Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-54
Both front window regulators have failed within a month and a half! If I hadn't known this was a common problem with Jetta's and called VW Customer Care, I would've been out about $600. However, according to the VW Customer Care Supervisor in Auburn Hills, MI, "VW doesn't admit there is a problem with the Jetta window regulators".
Plus it takes 2-3 days for the repairs to be authorized if you are over the 24,000 mile warranty... and don't even think of asking VW to pay for your rental car. They go so far as to imply that the customer is lucky to have VW pay for the repairs, mush less a rental car. They say they'll pay for the repairs "in good faith". What a joke!
They should issue a recall letter "in good faith" and make the repair process a little less tedious. Is that too much to ask?! They'd rather alienate thousands of customers than issue a letter stating that there is a problem with their product.
By the way, my dealer had 6, count 'em, 6 window regulator replacements this week alone.
Save yourself some money and headaches... DON'T buy a Jetta.
They look good and handle great, but beauty is truly only skin deep with these piles of garbage.
Not only do regulators on Jettas have problems - all VW window regulators have this problem - it's a design flaw, and VW will not admit it.
I own a '99 New Beetle - mine went out, but luck would have it, it was still under warranty. Crossing my fingers, that it doesn't happen again - 7 months left on my lease! All VW owners should file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, if they are charged to fix this problem within a reasonable mileage or time (5 years?)
Guess I've been lucky. My first MAF went just before warranty expired. Then it went four more times! Then the handle fell off the glove box, then the latch broke for the armrest cover. Then, it was time for the timing belt and new glow plugs and the glow plug relay and a flasher unit. But that didn't solve the problems. The Check Engine light is still on. Then the windshield wipers quit and I spent 300CDN to replace a seized mechanism. This week we're still chasing the glow plug error and the turn signal flasher that just clicks and clicks and clicks. Of course, the service tech insists that none of this is a quality or technical error on the part of VW. I love the drive, but I'm sick of the downtime and spending every cent I've saved in fuel economy to repeatedly repair the thing. This is the last piece of Jetta CRAP for me.
My wife just called me - she put down the window on her Jetta and it won't go back up. This is the fourth time it happened, and I have blamed it on the dealership not correctly repairing it. Now I know differently. Where's Ralph Nader when you really need him?
I have a 99 jetta A3 wolfsburg. My right rear regulator went out and I replaced. Then my front right motor went out and my front left regulator went out. VW customer care says they will not help at all because there was no "history" of the problem. My response: If there was history it would have been fixed. Had an 83 that I'm mad I got rid of for this. Also have replaced the starter, tran rebuild etc. Never another VW for me. This was my 3rd and last.
I also have a 1999 VW Jetta GLS. What is wrong with it?! Well, my windows have fallen and can't get back up! This is the third time that this has happened to my car. First, my drivers side window broke (fell and failed to close again). Then, the very same thing happened to my front passenger window. Now, low and behold, my Jetta is sitting in the garage, with the window half open, stuck in that position. I am very unhappy with this car. It looks good, but the cost of repairing it just isn't worth it. I should have listened to all the people that warned me about buying a VW. This is the first Volkswagen I have ever owned, and it will definitely be my last.
I have also had problems with my 1999 VW Jetta. I thought I was buying a solid car, But within three weeks of driving the car home from the dealer, I have had three different problems. The first problem, I was told, was that there were rocks in the crossover dam underneath the car, which caused a rattling noise upon startup.Next, the Brake light switch was not functioning properly, and had to be replaced. Now in the third week, I tried to open the passenger side window and guess? The whole window fell off the track.Fortunately, the warranty I have covered two of the problems, But who needs the inconvenience. I keep wondering whats next?
I own a 2000 Jetta TDI, this past summer I spent over a $1000 at the VW stealership while they experimented with different parts to correct MIL light on dash. First it was 2 glowplug relays, then the whole engine computer then changing the glow plugs -- finally I found the answer on the internet it was a $12 wiring harness for the glowplugs. I have lost faith in both VW's and the stealer's ability to correctly fix my car without emptying my wallet first. Now I am trying to have them fix a low power problem that arose after they replaced my timing belt. But of course they claim the two issues are not related. Never again will I buy a VW or any other German Engineered (translation: looks cool, but won't run for long) car.
Reading the previous comments, I now realize that I am not alone. I've replaced all four window regulators on my 99 Wolfsburg Jetta, and now we're going on round 2: the passenger regulator has again failed. All of my repairs have, by Murphy's Law, taken place immediately upon the warranty expiring. To add insult to injury, the "check engine" light has been on for two years, the security system has gone haywire, and the muffler almost fell off the other day. Don't buy a Jetta.
This is INSANE!!! What will it take for Volkswagen to admit that there is a problem with the window regulators!!! I just had the drivers side window go out on my 1999 Jetta Wolfsburg, it is the infamous REGULATOR!! I had remembered reading on www.epinions.com that there were multiple complaints with the windows so I checked out Volkswagen Service Bulletins and found that they were offering extended warranties on 1999-2001 window regulators. And although mine is a 1999 it is the old body style, so I am out of luck. I called "Customer Care" (What a joke) and was told that sadly due to my mileage and "conditions" my car would not be covered. I have 41,000!!! I have had the car for 4.5 years and that is EXTREMELY LOW mileage! Who are these JOKERS!!! My car is in immaculate condition, I don't have kids too trash the power controls, I am the only driver!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!! I am so terribly DISAPPOINTED in Volkswagen that I will NEVER Buy another and I will tell EVERYONE I know to never buy a Volkswagen. They could have easily remedied this by OWNING up to the fact that there is a design flaw and out of good faith offered to pay the $270 to replace the window regulator.
