2003 Volkswagen Jetta from North America - Comments

Hello All,

I have a 2004 Jetta, and love it to death. I have just rolled over 107,000 miles on my way back from the UGA vs UF football game in Jacksonville. The only crucial repair I had to have done was a water pump replacement around 75,000 miles. Also after driving through a Georgia blizzard in March of '09, my airbag light appeared. It is $86 for the Volkswagen dealer to JUST diagnose it.

Once again, I love my Jetta. I have no problems with tranny, engine or radio (besides a few vibrations here and there). Just recently, I ran over a tall curb (while moving slow) that caused my baby to bottom out. Now I hear a squeak everytime I hit a bump??? DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS COULD BE??? I am about to replace the struts and shocks in my driveway with Blausport Autobahn Series Strut Shock Kits (from: http://www.blauparts.com/). Does anyone know any good or bad things about this particular website, brand or part?

Thanks,

Jonathan.

I have a 2003 1.8T Jetta GL (with 65,000 miles) that I purchased at the end of 2002 brand new with only 12-miles on it. This car was awesome for a few years. It's still a decent car, but as with most things, it's getting old so I don't expect it to be the spiffy vehicle it was 7-years ago. I've had to fix things that are expensive, but to be expected for anything mechanical that takes on use (and abuse from these cheap roads around me). Everything on my car was the original factory issued part for the first 6-years of ownership. I only had to replace brakes, tires, etc., this past year. So I consider myself one of the fortunate ones when it comes to this line of vehicle. After reading all of the posts here and many VW blogs, I'm listing some things that I've learned in addition to my own experiences with fixing my car, which I think will answer some of the questions asked here, and some that you might have later!

1. I have what I consider a decent dealership. However, I have learned that they are not very good at assessing problems with their own product! It's always an electrical issue. That's what their response will always be. I have found what I believe to be a good VW/Audi shop nearby. They seem to know their cars and though not dirt cheap, they are a lot cheaper than the dealer. I recommend everyone who is out of warranty to find a good non-dealer shop. I only go to the dealer for oil changes out of convenience.

2. Engine power: The original ignition coils in the 2002-2003 models were recalled. You should've gotten that letter and had the ignition coils replaced for free.

3. The timing belt/water pump in the '03 models and earlier need to replaced at 60K-80K miles (earlier models do not have the longer life timing belt). Even though the dealer says 90-100K miles, EVERY mechanic I speak to has said sooner because they have consistently seen these belts go between this window. The water pump is also notorious for breaking because it's cheap plastic. This will save you a lot of $$ on engine repair. My mechanic is replacing it with the newer longer life belt and ceramic water pump.

4. If the coolant light goes off when cold outside, but then is fine when you drive it about 1-mile or let the car idle for 10-minutes then turn off the car and restart, you have a bad sensor. The original sensor is black, it needs to be replaced with a green one. Also, there's a good chance that the coolant reservoir is cracked. I've had this problem since last winter and the dealer's way to solve it was to pour more coolant in the reservoir even though my levels were fine. Well, cold weather came again and it same problem. New mechanic figured it out immediately. Also, apparently the internal sensor on the coolant was dripping on something and messing with my fuel sensor. I have been told that the sensor on the Turbo is extremely sensitive and unprotected. Even hitting something as simple as speed bumps can jostle it over time and cause this problem.

5. To the guy who asked about driving over the curb. I had a similar problem when I hit a HUUUUGE city pothole (like 2-feet deep). I knew there was a problem immediately. I had the struts, etc., replaced up front. Also have them check the axle on that wheel. I discovered that mine was broken.

6. To the poster with the creaking and cranks her radio... Ha, ha! I never notice the creaks when I crank my radio, too! If it's really bad and happens on bumps, you should get your struts and shocks looked at. If it only happens when you take turns, it could be a bushing. You should get that fixed, too. A bushing is a simple fix, but if it goes it could be a bad one. So have them look at it. It might be nothing. However, the Jetta frame is all one piece, so any creaking means something is loose.

7. In terms of slipping transmissions, if you think that your transmission is having problems try doing a fluid flush and filter replacement. At my mechanic this is about $300. Not sure what the dealer will rob you with. If bucking and shifting issues is slight then it just might need a fluid flush. This is not part of the regular VW maintenance because the T fluid is supposed to be good for life. Look into this before rebuilding and replacing. However, you probably have a transmission problem if you're on the highway and the engine is working but you are not accelerating even though you are pressing down on the gas.

8. Poster with the low gas pedal. Check your maintenance records that you had your brake fluid flushed. Should've been done during one of the big services. Also check your brake fluid levels in the reservoir. Your manual will show you where it is under the hood.

That's all I can think of for now. Sorry for the length, but hope it helps someone. I'm sorry about the problems some are having with vehicles that are clearly lemons. But if you have a Jetta that's been put together successfully (!!) with regular maintenance, oil changes, and good care, this is a spiffy car that handles well.

PS: Though I like my Jetta and take good care of it, I would never buy one used. The turbo engine needs to be cared for, and you really don't know how a previous buyer cared for and more importantly drove that car!