2001 Volkswagen Jetta VR6 from North America - Comments

My 2001 Jetta 1.8T also has had the sensor, falling window, etc., problems. The dealer was very good in addressing these issues when they first came up, and I have not had similar problems again. Other than the crayon smell, I love this car! Ah, but there IS that crayon smell... The rep insists he can't smell it. It has only a been minor nuisance to date, but it is definitely getting worse. So can someone who tried replacing the floor insulation please tell me if that helped?

My 2001 Jetta smells like crayons too. I've also had numerous problems with the vehicle. Do not buy a Volkswagen. Repeat, Do not by a Volkswagen.

I'm told by friends that my 2001 Jetta smells like crayons. The funny thing is that I do not notice it at all. I guess I've gotten used to it over the 5 years that I've owned it! :)

What I do notice however, is that my transmission jumps when changing gears from 2nd to 3rd. The dealership says I need a new transmission or it needs to be rebuilt. Apparently, this is a common problem with VR6 automatic transmissions.

Anyone who is having shifting problems needs to contact Volkswagen 1-800 number. A new transmission may be warranty work. Also, as to the crayon smell, well if you pop the hood remove cover by wiper arms, you will find a cabin air filter, replace this and it should solve the problem.

I thought I'd gotten a lemon until I started reading the responses above. I'll never buy another Jetta (which pains me because it's so darn cute!).

Problems:

My coil went out, conveniently 2 weeks after my warranty went out

My drivers window fell in

My arm console latch broke

My windows go up and down erradically (especially in the back)

My bumper pops off frequently

My paint is peeling off in the front and along the grill

My VW insignia popped out.

I've had to replace my two rear rotors

I've had to replace the Battery (and no, not just at Walmart, as everyone knows here, it's not that easy)

You must go to a dealership to buy your brake pads (new to me)

My engine heat/cold light doesn't know what it's doing.

I love my 01' Jetta, it has been a great car for my wife. My latch is broke in the console (cheap to fix) I work with guys who drive Lexus' and they go through the same thing. I have also had to fix the trunk latch because my mechanic broke it (another cheap fix) and had to replace a couple sensors MAF, Coolant sensor buy a haynes chilton manual and do it yourself, easy to do) It does smell like a crayon a little bit, but we actually kind of like the smell. We have replaced all filters though. I think it's a great car and requires regular maintenance like all cars. I think your fooling yourself if you think these little problems don't exist in other cars.

We have the same odor problem with 2001 Jetta. Request any update/follow-up as to solutions and VW 800 #s to call for possible help. Also would like to join any class-action suit...

Has the replacement of carpet insulation and or cabin filter solved the problem for others?

Thank-you.

I too have had all the same problems on my 2001 Jetta 1.8T standard transmission.

- Bumper panel pulled off

- Cup holders broken

- Center Arm Rest Latch Broken

- Brake light repairs (over and over and over)

- Windows falling down, slipping off tracks

- "Vintage" Crayon Smell

- Peeling interior

- Grills on front bumper panel falling out

- VW logo falling off.

I'm glad to know I don't have to search for Crayons under the seats of my car any longer...

Recently, I was on the freeway when the car rapidly went from 65mph to 0mph. The timing belt fell off... Apparently the gears wound down causing the timing belt to fall off. My car is at 75,000 miles, so it wasn't alarming except for the fact that the belt didn't break, it fell off, and that maintenance on the belt is not supposed to occur until around 90,000. Fortunately, on the 2001 1.8T this is a warranty repair. On subsequent years the warranty expires at 60,000 miles.

I love the way my Jetta grips the road and handles, but I find myself wishing I had my Honda back... I won't be a repeat Volkswagen customer unless we are talking about the parts & service department.

I bought my 2001 Jetta back in September from a private seller, and when I purchased it I remember smelling something different. It wasn't an obnoxious smell or anything, so I figured it was from whatever the previous owner had used to clean the car to sell it. A few weeks later though I noticed the crayon smell and it was getting stronger. I'm thinking the previous owner tried to cover it up when I was test driving it, etc. Well now that it's been 4 months, I'm totally immune to the smell because I am in the car every day. However, every time someone new rides in the car with me they mention the smell. It's really annoying every time someone mentions it because I can't do anything about it! I am SO relieved to know that there are others out there with the same problem. I am so glad I'm not alone, because I have tried just about EVERYTHING (car freshener, paid over $100 to shampoo the carpets and seats, Febreeze, and the list goes on). Anything I would try would work for about 2 days and then it would go back to the crayon smell (although it doesn't bother me). I love my car, but this is just annoying!

I have a 2002 beetle 1.8 t and it also have a pretty strong

crayon smell, but I almost significantly reduce the smell

for up to 80% by removing the sound deadening wax under the

dashboard which is under the carpet,wrapping all the vents

and the firewall. If you want, you can check it by looking under the glove compartment at the end of the carpet you

can see a vinyl like sound deadening material peel that off

or break a piece of it, and smell, it smell like crayon.I'm 110%,mostly at summer time, or the heater is on.the crayon

smell is very strong.Unfortunate my car is out of warranty

I called volkswagen dealer,more than $1000 to remove it.

I have a 2002 beetle 1.8 t and it also have a pretty strong

crayon smell, but I significantly reduce the smell

for up to 80% by removing the sound deadening wax under the

dashboard which is under the carpet,wrapping all the vents

and the firewall. If you want, you can check it by looking under the glove compartment at the end of the carpet you

can see a vinyl like sound deadening material peel that off

or break a piece of it, and smell, it smell like crayon.I'm 110%,mostly at summer time, or the heater is on.the crayon

smell is very strong.Unfortunate my car is out of warranty

I called volkswagen dealer,more than $1000 to remove it.