I also plan to have a license plate frame made for my car that says, "Don't buy a VW, NO Co. Integrity"! I suggest anyone else who has been blown off do the same. I also plan to add the same above quote to all of my email correspondence. Maybe if enough of us complain we can make VW become accountable.
This is truly amazing. I feel like an echo. I have a 98 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg edition and there seems to always be something wrong with it. After 2 years of ownership electrical failures. Radio volumes won't respond (appears to be haunted and goes up all the way when slightly turned. A/C lights shuts off occasionally (unfortunately it can't be fixed unless it's happening at time of repair). A year ago my A/C went out altogether. Evaporator gave out which costs a few hundred dollars to replace. Fortunately, even though my warranty had expired I got the money reimbursed from VW after calling and complaining for the thousandth time. My windows have always acted strange - sometimes they will stick in up or down position (a very scary feeling of insecurity). One of them finally gave out and is now stuck in the down position (passenger right side). The regulator just seems to turn, but nothing catches. I'm so frustrated with this car. I am now on the internet looking for tips for repair. From reading other comments, it sounds pretty hopeless. I will never recommend a VW.
Holy smokes…As I read the above comments, I’m glad to know that I too am not alone in my frustrations. I own a 99 Jetta GLS and haven’t had any problems until about 6 months ago. It started when I noticed that the rear windows wouldn’t roll up unless I first rolled the entire windows down, to which they would roll all the way up automatically even if I didn’t want them too. I also noticed that manipulation of the window levers had an effect on the red security light beside the lock pin in the driver side door. The light would hold a steady glow upon rolling the window down. I found this to be extremely odd, and was about to take my car in after a month of trying to schedule an appointment with the Service department (another story), when all of a sudden, the problem magically disappeared as if it never existed. Things were fine until this last week when I noticed that my passenger side front window was getting stuck. Well, wouldn’t you know it…today on my way to work, the window fell right off the track with a loud thud! I called the dealership today and they informed me that the extended warranty will cover this, and I’m hoping they’ll stick to their word. When I told my co-worker about this, she wasn’t surprised and said her 2001 Jetta GLX has had this problem happen to her on both windows already. This particular car has also been recalled three times (that I know of) since I’ve owned it. My car has just reached a little over 74,000 miles and the “check engine” light is now on. I can’t wait to find out why. I have owned three VW’s before this. My previous car was a 1990 Corrado G60. Looked cool, but that car also fell apart within the first three years I had it. Apparently the engine mounts weren’t made strong enough for the car’s engine, and that problem was just the tip of the iceberg. I thought I’d be doing good by buying a brand new Jetta in 99. Now I’ve learned my lesson. Never again will I own a VW after this.
I own a 99.5 "new jetta". I have had the following problems:
-> O2 sensor on catalytic converter
-> mass air flow sensor
-> 02 sensor (not even sure which one)
-> window fell down on pass side would not raise (twice!)
-> grease exuding out of rocker panel area (both sides, when weather is hot)
-> glove box hinge broke on one side
-> window seal trim (fabric) came a little loose then completely fell off. (Found out later, the rubber seal was also bad. Going through car wash, the water rushes into the car around the seal)
-> Windshield wiper washer ports plugged. Cannot seem to get it cleared out
-> Pass side side mirror plastic cover cracked, then broke off completely
-> electric feature on side mirrors stopped working.
Needless to say, I advise you to NOT buy a Jetta! (At least not a 99.5 "new jetta".
OK I copied the last comment deleted and added a couple
I own a 99.5 "new Jetta". I have had the following problems:
-> O2 sensor on catalytic converter
-> mass air flow sensor
-> 02 sensor (not even sure which one)
-> grease exuding out of rocker panel area (both sides, when weather is hot)
-> glove box hinge broke on one side (very common)
-> window seal trim (fabric) came a little loose then completely fell off. I glued it back on
-> Driver's side side mirror has lost the bottom half of it's silver reflective coating.
Needless to say, I advise you to NOT buy a Jetta! Good luck trying to trade it in.
Has anyone had any problems with the vertical exterior molding on the rear door windows rotting out? My 99 is on both sides, and I have noticed it on other 99 and 2000's. Volkswagen says it is not covered under the corrosion warranty.
For whatever it's worth in terms of persuading VW in admitting to the defects in their jettas, I will add to this list. I have a 98 GLX and with these faults...
- all four windows at least once. (regulators and motors)
- door molding falling off. (all 4 doors)
- multiple check engine lights. (5 that are reoccurring)
>fuel trim, too lean
>evap, small leak
>Cyl. 4 misfire
>Cyl. 6 misfire
>random misfire.
Other than that I really enjoy my jetta and count it a blessing from the Lord. My problems could be much worse.