2003 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

I HAVE OWNED A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (TURBO - 2003) AND HAVE HAD ONE HORRIBLE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. WITHOUT FAIL, I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR RANDOM MECHANICAL REPAIRS EVERY FEW MONTHS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO AND THAT VW WAS AWARE OF HOW BAD THEIR CAR'S MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO WERE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, HOW CAN SO MANY CAR OWNERS WITH SO MANY MECHANICAL ISSUES CONTINUE TO SELL IN THIS COUNTRY? I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT VW FOR LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE AND FOR CONTINUING MANUFACTURE IN AN AREA WELL KNOWN FOR ITS BELOW AVERAGE STANDARDS AND FOR CONTINUING TO BLEED THE CONSUMER WHEN IT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT 34,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,489 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 09/17/07 *TR

STARTING CAR IN THE MORNING OR AT END OF WORK DAY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR CANNOT BE MOVED - BRAKES HAVE HISSING OR WHISKING SOUND WHEN PRESSED. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN, UNLESS TURNING IGNITION TO FIRST ON POSITION PUTTING CAR IN NEUTRAL THEN STARTING THE CAR. *AK 2. BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY - CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE 3. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF BRAKE SWITCH THAT HAS A "UNIVERSAL RECALL" THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I DID RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING MY '03 JETTA AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE AND BRAKE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON-GOING. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE SORT AND SAID "IF THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS IN THE PAST THEY HAVE BEEN FIXED." APPARENTLY THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT - I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THEM AS HAVE OTHER JETTA OWNERS WITH WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN.

NO ADVANCE NOTICE. THE CAR SHUT OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENTS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER , CARL GREGORY IN COLUMBUS, GA, COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AT FIRST. LATER THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED: 1. HARNESS P/N 1J0-971-349-HG, 2. HOLDER P/N 1J0-937-617-D, .FUSE P/N N-104-249-0. THEY DID NOT RETURN THE PARTS TO ME. SINCE NO ONE WAS SURE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OR IF THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN WITH ONLY 56622 MILES THAT I COULD NOT TRUST TO DRIVE OUT OF TOWN. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF JUNE 22, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

WHILE TRYING TO CLOSE THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW, IT STOPPED HALF WAY UP AND GOT STUCK. AFTER PUSHING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON TO LOWER THE WINDOW, IT FELL OUT OF THE TRACK MECHANISM AND INTO THE DOOR.

VW JETTA 2003 OIL LEAKAGE FROM OIL PAN SCREW ACCORDING LOCAL SERVICE GUY: ALUMIN PAN AND STEEL SCREW THEARD ON OIL PAN LOOSE GRIP. VW NEED TO RECALL THIS. HTTP://WWW.AUHO.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-1613.HTML *TR

THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STATION WAGON WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHICH WAS LANDSCAPED WITH 3.5-INCH HIGH BELGIAN BLOCK CURBS. FROM A PARKED POSITION AND AT A DEAD STOP THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AT ALMOST NO SPEED SO THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CLIMBED ONE OF THE BELGIAN BLOCK CURBS. THE DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE CAR. AS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CLIMED THE BELGIAN BLOCK CURB THE PASSENGER'S SEATBACK SIDE-THORAX AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT AIRBAG WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, BUT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE TO ANY PART OF THE CAR ARISING FROM THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND THE BELGIAN BLOCK CURB. *AK

IGNITION COILS ON 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T CONTINUE D TO FAIL EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 6 COILS IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. NUMEROUS TIMES A COIL FAILED WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. I COULD RECALL TWICE WHERE I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY FLASH LETTING ME KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS HAVING A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS AND PLENTY OF OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT I DO A TUNE-UP ON THE VEHICLE ONLY 5,000 MILES AFTER ONE WAS PERFORMED. HE COULD NOT PINPOINT' THE PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE IT EITHER. APPARENTLY, VOLKSWAGEN WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAD NOT TAKEN ACTION TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THIS WAS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS THAT SHOULD BE MORE OF A PRIORITY TO VOLKSWAGEN CONSIDERING I HAVE FOUND PLENTY OF ARTICLES ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.*AK

