kingston, MA, US
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JUST ANOTHER UNSATISFIED VW OWNER. I HAVE THREE JETTAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. BOY DOES THAT MAKE ME FEEL STUPID!!!! THE CARS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE EVEN THE SIMPLEST OF TASKS DIFFICULT. THE RADIO DYING IS JUST THE LATEST IN MY SAGA. IF MISERY LOVES COMPANY THEN I HAVE A LOT OF LOVE BECAUSE IT SEEMS THE SUDDEN DEATH OF THE RADIO UNIT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. OFF TO THE JUNK YARD TO LOOK FOR A REPLACEMENT WITHOUT MUCH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE RADIO UNIT I GET WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. SON NUMBER THREE JUST CAME OF AGE AND I ABSOLUTELY FORBID HIM FROM PURCHASING A VW!!!!!!!!!!!
had the radio replaced once with a refurbished unit since according to the dealer that was all that was available. 1 year later that radio has gone out. Along with the AC and the drivers side power window switch, window goes down but not up. have to use the keylock to raise the window. So glad vw is buying back this piece of sh#t I did like the car but it is falling apart. I will never buy another VW. Great cars but not durable compared to Japanese vehicles.
My 2010 Jetta OEM radio w/Bluetooth and muti disc changer stopped working. The display would eluminate but no sound.. Then it would start working out of the blue. Sometimes it was completely dead. This went on for about 2 weeks. It is now dead-doesn't work at all. I started doing research online and sure enough I found multiple sites with similar complaints. I have not checked the fuses yet, as some have reported no success. Others have reported battery drain-this is not a problem but it has me very worried. Is that next??? The car is only six years old. This should not be happening. The car runs great at 115k miles but I am really worried about all of the electrical problems I've found while researching this radio problem. Calling the dealer tomorrow.
I was getting ready to leave on a 2K mile trip and the windshield wipers would not work. I decided to Rainx the windshield and go for it since I was committed to be there in 3 days. After about 400 miles, the radio quit working, no power or lights. The next morning, the wiper/s began to work again, but the radio is still dead. I checked all the fuses and no luck. When I got to my destination, the 30 amp fuse had melted again... The wipers still work, but the radio is still dead. The fuse has not melted again, but this was the third time in about 3 months... Should I just get rid of this car or is there a solution to this electrical failure???
The radio was on and there was a sudden pop and it went dark. The dealership wanted about $800 to replace it. This is a major safety issue since the Bluetooth is connected to it. Called VW and reported this and told them of the huge number of 2010 Jetta owners who have reported this problem online. I asked about any recalls and they basically said they do not have enough complaints for that or it would have occurred.
Everyone with this complaint should call VW customer care center at 1-800-822-8987 (have VIN number ready) and advise them of their radio problems. I note some people were having battery draining problems after the radio went out. Our battery drained about a month prior to the radio going out. Twelve days after the radio went out we had started the car and driven about 100 yards and were slowing for a stop sign when the whole car shut down. It did start back up but this is a safety concern too.
Also,17 days after the radio went out I started the car and saw messages on the dashboard saying various lights were out. These were passenger side: headlight low and hi beam, front turn signal, backup light. On the drivers side the lights out were: left front side light, rear brake light, rear left turn signal. The license plate light was also out! All went out at the same time! I will be looking at the fuse box shortly but noticed that there were problems reported online on this same issue. This car has just over 88,000 miles on it but is quickly becoming a nightmare. It is a TDI so we are in limbo on the emissions recall.
Lightbulb went out on passenger side. Same day radio went dead. Called dealership. Said the fuse for light was a recall, but will not cover the dead radio. The melted fuse box burns out from faulty fuse and toasts the radio and VW does nothing. Called VW and there is no recall. This is a blatant disregard for owners and a horrible way to treat a car buyer. This will be my last VW. They already have bad public relations and continue to disregard mistakes and faulty products. I strongly suggest not purchasing a VW. And will make every effort to make this case known and spread the word. Please call customer care at 1-800-822-8987 and tell them if this is your issue as well. This is all over the internet.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
There was a loud pop and the radio stopped working. Dealership said that the only thing they could do was replace it. I liked the features so I had them replace the radio.
- Russell S., Hockessin, US