2000 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

I AM REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON THE MODEL YEAR 2000, VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AND CAR NOT STARTING UP AFTER UP OR BEING PARKED AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION PLUS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL. AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING AND NOT STARTING WHEN IGNITION IS ACCELERATED, I HAVE ALSO I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BREAKING EFFORTS WHEN I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES OR LONGER - I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT A REDUCED POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT START UP FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND NERVOUS WHEN DRIVING - AND HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AND HAVE PAID FOR COSTLY REPAIRS. STILL TO NO AVAIL, IT KEEPS HAPPENING. TIRED OF THE VEHICLE - WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION MODULE ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS - YEAR 2000 PLEASE ASAP !!! I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE WORST PLACES WITH THE VEHICLE - WITH NO HELP TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *TR

2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY VW JETTA KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING AND LIGHTS UP AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT, BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK. OVER THE LIFETIME OF THIS CAR (I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 8 YEARS), I HAVE HAD THIS CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION OVER 10-15 TIMES. *TR

VOLKSWAGEN 2000 JETTA UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAS NO CRUISE CONTROL YET CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN TO THE POINT THE CAR HAS TO BE BRAKED HARD. *TR

MY SISTER WAS KILLED IN A FIRE CAUSED BY A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. SHE FELL ASLEEP WITH THE CAR ON. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHE WAS KILLED. THE INVESTIGATED ARE SAYING IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TR

BOUGHT USED VW FROM A DEALER. DEALER WAS DOING BRAKES/INSPECTION, AND ON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE STUNK OF BURNT ELECTRIC SMELL. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THIS WAS AROUND 50,000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS CODES CONTINUE TO COME UP NOTHING IS FOUND. DEALER SENT CAR TO AUTHORIZED VW DEALER TO FIX - LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON. AROUND 87,000 MILES CAR BEGAN TO DRAIN BATTERY AND WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER NEW BATTERY. TOOK TO AUTHORIZED VW CAR SHOP. SEEMS SOMETHING WITH FUSES/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AGAIN MANY CODES BUT NOTHING SEEMS WRONG, ACCEPT FOR THE WHOLE NOT STARTING. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED - LIGHT STILL ON. LIGHTER SOCKET NO LONGER WORKS. NOW AROUND 89,000 MILES AND IT IS NOW EARLY 2008. *TR

AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AT 65,000 MILES. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF AN INTERNAL FAULT WITH THE FIRMWARE IN THE ORIGINAL FACTORY CRASH SENSOR, I THINK THE MANUFACTURE (VOLKSWAGEN) SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE SENSORS. THE AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT ANY TIME OR NOT DEPLOY IN A WRECK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

FOR TWO DAYS, I SMELLED AN ODOR SUCH AS A STARCHED IRON IN MY CAR. I TURNED THE HEATED SEATS OF FOR A FEW DAYS. TODAY I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SMELL CAME BACK. I TOOK MY JACKET OFF AND IN ONE PART OF THE SEAT, MY BACK WAS BURNING. THE DRIVERS HEATED SEAT IN MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA BURNED THROUGH INTO THE EXTERIOR. THE HEATED SEAT CAUSED TWO HOLES IN MY SEAT AND A LARGE BROWN BURNT STAIN. IF I HAD NOT DISCOVERED THIS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY IT WOULD CREATE MUCH MORE DAMAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 2-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THEN REAPPLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE EGR COOLER CLOGGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CLEARED. THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MILES, AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE EGR LEAKED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

I HAVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND WITHIN THE PAST 2 MONTHS MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW JUST FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THERE'S LITTLE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW ON TRACK AND THEY BROKE. BUT YOU CANT BUY THOSE CLIPS, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE DOOR ASSEMBLY. 2ND YESTERDAY, OCT 6TH, MY PASSENGER WINDOW JUST FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR, AND AGAIN, THE SAME THING. I SEARCH ALOT OF VW RELATED FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE AROUND THE NATION HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HAVE FILE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH VW AND COMPLAINTS WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS. WHY HASN'T VW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THESE CLIPS? I CANT AFFORD THE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES TO HAVE BOTH OF MY WINDOWS FIXED SO I HAVE THEM TAPED WITH DUCK TAPE TO HOLD THEM UP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS. ONE WOMAN SAID SHE HAD HER CAR IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES AND THEY KEEP BREAKING. YOU CAN VERIFY THIS THROUGH CONSUMER AFFAIRS. UNDER VW JETTA CATEGORIES. PLEASE RESPOND, I JUST WANT A DEALERSHIP TO FIX MY WINDOWS, MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE A WARRANTY ANYMORE. ITS A 2000 MODEL. *TR

