Love my 2000 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (not!!!). Recently, I had the MIL light come on and resulted in the turbocharger and airflow meter being replaced at a cost of almost $2700!
Previous to that, the front passenger window rolled all the way down and would not close and resulted in the replacement of the window cables and clips at a cost of almost $300!!
That being said, the MIL light for the Volkswagen is something to be feared because on my vehicle the MIL light has come on 6 different occasions resulting in the replacement of 4 glow plugs, glow plug relay (twice), coolant temperature sensor (twice), and glow plug harness.
That doesn't even factor in the other problems that I never bothered to replace (ie- passenger door lock only partially comes up, broken glove compartment and center console, driver visor light burned out, cassette getting stuck in the tape deck).
I hope this e-mail serves as a warning to prospective Jetta buyers and people should steer clear of this car---I have spent almost $9000 of my hard earned money for maintenance in the last 3.5 years and I still have 7 more car payments to go to boot!!
My venting is now complete---and I thought an Eagle Talon was a lemon (my previous vehicle)!
Nice looking sedan, but costs too much to keep on the road...
Note- VW has now extended the warranty on the mass air flow sensor. Try to get some of your money back.
I have had all of these same problems. The mass air flow sensor has gone 4 times, the glow plug relay 3 times, had the harness and glow plugs replaced twice. As for the window, it was a recall and it should have been fixed for free at your dealership.
They are known for that Turbo Issue. it is actually a waste gate operating problem that in the right hands is an $800.00 repair. The sad thing is the part, a small vacuum like pot is not available.
That is the only reason I hesitate to buy a VW TDI.
Also timing belt and tensioner need replaced at 100,000 km on mine, but less regularly on new ones. This is about a $500.00 job. The glove box hinges,,, I have seen three with this part broken and it is an expensive fix, Window regulators I have replaced 4 on my 2 VW's
The Turbu, a $2,700.00 repair if you don't have the contacts is what would (is) stopping me buying this car new.
It remains a lovely high mileage car, but it has issues and is to my mind a little over priced and has to much technology driven gimmics, (Seat Heaters that burn out) to be a cost efficient vehicle; in truth.
Hope this helps
Alex.
Bought my 2000 Jetta GLS TDI with 82K miles on it last September. I'm happy with the car. The glow plug light just started flashing, but I didn't expect to not have to put money into it (I did negotiate the purchase price down $2500 (to less than trade in) because the timing belt hadn't been done yet and it was a less than informed KIA dealer I bought it from). Diesel repairs are not cheap. People need to investigate into ALL costs of a vehicle before they buy. Don't complain about how much an oil change for the TDI costs, you should have asked before buying one, don't complain about the every 10K services, you should have asked before buying one, don't complain about having to change the timing belt and tensioners at 60K, 80K or 100K whichever your TDI suggests, you should have asked before buying one. Know your product before you invest in it.
Regarding the windows and glove box. Parts fail. VW was aware of the window issue and did a recall. The glove box is broken??? 106K miles later and mine is intact. My arm rest is still working properly. People, try to treat your cars with a little more respect and they might last you a little better.
Be thankful you have what you have. Be thankful you are getting 40+ mpg (I got 50.4 last tank). You could be driving a Hummer, paying $2.99 a gallon for fuel and getting 10 mpg.
I have a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and I love my car, although right now I have the same problem with the turbo and just been quoted $2300 for repairs. I've heard it is a common problem, but it was my fault for not doing my research.
The only thing that really gets me is the glove box. I just had mine replaced last month and already it broke again. It's such an easy break... because all I did was open it. It just really gets to me, and I think it's coming to a point where I just may trade my car in for a newer model.
I had the turbo go out on my 01 Jetta TDI. I took it in for repair at one dealer and they said it needed a whole new turbo, so I took it to another dealer and they told me it was an oxygen sensor that was covered under warranty. I think some of these repair shops don't know what's going on sometimes.
In highway diesels, turbo's often last 750k miles or more, and in the local delivery trucks (Isuzu, etc.) they last 300k. Not making excuses for TDI's, but turbo's are subject to a lot of heat, and the oil inside can cook if you drive the car hard then park it. This leaves deposits that hurt lubrication. Let the engine cool down for a minute or two by slower driving or idling, especially if you drive it to a location right off the freeway or at the top of a hill, or you just drive it hard.
Hi, I currently own a 2001 Jetta automatic TDI with 155000 KM’s, I bought the car two years ago used and have had nothing, but trouble with it. The first headache was within 2 months of ownership the Mass Airflow Sensor went out. At first I couldn’t understand what had happened until I did some homework and discovered that this was a common problem and to disconnect the sensor plug on the air box would restore power on a temporary basis. Since then I have had nothing, but issues, the Check engine followed suit shortly after followed by the connecting arm for the windshield wipers. Sometime after that the front bushings went, at this point I wasn’t too upset after all it was a used car and some repairs were to be expected. That was until the transmission went out 6 months later at a cost of 3000$, luckily my local independent VW mechanic is a miracle worker and was able to repair the transmission when everyone else including the dealer wanted to replace it at a cost of 5500$. I have had two window mounts replaced and the tie rod just broke today!
Never again in my life will I purchase another Volkswagen. So this is my warning if you are looking for a reliable car steer clear of VW!
I own a 2003 Golf TDI and have replaced 8 (yes, 8) mass air flow sensors and am currently replacing my second glow plug in four months. The dealership tells me that these are NOT known issues and that they are unrelated; however judging from the posts here, I fail to agree.
I have owned 4 VWs over 21 years and will NOT be buying another.
The mass air flow sensor is a common problem with the Volkswagen TDI's, you should ask your mechanic to fit one from Pierburg instead of the standard Bosch that Volkswagen uses and the problem will not come again.
However I don't think a Volkswagen dealer will want to fit a Pierburg, they make good money on the Bosch ones.
The windows falling down is another common problem that almost every Volkswagen owner will suffer eventually. This is because the mechanism to hold the window is made with cheap plastic clips, there is a modification available to replace those plastic clips with iron clips.
The breaking glove box is another common problem, it's just not solid you have to be more careful with it.
The turbo breaking down is a common problem with every small block high BHP turbodiesel engine, however it seems to be a lot more common with the Volkswagen TDI's.
When the engine is cold you should accelerate slowly and don't go above 2500rpm. When you accelerated a lot or drove at high speed, the turbo will be extremely hot. You should let your turbo cool down before switching the engine off, to do this let it run idle for about 30 seconds.
If you follow those 2 rules you should reach the 200k miles easily without an expensive turbo replacement.
I've religiously followed the maintenance schedule for my TDI and haven't had any major mechanical problems. 130k miles and counting.
I have Polo Classic 2001 1.9TDI
This is my first and my last VW. In just 3 months, my glow plugs died, air flow sensor died, electro-motors for both windows died, some other electronic died which caused my car to turn-off each time I stop on crossroad, so I spent a lot money to get it to work properly.
And when I finished fixing all that, starting yesterday engine can't go over 2500rpm for first 5 minutes, and after that the car goes bad, not as I am used to. So I think that Turbo is broken (because it makes funny sound too). So never never again VW. I was fool to spend so much money for such a crap, instead of buying Toyota or something other.
I have a 1997 VW Beetle TDI. I have only owned VWs since I was a kid, and there are some things you should just know.
One is that the turbo going bad is actually just a sensor that cost about $160.00. Every VW dealer will tell you otherwise.
Also the door locks break very easily on every VW; it is a part that should have been recalled years ago.
VW make their cars in Mexico and Germany. If you buy a car that was made in Mexico, you are going to have problems... you need to buy the ones made in Germany.
VW engines last for almost ever; that's what you're paying for when you buy one. Not the door locks or the window cables.
A real VW lover knows what the problems are and how to fix them, and it's never the engine.
My cars are like the energizer bunny. They just keep going and going... so go buy a turbo sensor and have a nice day.
Man, I wish I really read into this site before buying a 00 VW jetta last week!! Regarding the post below :
27th Apr 2006, 12:47.
We do the best research you can, but you also expect the car manufacturers to do their part in delivering their product which they stand behind and make accommodations when they arise.
The post also mentions a recall for the windows and glove box, but nhtsa. gov didn't reveal anything. Can anyone provide more info on this? Thanks!
I have had a Volkswagen TDI for 7 years now. I have experienced some of the problems such as the waste gate, glove box hinge, and a few others. Some of this learning about diesel's is going to be new to most Americans. In Europe, many cars that we have here are available in diesel like the Chrysler 300. Soon we will all be looking for these high MPG cars if gas goes any higher. The glove box I can live with; the mass air flow sensor was an 80 dollar part and about 20 minutes of my time. Glow plugs are the spark plugs in this car and are easier and more accessible than any other car out there. If you want to save money, you are going to have to become somewhat handy or able to check things by computer, before you submit to a mechanic and his prices. There are known problems with this car, but I wouldn't trade it for a gas job, (especially if you commute a great distance like I do, about 50 miles one way). Any car will require the timing belt to be changed at some point. Those are the jobs we pay people to do.