11th May 2004, 08:36
Same story - I have a 200O Jetta 1.8T. It was trouble-free for the first two and a half years. Then:
- latch on the armrest broke
- right hinge on the glove box snapped
- driver's side window fell in (replaced under warranty)
- check engine light came on.
The check engine light is a farce. The VW dealer charges $80 JUST TO DIAGNOSE the problem. The first time I took it in the diagnosis was that I needed a new air filter. So bascially, I paid about $100 for a new air filter. The engine light was back on in about two weeks. I left it on for several months and took it back in. The new diagnosis was a bad bi-pass valve for the turbo. The light was off for 1 month and is now back on. The car failed an emissions test because of the engine light... back to VW dealer and another $80. I would not buy another nor recommend a VW to anyone.
19th May 2004, 17:03
This forum is amazing. I thought that I was the only problem with VW Jetta problems.
Today my wife was driving me in her 2000 Jetta GLS to pick up my car (Xterra) from the shop. We were driving down the road when all of a sudden her window falls into the door.
Needless to say when I got home and started "Googling". I was amazed to find all of the problems we have had w/ the Jetta are not that uncommon. i.e. broken glove box hinge and latch on the center arm rest (apart from the window of course).
For what it's worth... I love my Nissan.
20th May 2004, 19:40
2000 Golf TDI
Problems:
- MAF, replaced four times and dealer could care less
- car has basically left me stranded in the U.S. a couple of times due to the MAF completely going!
- Carbon plugged at 120000 km
- doors sagging at 11000 km
- Breaks went at 25000km, 60000km, and again at 130000
- alarm not working due to faulty rear latch sensor
- bottom shroud broken twice and side passenger shroud broken once
- glove box hinge broke
- headlights going too prematurely
Any money I have saved on fuel and and fuel I have saved for the environment has been wasted on shop time and replacement parts. Drivers wanted all right!
22nd Jul 2004, 20:01
We have had very similar problems to all statements that have been mentioned. We just paid more than $300 to repair the door locks, because like so many others, when the door was locked with the remote the lock signal would sound but the driver's side door would remain unlocked. If the driver's side door was opened, the alarm would sound due to a broken actuator. Now, our catalytic converter is falling apart causing a rattling sound. We took it in at 80,500 miles only to be told that it was covered under warranty up to 80,000. A new one costs $1300. Generic ones cannot be placed on VW's. The part itself costs $1100. We also had the problem with the check engine light coming on. We found out that that was a manufacturer's defect and it was repaired for free. Our car was also using oil at an ungodly rate. The seals were faulty and had to be replaced. Luckily, this was covered under warranty and was repaired at no cost to us. We have been fortunate, but I think the honeymoon is over. The lock problem and the catalytic converter are our expenses. To top it all off, we purchased our car through a lease and we still have two years left on the lease. We feel trapped with a car that isn't even ours. If anyone is aware of a discount parts dealer we would love to have the name.
Tflo2@cdnm.com.
26th Jul 2004, 17:05
A warning to all of the people who have had the CHECK ENGINE light come on and think it's just a faulty light, etc. with a quick do-it-yourself fix. We thought that too --- our dealership even told us that the light was probably faulty --- until the last three months. Suddenly, when the check engine light comes off, the car shuts down. Last week it happened for the 4th time, doing 70 mph on the highway. Luckily, I was able to shift it into neutral and get it started before anything bad happened. The car has been in the shop 5 times in the last three months with the same issue, and they've given us different reasons for it happening each time, they've "fixed" the problem, and weeks later it happens again. Unfortunately, with 50,000 miles on the car and having owned it for more than a year, the Lemon Laws in most states no longer apply...
23rd Aug 2004, 06:19
I have a 2002 Jetta 1.8T and it stinks! I have had all the same problems. The coils went out....42k cost almost $400, not covered under warranty. Hinge on the middle console latch thingy, replaced under warranty. Funky grease under passenger side door all the time. Radio just stopped working, won't turn on, no lights, nothing 52k. Check engine light on all the time, dealer can't tell me what is wrong. Car dies out all the time, only drives when it wants to 56k. Took to dealer, stated that it was the coils backfiring....still does it after having replaced all of them. What is up with all of these problems??? What is up with Volkswagon service? It stinks..don't reccomend VW to anyone....buy a Toyota..great service in past.
3rd Apr 2004, 09:08
I was so happy with my 2000 Jetta for the first year and half. Then like everyone else had one thing after another. A month after I bought the car the oil light came on and I brought it to the mechanic and he said there was just about no oil in the car. I called VW when this happened a second time a few months later. They told me that Volkswagons are known for that and there wasn't anything I could do. My glove box hinge snapped on the right side too. I thought it was something somebody had done by accident, but now know it is just a faulty part. I replaced the rear brakes at about 20k miles and the mechanic was shocked. I will never go to VW to fix anything the prices are outrageous. My front brakes make noise and I am going to have to replace them now. I just got the car out of the shop because the wires were bad. The check engine light had been on for the last 4 months. It is off now, but after reading all these posts I am sure it will probably come back on. The window on the passengers side fell in and that was pretty expensive to fix. The trunk would pop open for no reason. That was a weird one because it only happened for about 2 weeks, but all the time for two weeks and then all of a sudden stopped. Strange. I will definitely think twice about buying or recommending VW again. It's upsetting too because I like the way they look and drive. I think I may have to switch to Toyota, my sister loves her car and never has any problems. They last a long time too!
Trish
Weymouth, MA.