First off, many of you are posting Wolfsburg as 1998 cars when in fact they are technically 1999 cars with the 1998 Jetta III body style. This is important when it comes to window clip and window regulator problems which are covered for 1999 cars, but not 1998 cars (see earlier post by someone else).
My Issues:
Front speakers blew at 15K miles (VW covered)
Tape player broke at 15K miles (VW covered)
CD player had also had loading issues, but eventually loads correctly and works - never had VW look at this.
Continuous leak into front floorboard - VW never adequately corrected the problem and I gave up having to pay the "diagnostic" costs that do not fix the problem.
Right front (passenger) window has had regulator problems since around 10K miles (when I automatically put it up it comes halfway back down by itself) but it never replicates the problem when I bring it to the dealer so I have never had it fixed.
Rear muffler rusted apart at 30K miles - $360 job.
Left rear window clips broke at 61K miles (VW covered per Nov 2002 notice that was on their website for ONLY one week).
Right rear window clips broke at 64K miles (VW covered).
VW service told me my rear broke rotors needed to be replaced for $250 during a maintenance inspection. Brought to my trusted garage who said the rotors were fine (ie greater than minimum thickness)...
Car is currently in shop for recall notice to install new right rear wheel well liner.
While in shop they are examining muffler rattling issue - they say it needs to be replaced and I have them talking to VW about the fact that I replaced it 30K miles ago...
While in shop, they are examining AC issue (periodically stops blowing cold air) - charging me $85 to do the diagnostic, repair will be much more.
Great style and performance for the money.
Horrible electrical problems.
Muffler rusting issues.
Will not buy VW again.
Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I own a 1999 Volkswagon Jetta Wolfsburg too.
I purchased it with 12,000 miles in Feb. 2000.
As of today, Jan. 7, 2004, I have had to replace the exhaust from the cat. converter back (not the cat converter) at 80,000 miles.
The rear passenger window doesn't work.
Now at 111,000, yes One Hundred Eleven Thousand miles, I finally need new brakes. I got what may be considered a 1 in a million car.
I have never cleaned the CD changer and it continues to play skip free.
That's it. No other problems.
I Love my Jetta and Will buy another one...
Travis.
I have a 1998 VW Jetta Wolfsburg. I have had few problems for the most part. The only problems I had to take care of was the driver's side window. The electric device stopped working and had to be replaced. I also found out the the lugs on the tires are "locked" and can only be unlocked by VW. Thankfully I found this out before I standed in the middle of nowhere. Changed the lugs.
Overall...I am happy for the most part. Great pick-up, sound system and easy on gas.
I am the owner of a 1998 VW Jetta Wolfsburg edition. It currently has 178,456 miles on it. I love this car to death. It has given me no motor problems what so ever. I have all OEM parts on the motor. However the windows drive me nuts. It is an electrical nightmare. If this car did not have all the electrical problems it has I would have to say it would be in my opinion one of best cars ever built. Tyson.
I own a 1998 Jetta Wolfsburg with 280 000kms on it. I'd rather put money into it every 6 months, rather than take on a car payment. For me, no window problems (cross my fingers). I had to replace the suspension, exhaust, brakes, and throttle body. Think about it... once that is done, you have a good car for another 100k. The interior looks a lot more upscale than all cars in this price range.
The leak inside the cabin is due to the AC drain that is plugged up... I took care of that with a coat hanger...
This car is great though... I beat it up pretty bad... took some corners really fast, and I go camping a lot (fully loaded). The car has never left me stranded. It's built tough.
I was told that the car was designed for a diesel engine... that might be the major problem for us in North America.
Consider yourself lucky that you do not own a mark 5 Jetta... pieces of royal crap...
Look around at all the cars on the market these days... they don't have half the torque VW has, the drive-ability, and the trunk space... my trunk is larger than that of a Ford Taurus!
Anyways... it's definitely a love hate relationship... but it's mostly love for me...
I own a 1998 Jetta Wolfsburg edition, with about 186,000 miles on her. I have driven her hard and very far-from Canada to Rosarito Beach Mexico!
Definitely a love-hate relationship!! Have fixed just about everything: axle's, transmission, shocks/struts, hoses/valves, windows (only once-nonelectric), parts-cooling system and oil leaks, you name it!!
For the most part, the problems were due to the age and deterioration of the car over time. Overall, the engine has held up very well.
Air conditioning broke 2 years ago - never fixed it because it's sooooo expensive - $1,000!! Re-occurring issues: oil leaks, coolant leaks, wheels/balance/alignment issues.
After 11 years, I am finally getting a new car. Just can't handle all the maintenance anymore. But 11 years is a great run for any car - let alone the feisty Volkswagen!
Not interested in buying another one though. My sisters '99 Jetta had to be returned as a "lemon", AFTER they completely rebuilt the engine for her. It stalled on the freeway with windshield wipers going crazy the day she got it back from engine-rebuild!! :(
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