ADDENDUM TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP05004 OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 11 MONTHS, FOUR OF THE IGNITION COILS IN MY 2003 JETTA GLI/ 6CYL HAVE FAILED. THE SERVICE DATES FOR EACH OCCURRENCE ARE: 5-12-06, 8-9-06, 12-26-06 AND 4-5-07. UPON THE THIRD FAILURE IN DECEMBER 2006 I ASKED IF MY VW DEALER COULD REPLACE ALL OF THE ORIGINAL IGNITION COILS, AS CLEARLY A PATTERN OF FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO REPLACE COILS AS THEY FAILED AND THAT I COULD CONTACT VW TO VOICE MY CONCERN. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REQUEST THAT THEY REPLACE THE REMAINING 3 COILS, TO AGAIN RECEIVE THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE COILS AS THEY FAIL, BUT NOT PROACTIVELY. (AS LONG AS MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY.) TODAY THE FOURTH IGNITION COIL FAILED AND I AM NOW OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY COVERAGE. (WARRANTY ENDED 2-28-07.) I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE ANOTHER COMPLAINT AND WAS INSTRUCTED THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AS THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. UPON RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION, I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP05004, WHICH INDICATES THAT VW ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS ON 1-31-03, 6-6-03, 12-03 AND 1-04 INSTRUCTING DEALERS TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PACKS IN MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS. UPON FINDING THIS INFORMATION, I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN TO SEE IF MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY THE CSC, AS CSC'S ARE VIN SPECIFIC, NOT MODEL/YEAR SPECIFIC.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER IT DEPLOYED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S EARS. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 60,000. *AK

I OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGON JETTA THAT CAME WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. AT 20,435 THOUSAND MILES I GOT MY FIRST FLAT TIRE. WHEN A SECOND TIRE WENT FLAT LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A FULL SET OF DIFFERENT TIRES. WHEN THE OLD TIRES WERE REMOVED THERE WAS SEVERE CRACKING AND "TEARS" IN THE WALLS OF THE TIRES. I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REASON AS TO WHY THE TIRES WENT FLAT. I LIVE IN A SAFE NEIGHBOORHOOD AND HAD MY CAR FOR A YEAR BEFORE THE TIRES STARTED TO GO FLAT. I DID NOT DRIVE THROUGH ANY CONSTRUCTION SITES AND THERE WAS NO SIGN THIS WAS VANDALISM SINCE THE CUTS WERE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. LUCKILY, NEITHER OF THE FLATS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY BECAUSE I COULD HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR. WHEN MY TIRES WERE REPLACED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I WAS BASICALY DRIVING ON "TIME BOMBS" AND THAT IT WAS GOOD THAT I CAME IN. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME OTHER TIRES WITH THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE GOODYEAR HAD A LINE OF DEFECTIVE TIRES AND THEY WERE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. WITH A NAME LIKE GOODYEAR I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE CARED MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. ASIDE FROM THE TEARS, THE TIRES ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE WITH THE TREAD BARELY WORN DOWN. MOST TIRES LAST 40,000 PLUS MILES, I GOT MY FIRST FLAT TIRE AT HALF THAT. NOW, I AM OUT OVER $500.00 BECAUSE I HAD TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW SET OF TIRES. I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS GOODYEAR HAS NOT OFFERED TO PAY ANY OF THAT. I KEPT THE TIRES AS PROOF AND I HAVE MANY PICTURES. APPAR

I PURCHASED A 2003 VW JETTA THIS PAST APRIL. ON NOVEMBER 22, 2006 AT 6:00 AM ON INTERSTATE 395 CT, MY SIDE DRIVER AIRBAGS, BACK SEAT AIRBAG AND DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ON THE HIGHWAY NOR WAS MY CAR STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT DAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT ASSUMING THAT THEY WOULD FIND A DEFECT AND FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF BEING HELPED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER I WAS ACCUSED OF HITTING SOMETHING. THEY SAID THERE WAS DAMAGE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY INSURANCE BRANCH AND THEY FOUND NO DAMAGE. VW AGAIN REFUSED MY CLAIM. I THEN HAD THE INSURANCE COMPANY COME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT THE CAR. LATER THAT WEEK THE INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE CAR AND HE FOUND NO DAMAGE TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY THE $3,000 TO FIX THE CAR AND VW WILL NOT PAY. I HAVE 3 DEPLOYED AIRBAGS AND ONE BROKEN DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. *JB

DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER ELEMENT IN 2003 JETTA CAUGHT FIRE BURNING HOLE IN LEATHER SEAT AND BURNING DRIVER. *JB

THREE OUT OF FOUR OF MY IGNITION COILS HAVE BLOWN AND I HAVE LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING, HOWEVER I HAVE TO KEEP BREAKING DOWN AND GETTING MY CAR TOWED IN FOR IT TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THEY KNOW THEY ARE ALL BAD, BUT IF I ASK THEM TO FIX THEM I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEY SAY AND I QUOTE "I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT" I TELL EVERYONE HOW MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DETERRED AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE CONSIDERING VOLKSWAGENS TO BUY DIFFERENT VEHICLES. ITS A SHAME THIS IS MY HUSBAND AND I'S SECOND VOLKSWAGEN BUT THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED/OR BROKEN DOWN 9 TIMES IN LESS THEN 3 YEARS, THAT'S NOT GOOD. ONCE THIS LEASE IS UP WE WILL NEVER DEAL WITH VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN. THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THAT'S A SHAME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE COIL ISSUE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME PROBLEM, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A HUGE DEFECT AND A LOT OF VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. *JB

EPC LIGHT ON DASH KEEPS COMING ON. WHEN ON, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT CAR OUT PARK. WHEN AT IDLE AND LIGHT COMES ON, IDLES WILDLY UP AND DOWN. WHEN EPC LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JETTA JLS. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY A TRUCK AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, FLIPPED OVER SIDEWAYS, AND END OVER END, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A CANAL. THE DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE AND IT BECAME SUBMERGED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE DOORS, THE REAR AND THE FRONT. THE AIR BAG SIDE/CURTAIN, FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY DURING THE CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 35000. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKE NOSE, AS WELL AS, OTHER INJURIES. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STATION WAGON, CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE SEAT HEATER WAS OPERATING. THE SEAT SUSTAINED A HOLE THE DIAMETER OF A PENCIL. THE SEAT BURNED PASSENGER BUTTOCKS, BUT DIDN'T CATCH HIS CLOTHING ON FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH APPROX 66,000 MILES THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS BROKE OFF AND THE ENGINE FELL TO THE GROUND. DAMAGES WERE TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE CAR AND NO ONE SUFFERED INJURIES. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES. NO SIGNS THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS OR ASSEMBLY BOLTS WERE BAD OR LOOSE. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT THE BOLTS ARE NOT. THEY WANT US TO PAY $2,200.00 FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE WARRANTY COVER OTHER PARTS. I TOLD THEM THAT THE BOLTS ARE PART OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THEY FAIL TO PERFORM AS EXPECTED. IN ADDITION THE CAR IS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE SAME VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO. PLEASE ADVISE SINCE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AS I USUALLY DO. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIX MY CAR AND INSPECT ALL VOLKSWAGEN'S FOR ANY DEFECTIVE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS. THANK-YOU *JB

WHILE PULLING TO A STOP AT THE END OF MY STREET I HEARD A LOUD BANG. AFTER GETTING OUT AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SPRING TO BREAK. I AM PUZZLED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED ON A CAR WITH ONLY 78,000 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THIS IS THE 6TH JETTA OR GOLF THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THE CAR IS A 2003 VW JETTA TDI. I AM NOW OUT $450 TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS? *JB

SINCE I HAVE HAD MY JETTA THE SEAT WARMERS HAVE BEEN HOT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THAT IS HOW THEY WORK. SINCE THEN MY SEAT WARMER HAS BURNED A HOLE IN THE CLOTH SEAT AND HAS BURNED ME. IT ALSO CREATES SPARKS WHEN TURNED ON. *JB