MULTIPLE AND VARIOUS DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING COSTLY AND UNNECESSARY DEALER VISITS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED CERTIFIED 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN JANUARY 2004, AFTER ONLY ONE WEEK OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE ACCELERATOR WAS MAKING A VIBRATING SOUND AND STALLING CONTINUOUSLY. OKAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE - I PURCHASED A USED TRANSMISSION AND THEN THE ENGINE THROTTLE FAILED AND THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START ONE DAY - HAD THAT REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE $1700. NO THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. OKAY, THERE'S MORE, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES WITHIN THREE YEARS, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, LIGHTS AND FOG INTERIOR FUSES AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES, I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE - AND IT STILL IS RUNNING BADLY. AS OF TODAY, THE CAR WON'T MOVE WITHOUT WARMING IT UP FIRST FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES FULLY - WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR WITHOUT WARMING IT UP FIRST - IT WILL STALL AND MAKE A LOUD EMBARRASSING NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE IS GOING TO EXPLODE - AND YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY MAKE IT MOVE BY PRESSING VERY HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR AND PRAYING THAT IT WON'T JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND NEVER START AGAIN. MY VEHICLE HAS 117,000 MILES ON IT HAD 43,500 WHEN I BOUGHT IT (I KNOW STUPID WASN'T I) IT WAS MY FIRST VEHICLE. I KNOW A CAR IS NOT SUPPOSE TO LAST FOREVER, BUT DAM DOES IT HAVE TO COST SO MUCH TO TRY AND KEEP IT RUNNING UNTIL IT DIES. PLEASE HELP ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE TO ASSIST ME I

DRIVING CAR, USING SEAT HEATER, STARTED SMELLING BURNING SMELL. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP, THE LEATHER SEAT HAD BURNED. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF WHEN I DID (FIRE, BURN ME). WENT TO DEALER TODAY, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR MYSELF. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE AND VW OF AMERICA SHOULD REPLACE/REPAIR AT THEIR COST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE COIL PACK FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A 2 LANE UNDIVIDED HI-WAY; ENGINE CUT OUT, WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND (1.9 LITRE DIESEL-2000 JETTA) THIS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED AN UNSAFE SITUATION. VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. DEALER REPAIRED BY REPLACING POWER RELAY FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (RELAY 109). HAVE RESEARCHED THIS RELAY ON VARIOUS SITES, AND FOUND DOZENS OF FAILED RELAYS, SOME IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. APPARENTLY, THE ORIGINAL BLACK RELAY FAILS, NEW RELAY IS A CHANGE UP (GREY IN COLOUR). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TINTING LIQUID IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS LEAKING, AFFECTING THE PLASTIC NEAR THE GEAR SHIFT, AND THERE ARE HOLES IN THE LEATHER SEATS. THE ENGINE SIZE IS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 61,500.

TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. *TR

OWNER'S SON WAS DRIVING VOLKSWAGEN AND IT STARTED OVERHEATING. DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVENING, HE TRIED A FEW TIMES TO LET CAR COOL DOWN AND THEN CONTINUE DRIVING, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO OVERHEAT. HE MANAGED TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VOLKSWAGEN. HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND COASTED TO A STOP. HE GOT OUT AND NOTICED SPARKS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FIRE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED, BUT SPARK PLUGS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A RICH AIR/FUEL MIXTURE. *NM

OWNER TRIED TO START ENGINE AFTER VEHICLE SITTING UNUSED FOR ONE WEEK. ENGINE WOULD NOT START, SO OWNER JUMP-STARTED IT AND LET IT RUN APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. OWNER THEN DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE AND THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS OVERHEATED AND SHOWED BLUE HEAT DISCOLORATION. PLASTICS AND CARPET ON CENTER FLOOR OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WERE BURNED.

