Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-54
My 19-year-old stepson bought a used 98 Jetta GT (against my advice) from a VW dealer 2 1/2 months ago, then moved to a neighboring state. He was there 2 weeks when the timing belt snapped, but that was okay because the warranty we bought was for 25,000 miles on the powertrain. No problem, right?
Wrong!
They are refusing to cover the damage it caused and expect us to pony up $3,500. We only paid $9,000 for the whole car!
And now I have seen on another website that this has been an issue, with the timing belt guides giving out around 75k-80k miles. Funny, his car has 80k, but we were told they had dealer records showing the original owner had done every maintenance check she was supposed to do, at the dealership.
Maybe next time he'll listen to me!
If I wasn't so upset with VW this would almost be funny. I have a 2001 Jetta with 46k miles and from the onset there have been many problems. The windows falling into the doors; the power locks locking and unlocking at will; (that was fun) the goo coming out of the doors in the summer; the fogged up windows every time it rains; the constant need for oil; the glove box breaking and falling to the floor; the new humming sound every time I accelerate; and the newest issue the MIF light, which I have been told is the 02 sensor which VW would gladly replace for $300 even though they extended the warranty for the catalytic converter they are denying there is any relation between the two. Um, okay. I have had 2 Toyota's prior to this, never had one problem with Toyota. You can be sure my next car will be a Toyota.
I own a 2001 "new Jetta" with 84000 miles. I bought this car brand new and was so excited because this was my first new car. As of today 3/13/2006, I have completed the following problems (anyone sound like I'm echoing the thousands of unsatisfied customers who have added comments on this site)
-O2 sensor on catalytic converter
-mass air flow sensor
-window fell down on passenger side and would not raise
-glove box hinge broke on one side
-Windshield wiper washer ports plugged. Cannot seem to get it cleared out
-Pass side mirror plastic cover cracked
-electric feature on side mirrors stopped working.
- the latch on the arm rest has broken off (twice)
-Tie rod "something" on the front wheels that whine when you turn your wheels left or right
-droning noise when you speed past 60mph. One dealership said this was the bearings, another said it was the tires (sigh, even they don't know what the problem is)
-headlights have been changed a record 4 times.
-this is all excluding services, brakes (both front and rear), battery change, and other wear and tear issues.
When you call Customer Support, the first thing they say is that they cannot help because you are out of warranty. It does not matter that you have been to the dealer every 3 months or thereabout to spend a average $800 on each visit for the past 2 years!!!
The dealerships are not rude, but show no empathy nor genuine concern for your issues. It does not matter if you've been to the same dealer for all your repairs, VW does not approach nor treat your problems any differently. So my question is why bother going to expensive, unhelpful dealerships???
I WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER BUY A Volkswagon made car again...EVER!!!
I have had countless VW's over the years, and none have been retired under 170,000 miles. The newest VW I own now is a 98 Jetta GT. For the past 65,000 miles I have replaced a clutch and a light bulb, that's it. Granted I don't have power windows or auto transmission, but I have honestly loved every VW I've owned.
I know that the problems discussed here are valid, especially the power window and O2 sensor issues. I still cannot deny my passion for DUBS.
Has anyone with a volkswagon Jetta 1999 had a problem refilling the gas tank. The automatic shut off keeps going off taking forever to fill the gas tank.
Also had numerous problems with VW Jetta 99
Any advice would be appreciated.
I have 72k miles on my VW 2002 Jetta and now I have a problem with my O2 Sensor. Have had problems with my check engine light continuously going on and off since I bought the vehicle. The VW dealership would reset the light and send me on my way. (No problem found) I have made many trips to the dealership. I think VW needs to look into this problem and consider a recall. My Heated Mirrors and Heated Windsheild Wipers do not work and quit working after warranty expired. I am not happy with VW and won't buy another VW again.
I have a 97 Jetta GLS with only about 65,000 miles. My brother, who is a mechanic, is almost refusing to even look at it for me anymore, since I've had so many dumb problems with it - the windows being #1.
I have also had problems with the door locks, and the doors not opening at all, even when they are seemingly unlocked. I had to crawl in through the trunk one time just to be able to drive it to a mechanic!
Now it seems like the transmission is slipping or something - it seems like when it tries to change gears it just gets stuck and sometimes dies. Very inconvenient when you're in the middle of an intersection!
I bought it used with a list of routine maintenance done at the dealership, but the local dealership closed, and there is only one VW 'expert' in town anymore, and, unfortunately, I'm poor and can't afford to spend what I see other people have been spending on their VWs. I wish I had listened to my brother and bought a Toyota or a Honda. But I had to try to be COOL!! Now I feel uncool and stupid for buying this car.
I own a 1994 jetta GL with a 2.0 motor and an automatic transmission. The car had 118,000 miles on it in 1994 when I purchased the VW. The car now has 156,000 miles on it. The check engine light was on when I purchased the car and remains on to this day.
Repairs:
4 new sense-a-trac struts installed by Monroe.$400
4 new cooper cobra tires $350
4 new winterforce tires for winter months (Nov - April) $300
Plastic coolant hose flange connected to block $36
Door lock mechanism (upgraded version purchased from VW $43
Plugs and wires $160
Driver side wheel bearing (installed by Monroe) $153
Heater blower motor (salvage part) $40
Transmission fluid filter (performed by local shop) $120
O-ring oil filter block seal (performed by local shop) $110.
Corroded battery terminals left me in a parking lot 3 days
after purchasing Jetta.
The wiper arm became loose on the splines where the arm connects and the wiper would not move back and forth. A dab of gorilla glue cured that issue!!!
Most of the repairs were performed by myself and friends within the first 2 months of ownership.
The car grips the road like a cheap sportscar, and feels much safer than many other cars I have driven including honda and toyota.
In the heavy fresh snow, the car has performed flawlessly at 40mph and under.
I have changed the oil 4 times since owning and it is due again. I use a synthetic blend valvoline oil and a quart of LUCAS oil additive at each change.
Myself and my family have really enjoyed the Jetta. It is starting to show signs of rust and the chips in the paint, from normal driving are also starting to rust. I will be replacing my jetta this year and I am considering the 2006 VW jetta with the 2.0 turbo charged motor.
I am very happy I traded my volvo (that often left me stranded) in on this jetta. The jetta has carried my loved one to school for 2 years now at over 125 miles per day. Plus our normal errand and shopping activities.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your posts defining the issues with the jetta up to year 2004. You have saved me a lot of frustration as I will not buy a jetta older than the 2006 model year.
I too own a 98 wolfy and window regulaters have failed. I've heard a lot about the missfires and one way to fix that is deffinitly do not buy bosch spark plugs. go with a different brand and for the love of god gap them perfectly to specs. this has stopped all my misfires.
I have a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, and one problem I have with my Jetta is that it seems that every 3 days, I have to put 20 bucks in my tank.
Another problem is that my sunroof is acting up.
The last problem I have, is that it seems like sometimes my car sounds funny, like it's winding up and I am not getting up to the right speed, because it seems like everyone is passing me like I'm doing 25 in a 55 zone.
2005 Jetta TDI Wagon - Plastic motor cover plate fell off (VW won't cover it. And my driver's side front window fell into the door. Luckily they say they will take care of this. But it happened on a Friday night before New Year's so I have to drive around with the snow and cold until the 2nd 4 days... BS I tell you!
-Nate.
I bought a 97 GLE 5 speed. When I got it it needed a door latch, a CCV valve, and an oil change.
So far I have replaced the CCV valve; 85 shipping and handling included. I had to break the old one to get it out.
I had to drive 2 days around New Years with two PVC valves rigged up, but with that it ran a lot faster, and I got better gas mileage, but the gaping hole coming out of my crank case scared me; when I got the part it would not fit, SO PAY ATENTION TO THIS anyone with a 97 Jetta, or any car with a CCV valve.
Use wd40, and take time to wiggle it out of the rubber piece connected to the crank case. IT'S CONNECTED; I didn't know that, so I pried it out with a screw driver, so the part of the rubber piece that broke I ducked taped. Now I get better compression, but less gas mileage.
ANOTHER THING that messes those valves up is oil leaking in them from the hose that cools your oil. I left the PVC valve in that hose to block oil to prevent it from happening again. It allows air to go through, but blocks the oil. It makes a neat rattling sound too.
IF YOU'RE GETTING BAD COMPRESSION, TRY THAT, IT HELPED ME A LOT.
I have 1999 VW Jetta. This car has been a problem. I spent a lot of money fixing things like check engine light on (four times), the power window lift arm has been broken twice, can't change the a driver side headlight bulb without going to the shop. I am sure that I am NOT going to be a returning customer!!!
Just a note... when buying your VW, make sure it says that it is made in Germany, not Mexico. Germany and Mexico have very different standards on how they build cars, and the American VW standards are not as high as Germany, so they have no problem selling you the one that is falling apart.
I bought my VW in 2002, and have had no significant problems.
I have a 1998 VW Jetta with 112,000 miles on it. I never had problems with it besides my windows, door siding, and air conditioner until three months ago. My car would not start so my Dad got it towed to a European auto shop. They said a belt on my compressor was broken. They replaced the belt, the compressor, and some other things too. It cost $2,000 dollars to fix.
Whenever I picked my car up from the shop it was driving worse then it did before I had it fixed. The second I left the shop my RPM’s would shoot up at low speeds. I drove it like this for a couple months and then it died on my way to work. It died in front of an auto shop so we pushed it into the parking lot to get it fixed. They replaced parts in my ignition system and they replaced my clutch costing $1,500.
I just got my car out of the shop today and drove it home and it died on my street. The mechanics said my car was fixed and they test drove it and everything was OK, but it could not even make it 7 miles to my house. I am back to where I was before we spent any money on it with it not starting.
So now we have spent $3,500 on fixing my car and it is not even fixed. I should have bought a new car.