Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-73
Check engine light came on after two months of owning the vehicle.
Rear brakes prematurely worn after 28,000 miles, the dealership could have cared less and told me it would be at least two weeks before they could fix them.
Oil light comes on 1500 miles after every oil change. The dip stick is dry when I check it.
The emergency brake popped while the car was parked on a hill, it rolled down the hill into a tree and $3000 later I have a new trunk, tail light, quarter panel and bumper. The police officer said that the e-brake was still engaged when he inspected the vehicle.
The EPC light and check engine light are on/off and the car shut off on the mass pike while doing 70 mph.
After installing an aftermarket CD player the HVAC lights did not work. After two years they now work.
The drivers side carpet has a huge hole in it.
Drivers side headlight burnt out after 42000 miles and it takes a rocket scientist to replace it. An hour and half at the dealer and $30 it was fixed. Hey thanks for that free car wash!
I feel for my girlfriend. She leases this car.
I also feel for anyone who owns a VW. Especially the owners with the V-6 who have spent $30000 for a roach.
Buy American, at least when they break you don't have to take the whole car apart to fix it.
Drivers wanted!?
Funny, I have a 2001 VW 1.8T 40,000 miles... NO PROBLEMS!... lucky me I guess... again sorry that ur car was bad.. get a toyota.
I am sorry to hear all these bad stories about the Jetta.. I own a 2001 Jetta GL with 26000 miles and so far no problem.. it's already three years old, so it has the usual squeaks and rattles.. but other than that, it is a good nice looking car.. I previously owned a 3 Hondas, 2 Toyotas, and 1 Nissan.. and this is my first Volkswagen.. since I know about the quirks of German cars (or European cars, since I always owned Japanese cars), I was not sure about owning a Volkswagen, but I think these are good cars if you take care of them.. good luck!
I had the exact same problems! Pre-mature brake wear at 28,000 miles!! That is unheard of! Volkswagen has some major quality control problems. Also, my EPC light has gone on at 40,000 miles. Apparently it is the traction control system, which costs almost $1,000.00 to repair!! The plastic is peeling off from the control panel, some springs popped off from under my seat, my power windows have failed, the lights on the AC panel have gone off. Sound familiar?
I also have a 2001 Jetta GLS, and have encountered virtually all of these problems (what's with the hole in the floor mat?? I thought it was something I did!!) in addition to HORRIBLE service at all 3 wv dealerships I have dealt with. Additional problems have included:
New catalytic converter needed at 30,000 miles.
Ignition coils have had to be replaced TWICE-at 30,000 and again at 65,000. Apparently, there was a recall and I attempted to join a class action lawsuit to obtain reimbursement, but ultimately it was determined that my vehicle was somehow excluded.
Some weird black piece-function unknown-under the ac controls just came off when the car was about two days old and has never stayed on since.
Side view mirror switch-I kid you not-just broke off and now I have to manually adjust the mirrors.
My door handle had the peeling problem-had it replaced; same things happening to this one, but at this point I just don't care.
Brake lights completely out twice-had to do with the brake light switch or something like that.
Oxygen sensor replaced at 30,000 miles.
My lock on the console just came off also.
I've called the "customer relations" center, but have not had any success. The dealerships are rude or at best tell me to "get in line." I have two more payments to go, but am not in any position to buy a new car. I am hoping that when I get the car back from the shop today (the window fell into the door), that will be the last of it!! Aside from the thousands of dollars that I have spent, and the accumulated 2 MONTHS my car has been in the shop over the past 4 1/2 years, the worst thing is that volkswagen has been utterly unresponsive. Horrible customer service!!!
I have a 2000 VR6 and all the issues with the seat springs, seat heaters, check engine light, cup holders, cd player, ignition coils 2X, emergency brake and Oxygen sensors all went bad at around 75K, right after the warranty expired. I never fixed any of the items except ignition coils and O2 sensors because the car wouldn't run. Now the car runs fine with the check engine light on for 50k miles. Other than that the car is reliable. Just did rotors and pads at 145K. Very easy job and inexpensive if you do it yourself and cheap if you buy parts online somewhere.
