2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS review from North America

* The windows fell into the doors. This became a recall item.

* The brake light switch became faulty, causing the car to remain stuck in Park. This was also a recall item. This happened to me SEVERAL TIMES, even after taking the car to the dealer to fix it under recall!

* The interior started falling apart after only 5 years of ownership. The passenger side airbag came loose, the glove compartment hinges broke, the center console's hinges broke, and the hood's hinge broke.

* The Check Engine light came on several times during the life of the car. The O2 sensors and mass airflow sensors needed to be replaced.

* The front bumper was built too low. Parking the car behind a cement barrier put wear and tear on the bottom of the bumper, and it eventually fell off.

* The fuel economy started to suffer after about 100,000 miles. I can only get about 10-15 miles per gallon now.

* The speedometer quit working! The mechanic where I took the car couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.

* The cupholders were simply plastic extensions built into the front of the dash. They broke within a year of ownership.

When I first bought this car in California, I absolutely fell in love with it. It was very fun to drive and handled the mountain roads very gracefully.

Once I took this car to Texas, however, the heat and humidity did a number on this car. Those who live in Texas notice that there aren't very many Volkswagens on the road, and there is definitely a reason for that. The car started to break down, one problem at a time. First, it was the brakes. After replacing the pads and rotors, the water pump was about to go out. Okay, I replaced that part as well, but now the windows started to fall into the doors, creating a security and rainfall humidity risk. Once that was fixed, the check engine light came on, with the O2 sensors and mass airflow sensors both in need of replacement.

I have had so many recall notices on this car during its life that it's not funny. Volkswagen did not pay particular attention to the quality of this vehicle. I'm glad I got a new car yesterday and that my Jetta is paid off; I can't wait to get rid of this piece of junk. I'll never get a Volkswagen ever again.