Comments: 1-15, 16-21
You should ask what has *not* gone wrong with car! Engine starting stalling during the first week, brakes failed, automatic transmission slams, brake light went out, keyless entry stopped working after three weeks, dealer kept cargo net and seat pockets (Apparently this is common: they take them off new cars and put them on the used cars to entice customers. New car buyers fail to notice.), plastic dashboard parts cracking, engine light comes on periodically (service guys say they haven't seen it), been in the shop 37 out of 94 days of ownership.
First, don't buy a Volkswagen.
Second, if you feel you *must* buy a Volkswagen, do not use Charles Maund in Austin, Texas. My wife and I live half way between Dallas and Austin, and choosing to buy from Charles Maund was a huge mistake. Their service technicians don't have a clue and they *never* have parts. My wife's 2002 Passat sat in the shop for three weeks while they waited on parts. This happened during at ten days of ownership. Whenever I want to yell at them, some other angry customer steps up to yell about a bigger problem than I'm having, so I keep my mouth shut.
Volkswagen should shut down completely until they get their act together, learn how to make cars, and learn how to treat customers. It's simply not acceptable.
My wife and I are going to dump our VWs as soon as we can find some broker dense enough to buy them. After that, I'll go back to Acura. She wants a Saturn L300 because she knows she'll always get excellent service from Saturn.
Again, anyone considering buying a Volkswagen, please *do your research* and read what buyers are saying. I didn't, and it has become the most expensive nightmare I've ever owned.
You have no clue. Go to Saturn, GM junk...you will regret it.
I bought two Jettas in 1999 and I'm happy with them. For the money, they're the best combination of fun and safety in that price range. Yes, there are some reliability issues, but VW has stood behind their product (my personal experience). I recommend the Jetta to drivers who want an affordable sporty sedan.
I do have to agree that the Charles Maund VW dealership deserves its poor reputation. If you're shopping in Central Texas, try Hewlett in Georgetown, north of Austin, or Rod East in San Antonio.
I have to agree with "Jetta from Hell." I've only had my '02 1.8T for a little over a year and it's brought nothing but headaches. It's great to drive when it works, and I love how it looks... but after 5 trips to the shop for ignition coils before VW decided to issue recall, three loaner cars, having my Jetta taken away on a flatbed from my driveway...plastic/leather around shifter that is cracking, faded/worn velour seats and armrest... loose windows and sunroof (can't believe I'm not swimming inside the car with all the east coast rain lately) and a third Monsoon stereo to blow out for no reason b/c of electrical problems, I'm leaning towards the lemon law or Honda/Acura..whichever comes first. I'd never recommend a Jetta!
My experience is the same, but so are many others that have purchased these LEMONS. Buyers beware! Seeking legal advice today, to the point of not having any issue of taking on even more debt with this hunk of junk, to make a statement with VW. Talk about being taking advantage of. Just wish there were more victims willing to take a stand. Hats off to those that have... thank you.
Well, I fell for it. I bought a 2003 Jetta from Charles Maund only to find out that everyone I have talked to that has bought one there has had issues with their service department. I have heard that they have terrible customer service and now guess what? My two month old Jetta is sitting in my driveway with Malfunction Indicator Lamp on after it died yesterday when I turned it on. Now I am thinking I will take it to Hewlett in Georgetown for service. However when I called them and told them I need a car to get around while they work on it they said that it is against Volkswagens policy to loan me a car for this issue. I am between a rock and a hard place and don't know what to do or which way to turn. I don't even deserve to worry about ANY car issues at all. I have only made two payments on it! I should have stuck with Honda. I had a Civic that never had a problem with it for 8 years! I wouldn't recommend buying a Volkswagen!! After reading all of these reviews, a little too late I might add, I am worried that this is just the beginning of a long headache of car problems!
In September of 2001, I bought a 2001 VW Jetta Diesel and have had nothing, but trouble since my first maintenance check. It was great for the first 13,000 kms and it's been all downhill since then. I would like to read comments from owners of 2001 VW Diesel Jettas as my car has spent a great deal of this past year in the garage. The car has been in several times for the same problem which they have yet to fix.
The Glow Plug Light flashes and the Engine light comes on solid. Shortly after, the car starts bucking and rattling with black smoke towering out of it. Within this past month they have put in two fuel injection pumps, but OOPS the car is still the same. Now then, on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth (who's counting) tow job, they do something with some wires and some sensor connected with the fuel pump. I pick up my car and NOW IT'S FIXED FOR SURE. I get in my car and GUESS WHAT? My newly repaired car has glo plug light flashing and engine light on solid. Service dept. told me to drive it home and bring it in again in the morning if it acts up on the way home. By the time I reach home, black smoke is towering out of it again. So tomorrow am I have to bring my wonderful Jetta back for servicing (needs to go somewhere else, but noone else wants it)
I'm looking for some suggestions as to what I can do before I consider the legal route. Someone needs to get to Volkswagon VIPs because they obviously can't know how their customers are being treated or certainly they would help.
I paid $2,000 for an extended warranty which has a lot of major flaws. Call them and the response I got, after someone answered the phone was "AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO MAME? HELP HELP.
A *** History of my 2000 Jetta TDI.
First 10,000 mile, loss of power, engine light comes identified glow plugs as the culprit. Not under warranty. Numerous letters to VW office--one to Germany to ask how glow plugs can effect torque??--since they would not change glow plugs. Changed glow plugs, but made no difference. Three times in to dealership (Albuquerque on has one "University VW") and they identify problem as airflow meter.
Changed windshield, they cracked rain drain. Took car in twice to get rain drain repaired.
Brake light on. Take car three times before changing the servo (pin hole air leak). Light comes back on after six months stop going to dealership.
Radio antennae caught in my frozen garage door cost to replace $400!!! Drive "Monsoon" stereo system without antennae.
Engine light always on, and brake light intermittent.
Hazard warning light switch starts switching on and off distressing the driver behind me. Changed unit.
Back brake worn down to rivets, took it in to dealership was told that my wife must be driving with handbrake on (impossible because of the audio warning sound). Told wife, slept on sofa for three days. Changed brake pads every 15,000, stay away from sofa.
Wife hears funny noise. I secure the sound proofing with more screws. Noise still there. Take it to another garage. Engine fell out of its mounting while I was showing mechanic how the noise starts. Engine falls to the floor of the engine bay. Dealership has extended specialized bolts in stock???
New Michelin Pilot tires again (third time on 68,000).
Battery died (no one sells these, had to go to dealership).
Overheats stops on interstate. No one sells coolant, but dealership. Change hoses, clamps, and thermostat, found that no water going through lower hose pipe. Dealership finds loss clamp tries to give car back. I am getting an old hand at this. They can keep this piece of **** I am buying a Toyota.
I own a Saturn that I bought about six years ago. It is fun to drive gets great mileage and has had no problems. It is however, underpowered and the interior is cheaper looking. Many improvements have been made since. My sister-in-law has a newer one and loves it. I still find it underpowered. Please note that it is a woman complaining about the power not a man.
Hello.
I was considering a Passat, until I decided it was out of my price range. Then I thought perhaps a Jetta, but I keep hearing horror stories! I live near Charles Maund in Austin and test drove a Passat there. I have gotten quotes from them and Hewlett VW in Georgetown. I am originally from Georgetown - this dealership gave me better price quotes. My question is - should I buy a Jetta or an Altima?
I have a 2002 Jetta, and I've had no problems whatsoever. I read driver contributions daily on vwvortex. com and other forums, and I have to say I'm amazed to hear all of the horror stories on this site.
This guy types, "You should ask what has *not* gone wrong with car! Engine starting stalling during the first week, brakes failed, automatic transmission slams, brake light went out, keyless entry stopped working after three weeks,... plastic dashboard parts cracking, engine light comes on periodically (service guys say they haven't seen it), been in the shop 37 out of 94 days of ownership."
How did ALL this go wrong in three months? It sounds like someone took all my experiences, and the experiences I've heard/read about, and decided to create their own completely opposite story.
Sorry you aren't as thrilled as I am. Hondas are very dependable.
To the person who posted "The Glow Plug Light flashes and the Engine light comes on solid..."
First, take it in for a brake light switch replacement. Should be a warranty item. No kidding, that'll fix the glow plug/CEL issue. Have had good reports on Hewlett VW for sales/service.
Also, TDI owners should live and breathe at www.tdiclub.com. It is the premier site for everything TDI and VW.
Honest.
Mark.
Same thing happened to me. I took my car in with the Glow plug warning blinking, asked Charles Maund to change the brake light switch and in 70 minutes...voila! Everything was back to normal.
I have 90K on my 2000 TDI GLS and I have not had a single major problem.
I bought a 2001 Jetta from Charles Maund in Austin, Tx in Jan. 2001. While I have had more luck than many, I have had more problems with this car and this dealership than I have with any other EVER. At almost 24K miles (when the bumper to bumper warranty ended) my driver side window fell into the door and I had to leave my car open to whomever would like to dig around in it for a few days until their service dept. (they should change it to non-service dept) could see me. Then they had the nerve to try and weasel out of fixing it because by the time they could see me days later, my odometer was at 24,011 miles! I had to fight for them to fix a problem that I am finding is quite common with the Jetta, because the window is set with plastic pins.
Another issue: the front bumper ground effects are so low and poorly put together that they catch on your average height parking stops - you don't hear it when you pull in b/c of the design of the bottom, but you sure hear it when you pull out, an pull off the ground effects and bumper. They wanted $300ish dollar to fix it and the mechanic at charles Maund told me they get 8-10 cars a week that they fix with this problem ($$$money maker for them).
I decided to have someone else fix it the third time it fell off (six weeks later) and he discovered that all they did to hold it up was to insert a stripped plastic screw into a hole. This is not fixing the problem and is not worth hundreds of dollars in repairs.
The plastic covering on my armrest and door is peeling off and looks horrible - began at about 26,000 miles. I've never had another car do this. The sunroof catches and a piece of long plastic fell into my lap as I was driving and opened it. Have no idea what it is or why it came out. Now I'm afraid to open it again - afraid it won't close!
Yet another issue - I was in an accident and my car was towed to the dealership (big mistake). When I came to pick up my car I had to pay them my $500 deductible and THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT A CREDIT CARD FOR PAYMENT! They accept credit cards on their dealership floor, but not for my repairs. They wanted CASH. They said that they would hold my car until I got it for them. I had to go to an ATM and get some of the money and had to throw a FIT for them to put a portion of it on a credit card.
Lastly, just had my tires changed for the first time. When the tire shop put on the wheels afterwards, the flimsy glue that holds on the VW medallion came loose on two of the wheels. I lost one somewhere on the street and once home, immediatly noticed. I went around to the others, lightly touched one and it fell into my hand. It seems that the VW Jetta is put together with plastic parts and few dabs of glue.
I will not make this buying decision again. Hope this is helpful to anyone looking to buy a VW or use the dealership mentioned above.
'03 JETTA TDI with 38k. Monsoon Stereo is crackling, center armrest broke and the interior panels seem to rattle a lot. Overall not that bad of a car though. Hard to beat 50 miles per gallon on the highway since I do long commutes.
I bought a 2002 VW Jetta 1.8T and I love it!! I must have gotten lucky because I really have not had any troubles with it. I did take it back in for one thing and Byers Import came out and picked up the car and couldn't have been any nicer to me about it. I love my Jetta and we are looking into purchasing another one for my Fiance. The car has 53,000 miles on it and running great! Anyone I have talked to in the Columbus Ohio area that owns a Jetta loves theirs and has bought more than one. I guess I am lucky and got a nice car that I love to drive!