I have a 2001 VW Jetta GL, which I purchased in 2003. Since I have owned the car the only problems I have encountered is a wax smell in the inside of my car! Everyone that rides in my car thinks I have melted color crayons from my kids in it! I asked the dealership why I have a wax smell, and they told me that they pour wax in the door panels so that when they ship the cars overseas the salt won't rust the doors. I live in Nevada, so of course with the extreme heat we have here in the summers, the wax melts and drips down the outside of my car! Does anyone else have this problem? Also, I agree VW has terrible customer service, and I will never buy another VW.
So the only problem you have encountered is the wax smell inside of your car, and you won't buy another VW? That's ridiculous. Misery loves company...
VW has been wax-dipping cars since 1985 or so. It is to prevent rust. They do it to all cars, no matter where they are made, shipped or sold. EPA has made them use a different, softer & smelly 'wax'.
BTW, ask the dealer how much salt water is between you and Puebla Mexico?
I have a 1999 VR6 GLX Jetta IV, my EPC light comes on at 70mph which results in me having to shut my car off and restart, if I don't I can't accelerate the car just slows down. My ABS light comes on just driving down the road without braking, I can feel the pedal vibrating, its like its braking by itself for no reason, my check engine light comes on b/c the ECM module is messed up, while driving on the highway my car accelerates and deccelerates while holding gas pedal constant or on cruise control. Dealerships are rude and charge rediculous money for just looking at the car and telling you the problem is in one thing when its really elsewhere. If anyone has any advice on how to fix EPC light problem plz email me at pmx602@yahoo.com, I can't spend 3 grand to fix it.
I thought that the wax smell was just my car. I blamed the kids in the back seat for the crayon smell. I have enjoyed my 2001 VW Jetta. I've had the brakes replaced at 30k miles. My fuel pump went out at 50k miles (cost $300 for the part + $80 for the labor). The springs under the seats fell out, but were replaced right away at 40k miles. I'm at 55k miles right now and the check engine was on for about 100 miles (2 days) then turned off. Had all the recall work done. The most annoying thing about the car is the rattle on my emergency brake and the occasional wind noise. Still, this is the most reliable car I've ever had.
I have a Volkswagen GLS 2001. I have had several issues with my car, all of which have come and gone, or seemingly resolved themselves. I'm very young (18) and don't know much about cars, but right now my EPC light is going on and off, and I looked in the manual, and it said "Electronic Power Control". I have NO idea what that means. Needless to say, I don't have cruise control when the EPC light comes on.
It went away since I started getting midgrade gas, but gas at $2.47 is just not doing to well to my teenage bank account.
Along with that, the paint around the air conditioner is peeling off (making my car look terrible).
My 16 year old is now on a toll highway getting farther away from home with major problems in her 2001 Jetta GLS. (71,895 miles.) It is over heating according to her oil/engine gauge. She's pulling over for awhile to let engine cool down, not long enough to get much farther anywhere. Last night was her first notice after visiting a friend nearby. She slept in the car till morning because of the warning and letting it cool. When she got home, it seemed car might have went into the warning red because she needed a quart and a half of oil. Now she's got oil and she has had full coolant. She is now also complaining she isn't getting heat though the blower is blowing in air. And, when she does call for heat, the engine temperature rises faster. So for now, no heat on and she pulls over to stop when engine hot. I just told her when she turns off the motor to keep keyed on for the fan to run, I hope that's so. Amazing the engine is still running smooth. Any help/suggestions?
To the above poster - if the car explodes, it's your fault. That's neglect. Fix your car; it could be the thermostat. But cars are not meant to be driven while in the red. 78,000 miles is not low mileage either.
This vehicle very likely needs major engine work. If the radiator was filled properly (bled out) and the oil was changed and it still doesn't run properly then take it to a reputable dealer and have them diagnose and put in writing a formal estimate.
I have a 2001 VW Jetta VR6 with 36,800 miles on it and My EPC Light came on. I just got the thing and its doing this. I don't even know what it is. I have One Week with it and this happens. I'm a young guy (18) and I need some real good advice. If you can E mail me at ivansalazar882006@hotmail.com PLEASE!!! I appreciate your time.