2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 from North America - Comments

I brought a 01 Jetta 1.8 T.

The first couple days everything was fine. The third day the car ran hot and the temp gage went from 190 to 240. We immediately took the car to the car shop and they took it in right away. Then, it was driving up the street and the car completely malfunctioned and shut-down. The car salesman came and helped us, it took forever to get to their shop. They diagnosed it was the alternator went bad. This was at 80,000.

Next we get the car back, and were driving it home and the check engine light comes on. We call to take it back to the shop and the salesperson tells us it's normal and that they can still hook it up to the machine. This immediately told me he knew about the problems before we bought the car.

Oh, and every time we call, he says I'm a mechanic, I know what this problem is.. Well if he was a mechanic, all this stuff would have been fixed and I should have waited on the purchase of this car.

But, really, I grew up around VW and they really belong to people who can fix them. Since they require constant maintenance. The dealership completely paid for everything thus far.

So back to the check engine light... we called about that and are bringing it in for a diagnostic check free of charge to see what the problem is.

I have noticed a faint crayon smell. But, it's not overwhelming. But, I find it crazy that VW does not recall all theses issues. Since, I'm a first time VW owner and bought a used car, I'm wondering should I take it to a VW dealer to see if anything is covered or recall without getting ripped off. Any suggestions? Since I will have my Jetta for the long haul. Thanks!

I just bought a 2002 Jetta GLS. I had felt very strong crayon smell, but we knew the previous owners had babies, and we know the car had been sitting in the sun for months in the a desert city. We thought a full detail would get rid of it, but it didn't. It's funny the detail guy said "Jetta's do smell like that". This is what prompted me to start researching this. Another funny fact is I did find 3 crayons under back seat, but they didn't really appeared to match the smell or to be actively emitting that much crayon smell.

Clearly there is a factory issue. I too wonder why VW has not recalled this. I too wonder why people has not gotten together to take the battle to VW. I too wonder what the level of toxicity of this smell.

There is one other forum where this person "needhelphp" says he isolated the problem to specific sound isolation under the floor, under the center console. There is however no follow up on whether removing that was highly successful.

I've changed both air filters, including putting one that has charcoal parts to remove odors (STP).

Also put inside a charcoal solid (looks like a piece of soap) odor absorbing paste.

Smell has certainly reduced, but it is clearly there and yes it does stick to your hair and cloths.

Any help on resolving this issue for the good of many Volkswagen owners is much appreciated. Thank you.

Wow. I have been considering buying a used 01 Jetta with 129,000 kms. Now I'm reconsidering. All my friends have VW's, and swear by them. I've never heard of a crayon smell? So, if you VW buffs can give me a bit of advice, please help. Do you think an 01 Jetta, power everything, 129,000 kms is worth a $8500 price tag? Apparently the only reason they are selling is because they need a family-sized vehicle.

I just am adding my $.02, I came to this forum because my friend's 2002ish Jetta REEKS so bad, I can barely stand to drive with him. Smells acrid, maybe crayon-like, but much worse than any crayon I've ever smelled. I asked him about it, and he said they had tried to remove it unsuccessfully. I had a Jetta in the 90's, and it had beeswax or something on the inside of the doors and such, but it never smelled, even in the hot summer sun. I really loved that car.

What prompted me to check it out was last night my parents visited in their '01 Jetta TDI, and I sat in it and smelled the exact same smell as my friend's car! Not as bad, but still not nice at all. That's the first time it dawned on me that it might be endemic to all VWs of that era.

Pretty crappy! I would never take a chance on a car like that, even though I alway have liked the Jetta.

When people say it's on the inside of doors, do they mean the door panels? Does anyone have a step by step guide to what needs to be cleaned?

The smell is driving my wife insane!!!