OK. I feel so much better. Our 2000 beetle smells like crayons (mostly in summer) and so do we when we get out. My husband drives it most and wears a flight suit and I blamed it on his flight suits.

We left our car parked for a year in S.C. (friends drove it often though) and when we got it the smell from the A/C started. I blamed it on the humidity in the south. We have lived in Ohio for 4 years with it and it is worse than ever. It smells like rotten apple cider to me. My eyes burn from it in the summer when the A/C runs. The heater still smells of rotten apples, but not as bad.

I leave the windows down most of the summer in the garage and it helps a wee bit.

I am angry and will call VW. I think this could be a serious health problem. I live in Ohio and if you do here is a number to start:

Law Office.

Email info@ohiolemonlaw.com

Telephone 1-888-331-6422 Toll Free

937-432-9500 Phone

937-432-9503 Fax

888-331-6471 Toll Free Fax.

Some states have strict lemon laws so I am going for it. My daughter is starting to drive this car and she has type 1 Diabetes and I don't need her lungs going crazy on her too.

Thank the lord for these web pages. It is nice to know of these things.

I have suffered through the past 2 1/2 years with my beloved lemon (2001 Jetta VR6). This was the first car I had ever purchased and I wanted it to work out desperately. Unfortunately after numerous trips to AutoZone, O'Reilly's, the dealership and a wonderful little junk yard outside of town, I have decided to trade in this heap.

The car is quick and responsive if you can actually get is started. I have experienced the majority of the interior problems you hear about all the time, but my major disappointment with my car has been the lack of help I get from anyone regarding repairs. The repair manual generally costs over $100 bucks (which is outrageous).

I have taken it to the dealership, asking them why it is sluggish in 2nd and 3rd gear and they said that it was my ignition coil. I replaced the coil myself and there was no change in the drivability. The "100 point" inspection they run for the VR6 doesn't even include checking the transmission (something to do with having to cool the engine down). VW has made it impossible to check transmission fluid without some sort of device from Star Trek, so if you have a transmission problem... good luck to you!

I thought by buying used, I was saving myself a lot of money in interest, but I have paid for that idiocy 10-fold. I have only put 7000 miles on my car in the last year and am still experiencing problem after problem. The lesson here is to just not buy a Jetta... and if you are being forced at gun point to buy a Jetta, don't get the VR6!

2001 Jetta GLS 1.8t. 90k Bought 3 years ago.

Tires: Dealer sold me car with bald tires, claimed the "high performance" ones were just noisy. Coming from a Jeep background, I knew nothing about tires like these. When I blew a tire, the shop told me he wanted to see the other tires off of the car "as soon as possible".

Trans -

Manual, when in neutral it rattles until I press the clutch in. The dealer told me that it will soon die.

Car smells of crayons -

The first comment that everyone makes when they get in. The dealer told me it was the wax sealer used when shipping the car overseas to prevent sea water from entering in.

Hazard light switch -

Replaced twice, my directionals went out on me on the road.

Door Lock Actuators -

Replaced, doors would lock me into the car!The alarm would go off if I tried to get out.

Exhaust System Brackets-

Broke off, muffler was hanging diagonally.

Emergency Brake Cable -

Corroded (!!!)

Fluttering startup noise-

I am told this is the secondary air compressor, but it's bothersome for the plastic/metal fluttering noise all the time.

CAT leaked-

Speed went "by, by" until they discovered the leak, holes in the CAT.

Turbo -

Perhaps because of new exhaust leak, but the turbo spools up at low RPMs, but at full throttle, the turbo grinds. Not a pleasant sound.

Idle-

Intermittently rough, stalled while driving and overheated once. Needed a new sensor of some kind, I've lost track.

NOTHING, but trouble from dealership. Incompetence.

Customer Service-

The two halves of my Key Fob kept coming apart and would constantly fall off my key chain. I wanted them replaced, but instead of replacing the broken parts they put a silver joint ring between the broken part and my key chain. The silver joint is great, but after waiting hours for them to fix my car and finding this, I looked the person incredulously in the eye, and gently pulled the broken key fob off the silver joint ring to show him that his stupid idea of NOT fixing what I asked him to was completely useless. After raising my voice quite loudly, because that was the third thing I took my Jetta in for that DAY that they had gotten totally wrong, I demanded to speak with the manager. I was floored at their incompetence.

The only reason I would ever go back to that dealership is to demand they replace AGAIN a part that is now giving me problems. My CAT.

VW langauge to describe how they treat exams of their pre-owned vehicles:

“Brutal” “Intense On-Lift Examination” “Road test to ensure maximum drivability” “We turn these cars inside out”

NOT hardly.

I love how my Jetta performs, the interior, the handling, the little nuances that show off how well thought out it is in every area, but I hate to think that I will have to trade them ALL for the reliability of a Toyota.

I hope this car will make it past 100k, its at 90k now and things aren't looking good.

ANYBODY WANT TO BUY A JETTA?

AMAZING! Last year I bought my daughter a 1999 Jetta and all this time we thought we had the only lemon that REEKED of "crayon" smell! The odor is horrible...24/7...but in the summertime it is almost unbearable.

I had never thought about the insulation under the carpet, but like everyone else I have shampooed, detailed and even removed the door panels to scrub the yellow grease that had built up inside the doors... to no avail. My daughter's hair and clothes get saturated with the smell. Her friends make comments about the smell and it embarrasses her.

I definitly think VW should correct the problem... but I know they won't. But if the odor is toxic, there could eventually be a lawsuit.

She also has the stinky smell from the AC, but that's not nearly as potent as the crayon smell.

If anyone ever does come up with a solution - other than ripping up the carpet - please post it here.

Thanks.

OC California.