1998 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING CAR I NOTICED IT WAS USING EXCESSIVE OIL, IN THE WORST INSTANCE IT USED APPROX. A QUART AND A HALF IN 1500 MILES. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AND BOTH SAID IT WAS NORMAL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF NEW VEHICLES USING SUCH AN AMOUNT IN SO LITTLE MILES. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM AT 14000 MILES WITH A THROTTLE SURGE ON THE MORNING STARTUPS. TACH WOULD READ VARIOUS RPM'S WHILE THIS WAS OCCURING. THEN WHEN I WOULD START TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY THE ENGINE WOULD STILL SURGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO "BUCK" VIOLENTLY! THIS CONDITION IS VERY UNSAFE SINCE IT IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING AT 41000 MILES AND HAS TAKEN OVER 6 DAYS IN THE SHOP WITH NO DIAGNOSIS. DEALER THOUGHT THE TIMING BELT WAS THE PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD STRECHED SO FAR OUT THE TIMING COULDNT BE RESET. I WILL PAY TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT REPLACED BUT THAT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM. IN 1998 VOLKS WAGEN RECCOMENDED THAT ON THE DIESEL ENGINE THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 60000 MILES BUT THE RECCOMENDATION HAS CHANGED FOR THE YEAR 2000 TO 40000. THIS CHANGE HAS TO BE DUE TO EARLY MALFUNCTION PROBLEMS WITH THE BELT BUT VOLKSWAGEN DENIES ANY PROBLEMS AND WILL NOT COVER THE BELT UNDER WARRANTIES EITHER. IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY , IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE THERE WOULD BE NO POWER STEERING AND OR BRAKES NOT TO MENTION IF IT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP. THIS ENGINE HAS BIG PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED... THANK YOU

NO SUMMARY

THE CAR HAS A REOCURRING PROBLEM WITH A MILDEW SMELL IN THE A/C SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAS SPRAYED DISINFECTANT IN THE VENTS AND WAS GOING TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN THE UNIT. THE REGIONAL VW REP. HAD SAID THAT SPRAYING WAS ALL THEY WERE GOING TO DO. HOWEVER, THERE IS A FLYER AT THE DEALER, PUBLISHED BY VW OFFERING AN OPTIONAL SERVICE TO ACRYLIC COAT THE EXAPORATOR. I FEEL THAT VW KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND WHILE I AM UNDER WARRANTEE, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE TO ME. VW DOES NOT AGREE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM EXISTING WITH BACTERIA LADEN WATER (LEGIONAIRES DISEASE, ETC). I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TREATED FOR A FUNGAL INFECTION ON MY TORSO THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS RELATED OR NOT, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF SKIN PROBLEMS IN MY 36 YEARS. THE SMELL IS HORRIBLE, AND I DON'T THINK A NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 60MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CD PLAYER FAILURE.

WINDSHIELD WASHER.

CLUTCH-CENTERING SPRING FELL OUT.

AIR CONDITIONER PIPE EXPLODED.

LOUD BRAKES.

FIRST INCIDENT WITH GEAR SHIFTER HAPPENED IN MARCH 1999 WHEN IT POPPED OUT OF FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. THE GEAR SHIFTER RATTLED IMMENSELY. THE SECOND TIME, IT HAD BEEN HARD TO GET INTO FIRST AND THIRD GEAR AND WAS POPPING OUT OF FIRST GEAR IN PARTICULAR. PRIOR TO HAVING THE CAR FIXED, IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY DURING A STORM. THE CAR POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY INTO A TREE. VOLKSWAGEN ADJUSTED THE SHIFTER (WHICH THEY ADJUSTED INCORRECTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE). THE THIRD TIME, (WHICH IS NOW) IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IT IN FIRST GEAR. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS (DRIVER/PASSENGER) DURING FRONTAL COLLISION. MJS

DRIVING 20MPH IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT AND CAR STALLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH DEPRESSED CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND IT HAD POPPED OUT OF SOCKET UNDER PASSENGER'S SEAT & FLOOR MAT CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

LEFT ROCKER PANEL AND THE LEFT REAR FRAME RAIL RETAINS WATER (APPROXIMATELY 1 GALLON), WATER DRAINS FROM THE FRAME, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME/ROCKER PANEL WILL ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT, WEAKENING THE STRUCTURE IN THE WINTER WHEN SALT IS APPLIED TO THE ROAD, SALT WATER PASSING THROUGH VEHICLES FRAME WILL SETTLE IN INSIDE AND ACTIVATE WHENEVER IT RAINS/SNOWS OR CAR IS WASHED.

THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS WATER IN THE ENGINE, AND SHE MUST HAVE DRIVEN IT IN DEEP WATER. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN, THERE WAS NO WATER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR TO INDICATE DRIVING THROUGH DEEP WATER AS VOLKSWAGE STATES. THE WARRANTY IS VOID DUE TO THE DAMAGE WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS. *AK

TIRE HAD A SIDEWALL SEPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT; THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW TWICE, ON THE STOCK TIRES, FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK, HOWEVER TWO TIMES SEEMS TO BE FISHY. THE TIRES HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. I AM INTERESTED TO FIND OUT IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE.( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR19 TIRE SIZE: 195/60R14 )

WINDOW FAILED.

IF BATTERY IS OVERFILLED OR LEAKS AND DRIPS ONTO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR THE RESEVOIR WILL FAIL. THIS FAILURE IS CATASTROPHIC IN NATURE AND CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, VEHICLE CONTROL AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE LOSS OF FLUID OCCURED ON MY VEHICLE WITH ONLY 9 MONTHS OF SERVICE. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT IMPACTED. THE DEALER SUPPORT AT RANDY HILEY VOLKSWAGEN IN ARLINGTON TEXAS WAS IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH. AFTER DISCUSSION, VOLKSWAGEN REFUNDED ALL BUT THE TOWING CHARGES FOR THIS REPAIR THROUGH RANDY HILEY VOLKSWAGEN IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS. ON THE 1999 MODEL THE PART HAS BEEN MOVED FROM UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE 1ST TIME THIS FAILURE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT THEIR FRANCHISE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS REPAIR CURED THE IMMEDIATE SYMPTOM BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF ACID CONTACTS THIS COMPONENT AGAIN DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, LATER LIFE BATTERY CHANGEOUT ETC. THE PART IS STILL LOCATED BENEATH THE BATTERY. THE MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION IS UNCHANGED. CAN THIS PART BE REPLACED IN A RECALL WITH A MATERIAL THAT IS BETTER SUITED FOR CONTACT BY ACID?

FUEL SENDERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE GAS GAUGE TO READ INACCURATELY.

WATER SUCKED INTO AIR INTAKE DUE TO LOW PLACEMENT DESIGN. MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK

GEAR SHIFT FAILED CAUSING SECOND GEAR TO BE HARD TO ENGAGE.

RADIATOR HOSE FAILED. NLM

BRAKES MAKE HIGH PITCHED NOISE DURING STOPS. YH

TIRE FAILED. YH (195/60R14 H.R-4)

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY RECEIVER MODULE FAILED. YH

RIGHT FRONT PARKING LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE AND FALLS OUT WHEN VEHICLE HITS BUMP,UNABLE TO CORRECT. YH

GOOD YEAR TIRE (195/60 R 14) BLEW OUT COMPLETELY, ONLY 1/8" OF RUBBER LEFT ON RIM. YH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. YH

CLUTCH SPRINGS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE VERY DIFFUCULT TO PUT INTO GEAR. NLM

DEFROSTER SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. YH

OIL LEAKING SINCE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE, PART NOT INSTALLED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURER. NLM

CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. YH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. YH

1) WHEN THE STEERING FAILED IT COULD HAV E CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT 2) WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. 3) WHEN THE OIL LIGHT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL THE MOTOR COULD HAVE LOCKED UP, CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT. I FIND THE ABOVE PROBLEMS VERY SERIOUS. I BOUGHT THE VW JETTA NEW 09/12/98 WITH 15 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THANK YOU BILL HAMANN.

NO SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 13 )

ROOF RACK SEPARATES AT TIMES. IN FEBRUARY 98, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55MPH WITH SNOW BOARDS TIED DOWN TO ROOF RACKS, WHEN THE RACKS DISCONECTED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RACKS AND THE SNOW BOARDS, THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, DEC. 13-98 SNOW BOARDS WERE ON THE ROOF OF VEHICLE AND FLEW OFF WHEN THE ROOF RACKS DISCONNECTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP (503-656-2924, ALBERTO MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER LARRY LINDSEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE RACKS WERE INSTALLED INCORECTLY, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. *AK

WATER GOT INTO THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING DAMAGING THE ENGINE.

THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY.

SECURITY REMOTE,DOOR LOCKS, AND PANIC BUTTON FAILED.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN.

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED TWO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES.