2001 Volkswagen Jetta from North America - Comments

I have a 2001 Jetta 1.8T that I purchased in 2003. I have suffered too many problems to count from this vehicle.

First off the interior begins to peel around the handle where you open the door from. The middle arm rest area keeps falling down. The knobs that adjust the mirrors came off completely. The handle to open the hood broke causing me about $100 dollars in repairs. The latch for the trunk also came loose somehow another $100.

Now we get to the exterior. The bumper keeps falling down, I drive this vehicle not my wife and I haven't hit any curbs at all. The lights have a permanent fog over the lens, causing the light to always look dim at night.

Engine wise I don't know where to start!! The EPC light comes off and on regularly. The check engine light stays on, and just recently the ABS light comes on. All of these indicators have not been taken lightly, I took the vehicle in and I was told that they didn't know why the indicator lights kept coming on. On top of all that the recalls for the vehicle caused me a lot of grief before I was aware there was a recall. My family and I got stranded in the parking lot for 3 hours at a medical appointment, because the car would not move out of park. We got that fixed and it went to the next problem. It idles very funny, it accelerates when it wants to, and when I take it in I get charged for a diagnostic only to be told that they couldn't find anything wrong.

VW's suck!! I will never buy another one in my life!!!

Random I got the situation with the indicator lights... no can tell me why they randomly come on- they don't know. also the battery dies randomly once a month or so, but you just put it in park re-start and your off... other than that is fine, I don't even mind that it smells like crayons.

I have a 2001 Jetta GL and have have had it for just over 2 years. The first couple of years it seemed fine, but now it's starting to have problems. In the last 6 months I've had to replace the mass airflow meter, the windshield wiper motor decided to stop working in the middle of a rain storm causing me to get rear ended on the highway (needles to say that had to be replaced). Now the dash flickers causing the the headlights, radio and basically everything else to turn off. The brake, ABS and all other dash lights come on beeping. I can't use my signal lights as it takes away power from the engine causing it to almost stall. I took it in for a diagnostic and they told me it was the battery. Needless to say I replaced the battery and the problem is only getting worse.

The driver side window button is broken, the interior light broke thus causing everything else to shut off including the key less entry, windows etc. Luckily that was only $100 to replace, but none the less.

This car is turning into a nightmare and I have a feeling it's only going to get worse. I'll never ever buy another VW again.

Can someone please tell what the dashboard light flashing is as obviously the dealers don't seem to have a clue.

2000 Jetta 1.8T.

I'm generally happy with the car for comfort, power, size, and appearance. I enjoy driving it when it works. Would only buy another VW product if these problems are addressed.

I have all scheduled maintenance done by a VW dealer.

However I've had the following problems:

Under Warranty - two MAS air flow sensors, one Oxygen sensor replaced. Other stuff replaced (I had two MIL light situations in the first year and immediately took it to the dealership both times. Again, under warranty)

Both front power windows collapsed into door - replaced by recall.

Glove box hinge cracked in two.

Center arm rest falls and clasp is broken

Remote trunk release on key fob doesn't work

Remote trunk release in driver's door doesn't work

Power locks on passenger side don't always go down

Front Passenger door doesn't always open when unlocked.

Front Driver door is now behaving like passenger door.

Interior door handles peeling plastic

Headlights partially fogged over.

ASR kicks in on clean dry roads at 60-65 mph.

When in stop-n-go traffic for over an hour, ABS light comes on and beeps at me. (turning car off and then back on makes it go away).

I'm a senior in highschool and my dad gave him his 2001 VW jetta GL. I'm still in highschool so of course I don't treat the car like it should, and I beat on it a little bit. A burn out here and there, some drifting in the snow.. no big deal. When going about 110 mph I had the check engine light come on. That was an 800 dollar fix. Other than that I haven't been having any problems with my car. I've noticed the peeling by the door handle. I've never noticed the front bumber "falling off". My jetta is stick and it seems that all the problems other people have are with automatic jettas. I'm very satisfied with my jetta and might stick with them my whole life.

2001 2.0 (GLS) Jetta - 116k Miles, Have replaced transmission, brake light switch, ignition coil, passenger power window, repaired engine mount leak. Radio goes into a seek mode and will not lock on a channel. Most dash lights are out. Outside of normal maintenance this is the most costly auto I have owned in 30+ years of driving. I won't buy VW again and would discourage others from buying VW. Sadly disappointed with the entire experience.

As the person who wrote the review, I have recently purchased a 2008 Jetta. I have owned it just over a week and I love it. I once vowed to NEVER own another VW ever again, but I do believe that the problems that the Jetta once had have been completely and fully dealt with. I owned my '01 for 3.5 yrs... how I made it that long, I have no idea! But I can promise everyone who reads this that the Jettas are a much better car purchase now that the kinks have been worked out. Just as another proof, just look how the comments on all of the other year models after about 2003 have gotten smaller and smaller!...Just a thought.

They really do seem to have the kinks worked out of the newer model Jettas. Both my stepfather and my grandmother have Jettas (2007 and 2006, respectively), and neither has had anything negative to say. Of course the same cannot be said for my 2001.

The first thing that I noticed was the rapid and/or non-blinking turn signal, depending on the day. Then, the check engine light came on for no reason. The center display started showing "STOP, check coolant", when there was plenty of coolant.

Next, the lights started staying on in the cabin when I closed the door (as if it was telling me that the door wasn't fully closed, when it was...).

Now, the EPC light has come on and the brake lights will not go off. A friend of mine that is a mechanic seems to think that my electrical system is going out completely. He said that he has seen this multiple times on VW's from year 2001-03.

I bought a used 2001 Jetta, and since I bought it's been a pain in the neck. I have already spent over a $1000 in repairs. Additionally my car also has a terrible smell when I turn on the AC, plus the maintenance light keeps coming on after I have taken it to the mechanic. Honestly, I would not recommend to buy a Jetta unless you are rich and willing to spend thousands of dollars in repairs.