I AM 8 MONTHS PREGNANT DRIVING WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND WAS HIT IN THE REAR OF MY 2000 JETTA WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE WOMEN WHO HIT ME TOLD ME BRAKE LIGHTS WEREN'T ON. THANKFULLY BOTH THE BABY I AM PREGNANT WITH AND MY 1 YEAR OLD ARE OK BUT I HAD ALREADY BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2004. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY KILL ME OR MY BABIES!! *NM

FIRST WE WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING WE LOVE THIS CAR, WE ARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOYAL VW CUSTOMERS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSIONER ON THE REAR BRAKE PADS. WE HAD THE TENSIONER FALL OFF CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TO CLUNK AND THE BRAKES TO BE TOUCHY TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS SCARY. WE DISCOVERED THIS WHEN WE DECIDED TO PUT NEW PADS ON BECAUSE THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE WERE BOTH PADS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. JUST WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE POSSIBLE DANGERS. THANKS. *NM

ENTERED MY 2000 VW JETTA GLS, WENT TO PUT THE SEAT BELT ON AND THE SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN. THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. THIS WAS WORKING FINE WHEN I HAD ENTERED THE VEHICLE 30 MINUTES BEFORE ON THE SAME DAY. IN READING THE MANUAL FOR MY VEHICLE IT STATED THAT THIS IS A THREE-POINT SAFETY BELT AND THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH BELT TENSIONERS. SENSORS ACTIVATE THE BELT TENSIONERS IN FRONTAL COLLISIONS. THIS TENSIONER CAN ONLY BE ACTIVATED ONCE AND THEN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BY ME OR ACCORDING TO THE CARFAX REPORT. UNLESS IT WASN'T REPORTED. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS IT WILL COST $300 TO REPLACE THIS PART. ONLY AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS CAN REPLACE THIS AS IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT USING SPECIAL PROCEDURES THAT ARE REQUIRED. THIS CAR IS TOO NEW TO BE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY DEVICE. *NM

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR & WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 2000 JETTA TDI WITH 55,000 MILES. CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND AUTOMATIC SHIFTING ABILITY ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY CREATING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN FAILURE PROBLEM WITH VW SINCE I WAS TOLD IT IS COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY & "IT'S HAPPENED TO A LOT OF OTHERS". WE HAD TO LEAVE CAR WITH A DEALER IN NJ & RENT A CAR TO GET HOME TO MASSACHUSETTS. *JB

I HAD RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM "SKYLINE" DEALER IN COLORADO , I'VE OWNED IT FOR,ONE YEAR HIT A SPEED BUMP AND THE ENGINE FELL FORWARD(BREAK-AWAY ENGINE) THE ENGINE HAD BROKE OFF THE ENGINE BOLTS(MOUNTS) AND THE ONLY THING TO HOLD PART OF IT UP IS THE TRANSMISSION ARM. I HAVE JUST NOW FOUND SOMEONE TO MAKE THE 8/15/06 REPAIRS ITS A SLOW GO,AND STILL OWE OVER 17,000 ON IT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULDN'T HELP THEY SAID THAT SOMEONE HAD WELD THE BOLTS BACK ON INCORRECTLY SO THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, I DIDN'T NOTICE, NEITHER DID THE DEALERSHIP FOR THAT MATTER IN THERE MANY POINT INSPECTION. *NM

(2) THE SEAT WARMER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT COVERING. THE HEATER LEFT A BURN ON MY PANTS THE SIZE OF A DIME. THIS ALSO CAUSED ME SOME DISCOMFORT. (3) I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN AND HAVE IT FIXED AT MY EXPENSE. I OWN A 2000 VW JETTA. *NM

AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AS I WAS DRIVING UPHILL THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS FAILING AND LOSING POWER. IT REGAINED POWER, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND FOUND MANY CODES ON IT, BUT NOTHING WRONG. HE CLEARED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I NOW HAVE 87,000 MILES AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY. NOW, I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR REGULARLY BY MY MECHANIC TO HAVE THE COMPUTER CLEARED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AFTER HE CLEARED IT LAST TIME. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. *NM

NO EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALLS RELATING TO MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS RELIABLY ON '00 JETTA WITH 70,000+ MILES; CAR DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED REPEATEDLY AND THEN ONLY WORKS INCONSISTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE- THERE IS AN APPARENT MALFUNCTION WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND RELATES TO DESCRIPTIONS OF RECALLS ON 99-02 JETTA / NEW BEETLES. I CALLED VW REGARDING OPEN RECALLS FOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DEFECTS AND I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALLS. WILL FOLLOW UP WITH LOCAL DEALER WHO WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM- I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY NHTSA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RETAIN MY RECEIPTS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR MATTERS RELATING TO THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO RELATE TO RECALLS: 03V-265 OR 04V-096 AND VW RECALL NO. N4. *NM

CLUTCH PROBLEMS ON JETTA 2000. CLUTCH FAILED ON ME WHY DRIVING ON THE FL TURNPIKE ON SATURDAY 14, 2006. I WAS AT THE TOLL PLAZA AND WHEN I LEFT MY CAR WENT INTO GEAR AS NORMAL, WHEN I PUT IT IN 4TH GEAR I HEARD THE ENGINE REV HIGH BUT MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I COASTED OFF THE FIRST EXIT I SAW AND LUCKILY, KEPT COASTING RIGHT INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY SENT OUT A TOW COMPANY TO PICK MY CAR UP. ON MONDAY, MAY 15, 2006 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT THAT I HAD SOMEHOW ACTIVATED THE ANTI-THEFT ON MY CAR AND THEY HAD DISABLED IT AND IT WAS FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE WHEN THEY TOOK MY CAR TO GET WASHED THE CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE CLUTCH. TURNS OUT THEY ARE CHARGING ME 1800 DOLLARS BECAUSE THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO REPLACED, WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. *JB

TODAY I TOOK MY DAUGHTERS 2000 JETTA IN FOR SERVICE. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I TAKE IT TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND RECALLS. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS CHARGED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE COMPUTERIZED CHECK-UP. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS'' SIDE AIR BAG. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PROBLEM COULD CONSIST OF ANYTHING FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO THAT OF A MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG UNIT. HE STATED THAT THE PRICE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS MALFUNCTIONING THE CARS INTERNAL COMPUTER HAD SHUT OFF ALL THE OTHER AIR BAGS WITHIN THE CAR. THE CAR IS IN THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AWAITING SERVICE. YOU ARE THE THIRD PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO AT THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY ANSWERS. SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN CARS TODAY AND THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS JETTA. YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS STATE THAT THIS CAR IS ONE OF THE SAFEST ON THE MARKET. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT A SAFE CAR NOW AND VW COMPANY REFUSES TO HELP ME FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. ALL OF THEM AGREED THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND ABSORB THE PRICE WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. I'LL TAKE THIS MATTER AS FAR A

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER VEHICLE PARKED AND NO KEYS IN IGNITION CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN. PURCHASE NEW BATTERY WITHIN 2 DAYS NEW BATTERY DEAD. NOTICED BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON WHEN CAR PARKED. THERE IS RECALL NHTSA ID #04V096000 FOR 2000 VW JETTA'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I AM TOLD IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. *JB

AFTER COMING UP A STEEP HILL IN A HEAVY SNOWSTORM, THE ENGINE OF MY 2000 GLS V6 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL SERVICED. I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OR SMELL OF SMOKE. AFTER THE THIRD TRIP OUT TO THE CAR TO UNLOAD GROCERIES, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT FROM THE HOOD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE OR MY HOME WOULD HAVE BURNED TO THE GROUND. DESPITE THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND SNOWSTORM OUTSIDE, FLAMES SOON BEGAN TO DROP BELOW THE CAR FROM THE ENGINE AND FLAMES 8 FEET HIGH ENGULFED THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT OUT THE FIRE. JUST BEFORE ARRIVING HOME, BY LOW GAS LIGHT CAME ON (IT WAS EXPECTED), BUT NO WARNING APPEARED ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE. I WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER HAD THERE BEEN A HIGH TEMPERATURE WARNING. THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS NORMAL. BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I BELIEVE THE COOLING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. *JB

1) I PURCHASED A VW TDI WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF A BAD TURBO AND AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR SEVEN MONTHS AND PUT 12,984 MILES ON IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AS TO WHY THE C.E. LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN ASKED ABOUT REPAIRING THE TURBO BY THE COUNTER MAN I TOLD HIM I INTEND TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT BREAKS THEN HAVE IT REPAIRED. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM DOING THAT HE EXPLAINED TO ME THE CAR WOULD BE SLUGGISH THEN NOT RUN. VW DIAGNOSED MY CAR AS HAVING A "TURBO WASTE GATE BLOWN" I DEFERRED THE REPAIR INTENDING TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE TURBO WENT. 2) ON THE WAY HOME, SIX MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR RAN SLIGHTLY ROUGH. I OBSERVED LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM MY CAR IN THE HEAD LIGHTS OF THE CARS BEHIND ME. I DEDUCTED MY CAR WAS BURNING CARBON SINCE CARBON BUILD UP WAS NOTED ON THE REPORT. I SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR RACED FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR RACED FORWARD SO QUICKLY AND WITH SUCH FORCE I WOULD COMPARE IT TO A MUSCLE CAR BEING FLOORED. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I LOOKED AT THE TACHOMETER AND IT WAS GOING BY 4,000 RPM. THIS DIESEL ENGINE WAS SCREAMING. INSTINCTIVELY I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE ENGINE REVVED THEN BLEW. I WAS 7 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE MANGER STATED THAT A GASKET IN THE TURBO LET GO CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUCK OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE FUELING THE ENGINE. HE TOLD ME THAT NO