2003 VW JETTA AT 40K MILES TRANS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB 06, JUNE 06 SAME SYMPTOMS, TOLD BY DEALER NOT TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE SENSORS TAKE TIME TO ADJUST TO NEW TRANS, EMISSIONS LIGHT ON DEALER SAYS NOT TO WORRY IF IT DOES NOT STAY ON, CONTINUE TO CALL,WITH SAME RESPONSE. DEC 06 CAR LOSES POWER ON INTERSTATE TAKES TWO WKS TO MAKE AN APPT TO GET INTO DEALER, TOLD IT IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, VW WILL NOT WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THIS PART WAS NOT CHKD WHEN TRANS REPLACED, TOLD THIS PART IS THE BRAIN TO TRANS IT TELLS TRANS WHEN TO SHIFT. DEALER AND VW OF NO HELP. LOOKED AT CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON THE INTERNET NOTICED HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AS I SAME YEAR SAME MODEL. THE ECM LIGHT STAYS ON AND IS NOT EMITTING SMOKE. *NM

OUR JETTA WAS REAR-ENDED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE GAS TANK EXPLODED, CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME A FIREBALL. THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY TOTALLED, AND WE LOST ALL OF OUR BELONGINGS INSIDE THE CAR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #04V096000, REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE YEAR. UPDATED 08/1/07 *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SIDE AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FIVE PEOPLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NON RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #04V096000 REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DRIVER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER ON A COLD EVENING AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT HEATER BEGINS TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE WITH THREE MINUTES. THE DRIVER ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID BEING BURNED BY THE SEAT. THE DRIVERS NO LONGER USE THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, AT A LOSS OF $300. *NM

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED, RESULTING IN NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER ONLY TO FAIL AGAIN WITHIN A FEW DAYS. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS THE BRAKES ETHER DO NOT WORK OR STAY ON WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. ALSO IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO STAY ON THE ACCELERATOR IS NON RESPONSIVE SINCE IT IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. THIS SAME SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, THE SAME SWITCH IS BEING USED IN THIS MODEL. *NM

WATER FOUND ON DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARDS, FRONT AND REAR. WATER VISIBLE AROUND SUNROOF CONTROLLER AND ON DIRVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD PANEL AIR BG. *NM

I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA TDI. ON 10/17/2006 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 72 MPH WHEN MY GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I HAD RECENTLY REPLACED THE GLOW PLUGS SO I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I WAS NOT TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT OTHER VW JETTA MODEL YEARS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT AND A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 99-02 MODELS. APPARENTLY 03 MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT DEALERS ARE NOT INFORMING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *NM

2003 VW JETTA. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS BROKEN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVEABLE. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS KEEPS FALLING INTO THE DOOR. *NM

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT I NOTICED THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM WHEN I GOT HOME ON A VW RELATED WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS NOT WORKING IT CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ALSO STOP WORKING. WHAT I ALSO FOUND OUT IS THAT SINCE THIS SWITCH WAS BROKEN ALL MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR ME TO BECOME AWARE THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING UNLESS I HAD CONNECTED THE PROBLEM BY RESEARCHING IT ONLINE. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK FOR THOSE WHO WOULD NOT ASSOCIATE A CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH AND THEREFORE BE DRIVING AROUND UNKNOWINGLY WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY NOT HAVING THE PROPER BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATIONAL. FORTUNATELY IN MY SITUATION IT DID NOT RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION. I UNDERSTAND THAT VWOFA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 1999-2002 MODELS AND I HAVE A 2003 JETTA. IT FRUSTRATES ME THAT VW IS NOT RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO EXTEND THIS WARRANTY TO LATER MODEL YEARS AS THE PART HAS NOT CHANGED. IN MY OPINION THEY WAIT UNTIL THEY GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR THE NEWER YEARS BEFORE THEY AUTHORIZE RECALLS FOR THOSE YEARS. (THE 2004'S WILL FAIL LATER AND SO ON AND SO ON). THE PART NUMBER THAT FAILED ON MY CAR IS 1J0 945 511 C (ON MY CAR, BUT CURRENT PART NUMBER IS F REVISION). I HOPE THAT THIS COMPLAINT WILL GET VWOFA TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 97.3 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GEAR BUSHING WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE GEAR WAS: 01M-409-187. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE BUSHING WAS: 095-409-190. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT, THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO KEEP THE OLD GEAR AND BUSHING. THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE AND WANTED THE OLD PARTS. *AK

