1996 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

THE DOOR MOULDINGS REPEATED FALL OFF THE DOOR--DEFECTIVE ADHESIVE. TO DATE, NO ONE WAS HIT BY THE EXPELLED MOULDING. *AK

DRIVING FOR 1/4 MILE AT ABOUT 20 MPH - STRONG BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FROM UNDER DASH BOARD - PULLED OVER - TURNED CAR OFF - TRIED TO START CAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT NO ELECTRICITY AT ALL (COMPLETELY DEAD). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUSLY INCIDENT ON A CONJESTED HIGHWAY.

THE MULTI-SHIFT SWITCH THAT CHANGES THE GEARS AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT 60 MPH, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE 3RD GEAR, CAUSING A POWERFUL DOWNSHIFT IN THE SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

TWO WIRES OF THE REAR DEFROSTER DO NOT WORK WHICH OBSTRUCTS VIEW--AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CLICKS LOUDLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS--RADIO/CASSETTE PLAYER BECOMES EXTREMELY HOT WHILE DRIVING--WHEELS MAKE FUNNY VIBRATING NOISE AT CERTAIN SPEEDS--PAINT JOB ON BODY OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN SCRATCHING AND PEELING EASILY

DURING EXTREME PERIODS OF COLD TEMPERATURES FOR MORE THEN 24 HOURS MOISTURE TENDS TO BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE CAUSING TAN CREAMY FOAMY BUILD UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE VALVE COVER, ON THE DIPSICK AND IN THE OIL PAN. THIS COULD CAUSE AN OWNER TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR VALVE COVER. LEFT A MESSAGE THAT I MIGHT HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET FOR GENE LANGAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON A SATURDAY. TO THIS DAY 1/3/98 THEY STILL HAVE NOT RETURNED MY PHONE CALL. AFTER LEAVING A MESSAGE, I DID CALL BACK AND SPEAK WITH A SALESMAN WHO TOLD ME TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO GLASTONBURY. MY FATHER IN LAW IS A MECHANIC AND HE KNEW OF THE PROBLEM WIH MOISTURE IN THE ENGINE AND PROPERLY DRAINED THE OIL AND FLUSHED THE ENGINE RIDDING IT OF ANY EXCESS MOISTURE. IF I WAITED FOR THE DEALER TO CALL ME, I OULD HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET DRIVING AROUND WITH THE CRAP IN Y ENGINE OR I WOULD HAVE ONE HELL OF A RENTAL BILL. ALSO IF MY CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED GENE LANGAN SHOULD HAVE TOWED IT SEEING THAT VW HAS A 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND I ONLY HAD 50880 MILES!

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY GRIND AND SQUEAK, AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, HOOD LATCH NEEDS TO BE FIXED DUE TO THE HOOD FLYING UP WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD BLIND THE CONSUMER. *AK

RECALL 98V160000/ CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR THREE MONTHS, PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT HOOD LATCH OR BOLTS UNTIL PARTS ARE IN. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN BY CAR TO HAVE THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW FIXED TWICE, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW ONCE, TAILPIPE FELL OFF WITH NO WARNING, NOW FRONT LEFT WINDOW IS BROKEN, DEALER SAID THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE IS THAT WE DON'T USE THE WINDOWS THAT MUCH. DEFECTIVE FAN BELT.

REPORTED MY DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR PROBLEM TO VW DEALER--THEY CHARGED ME $65 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME I HAVE A DEFECTIVE MOTOR ASSEMBLEY. IT WOULD COST $269 ON TOP OF THE $65 TO DIAGNOSE THE OBVIOUS. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SEVERAL 1996 JETTA OWNERS AND THEY ARE ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS!!

ON OCTOBER 7TH, 1997 MY 1996 VW JETTA GLS WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WITH 28,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME THE STARTER WENT BAD AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE STARTER. THE DEALER HAD PROVIDED THE STARTER TO ME IN GOODWILL AND I JUST PAID FOR LABOR. ON JUNE 1ST, 1998 MY CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START WITH 42000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STARTER WAS BAD AGAIN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE STARTERS GOING BAD. THE WARRANTY ON THE STARTER WAS 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES WHICH HAD RUN OUT ON ME. I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE FULL REPAIR. AT THAT TIME, I FILED A GRIEVANCE WITH VW AND THEY DENIED MY CLAIM TO REGAIN SOME OF MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE I WAS ON MY THIRD STARTER IN 2 YEARS. ON DECEMBER 14, 1998 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A SCREACHING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. THE DEALER STATED TO ME THAT THE STARTER WAS BAD AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AGAIN SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WITH 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD ASKED WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AND THEY TOLD ME I MIGHT BE HOLDING THE KEY TO LONG WHICH TO ME MEANS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN. IN TWO YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER 4 TIMES. I HAVE PAID APPROXMIATELY $1178.15 TO REPLACE THE STARTER 4 TIMES AND I

RIGHT/REAR WINDOW NOT WORKING. DEALER COULD NOT FIX. DID NOT HAVE PART. I COULD NOT GET TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN PART CAME IN. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR BASIC SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD PUT A WINDOW MOTOR IN, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONSUMER HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS/POWER DOOR LOCKS AND THE SIGNALS. THE DEALER REPAIRED ALL OF THE DEFECTS, BUT THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE WINDOWS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN, AND THEY WANTED THE CONSUMER TO COVER THE FEE. *AK

