2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLX review from North America

What hasn't gone wrong with the car!

Constant wiring/electrical problems from the start!

I've replaced the ignition switch twice, the wiring for the ignition switch the wiring for the AC fuse panel, the wiring harness for the driver side door, etc...

Yellowish goo drips out of the doors on hot days.

Floor mat clips don't stay, most are gone at this point.

Center console handle broke off along with hinges, so the lid just sits on console.

Numerous tail light recalls.

Daytime running lights don't work (another electrical issue of course!)

Interior peeling (black coating on console and part of dash).

My latest issue that I'm not fixing... I'm getting rid of the car...

I'm driving down the highway last weekend and out of nowhere smoke starts coming from the steering column. So I pull over and the smoke stops. I took the car to the dealer yesterday and they well me that the wiring in the steering column is fried. They can't tell me why of course... but they tell me that something over heated and melted the plastic sheathing on the wires. Nice eh! My telescoping steering wheel stopped telescoping about 3 weeks ago... maybe this melted too?! (laughing) You never know with VWs and all their wiring/electrical issues.

Anyway, long story short... it's over $1,000 to fix it, and even then the dealer always says but there could be another issue, so this may not fix it. I'm done. I paid the $150 for them to tell me what was wrong, had them put is all back together not fixed (they stressed this was very dangerous with the exposed copper wiring that could catch fire at any time) and went on my way. I can't sell it in this condition so I am trading it in. I only owe $1,500 on the car and with 112K miles on it, I am not going to put another 1K into it.

It's too bad... it was a fun little car with lots of go.. but the ongoing electrical issues and the dealers that will never give you an honest answer... I am so done with them. I will never buy another VW... EVER!