1998 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I'VE DETERMINED THAT THIS MAY BE A LARGER PROBLEM. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW STOPPED OPERATING ON 05/13/01/ DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW STOPPED OPERATING ON 07/03/01. CONSUMER CAN HEAR MOTOR, BUT WINDOW IS STUCK IN DOOR. DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEATER CORE FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE CABIN ALONG WITH FUMES. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR DID NOT HAVE PARTS IN STOCK.*AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AND KEY MOVED ALL HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL WIRES SHORTING OUT THROUGH IGNITION SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, AND THEY SAID JUST TO MOVE KEY AND HEAD LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON.*AK

OUT OF 3 NEW TIRES, 1 COMPLETE BLOWOUT ON INTERSTATE, 2 REPL. SDWL LEAKS. VALVE STEM REPLACEMENT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MDULJPHR09 TIRESIZE: 205/50R15)

TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED TO GOSSETT MOTOR CARS ON 05/06/98, AND HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM EVER SINCE. CRUISE CONTROL HAS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY THREE TIMES AND FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. GOSSETT MOTOR CARS SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM.. *AK

BLOWOUT OF LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT. FIRST OCCURRED 0800 21 APR 01 ON INTERSTATA 64 WEST NEAR RICHMOND VA. SECOND LATER THAT SAME DAY ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTH NORTH OF RICHMOND. IN BOTH CASES BELT SEPARATION OCCURRED. NO PUNCTURE. HOLES IN SIDEWALL. I TOOK THE ONE TIRE I SAVED TO A GOODYEAR DEALER AND HE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE HAD A DEFECT RESULTING IN BELT SEPARATION. WEAR ON THE TIRE EVEN THO IT HAD 50000 MILES WAS OVER 20% TREAD LEFT. I WOULD NEVER HAVE EXPECTED TWO BLOWOUTS IN ONE DAY PARTICULARLY WITH THE TREAD AS GOOD AS IT APPEARED. THE TIRES WERE STATE INSPECTED IN LATE JANUARY.*AK (TIRESIZE: 195/60/R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/60/R14 )

WHEN CONSUMER COMES TO A STOP THERE WAS SURGE INSIDE OF ENGINE AND VEHICLE WANTS TO MOVE ON ITS ON.*AK CONSUMER STATES ON ONE OCCASION COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE AND CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS VERY HARD ON BRAKE SO SHE WOULD NOT MOVE. *SLC

RECURRING ISSUE - AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS LIT AFTER STARTING. TAKES DEALERSHIP A LONG TIME TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX. WE HAVE LOST OVER 2 WEEKS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE SO FAR.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, FRONT END CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

TOTAL FAILURE OF LIGHTS AND DOOR BUZER.

SYSTEM THAT WARNS CONSUMER WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT STAYS ON SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

BATTERY FAILED TO HAVE AN ACID RELEASE HOSE. ACID HAD DRIPPED ONTO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR & ATE THROUGH IT. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING FLUID, POWER STEERING, AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY LIGHTS UP ON DASH. THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE TACHOMETER EXHIBITS VERY HIGH RPMS. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS FINALLY REPLACED LATE FALL OF 2000 (REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE). THIS TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED IN JAN. 2001 AND WAS AGAIN REPLACED WITH A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW IN MARCH OF 2001 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS AGAIN LIGHTING UP AND THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT. VW WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHILE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. WE OFFERED TO TAKE BLUE BOOK VALUE AS TRADE IN ON A NEW JETTA. MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS?

ERRATIC, DELAYED SHIFTING BETWEN ALL GEARS. AFTER 2ND DIAGNOSIS REVEALED PROBLEM, A RESISTOR WIRE($8.50) WAS INSTALLED . PROBLEM FIXED, BUT AT A COST OF $128.00 TO ME. *AK

PLEASE CHECK INTO OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR POSSIBLE RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

CLEAR FUEL LINE WAS RUBBING ON CORNER OF AIR CLEANER. THE RUBBING CAUSED A HOLE TO WEAR THROUGH THE FUEL LINE. DIESEL FUEL WAS SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE (NO FIRE). THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC, IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND BROAD-SIDED, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD POPPING SOUND AND STEERING WHEEL MOVED UP, LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT CONTROL ARMS WERE BACK ORDERED NATION WIDE. *YH

THE BATTERY EXPLODED. NLM

THE ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE CONSTANTLY LOSING AIR, TWO TIRES EVENTUALLY WENT FLAT, ONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT AND THE FOURTH TIRE EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATION. *MJS

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH VW AND THE DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES.. NO ONE WILL HELP.

"ORLEANS" MODEL WHEELS HAVE FAILED TWICE. WHEELS APPEAR TO BE SOFT AND EASILY DEFORMED. WHEELS CRACK AFTER BENDING WHICH RESULTS IN A FLAT TIRE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS TAKEN THE ORLEANS WHEEL OFF OF THE PARTS LIST SO THAT REPLACEMENT WHEELS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. LOCAL PARTS CLERK HAS ADVISED THAT A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND REPLACEMENT ACTIVITY WERE OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE VW GERMANY DECISION TO NO LONGER SUPPLY THE WHEELS. THE WHEELS WERE OPTIONAL ON THE 97 PASSAT AND THE 98 JETTA AND GOLF. SINCE OWNERS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED WITHOUT SPARES FOR SOME REASON, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEELS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE AS THE WHEELS FAIL. WHEELS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

BELTS SEPARATING TO THE EXTENT THAT THE TIRE WENT FLAT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE STILL HAD 5/16THS TREAD DEPTH AND SO HAD LOTS OF LIFE LEFT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR TIRE SIZE: 195/60 R14 )

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND AFTER APPLYING BRAKES REARENDED A MID-SIZED TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A BLOWOUT ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. TIRE SIZE 19560R14. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA. TIRE MILEAGE 23,000. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SECOND BLOWOUT, THE RIGHT REAR GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRE FAILED, THE DOT #MKHCFJDR457. *SLC

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS, SOME UNDIAGNOSED. UNSYMPATHETIC DEALERSHIP. REOCCURING PROBLEMS. MOST PROBLEMS OCCURRING AFTER LEASE/WARRANTY WERE UP. TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 2 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON, A/C NOT WORKING, ENGINE NOT STARTING ALTHOUGH STARTER WAS REPLACED, OR WHY ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING. ALL THE PROBLEMS APPEAR RELATED. THEY ALL OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME.THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW BECAUSE NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.*AK

GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES EXPERIENCED THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE HANGING ON TO THE TREAD BY STRANDS OF STEEL. *SLC

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A CURVE BELOW 30 MPH WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SURGES BACK TO 30 MPH. NLM

PERSISTENT PROBLEMS W/AUTO TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL PARTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE. SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF 4TH GEAR; STALLING; STRAINING, ETC. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, DID NOT KNOW WARRANTY, WAS EXPIRED AT 24K, TOOK IN AT 26K, UNABLE TO FIX. *AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT FREEWAY SPEED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP THE TIRE RUBBED AGAINST THE FUEL TANK THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WORE A LARGE HOLE IN THE TANK. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE/EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE. POOR DESIGN OF THE PUTTING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK SO CLOSE TO THE TIRE. VOLKSWAGEN CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POOR DESIGN. NEW MODEL VW JETTA DOES NOT HAVE SAME DESIGN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKHC TIRE SIZE: 195/60HR14 )

THE FUEL GAUGE GOES FROM PRESENT LEVEL TO EMPTY THEN AFTER A WHILE RETURN TO PRESENT LEVEL. NLM

THE SKI RACKS INSTALLED BY A DEALER CAME OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE SNOW BOARDS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. YH

HORN UNCONTROLLABLY HONKS ON AND OFF. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN HAS A SPARKLING NOISE., AND A BURNING SMELL COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN . *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

STARTER FAILED IN OCT, 99. NEW PART REPLACED BY DEALER. STARTER FAILED AGAIN MAY, 2000. NEW PART IS NEEDED AGAIN.

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AT WILL. IT SHOWS ON DASHBOARD THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, BUT THERE ARE NO HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER DRIVING A MILE. *AK

ITS A BUNCH OF CRAP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

SECOND REPLACEMENT OF SEAT TRACKS, CONTINUALLY LOOSE/WOBBLY FRONT SEATS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDER THE DASH FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE LOCAL FIRE DEPARMENT ARRIVED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

ORIGINAL GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, REAR LEFT AND REAR RIGHT TIRES BLEW OFF WHILE ON THE ROAD. YH

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IMPACT ALSO CAUSED SEAT BELTS NOT TO RETRACT. *AK CONSUMER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURIED.

WHEN TRYING TO PUT AUTOMOBILE IN REVERSE IT POPS OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLS BACKWARDS, DEPENDING ON THE ANGLE IT IS IN. *AK

VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL AND IGNITION CABLE THAT HAD SHORTED OUT DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERMITTENT ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *MJS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE PART ON THE LEFT SIDE RAIL THAT WAS NEEDED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT MANUFACTURE. *AK

2ND BLOW-OUT ON RELATIVELY NEW CAR, BOTH W/GOODYEAR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES, ONLY ONE PRIOR BLOW-OUT IN OVER 400,000 MILES AND 42 YRS OF DRIVING( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR37 TIRE SIZE: HR1956014 )

TIRE SIDEWALLS CONTINUALLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO CRACKING. MJS

FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURES. TRUNK LID CAUSES ALARM TO BE TRIGGERED; SETTING OFF ALARM HORN AND LIGHTS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE SUSPECT. THESE TWO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALER, BUT THE WINDOW, EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED, CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS