2001 Volkswagen Jetta VR6 GLS review from North America

Most notably, after more than a year of complaints and what can only be described as a fight with the VW rep, our transmission had to be replaced. It was slipping when cold and was clunking when up-shifting. On one occasion they told us that the problem was "winter tire noise"!

Our check engine light comes on periodically and has been doing so since 20k km. They've tried guessing and testing by replacing the oxygen sensor, the mass air flow meter, the spark plug wires & the coils. It still runs rough, has poor fuel economy, runs rich (black smoke when cold), and has a terrible sulfurous smell. Light still comes on.

We've had a litany of smaller complaints such as: two front seat frames separated & had to be replaced; rear speaker was rattling because it came loose; we've had a noise in the suspension for approx. 8k km & is as yet undiagnosed; the air ducts had a restriction & were replaced (when it was new) ; our remotes only work within 10 feet of the car, but we're told this is normal (although they used to work from a much greater distance) ; and even the "Jetta" badge has become pitted and discolored and is being replaced.

Just recently, two days before Xmas, we had to have it towed to the dealership because it overheated when it lost all its coolant. This happened suddenly and the car ran extremely hot (over 130 degrees Celsius) with smoke coming out from under the hood. We've had previous complaints on our work orders that the coolant light was coming on (and/or flashing). Their response: we refilled your coolant reservoir. This time they told us that the fan blade had chafed through the radiator hose & they've had the car for almost two weeks now to take care of this.

P.S. We're told that they no longer give service loaners & so we should be lucky that they've rented us a fabulous Ford Focus. I could buy two of those for what I pay for that VR6 Lemon!

Thank God this all happened under warranty.

We're trying to get them to buy the car back through CAMVAP. (In Canada we have a body called the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan which settles disputes between consumers and manufacturers. You get to avoid court and it's free. Check out www.camvap.ca).