Sun roof leaks, required expensive repairs.
Electrical mayhem: heated seats stay on and can't be switched off, and then turn off for no reason and you can't switch them on. Radio loses reception sporadically. Back-up lights sporadically don't work, then work fine. Heating fan only works on the highest level.
Two door handles broke and had to be replaced.
Power steering pump had to be replaced after steering became difficult at low speeds (with a loud screech when turning).
Engine block cracked after repeated overheating problems.
Maybe just my bad luck, but everything started falling apart after about five months of owning this car. When it's working fine, it kicks ass and handles very well. It's currently sitting dead in my driveway until I decide whether to tackle the cracked engine block problem or sell it.
I regret buying this car, but I think maybe I just had bad luck, because I've heard good things about it otherwise.
The space inside is great... plenty of room, and the trunk is the biggest I've ever seen.
I used to own a new 1989 Jetta Flair 2-door 5-speed. It was a fun car to drive and the performance and handling was great. Too bad it had some quality problems right from the first day of ownership.
The first problem was water leaking from the right rear passenger door window. That was fixed immediately by the dealer. Then the driver seat release didn't work and the dealer 'fixed' this by tying a knot in the release cable to make it shorter. Eventually the cable broke loose and the driver seat wouldn't release at all.
There was also tapping noise from the engine which appeared only after the first scheduled service at the dealer. Although it was not a major problem but it was very annoying. Repeated trips to the dealer during the warranty period failed to locate the source of the problem.
There was some also some rattling in the sunroof and the engine was not very smooth during idle.
After 2 years and 57,000km I sold the car at a loss. Maybe I just had bad luck with mine because I had heard so much good things about VW. My friends had VW also and they had good experiences with theirs.
Apart from these quality problems, the car was wonderful to drive and there was lots of space in the interior and in the trunk. I would consider buying another VW again but they are becoming overpriced now.
I've own a 1989 VW jetta flair for 5 years, and I've got to say it was the five best years of my life!
Troubles? you bet! I bought the car for 3700$ canadian, with 4 summer tires and 4 winter tires on rims, plus alarm and carpet and a few other things. the first day I drove the car man I felt power under the hood, but then after a few weeks, troubles started, I changed almost everithing on that car after 5 years I think I've spend more than 6000$ on the car, but I've got to say it was worth it for wath this car brought me... it was really dependable, fun to drive especially when I lowered the suspension. in summer the sunroof oopen 4 windows all the way down on the high way what a blast to drive, in winter heating seats on, electric heated mirror and windshield washer fluid trower heated, a real gift. I've spend miles time under the hood, but I've learned a lot and it's a very easy mechanic to learn and to play with. it's an easy car to modify or just to make it prettyer or more powerfull... finally I sold the car for 800$ to my girlfriend and then she kept it for a year and shes trying to sell it for 750 and trust me its well worth it with all these new pieces on it! anyways it was really great on the highways at 140 km/h at 3250 rpm and still economical.
I change it for a 1997 jetta gt and man I miss all that nice equipement sunroof, heating seats and mirror, electric mirror power windows, cruise control.
Now I have 4 diskl brake 2 air bag, tilting steering air conditioning and that about it, and it drink lots of gas especially on the high way, 120 km/h at 3650 rpm and it sound like the engines is rushing... I might change it again for a T.D.I. 1250 km with a tankfull... hummmmmmm! trust me I'm going to take this ones fully loaded...
Ciao mike5!
I bought my jetta about 8 months ago with 180k miles. on it, and it still runs great! The only problems I've had are basic wear and tear, and things you'd probably expect on a car with 180k miles. Such examples are power steering pump going, and new CV joints. However there are a couple of problems that aren't really a big deal, but drive me crazy! One, the e-brake hardley works at all! We've done everything from replacing the pads, and bleeding the system, to changing the cable, and adjusting the rear brakes, but no matter what we do, we can't fix it. Also, it has a tendency to idle a bit high, and I don't know how to fix that, without losing economy. All in all, it's a great car for $1400 US dollars, and 180K miles. IF ANYBODY KNOWS HOW TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS, E MAIL ME AT flyinmike88@msn.com. YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
To the people with e-brake problem:
Is it manual or automatic?
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