I just noticed the speedometer thing, you hit it on the nose, it starts wandering around at about 65MPH and no matter what won't exceed 70, even if I am going 90!!
Creeking and croaking only in the summer from my front end; sounds like springs on the struts.
Always had a low brake pedal.
Tranny has been pretty good lately since my last report here, hardly any jerking or grabbing from 2nd to 3rd.
Brake light/park release switch was replaced under VW Warranty as it is a safety (five cent mexican made switch) item.
All the other problems still exist from my last report.
When my window fell inside the door (two cent jiffy clip broke), it left nice permanent scratches in the glass that I am mighty proud of!!
My VW remote on the key forgot what it is supposed to do, and none of the buttons work anymore (it's not the battery) before you try to change the battery, google it!! It's a complex process, so I use the remote I got with the remote starter!!
I can't really use my manual as the trunk gasket leaked and water ruined the manual in the trunk!! Pages all stuck together (nice huh). Next time I will get a GM!!
Jack.
I have 03 Wolfsburg 1.8T. I love this car, 85000 miles so far, but I think it's hit or miss with VW.
I have a 2003 VW Jetta Turbo. I have had all four engine coils go out on my car. They have all gone out one at a time so I've had to make four seperate trips to get it diagnosed and fixed. Only one was under warranty even though the mechanic that replaced the second one said it happens all the time and should be recalled. The latch on the center console is very weak. I had it replaced and it broke again so now I just don't use it. I have a lot of squeaking underneath my car. It's very annoying. I won't drive without the radio on so that the music muffles the noise. My boyfriend said it sounds like the struts or something like that. And this morning on the way to the dealership for my 70K oil change and minor service the check engine light went on. Waiting 'til Monday to see what's wrong.
Well my Jetta (03 GL 2.0) does the same jerky shift issue from 2nd to third gear. And the remotes also failed, but the dealer reprogrammed those at no charge.
It still is a wonderful car. Buddy who said that he will switch to GM next time, I'd like to see you take your Jetta around a curb with your foot on the gas, then try it with a Cavalier. You can feel the Jetta gripping the road... that beast isn't going anywhere. Cavalier? No it'll be everywhere.
I think any positive comments about VW are out voted here!! Although to be honest I think you will find this kind of board for any brand/model of car. I have about 80,000 miles on my 2003 Jetta now and lately it has been behaving itself, thank god I just got new tires as Winter has really hit us in New Hampshire. I had a friend with an almost new Passat and the computer died!! He got a Nissan. My last car was a 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass, I know the woman I sold it to and it's still running great at 200,000 miles. As far as my VW, at least the Devil you know is better than the one you don't when it comes to one of the coils or the timing belt leaving me stuck at some lovely destination FAR from home.
Jack.
I have a 2003 Jetta Wolfsburg. 1.8T. The car has been nothing but problems since day one.
At 30,000km it needed a new transaxle.
At 135000km it had 4 coil packs replaced. Then the water pump blew the next day. Then the next week a new catalyst.
Now it is grinding at about 60kph. Have replaced wheel bearings and drive shafts. Still grinding, switched tires, no improvement.
Just when I have had enough, the engine light is on again. It needs another new catalyst after less than 1000km. Car still looks like new but what use is it when it continually lets you down. I can't wait to get rid of it.
My 2002 Jetta, GLS has been a lot of problems for me. Had needed a new Cat Converter and sway bar bushing links 2 November's ago, an O2 sensor about a month later, a Coolant switch this past November, brake switch from the recall two Decembers ago. Also replaced the timing belt this past winter, and two tires, headlights, tail lights, brake pads (2 years ago) etc etc. Probably have put about 5-7 grand into this car in the past 3 years.
It's in the shop today for 4 new rotors as mine are all corroded/rusted, and new sway bar bushings.
It also has a heck of a transmission problem (automatic), in the cold of NH, its' fine, shifts smooth etc. As soon as the outside temp hits 50 or higher I start having issues- It takes a few long seconds to actual engage into drive or reverse. Then when shifting from 2nd to 3rd it does some weird and very inconsistent stuff. Most days (warm days only) it has such a hard time shifting into 3rd that it pulls back and then slams hard into gear. If I can feel it coming and lift of the gas it is not such a hard slam. Other things is sometimes it quickly revs up to 6-7 RPMS abnormally before squealing and finally shifting.
I've taken this to transmission guys, mechanics, etc and no one will touch it because it's a VW and the entire transmission is in that dumb plastic case. My VW guy does all except transmissions, and I'm dreading taking it to a VW dealer due to the cost and hassle.
If anyone can help me and has similar issues, please email me at nh03076 at gmail dot com. PLEASE!!
I am the original owner of a 2003 turbo Jetta and while I loved driving the car, I have noticed that it isn't the smoothest while shifting. I have also had the 2 front axles replaced (car has 80K miles on it). The latch on the center console broke, the speedometer is 5 mph off, one of the headlights went out.
With routine service, little things that go wrong here and there, I spend about 2 grand a year on repairs and service. It is July and I am already $1500 into it for this year, and the engine is humming really loud at 4 thousand rpm's, so back to the shop it goes!
I have a 2003 Jetta 1.8T. I have nothing but problems. I brought it brand new.
As soon as my warranty was up, my car went downhill. I needed a new water pump, new head gasket. The check engine light is always on, no matter what is replaced on it. It just died again.
I have milky white substances on my spark plugs, it over heats. Volkswagen fixed my head gasket for me, and not even 1 1/2 years later it blown again. I think they use used parts. Never heard of a head gasket that has blown that easy.
If any one has any ideas on what could be up with my car, please email, I need help.
barbip24@yahoo.com
I am one of the unfortunate few who owns a 2003 Jetta Turbo. I drove this car off the lot brand new, thinking I was set for a few years. The car now has 66k miles and has been a major headache the last 2 years. I've replaced headlights, struts, mounts, swaybar, coolant system, thermostat, side mirror, wiper sprayers and pump, door ajar sensor, rotors, spoiler and just yesterday my transmission internal shift sensor failed. ($$$, I'm sure.) Definitely the last VW I'll ever own. Oh, and the moon roof leaks too.
Oh... I'm so bumed looking at all these comments. I have recently bought a 2003 Jetta and have had a problem when it shifts from 1st to second hard jerking. Took it to the dealership and was told they could do a service on the car but they were not 100% sure if that would even help. The car has close to 85K on it don't know if it would be covered under any warranty...750$ for an 80% chance of fixing the problem.
I have a 2003 VW Jetta Turbo. Just bought it about 2 months ago and already replaced the timing belt, pulley belt, and was told need to replace computer, because vehicle sometimes won't start. What it does is it'll start and then it dies right away, like there is no gas going thru. First time I was told it was probably the alarm system and computer needed to be reset (unplug battery), then it did it again so I tried to do the same and it would not work, but after a few tries it started. It has done it a few times here and there, and when I took it to the mechanic, he told me the computer needs to be replaced and until then I will have the same problem.
Other than that, the vehicle runs great, was kept in good conditions, had to replace radio.
Has anyone had the same issue? Please advise.
Last winter my 2003 Jetta's radio quit working. No power to it at all. It died after I left my lights on overnight. Once I jumped the car, the radio would not turn on. Any ideas?
Wow, was I glad to find this page. Not that I am happy everyone is having problems, but now I know it's not just my car.
Rode fine for the first year, and then slowly started squeaking, speedometer started reading slow and then stopping at 65-70, mileage counts short, freewheels occasionally when dropping from high gear on a decline (but for some reason that seems to happen only when fuel is low). It just started gripping 1st gear yesterday. Wouldn't let go until 45krpm. It only does it a few times and then shifts normally.
After reading one post. I see it could be related to heat. I am hesitant to bring it in because VW is expensive. Wanted $$ just to hook the car up to the reader. I should have researched this before I bought it.
Hello, I bought my 2003 Jetta 1.8T brand new, it's has been a good reliable ride until a couple of months ago, my check engine turned on so I took it to the dealership and in their computer it displayed "information error", but it wasn't able to locate the precise problem, so they just deleted the check engine light only for it to come back on a couple of days later... Repeated this process three more times till it finally gave up and stayed off.
But after that the BIG problem slammed into me when I noticed it wouldn't shift gears (from 2nd to 3rd to be exact), I took it in for inspection/diagnosis and still awaiting an answer... Not sure what to expect, they commented something about loosing pressure in 3rd gear and in drive... I'm not sure what that means, but I can see a huge dollar sign coming my way!!!
Has anyone had this type of problem? If so, how much did you end up paying?
Thanks.