DRIVING ALONG AND PASSENGER WINDOW FROM THE UP POSITION DROPS INTO THE DOOR!!!!! THE MECHANIC SAID THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW BROKE. THE NEW PART HAS ALUMINUM CLIPS. THIS IS A REAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!! I ALMOST HAD ONE AS A RESULT OF THIS HAPPENING!!!!!*NM

DRIVING ALONG AND PASSENGER WINDOW FROM THE UP POSITION DROPS INTO THE DOOR!!!!! THE MECHANIC SAID THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW BROKE. THE NEW PART HAS ALUMINUM CLIPS. THIS IS A REAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!! I ALMOST HAD ONE AS A RESULT OF THIS HAPPENING!!!!!*NM

I STARTED NOTICING A BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WOULD GET VERY HOT, EVEN WHEN SET ON A LOW SETTING. ONE DAY I DECIDED TO TRY IT OUT TO SEE IF IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT AND THE HEAT BURNT HOLES THROUGH THE MATERIAL COVERING THE SEAT . *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS COMES ON RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RUNNING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V096000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT HAD RECALL 04V096000 REPAIRS ON BRAKE LIGHTS COMPLETED OVER A YEAR AGO, AND NOW THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

1) I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, SEE #2 AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY. 2) TODAY I FOUND THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. IT LEFT A PEA-SIZED BURN IN THE UPHOLSTERY. LUCKILY, I USE A SMALL DRIVING PILLOW FOR MY LOWER BACK WHICH BORE THE BRUNT OF THE FIRE INSTEAD OF MY BUTT. I HAD FOUND THE PILLOW WAS STUCK TO THE SEAT, AND WHEN I PULLED IT OFF THE BURN WAS REVEALED. THE PILLOW WAS DAMAGED. 3) I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET. I AM RESEARCHING MY OPTIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE IT FOR ME. *NM

2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VR6 WAS IN THE SHOP FOR NEW TIRES AROUND 12/7 - AN ALIGNMENT TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 65000 MILES. IT WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE AT ABOUT 20000 FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND WAS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. NOTHING UNUSUAL AROSE DURING THIS WORK. THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY DRIVING HOME, AS IT HAD FOR YEARS PRIOR. ONE DAY LATER, THE CLUTCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED SUDDENLY. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS NO HAZARD. THE CAR WAS JUST BARELY DRIVABLE, AND LIMPED TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE PART SHOULD HAVE LASTED FOR AT LEAST 100K MILES, AND THAT THE CLUTCH PARTS "FELL APART IN PIECES" ON OPENING THE CLUTCH. HE DESCRIBED IT AS A DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC, FAILURE. COST TO REPAIR WAS $900. DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO VW BECAUSE OF THE VERY HIGH COST OF POST-WARRANTY REPAIRS. MY WIFE AND I (SOLE DRIVERS) BOTH HAVE LONG EXPERIENCE DRIVING STICK SHIFT VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED CLUTCH FAILURES ON PRIOR STICK SHIFT VEHICLES. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD THE CLUTCH GO OUT ABOUT THE SAME TIME ON A '95 JETTA III GLS. I SUSPECT THE PART IS OF POOR QUALITY. *JB

1) SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2000, THERE HAS BEEN A SOUND MADE AT THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. 2) LOUD SOUND WHEN DRIVING ON REGULAR ROADS. PERSISTENT LOUD THUMP SOUND. 3) I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SOUNDS AND HAVE ASKED OTHER JETTA OWNERS AND THEY TOO AGREED THAT THEIR CAR HAD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. I WAS EVEN CHARGED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER WERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO RE-TORQUE AND TEST THE FRONT END. THEY AGREED THAT THEY COULD DEFINITELY HEAR THE SOUND BUT COULD NOT TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM. ALL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR OR FIND PROBLEM ARE DOCUMENTED IN MY SERVICE THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO APPROXIMATELY 8 ADDITIONAL SHOPS TO TROUBLE SHOOT NOISE. ALL AGREED THAT THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. NOW I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 4.5 YEARS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MY FRONT END IS GOING TO FALL APART. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2000. VEHICLE RAN LOW ON OIL AT 1500 MILES. FILED COMPLAINT ABOUT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION FOR A NEW VEHICLE. VEHICLE NOW HAS 66,000 MILES AND BURNS ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. THIS HAS HAPPENED FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE. MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THIS IS WITHIN SPECS, BUT MAY DAMAGE POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. I FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON-LINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *JB

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON MY 2000 VW JETTA TDI. THE ABS "ACTIVATES" WHEN GOING VERY SLOWLY (LESS THAN 10 MPH) AND WHEN APPLYING MINIMAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND SOMETIMES WHEN NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKES AT ALL. IT FIRST HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AGO, AND THE DEALER CHANGED AN ABS HARNESS CONNECTOR, AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR UNTIL ABOUT 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR THEM, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, EVEN AFTER CALLING VW TECHNICIANS. THEY REPLACED A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AT MY EXPENSE, BUT SAID IF THAT DIDN'T FIX IT, THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, BUT THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, AND I NOTED ON AN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD THAT A NUMBER OF OTHERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (LINK: .HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWFLAT.PHP?CAT=0&NUMBER=1063831&AN=0&PAGE=0#1063831 ). I CONTACTED VW (REF.# 804028386), BUT THEY WERE NO HELP AND DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING. *NM

VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE (FORD F-250); SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

HI, IT SEEMS AS IF MANY 2000+ VW JETTAS HAVE DEFECTIVE REAR CENTER SEAT BELTS. WHEN YOU FOLD DOWN THE REAR SEATS, THE CENTER SEAT BELTS WILL RETRACT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE SEAT BELT. MANY PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED, JUST PERMANENTLY DISCONNECT THE CENTER SEAT BELT TO AVOID SUCH PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OTHER RECALLS THAT SEEMED LESS DANGEROUS THAN THIS PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY BE WITH 5 PEOPLE IN THE CAR. COULD YOU INVESTIGATE HOW FREQUENT THIS SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS AND POSSIBLY INITIATE A RECALL? I HAD THIS FIXED ONCE BEFORE, BUT APPARENTLY THE FIX DIDN'T LAST. THANKS, NEIL KUMPERS. *NM

IN 2004, MY 2000 VW JETTA'S BREAK LIGHTS FAILED TO TURN OFF. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER REPLACED A SWITCH. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, VW WERE ISSUED A RECALL ON VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH WOULD EITHER FAIL TO TURN OFF OR FAIL TO TURN THE BREAK LIGHTS ON. VW REFUNDED THE AMOUNT I HAD PAID TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2005, A DRIVER NOTIFIED ME AFTER A NEAR MISS AT AN INTERSECTION THAT MY BREAK LIGHTS WERE FAILING TO LIGHT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THE SWITCH HAD FAILED, BUT SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL BECAUSE THE SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DID NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS MADE. *JB

DT: WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE CENTER DIVIDER OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS FRONT IMPACT, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. DID NOT TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A SALVAGE YARD. NO ONE HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK *NM

I HAVE A 2000 VW JETTA GLS AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL SENSOR DEFECTS TIME AFTER TIME FROM 2001 UNTIL THE PRESENT 2005, IN WHICH I HAVE COME OUT OF POCKET ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE MASS AIR FLOW, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. *JB

FIVE SEPARATE PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM HAVE FAILED WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. TWO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THREE MORE RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY $1400 IN REPAIRS. WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND RADIATOR HOSE ALL WERE REPLACED. ALSO REPLACED A FLANGE AND A PLASTIC PIPE. *NM

MY O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND NOW TWO NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS HAS CAUSED MY CATYLYTIC CONVERTOR TO GO BAD.

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY JETTA 2000 VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LOCK (ASL) LOCKS WHEN PARK OR NEUTRAL. CAUSE TRAFFIC JAM. AFTER 30 MINUTES THE SWITH STARTED WORKING TEMPORARILY. IT HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS