2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS from North America - Comments

VW no longer means quality and I will NEVER buy another one. But if you don't believe me, read on. I’ve never kept a log, but now I’m going to after this car (best guesses on costs and mileage).

• Cheap, cheap, cheap (did I mention cheap) brakes. <cost me - $500 at 30K, gonna have to do everything again, costing me $1200 - and I drive with the clutch).

• Laughable, poor electrical system (the headlights dim when you open/close a window) <didn’t fix>

• Cheap wiper blades – replaced at 5K

• Floor mats keep popping off mounts

• Cheap drivetrain - tires, shocks, struts. <Tires cost me - $450, shocks and struts if I do ‘em - $1000-$1100)

• Poor fuel system (entirely rebuilt at 70K) <cost me - $900> Still runs rough or has problems starting sometimes.

• Glove compartment broke <didn’t fix – would have cost $200>

• Mirror switch broke off <Cost me - $35>

• Catalytic convert broke <Cost me - $500> (started with a light rattle at 60K and just got progressively worse)

• Center arm rest broke <didn’t fix – cost was $150)

• Mass air flow sensor replaced <cost me - $150> also had the O2 replaced, think that ran me like $50. You can expect to do this every 1/2 year or so.

• AC needs recharging almost every year <at $150 a pop, I use it sparingly>

• Front Driver door rattles - <lived with it since I’ve heard of too many failures of people trying to get it fixed>

• Check engine light is on so often that I’ve given up trying to make it go off (waiting for it to burn out).

• Back lights (brake, driving, and turn) cheap, all died before 50,000. Too bad the check engine light isn't cheap.

• Front grill pops off and I have to snap it back on every now and then.

• The front door locks stick sometimes (so the car doesn’t lock)

• Rear cup holder broke (we’ve used it maybe 3 times!)

• Various squeaks and rattles too annoying to find/fix/pay for

• It's a pain to keep clean.

So…

After 5 years of ownership (loan, costs, insurance, repairs) – almost $40,000. Here's how it breaks down:

Above and beyond needed repairs: +$3000

Additional, would be nice to have, repairs - +$2500.

Yearly costs – $7310, which break down to:

Payments - $392.50 monthy, $4710 yearly

Gas – 600 gal @ $2.15 per - ~$1300

Insurance - $800 a year

Oil changes, tune-ups and misc wear and tear per year - $500.

What I’m waiting for to fail next:

• Transmission

• Fuel system (it’s running rough again)

• Windows.

Good points –

• Looks good

• Stereo is loud (hides the squeaks and rattles)

• 34 MPG.

It used to be fun to drive, now I’m just waiting for the next big bill.

Dude...where did you get this car, in a junk yard. I have a 2000 GLS and it is a great car and I drive it pretty hard. This is my 4th Jetta. I had a 1999 a 2002 and also a 2003. Never had any problems. You sure you aren't making this stuff up?

I have had almost all the problems you have had except the fuel system. I can tell you though that the transmission is next! Mine just died on me and Volkswagen is only offering to pay for 50% off parts cost and the dealer is offering 20% off labour. That still leaves me with a $3100CAD bill! I had problems with the transmission in my first year and they had to replace the valve body and it didn't change a thing. It would still jump into first gear. My next car will be a Japanese one. I am currently taking a Quality Management course and all the Japanese car makers are in my text over and over and over again as examples of exceptional, award-winning quality. Good luck!

VW's SUCK! And their service center sucks even more! I've had a Tune up there and brake pads put on. All of a sudden a day later my whole dash is trembling when I brake, then a few days later my car wouldn't start! I brought it back to VW cause I'm positive they screwed it up. They tell me my alternator is dead and to replace it's 850! Then I asked about the trembling, first the guy says, it's because you have 3 different types of tires on the car, I was like NO I've had those for 3 years! then he says well it could be the because of electrical problem. Then after having the manager have them look into it further, he comes back and tells me yes your alternator is dead... and the trembling on the dash is not that bad it could be dealt with! I was like I'm not dealing with that! Then he says it's the rotors! I was like didn't you see this when the brakes were done a week ago!!! so it was like one excuse to another... ANYWAY I took my car right out of there and took it to a REAL mechanic, ended up paying 500 for the alternator instead of 800 and didn't need rotors after all. The car is just falling apart after 5 years... and VW service screws it up even more after fixing one thing, they screw up another.

Never buy a VW again!

I have had many of the same problems. I have replaced the transmission, then was told 2 years later, oops it was something else and that needs to be replaced, I have spent a great deal of money on this car and indeed it is a lemon. I bought mine new and will never buy a VW again. I thought it was just my car that was so troublesome, because my cousin has a VW and has had none of the problems that I have had. She has a 4cylinder though (not the V6). I am very disappointed in german engineering as a result of this car.

I have had almost all the same problems with my 2000 Jetta. I got it brand new in '99 with 3 miles on it.

It ran good for the first year or so, and then things started to... break. I am still driving this piece of crap around and it's quite embarrassing. Almost everything inside of the car is broken (cup holders, glove box, window rollers, etc.)

It takes two people to pop the hood, which used to be a beautiful shiny black.. and is now a chalky gray.

We had to bust the gas door because the electrical system completely crapped out.

My grille flew off driving down the road, along with probably half a dozen hubcaps through the years.

My check engine light has been on for as long as I can remember, and no one can make it stay off.

Everything under the hood has been replaced AT LEAST once.

I used to get 34 mpg... these days it's more like 15.

My A/C went about 2 years ago, but hey, thank god the heat still works fine being that I live in Florida.

And the most recent problem... the locks are all screwed up and when they automatically lock at 5 mph... the alarm goes off and I either have to pull over and turn the car off, or I can drive for 5 minutes or so until it will go off by itself.

Oh and I can't forget about the black "goo" that leaks from the bottoms of the doors.

You can't take this car to be fixed anywhere but the dealership, because everything is made so that you need a "special" tool or part to fix the simplest of problems. And the VW dealerships I've experienced have just been freakin scam artists.

DON'T BUY A VW!