The lights on the stereo died.
The stereo lost most of it's volume, I took it to the dealer, and they didn't fix it, said it was a fuse. I took it back, and they replaced it.
The right passenger window broke in the open position. I had to leave it at the dealer for 3 weeks to get it fixed. The rental car supplied to me was crummy.
They refused to fix the left driver window, until it fails the same way the right one did. Hopefully it doesn't fail during winter, or during a long trip. The window is a recall by the way.
The cup holder got stuck. They replaced it.
The trim piece beneath the radio fell off. They replaced it.
The temperature gauge comes on everyday the first time I start the car. The gauge indicates that either the coolant fluid is low, or the car is overheating. Neither is the case. The dealer can't fix it.
The windshield wiper fluid low indicator doesn't come on, even when the fluid runs out. I suspect some idiot at the dealer switched the temperature gauge and the windshield wiper indicator wires. They both started acting up after I took the car in for service. (when they replaced the radio).
The car drives great.
Has lots of room.
Has way too many problems.
Will never buy a Volkswagen product again.
My roommate has a 1.8T Jetta and has many more problems than I do. She has to get towed every couple weeks. Her car is almost off warranty, and I suggested she sell it, and take the loss.
The person who wrote this entry sounds like they didn't research their car before they bought it because a lot of VW production is in Mexico and Brazil, those ones have a lot of problems with them, but, if you get one that was made in Germany then you will have a wonderful car. this is why you need to always check out were the car was made before you dump all that money into it. It sounds like this person had a lot more problems with the dealer than the car. always always check were it was assemble, in order to drive a true German ride.
All VW's are made in Mexico except the Passat which shares a lot with the AUDI A6. The old Fox was made in Brazil, but I don't beleive they are making anything in Brazil now.
Also, The Jetta Mark IV (2000 model year and later) are plagued with many problems that previous Golfs and Jettas never had.
I drove a Fox for 14 years and over 200,000 miles. Our 98 Jetta GT is strong and trouble free at 65,000 miles.
To the person who said Mexican VW are not as reliable as German ones, let me say that my 2005 Jetta built in Mexico was flawless. It was like I bought a Camry. My German-made Golf had many more problems.
I have had three Volkswagens in 5 years of my life. The 86' Golf was old, but drove past 200000 miles, and then the meter broke so it could no longer read how many miles we put on it. I have this to say about my last two VWs.
I was about to buy the 2002 GTI. Now I'm scared to invest in another one after this....
My 97 Cabrio was a Mexican made VW.
It is a money trap, a heinous disgrace to the VW name.
However I love this car like a hot abusive girlfriend (aka high maintenance).
Several problems including the windows, ignition coil... the list goes on.
She is a pleasure to drive, but sees the shop more times then I see a check in a month. :(
I bought her in a used car lot for 8,000 with a truck trade in (good deal right?) Woes follow...
She had previously been in a small accident and she had terminal balding on her cloth top. 1,000 dollars for the new top from a private company (4,000+ at the dealers).
Brakes went out... which destroyed the rotors...
Leak in trunk and in the windshield, which is destroying the interior.
Then came the belts at 100,000+ mileage, which had never been changed before. :$ I change her oil regularly, which helps the damned oil leak from becoming immediately dangerous. Another 800+ dollars.
I hydroplaned on brand new tires only going 45 miles per hour. I smashed her luckily right on the support bar. No air bags deployed (luckily or unluckily) and I drove her off the road after calming down. She pulls to the right a bit and I feel uneasy about going too fast.
I drive her everyday about 40 miles+. She's a great commuter car and is great on gas; 30 highway with the top down is better then anything else I know. I drive her hard going 55-75 miles back and forth to work. Her idle is so smooth I forget she's on.
The sound system is amazing for factory. OMG the white leather seats are so comfortable. I love the way the clutch is firm and my only complaint is that 1st and 2nd stick, and sometimes reverse doesn't exist. :P.
She's a heart breaker. She looks and feels so good when I drive her. I can't help but turn each problem over to the mechanics and hold out my wallet. I hate how cheap they made this car when she could have been so much more.
Anyone looking to invest in their new VW should know that it's nearly impossible to work on one of these unless they have the hook up at home. A lot of the parts are hard to reach, and most of these older ones have serious electrical faults, which only a master DIY or mechanic would be able to fix.
Babette's girlfriend (aka black betty's driver)
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