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND KNOCKING NOISE. ALSO, MOTOR BURNED IN THE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW WOULD'NT GO DOWN OR COME UP, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. *AK

BOTH RIGHT SIDE WINDOW ASSEMBLIES FAILED. MANUFACTURE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESE FAILURES. ONLY QUESTION ASKED BY MANUFACTURES REPRESENTATIVE WAS HOW MUCH MONEY HAD I SPENT ON PREVIOUS DEALER MAINTENANCE. WHEN INFORMED THAT I HAD NOT HAD THEM PERFORM THE 30,000 MILE CHECKUP HE TOLD ME SINCE I HAD NOT SPENT MONEY WITH HIS DEALERSHIPS HE WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDE SPENDING ANY MONEY ON ME. I HAD NOT HAD THE DEALER PERFORM THE 30,000 MILE CHECK BECAUSE I HAD THE ENGINE SET TO SPECIFICATIONS BOTH PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE 30,000 MILE MARK BECAUSE THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT HAD MADE IT NECESSARY TO HAVE EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THOSE TIMES. I COULD SEE NO REASON TO HAVE THE 30,000 MILE CHECK DONE ADDITIONALLY. I HAD CHECKED THE VEHICLE VISUALLY FOR THE BALANCE OF THE 30,000 MILE ITEMS MYSELF. AND YES I AM QUALIFED TO CHECK THE OTHER ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ENGINE.

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF A TRACTOR TRAILER FLATBED. THE TRACTOR WAS HAULING HAY,ONE OF THE HAY BLOCKS FELL IN THE LANE IN WHICH TRAILER WAS TRAVELING, CAUSING A REACTION TO TURN INTO THE GRASS AREA INTO THE GUARD RAIL. MR HAMILTON WAS NOTIFIED FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT HIS CAR WAS TOTALED. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HOOD LATCH ON SEPT. 2, 1998. THE PARTS FOR THAT RECALL HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE SINCE THE DAY THAT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR THE HOOD LATCH. MANUFACTURERS RECALL#1H24Q3 AND NHTSA RECALL#98V160000. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVALIBLE. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT ON FREEWAY. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM BEHIND BECAUSE WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE DID NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS STOPPING. *AK

NO SUMMARY

AIRCONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL CUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. AT TIMES, WILL NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER . ALSO, REPLACED TRANSMISSION/ THROTTLE BODY AND ALTERNATOR. IN ADDITION, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AND FRONT PADS CRACKED/ENGINE IDLES/BUCKS AND STALLS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHT DO NOT WORK.

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE FROM THE AXLE, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. *AK

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH SECONDARY SAFETY SWITCH CRACKED, CAUSING HOOD TO COME OFF, HITTING WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *AK

ENGINE RUNS AT HIGH RPMS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST. TRANSMISSION JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG POPPED OUT FOR NO REASON. DID NOT EXPLODE. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTION. HIT THE CURB & THEN A POLE. *AK

MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. DEALER AND VOLKSWAGON AMERICA REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE STATE AND FEDERAL LEMON LAWS.

BRAKE ROTOR FAILURE.

AIR CONDITIONING PRESSURE SWITCH CORRODED.

RIGHT REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILS TO OPERATE.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 50 MPH WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL WHEN VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, CRASHING HEAD FIRST INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE TWO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO REPORT FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT. MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING HESITATION AND JERKING WHEN SHIFTING.

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HOOD LATCH FAILED.

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. BUT OWNER KNOWS THAT THIS WAS INCORRECT INFORMATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS STILL CUTTING OFF. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 28 TO 30 MPH INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

A MOLD IS GROWING IN THE A/C EVAPORATOR COVER. MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED TO DEODORIZE VENT SYSTEM. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAILED.

MANUAL WINDOW CRANK FAILED.

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, FRONT END VIBRATES AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT/PASSENGER'S SEAT CAME OFF THE TRACK/ STEEERING WHEEL BOLT CRACKED TWICE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING/WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TWICE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. *AK

ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE RADIO, GAS GAUGE AND CRUISE CONTROL.

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMALCONDITIONS POWER ASSISTED BRAKES LOST ALL PRESSURE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN PLEASE DESCRIBE INCIDENTS. *AK

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON RANDOMLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPPERABLE, OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER WAS ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM WHICH WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH CAUSED ALL ELECXTRICAL POWER TO BE DIVERTED INTO IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, THE A/C RADIO, AND DASH LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, ALSO 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR, WATER WASACCUMULATING ON THE FLOOR OF THE BACK SEAT, PASSENGER SIDE AIR CONDITIONING NOT DRAINING PROPERLY.*JB

VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. THERE WAS $4,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

RADIO FAILED.

PLASTIC SEAT RUNNER CRACKED.

ENGINE FAILED.

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE; WHILE DRIVING AT OR ABOUT 10 MPH OWNER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE BY PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP WITH THE REGULAR BRAKE SYSTEM , SO SHE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED . *AK