1998 Volkswagen Jetta GL review from North America
"A car fit to be set on fire and rolled off a cliff"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Mass air flow sensor went out at 50,000 miles. Very expensive.
Bottom of rear driver side door starting to rust.
Annoying rattle sounds started shortly after I purchased.
Plug wires were replaced at 55,000 miles. Also very expensive.
Ignition coils had to be replaced at 75,000 miles. Again, very expensive.
It's hard to find a mechanic to work on it.
Trim started falling off shortly after I got it.
Gas tank had problems reading the correct fuel level, but the problem went away.
Reflectors beneath headlights pop out easily.
Rough idle.
Other normal wear and tear. Tires, brakes, plugs, rotor and cap.
General comments?
Turning on the air conditioning really affects power.
I usually took the car to a Volkswagen dealer to fix it, but repairs were always expensive and problems started again shortly after I got it back.
The car looks good.
Very nice, spacious interior and big trunk.
There is still a problem I have yet to fix. It is either the constant velocity joints or the reverse idle gear and it makes a loud ticking sound in reverse. Volkswagen said it would cost $900 to repair.
Recommended reviews
| I will NOT buy another VW, as tempted as i will surely be. |
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| You made me love you and then you slowly tore me down |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 Liter Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 43000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 81000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Tempo |
| Date of Entry | 7th June, 2004 |