Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-105, 106-120
I have a used 2001 black VW jetta. Every time someone gets into my car they say, "Do you smell that? Like crayons?" My response is, "It's always been like that." This is my very first car and I am holy in love with it. Yes, things do go wrong, but isn't that the same with all cars? My list of problems include:
-check engine sensor always lit
-front arm rest broken
-"crayon like" smell from comments of friends (I don't notice it anymore)
-broken glove box (It would not open with the key, so my dad and I had to screw it off and now the door sits in my trunk)
-various pieces that have broken off (also in my trunk)
-front hood has to be slammed down to close (when we first drove the car, the hood kept popping up)
I must say though, I have been in a total of 10 accidents with this car (I have hit someone once, been hit 8 times, and have had a mishap with a mailbox :}) and it's been a trooper:
-the back end has been replaced 3 times
-the front bumper ripped off
-the passenger side door was bent back the other way and would not open all the way unless you really pulled hard, then there would be a grating noise against the fender
-the door behind the driver's side was dented in by a chrysler Pacifica backing out into the door
-the side view mirror is popped off (the wire was still attached, so my boyfriend and I put it back on with duck tape)
As you can see, I have put my little black jetta through hell and back. The reasons my parents got the jetta for me (they got the loan and I am currently paying it back) is because my older sister had a 2003 jetta before me. She wrecked with a 18-wheeler truck and came out of the crash with a scratched up wrist. It's an incredibly safe car with excellant gas mileage (I only have to fill up my car every two weeks, if even that).
Through all this, I still adore my jetta. Right now I am working to fix the dented side door and perhaps, in the near distant future, attach a rear wing spoiler. The jetta is not a bad car at all, and I would definitely make a purchase again from VW.
My family named my Jetta "Crayola". I wonder why? Has anyone come up with an easier solution that ripping out the carpet? Has anyone had any luck with Volkswagon fixing this problem? If enough people complain they will start an open campaign on the vehicle & will recall this issue. Please call VW & report the problem. 800 822 8987.
Hey, I have a 2001 Jetta GLS I bought used (cloth seats). I was just searching for info about the crayon smell and I found this thread. I had a conversation today with a friend about the smell, and I actually don't mind it that much. I have to admit I am getting a little concerned with hearing all these reports about it nauseating poeple and stuff, but no one I have driven with has ever complained of being sick from it and neither have I. I've heard wax sealant, carpeting, and insulation... Someone please get the answer, and maybe even a solution, interesting to hear all the dealerships deny it, maybe they were instructed to do so? Its not like they wouldnt notice it.
Thanks everyone I will save my money for a Honda. The wax smell is wax, it is used to prevent rust. The smell is classic of German automobiles. I worked in a collision shop for many years and have seen the wax.
I bought my daughter a 2001 VW Jetta GLX last year from a private seller. We checked the history report, all was well although this person had only had the car 7 months. When asked why, he related some story about how his kids didn't deserve the car and since he did not need a second car, he was selling it. The smell was not there when we took the test drive, and looking back, we realized it just smelled too good. He had the car running and did not turn it off when we walked over to look at it. The crayola smell started about a week after we bought the car. The smell is horrible, overpowering and gets worse when the windows are up and the air is on. People hate to ride with her because of this. The front bumper has fallen off twice and we replaced the brake switch ourselves, not realizing this was a recall. The car uses antifreeze continuously although there is no leak. It smells like burning antifreeze all of the time too. It is a BEAUTIFUL little car, very sporty and very nice styling. However, that smell is not worth it and we will now GET RID of this piece of junk and move on to a Toyota. We will be doing extensive research into what ever we decide to buy next (not just the history report either!). Thank you all for your comments, forums like this are badly needed.
I have had several of the same problems with my 2001 Jetta, but I don't think they're so bad I would NEVER buy a VW again. I think the gas mileage and drive-ability of the car as a whole certainly outweigh the problems I have had. Which were: the brake lights wouldn't go off (factory recall), passenger window fell down into the door which sheared the door latch (replaced @ my expense @ dealership), arm rest broken, leaks after hard constant rain in the front driver's side, trunk latch went bad, & of course the smell of crayons which doesn't really bother me now. It has about 65,000 miles and I Love My Jetta! I may move up to a Passat my next time around, or a Touareg(spelling?)
Just a question I just bought my 2001 Jetta. And the Emmissions light came on. Just wondering what the cost is to get it fixed not threw VW, but private or if I should fix it myself. if it is easy to do it that way. Also I have no issues... it needs some things normal wear and tear. Also I have all the connections for the 6 disc cd changer in the truck, but the guy who I bought it from had taken it out can I replace it with just any 6 disc cd changer as long as the connections are the same?
Thank You Guys.
I have owned my 2001 Jetta 1.8T for about nine months. My wife and daughter have made fun of the crayon smell since I bought the car. I really don't mind it myself, but it is annoying that everyone else complains about it. I also have most of the problems on everyone's hit list: peeling finish on interior, front bumper paint peeling (looks like you drove behind someone too closely down a 10 mile gravel road), glove box hinge broke, center console lid hinges broke. I have 105,000 miles on the car and now the mechanical problems are here: power steering pump went out, starter needs to be replaced (grinding noise when the car is started 9 out of 10 times) and a rattling noise when the car is idling that goes away if you push the clutch in. I love the look of this car and it is fun to drive. I really want to keep it, but I am afraid of the windows falling down in the doors, the front bumper falling off, etc. I guess I will get rid of it soon.
Thanks to everyone who has posted to this thread. It's nice to know that mine isn't the only "crayon car".
I just went to a service station who was selling a 2001 Jetta. After reading every comment on this website, I was ready to get a whiff of the "crayon" smell. Well... the moment I opened the door I noticed the smell. The sales person said that it was because of the heat and being closed up. I did not believe this.
Drove it anyway and it did handle great! It took turns nicely and drove fine. However, there were a few minor things which bugged me: The tilt wheel mechanism was horrible and would not go higher than I had liked it to, and the passenger side window was very difficult to roll up and down. I suspect it was because of the recall stated in previous posts.
After only being in the car for 20 minutes, my hands, cloths and hair smelled like crayons. If all 2001 Jettas have this smell, then I would stay away! However, maybe older or even newer Jettas won't have that smell.
My wife has an 01' beetle and it reeks of crayons. She absolutely hates it. We have had the interior completely steam cleaned and then shampooed with only a slit change... for about a week. We have replaced the ac (dealer ship said it may be that). I took off the entire front dash board and that changed nothing. Not sure what it is at this point. Previous threads say it is a plastic coating or insulation, but I would think the dealer would know what it is instead of saying it could be the ac and nothing happens. I have made a complaint to the dealership and they reimbursed me for the cost of replacing a perfectly good ac unit based on their recommendations.
If you can handle the smell good for you, but other wise this car is a rip off and their dealerships are rip offs as well.
WOW I couldn't believe everything I saw on this message board! I have a 2001 Jetta 1.8T and have similar problems as those listed above!
1. interior paint chipping
2. arm rest broke
3. just had to replace alternator 500.00!!!
4. had brake light switch replaced
5. weird rattling noise from muffler
6. when I start it in the morning it seems to want to shut down and rattles and when I put it in reverse, it sometimes dies or the brakes stop working (what causes this?)
7. leak in front passenger seat when it rains hard (dealer claimed they fixed it twice and when it poured, I thought it was fixed until I lifted up the mat and mold was growing!!!)
8. the horrendous smell of CRAYONS!!!
Okay, so I'm not crazy! I'm searching for a new (used) car and settled in to find just the right 2001 Jetta. I *chose* the 2001 because Consumer Reports listed the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005 models on their "Worst Used Car" List. I've always wanted a Jetta and thought this was my big chance.
The first 2001 Jetta I looked at had such a strong musty smell that I couldn't wait to get out of it. The second smelled worse, at first I thought because of an air freshener hanging on the turn signal lever, but then realized it was a combination of the air freshener and the same musty smell. Today I drove my 3rd (and sadly final) 2001 and wow, this car had been kept up *well* and the musty smell was even worse. Crayons? Sure, I could call it that. But whatever you call it, I can see how it would stick to everything, clothes, hair... you name it.
None of the owners whose cars I test drove acknowledged it. I'm so grateful to find I'm not the only one who noticed it - and super grateful I didn't buy any of these cars hoping it would go away!
I bought my 2001 Jetta new and noticed the "crayon" smell after about 6 months. It has gotten progressively worse over the years. Everyone that gets in my car says, "Hey, did you know your car smells like crayons?" Ummm...yeah, it's hard to miss. Sometimes I can smell it outside of the car if it's really hot, and if I've been in my car for awhile the smell clings to my clothes and hair. It drives me nuts. Other than the smell I have loved my Jetta. The only problems I've had are: mass air flow sensor (warranty), brake lights (warranty), and peeling paint in the interior. I wish there was some cheap way to get rid of the crayon smell, but there isn't. Putting baking soda in the carpet and vacuuming a lot seems to diminish it slightly. Air fresheners don't really help. You end up with Strawberry or coconut flavored crayons.
I purchased a new 2001 jetta and I have never seen such a lemon:
1- Break pad came off a damage disk -rear right tire
2- Ignition coil had to be replace
3- Both front windows fell off
4- Front bumper keeps coming off
5- cup holders broken
6- AC had electrical problem
7- Transmission jitter
8- Two Water leakages (go to the parts department and they will explain what parts you need)
9- smell of car and AC
10- sprig coil under front Passenger seat came out (i.e. it sounded like an small explosion)
11 – the list goes on
12 Don’t buy VW.
I have had my 2001 VW Jetta VR6 for about 3 years, and the problems are all over the place. I have had the horrible crayon smell like everyone else, replaced the alternator (about $1,000), my driver side window is no longer on track and falls into the door, my front bumper is coming off, my hood release broke, I use what seems like as much coolant as I do gas, my center console is broke, I have put way to much money into the car. Also, the VR6 gets horrible gas mileage, the engine is loud, the check engine light never goes off, I have had the recall for the brake lights (which I found out when I was pulled over for it), you can't hardly replace any of the headlights or brake lights yourself and then the dealership wants to charge you an arm and a leg to replace it, half of the oil change places don't have the right tool to change the oil and the oil filter costs about 3 times a normal one. I would not suggest to anyone that the get a Jetta, I know when I can get rid of this car I am going straight to either Honda or Saturn and getting a reliable one.