2000 Volkswagen Jetta GL 2.0 from North America

Summary:

Rock Solid, until the rock wore out

Faults:

Cup holders broke early on.

Lights go out constantly, brake, headlights, blinkers, etc.

Glove box hinge is broken.

Air bag light came on at 2000 miles.

At 170,000 miles the whole car is going to crap.

General Comments:

This car has been awesome, just changing the oil, it has run really really well, except for the minor problems with replacing lights and interior parts breaking easily.

Until we hit 170,000 miles, out of nowhere, there are electrical problems and overheating and just a lot of bizarre intermittent problems.

But really I can't complain, I will just roll this thing onto the lot and get another Jetta probably.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd October, 2003

2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 2.8 V6 gasser from North America

Summary:

It's a shame the car causes so many problems, because it was very comfortable and fun to drive new

Faults:

I too have a 2000 Jetta GLS. It's a VR6, and has caused quite a few problems even though I baby it all over the place.

Both front window regulators have been replaced (One at 15K miles, the other at 20K miles) when the car was under warranty. Now the front passenger doesn't work again. Was opened about 4 times before it broke the second time. At $200 to get it fixed, it can just stay broke.

The oil pan has aluminum threads and is "Designed" to fail after a few oil changes as the steel drain plug strips the aluminum threads if tightened enough. Dealer advised me that torquing the bolt to the recommended 35 pounds wouldn't be tight enough and would risk plug coming out at any given time. Solution was to get a steel sleeve placed into the oil pan for the drain plug to fit in. $75.

Mass airflow sensor failed at 35K miles, cost $400 to diagnose and fix. Got damaged "because snow screen was dirty". I only drive paved roads in Pittsburgh, so there is no reason for the snowscreen to be dirty. To this point have had all scheduled services done at dealership, so no reason for this to happen.

Both slats in the rear window between the window and quarter window have rusted (One at 20K miles, the other at 30K miles). Dealership has to remove the window to replace a 2 inch strip of window. Had one replaced under warranty. The other one can rust through at the cost of 2 hours of labor.

CD changer decides some days to skip on all tracks on all cds. Has done this since about 10K miles.

Costs $165 to get the spark plugs changed, which foul and need replaced every 40K miles, when other makes can go 100K miles between changes (!!)

Rear brake pads needed replaced at 30K miles. $160. Rear brake pads shouldn't fail before fronts. Dealer charged $90 for pads - which can be purchased from a supplier online for $27. Apparently, it is common practice to mark-up parts 200% to 300% and still overcharge for labor.

Owners manual is terribly skewed toward leading you into ignorance. Doesn't even tell what to torque the drain plug to. (other makes tell you much more technical information than this). After most problems, says "take to dealership immediately"

When bulbs burnt, dealership wanted to charge a half hour labor to change each (?!?!) as well as 300% mark up on bulbs. Went to Wal-Mart and purchased the bulbs an installed in about 2 minutes each at cost of $3 per bulb.

General Comments:

Service department is closed on Saturdays at dealership.

Oil filter is only the filter element, and costs about 4-6x as much as a regular oil filter for no reasn and with no benefit. Costs more just to purchase a filter than it does to change oil and filter in most cars.

Car demands 91+ octane fuel for a rather low performance engine.

If you fill the oil to the top of the indicator on the dipstick, and then park on a downhill, the engine will burn oil off and ruin the catalytic converter.

DO NOT BUY one of these. They're probably the worst of the cars in their class as far as failures and cost of operation.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th October, 2003

28th Jun 2004, 13:40

Did you get anything from VW about the Mass Airflow Sensor recall? Mine went out at about 50K and I submitted for reimbursement and received my check. Call VW for more information.

3rd Sep 2005, 18:46

I agree! Do not buy one of these cars! I love the way it drives and think it is way cute, but have already spent more in repairs than I have making payments. I bought this car used at 47,000 miles so I don't know how it was treated before me, but it was in amazing condition. It looked like it was very well taken care of.

I was driving my car around and thought I was getting amazing gas mileage, but it turns out my gas gage was broken and I was left stranded on the side of the road without any gas. I got that fixed at no cost considering I just bought it, but only a few months later my water pump started leaking. Nearly $500 later it was replaced and ready to go. A few weeks later my cooling fan motor goes out, if I hadn't got an extended warranty it would have been another $400.

Brakes cannot be resurfaced. VW only makes them to last about 40,000 miles and you have to replace the rotors.

Gas mileage!!! With prices the way they are Do NOT get one of these. I hope this is because it is the V6, but I only get about 19-20 miles a gallon in the city. Living in Phoenix, there is a lot of city I have to drive in every day.

My windshield cleaners quit working, but I refused to take it in and pay the arm and leg to get that fixed. I ended up figuring the problem out. A hose had got disconnected. Took 3 minutes to figure it out and fix it.

Don't ever park close to a curb. The bumpers on these are so low that if you park too close to a curb you will rip your bumber right off. It sounds horrible, and is highly disappointing to find out my bumper is being held on by a flimsy piece of plastic with a few screws AND That's IT!! I got a quote to get it fixed... easy $600. I went to a small German Auto repair shop and had them drill new holes and move the screws, almost as good as new for only $50.

Save yourself he headache and worrying about what is going to happen next and draining your bank account, DO NOT GET A JETTA!!!