1999 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 2.0 from North America

Summary:

Money pit

Faults:

Besides all the recalls:

The sunroof broke (dealer broke interior lights when replacing sunroof--they won't pay for the light repair).

The glove compartment door broke.

The center console broke.

Back middle seatbelt broken (we don't even use it) --VW doesn't make push pin replacement, you have to buy an entire new seatbelt.

Climate control lights went out.

Battery died within a year.

Lots of interior rattling.

A/C was noisy and is losing power.

Faulty mass air flow meter.

Replaced one oxygen sensor (before recall).

Trunk light works only when it wants to.

General Comments:

We have had to make more repairs on our 99 Jetta than our 87 Audi!! And we drive the Audi more often.

We will never buy a Volkswagen again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th July, 2003

1999 Volkswagen Jetta GLS from North America

Summary:

A Pretty Little Rip Off!

Faults:

When I first bought the car, it was perfect. Until I drove it off the lot.

The first thing to go was my cup holders in the front seat. The Volkswagen dealer actually broke it off when he was showing me around the car the first day I purchased it. I was promised it would be fixed, however they never did and I never followed up on it.

The second thing to go was my front side passenger blinker the first day I had the car. I brought it back that day and it was fixed immediately.

When I first took the car to be inspected that week, my so called Certified Preowned VW Jetta failed because of the gas cap. I took it back to VW for the second time that week and they fixed it immediately.

Shortly after that, maybe the 3rd week, my front passenger window fell right into my door. Had to get someone to pull the window up and duct tape it until I could take it to VW again the next morning. They tried to tell me that they couldn't fit me in for 3 days. I explained that it was going to rain and the window was falling into the door. They must have taken pity on me and let me come in that day. Once again they fixed it.

Next to go was the O2 sensor. It would have cost me a few hundres dollars, but it was still covered under the warranty. However, I had to wait 4 days to even get my car looked at. This cost me a ton of extra money on a car rental which my VW dealership does not provide for you. Thanks!

Now, here I am 1 year and 5 months later. Not to mention 2,003 miles over my warranty. The other night my car's RPM's started racing and it was getting stuck in 3rd gear and shifting erratically. About 5 minutes later, my passenger side window falls into the door again! If I wasn't so upset, I would have been hysterical laughing. I took it up to VW and they told me that I would have to wait until Friday (5 days with out being able to drive my car!). I told them that I was going to leave it there until Friday and suddenly they changed their minds and was able to look at the car right then and there. I left the car with them and went to work dreading what they were going to tell me. At about 7:00 that evening, they called me and told me that my window was fixed, but they had bad news. My transmission was completely shot! I needed a new one and the cost would be $3,200. I just bought the car a little over a year and a half ago! If the car were certified, how could the trans be completely destoyed already? Well, at least they fixed the window!

General Comments:

This company is a joke.

They completely overcharge you for anything.

The service reps are uneducated and unhelpful.

All I can do now is pay the $3,200 and then sell the car for whatever I can and never buy a VW again!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th July, 2003

17th Nov 2004, 16:06

So it sounds like Volkswagen has lost another customer for life.

It's too bad that I am seeing so many reports like yours on this website. I would think VW would step up and take care of its current customers.

28th Nov 2005, 14:39

Sorry about your trouble, but the dealer broke something at delivery and you didn't follow up? Kind of makes me wonder about other maintenance items that may have been neglected.