2003 VW JETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS A PERSON TRAVELING BEHIND BE DID NOT KNOW I WAS STOPPING. EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THERE IS NO INDICATION LIGHT TO LET THE DRIVER OF THE JETTA KNOW THIS HAS HAPPENED. VW HAD A RECALL ON THE 2002 MODEL OF THIS CAR FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT THE 2003? IT USES THE EXACT SAME PART! TO SEE JUST HOW RAMPANT THIS PROBLEM IS JUST LOOK AT HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1158315&PAGE=6. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA GOING 50 MPH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD GET THE CALL MADE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT DETECTED A FAINT SMELL OF RUBBER BURNING. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EPC ENGINE PROTECTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED WHEN THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED; THIS WAS INDICATING THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V096000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS CROSSING THE UNITED STATES BORDER FROM CANADA DUE TO A REQUIRED CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY FROM VW OF AMERICA STATING THAT THE VEHICLE CONFORMED TO US FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, CALIFORNIA AIR EMISSION REGULATIONS AND US EPA EMISSION REGULATIONS. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE VEHICLE MET ALL OF THE ABOVE EXCEPT THE SPEEDOMETER MUST BE KEPT IN READING MPH (WHICH IT DOES), THE ODOMETER MUST BE LABELED (IT IS LABELED IN KM), THE DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ANTILOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT MUST BE MARKED BRAKE AND ABS IN LETTERS AT LEAST 1/8 OF AN INCH HIGH. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE AND ABS INDICATORS ARE IMAGES , WHICH THE CONTACT CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS, AND THE CONTACT DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW CHANGING THE IMAGES TO WORDS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RANGES FROM $500-700. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON TDI.

I PURCHASED A 2003 VW JETTA TDI WAGON ABOUT A YEAR AGO, USED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT TO ME THUS FAR, UNTIL MY GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AT ME THE OTHER DAY. AFTER CHECKING THE MANUAL, WHICH BASICALLY SAID THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ERROR, AND NOT MUCH MORE, I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION. THE SEARCH RESULTS MENTIONED THAT IT IS MOST LIKELY A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM AND EITHER THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON, OR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. SO, AFTER MY WIFE CHECKED THE BACK OF THE CAR WHILE I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, SURE ENOUGH, MY BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK! I CHECKED THE WEB SOME MORE, AND IT LOOKS AS IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 98-02 JETTAS FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. BEING THAT MINE IS A 2003, MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL! I DID SOME MORE SEARCHES, AND HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM I FOUND THIS THREAD, WHICH DETAILS A DIY METHOD OF REPLACING THIS $10 PART. I'D RATHER DO THIS MYSELF IF I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO WHAT AMOUNTS TO AN EXTORTION FEE FOR THIS 5 MINUTE JOB. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, I THINK VW SHOULD REPLACE THIS PART, FREE OF CHARGE. I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON MY JETTA MODEL BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU AREN'T WARNED WHEN YOU BRAKE. THE FACT THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT MENTION WHAT TYPE OF A PROBLEM THIS IS WOULD FURTHER LEAD TO MORE CONFUSION. THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM MAKES MY CAR ILLEGAL TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS FURTHER C

I HAVE A 2003 JETTA WAGON TDI, 3.5 YEARS OLD WITH 63K MILES. I WAS DRIVING IN A NARROW RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN. I BEGAN TO RAISE THE WINDOWS AND I HEARD A LOUD POP AND A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT TURNS OUT THE WINDOW MECHANISM HAD BROKEN AND THE WINDOW WAS HANGING THERE 1/3 CLOSE IN A STRANGE ANGLE. I TRIED TO LOWER IT OR RAISE IT, BUT INSTEAD IT JUST WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE SOUND STARTLED ME AND I MOMENTARILY SWERVED AND HIT THE CURVE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR OTHER PROPERTY. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH WET COLD AIR BLOWING IN, WHICH WAS VERY DISTRACTING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BOTH BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL SOUND IS STARTLING, AND BECAUSE THE CONDITION BECOMES A DISTRACTION FROM DRIVING. *JB

