Window regulator broke (driver side) while it was raining (the dealer had the balls to ask me to pay for this... I said no and he replaced both sides for free. There is no recall in Canada for the window regulator!)
Coil pack went twice in 1.5 years (every 25 000-30 000km and cost 700$ each time). Happen when it rains because of a cracked coil...
Paint on inside door handles pealing off.
Spark plugs... OK, this is normal, but they are really expensive (+25$/ea x 6cyl= 150$ for the Bosh).
Catalytic Converter (car had only 4 years = 2000$).
Mass air flow sensor (MAF on VR6 cost 250$ to 350$ a lot more than on the 4 cyl. 2.0 at 75$. Even if the part number on the sensor (You have to remove the MAF from the housing... They have the same number; Bosch #: 00C 2G2 032) is the same as the reg 4 cyl. I tried it and it worked well... Google it...). It seems that some dealers ask you to provide a valid VIN number to sell you the MAF 4 cyl!!!
Temperature Sensor ($$$).
Wires of driver side air bag (the one located in the driving wheel). Wires were cut...
Tan interior really nice, but hard to keep clean.
Starter makes funny noise (solenoid stay on for a second after the car has started. Asked the dealer and they said everything is OK???).
Shifter knob decorative metal ring coming off and very sharp (can cut you!).
O2 sensor.
Passenger sun visor mirror switch. Had to change the whole sun visor (140$)...
Driver side sun visor door hinges. Had to change the whole sun visor (135$)...
Driver side heated seat (+400$ installed by me).
Rear cup holders and cigarette holder are broken.
Battery gone at 85 000km.
Power steering hose (the one at the bottom of the engine).
Windshield wiper linkage (wipers would stop suddenly).
CD changer in trunk had to be changed.
Clutch started to make a funny noise when released (Probably clutch bearing, but I am afraid to ask the dealer now $$$).
Head light intensity lowers when idle (related to the alternator???)
This car handles very well. I really love the look of the car (feels rich)!
Unfortunately, because the car is so unreliable I spend my time going to the dealer. And it is so expensive to repair... Now, I am afraid to take the car so something else will break. Even, when I have to go somewhere with somebody else, I try do use his/her car and then split the gas with the driver.
That car cost me at least 6000$ in the past 2 years in repairs (it is 250$ per month)! And I can't afford to continue with this car... So I am selling it right now...
I know what you think, this car is fast and looks good. It's not gonna happen to me... Well, I said myself the same thing and I kept up the "one more repair and it's gonna be fixed" until now...
This car is prone to electrical and mechanical failures. I am really sad VW don't want to fix this car!
Dealer:
So far, I went to two different dealers and I'm not satisfied at all. For example; when the coil pack failed for the second time the dealer said:"It is very rare... Normally, they last longer than that..." Weird? After 10 sec. googling my problem I could find that a lot of people had the same coil problems... All the problems are very commons and they will probably fail multiple times during the time you own the car. Also, don't feel embarrassed if they make you feel like you are alone... You are not!!!
Knowledge is power!!!
You buy a car without researching it, and of all the used cars to go and buy, you get one in the range of years that jettas were the worst. (though I have a 98, but barely any problems at all, looking to turbo its 2.0) You also bought it with a good amount of miles and its obvious to me that someone else had all the same problems and were dumping them on you.
Then you go and bring it back to the dealer repeatedly. You ALWAYS try to stay away from dealers at ALL costs! Only go if its something no one else knows how to do or get.
And you bought 6 plugs for $150? Who told you to buy those? I know people with VR6s that buy the cheaper plugs and their engines run fine.
Great cars, but you have to have the right attitude to own and enjoy one, and you also have to know your way around a car.
You are totally right!!! My previous car was a Honda Civic 1992 (build to last!). Sure, it seems like a long complaint about this car... Don't get me wrong, I really like to drive the car! But I assume VW could have done more to keep me as a customer...
When I bought the car, it was 3 years old with 85000 km on it (that's not a lot!). Concerning the previous owner, he changed a lot of parts too! But, when you change a part for a brand new part from the dealer, you expect that part to be improved (they can fix the problem with that part???) and to last a tad longer than the previous one!
And, yes, I know how to repair cars... But, planned maintenance (at home with all my tools) and been stuck on the highway on a rainy day going to work because the coil pack is failing is a different thing to me (or do I need to bring all my tools and extra parts in the trunk? Yeah what a great idea!)!
Anyway...
It was made in Mexico, enough said about that part. I owned one of these heaps, and that Engine Light came on all the time, causing it to run, but with very little power, and I took it into the dealer "to be fixed", but it still kept coming on, occasionally.
Do people really think that Mexico can produce a car comparable to Japan, or most other Countries, let's be real here?
Many of those posting all that good stuff about Jettas could be paid VW factory PR shills? They must have a huge Public Relations Department just to keep up with that Lemon's numerous problems? I have talked to other Jetta owners and everyone of them was dissatisfied.
You cannot own one car from VW and base your opinion on that. I have 3 MK4 VWs, a 1999 Jetta VR6, 2002 Jetta 1.8T, and a 2003 Golf 2.0. Yes, I did have to replace the coil packs on my 1.8T, and the VR6, but once done with the proper aftermarket part the problem was solved. Not only are these cars better than anything made in Japan, but I am a tunner, and with all the mods I have done, my 1.8T is going on 150,000 miles of constant pushing, with only oil changes, and a trip to the gas station. Show me a car made in Japan that can do this. Also, you said Hondas are 'Built to last', but don't be mistaken, that is actually a Ford quote. So don't be mad, buy another VW and you will see that all will be fine!!!
This is my second comment on a Jetta. I own a VR6 and it is unbeatable!
I drive it hard most of the time and nothing goes wrong!!
Yes I have a check engine light that comes on telling me to change an O2 sensor or even my MAF so what
This car has been with me since 2006. It has 149000kms and it's running great.
It had cost me around 1100 in repairs since I bought it, and these are the parts: 2 front disks, A/C compressor, 2 O2 sensors, 1 MAF, and all the bushings (I guess the last one is normal).
This is not the only car I have owned, and trust me they all need attention.
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