2003 VW JETTA CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL OUT AT 47,962 MILES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT, AND THIS IS VERY PREMATURE FOR A CLUTCH FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $2088.00 PLUS TAX FOR PARTS AND LABOR. MY DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME AT $1400 BACK HOME, BUT IM STUCK IN COLORADO WAITING FOR THE CUSTOMER CARE TO GET BACK TO ME. EVERY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO INCLUDING VW CERTIFIED; BUT NOT AFFILIATED HAVE TOLD ME THAT EVEN THE WORST CLUTCH -RIDER(WHICH I AM NOT) WOULD HAVE CLUTCH FAILURE AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. VW IS TOO CHEAP TO SUBMIT A RECALL FOR THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES ON THEIR 2000-2004 VEHICLES. WITH THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB AND EVEN ON THIS SITE, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND IM NOT JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THE EXTREMELY OUTRAGEOUS REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR COSTS. PLUS! THEY NOW USE NON- RE-SURFACE FLYWHEELS...*JB

MY WIFE'S 2003 VW JETTA TDI BRAKES WILL AGGRESSIVELY LOCK-UP WHEN LIGHTLY DEPRESSED FOR SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A SLOW STOP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND WILL OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK UP THEY CAN ONLY BE RELEASED AFTER PLACING YOUR FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL AND FORCING THE PEDAL BACKWARDS. IN THE EVENT ANOTHER DIVER FOLLOWS TOO CLOSE, THE FAILURE WILL RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO BOTH PARTIES. AFTER EXPERIENCING THE DEFECT THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE VW DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WE RECEIVED A "NO FAULT FOUND REPORT". NOW THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME SEVERE AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY WIFE AND I. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY BEARINGS SEIZED AND THE PULLEY WAS EJECTED FROM THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS IN THE SERPENTINE SYSTEM. *NM

BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS IN 2003. SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOR EXAMPLE THE GLOVE BOX COVER, WHEEL BEARING. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ON MOST NEWER VEHICLES THAT WHEEL BEARINGS DO NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE. MY CAR HAS 74,000 MILES. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING AND MY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR IF GOING OVER 30 MPH CUT OUT. THERE WAS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND 2 COILS WERE FAULTY. THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION COILS FOR CYLINDERS 1&3 AND CLEARED FAULT CODES. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT SAID VOLKSWAGEN FEELS THE IGNITION COILS ARE A REGULAR MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND AM FINDING THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE COILS. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THAT VW HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT TO VW OWNERS TO BRING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE COILS. VW REPRESENTATIVE IN MICHIGAN TOLD ME THAT THEY STOPPED DOING THAT IN 2005. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOT HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS. VW KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I LOVE MY VW BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS THIS CAR THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I TRADE VEHICLES EVERY 3-4 YEARS BUT WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. NOT BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG BECAUSE THE STRANGE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR DRIVERS. *JB

OUT OF NO WHERE MY RADIO ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON STOPPED WORKING. ALL I GOT WAS STATIC ON MY RADIO. AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL VW FORUMS, I FOUND OUT THAT MY RADIO ANTENNA HAD CORRODED INSIDE. I TOOK IT APART AND CLEANED ALL THE CORROSION AND FOUND THAT THE MAIN WIRE ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BROKE. I HAD TO SOLDER A NEW WIRE ONTO IT. MANY VW OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A ANTENNA SHOULD NOT GO BAD IN A THREE YEAR OLD CAR. *JB

A WEEK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT SPEEDOMETER QUIT. NON VW REPAIR SHOP REPLACED SPEED SENSOR, THIS DID NOT FIX SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM SO THEY SENT ME TO NY VW DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANK SENSOR. COULD NOT EVEN DRIVE CAR OUT OF THEIR LOT AFTER THE REPAIR AS CAR WAS STALLING AND HESITATING. THEY THEN SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE NEEDLE LIFT SENSOR. I BEGGED THEM AT THAT POINT TO LOOK FOR A WIRING PROBLEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT 3 SENSORS COULD ALL GO AT ONCE WITHOUT A SYSTEM CAUSE. I WAS TOLD TO "TRUST THEM" AND THAT THEY HAD CHECKED WITH VW AND VW SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. "THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SAID THAT IS ALL THAT IS WRONG" . AFTER WEEK IN REPAIR SHOP VW DEALER TOLD ME CAR WAS "ALL FIXED". 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES LATER ON I-83 SOUTH OF HARRISBURG CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LURCHING OUT OF CONTROL, THEN STALLED. I WAS NEAR EXIT 32 AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF SAFELY, FORTUNATELY. HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER. NOW VW DEALER IN PA TELLS ME CAR HAD "COOLANT MIGRATION" WHICH WAS SOURCE OF ALL PROBLEMS, THEY THINK DEALER IN NY SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT. VW IS BACKING NY DEALER THAT THEY FIXED CAR CORRECTLY DESPITE OTHER DEALERS COMMENT AND MY NEAR MISS WITH BEING CRASHED INTO BY OTHER DRIVERS ON I-83. I FAIL TO SEE HOW COOLANT MIGRATION HAPPENED IN 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES. PA VW DEALER SAYS NY DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE MISSED THE COOLANT MIGRATION, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE REPLACED THE EXPENSIVE SENSORS BEFORE REPAIRING THE COOLANT MIGRATION PROBLEM. I CERTAINLY AGREE SINCE I

MY SITUATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10136903. I HAVE A 2003 JETTA. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH, MY ABS WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AND MY RADIO TURNED OFF. AFTER STOPPING MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT MY FUSE PANEL (ABOVE THE BATTERY) HAD MELTED AND HE WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT MY CAR HADN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. A JUMP START STARTED IT. NEXT DAY, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. A JUMP START STARTED IT. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MECHANIC. MY ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS FINE LAST WEEK, IS NOW FRIED (AFTER TWO DRIVES), MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THE FUSE PANEL BURNT IT OUT. THE ALTERNATOR IN MY 2003 JETTA IS A 90 AMP ALTERNATOR. VW STOPPED MAKING THESE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR THE CARS. I REPEAT, 90 AMP ALTERNATORS ARE NO LONGER MADE FOR MY CAR BECAUSE IT REQUIRES 120 AMP ALTERNATOR. HMM. *NM

GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRE FAILED DUE TO CRACKS ON THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL LEADING TO A BLOWOUT AND NEAR SEPARATION OF THE TIRE FROM THE WHEEL. *NM

TIRE RIMS ON 2003 JETTA WOLFSBURG EDITION MODEL CORRODE AND CAUSE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LEAKS. MY DAUGHTERS HAVE CALLED CRYING SEVERAL TIMES WITH NEARLY FLAT TIRES. HAD THEY NOT NOTICED, WE COULD HAVE HAD DISASTROUS RESULTS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS AND VW USA ABOUT THE UNSIGHTLY CORROSION. THE HAVE DISMISSED IT AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN NORTHERN WEATHER WERE THIS SALT ON THE ROAD. IT'S NOW A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO DRIVES THAT CAR. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI GLS. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FAITHFULLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTED IN THE USER MANUAL. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED ON THIS COMPLAINT, THE A/C CEASED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THERE WAS NO COOL AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTDOWN, THE RADIATOR FANS WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN UPWARDS OF 15 MINUTES. NEITHER EVENT HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO A VW DEALERSHIP ON THE INCIDENT DATE TO HAVE ITS NORMAL 110,000 MILE SERVICE AND TO HAVE THE ISSUES (NOTED ABOVE) DIAGNOSED. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP LATER IN THE DAY ON THE INCIDENT DATE STATING THAT A FAILURE IN THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO BE WICKED INTO THE VEHICLE'S WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO CONTAMINATION / CORROSION OF THE ENGINE AND BODY HARNESS. THE QUOTE TO REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $6,000. THIS PROBLEM IS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HARNESS ITSELF, ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT COULD BE AFFECTED SUCH AS THE AIRBAGS, ABS, SRS, ETC. ALSO, FROM MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND SOME PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM HAVE ALSO HAD SMOKE OR FIRES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. VW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (ID# C 97-01-01) FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE ON 19

CONTINUOUS LEAKING OF WATER INTO INTERIOR OF CAR FROM CURRENTLY UNDETERMINED SOURCE(S) CAUSING MOLD/MILDEW PROBLEMS. OCCURS DURING/AFTER RAIN EVENTS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION PROBLEMS WERE NOTICE WITH THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BLACK BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE PURPLE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE. THE BLACK BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD A RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE 2003 MODELS. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH, WHICH INCLUDES THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM AND THE PARK POSITION LEVER WHICH LOCKS OFTEN. ALSO THE CONTACT ONCE BECAME STRANDED ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. ALL REPAIRS MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN COVERED BY THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT BRAKE LIGHTS BECAUSE REPRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM