2001 Volkswagen Jetta

WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNING MY VW JETTA 1.8L TURBO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF. EACH TIME THAT I TAKE IT IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED SOMETHING IS REPAIRED, BUT IN A FEW DAYS THE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND THERE IS A NEW PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF WORK DONE ON THE CAR AND NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES UNTIL THE CAR IS WARMED UP. IF I TRY TO DRIVE THE CAR BEFORE THE SHAKING STOPS, IT BARELY MOVES EVEN IF COMPLETELY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP, NEARLY HITTING OTHER CARS WHEN PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN THE CAR DOES WARM UP IT LURCHES FORWARD BUT THEN SEEMS TO RUN JUST FINE. I HAVE HAD THE RECALLED PROBLEMS FIXED AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING, AND THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OTHER WEBSITES. *NM

MY WIFE OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VR6 GLX. CURRENTLY IT HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. IN SEPTEMBER WE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE CAR HESITATES AND FEELS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. WHEN IT WARMS UP THE CAR WORKS PERFECTLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER LAST MONTH TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND PERFORM THE NEEDED SERVICE. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY (WHICH WAS NEEDED) AND PERFORMED THE SERVICE, BUT DID NOT FIX OR ADDRESS THE STALLING ISSUE. THEIR THOUGHT WAS THAT THE STALLING WAS RELATED TO THE BATTERY. WHEN THE STALLING CONTINUED MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO A MIENEKE REPAIR SHOP. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT CHARGE US AND SUGGESTED WE TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. ON OCTOBER 3, 2005 MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALER (DICK HANNAH AT THE VANCOUVER AUTOMALL) TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THEY ASKED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND WHEN SHE MENTIONED THE STALLING THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE PROBLEM. BEFORE MY WIFE COULD EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY CONTINUOUSLY GET CALLS AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, AND IT IS OCCURRING WITH SEVERAL OF THE VW MODELS. THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT THEIR MANAGEMENT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THERE CURRENTLY IS NO SOLUTION. WHAT THEY RECOMMEND IS THAT MY WIFE BUY A FUEL ADDITIVE AND SEE IF THAT HELPS. THEY HAVE NOTICED THAT AFTER ADDING IT TO A FEW TANKS OF GAS THE CARS SEEMS TO PERFORM BETTER, BUT THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. VW THINKS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VALVES, AND THAT IS A PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO THE FUEL USED IN THE NORTHWEST. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. WHEN MY WIFE IS ENTERING A ROADWAY I DO NOT WANT HER CAR TO STALL OR SLOW AND PUT HER IN A SITUATION WHERE HER SAFETY IS AT RISK. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE THERE ARE INJURIES. JOE BESSMAN. *NM

82,5310.00 JUST REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD SOME TYPE OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING. CD PLAYER AND STEREO. CD LCD PANEL WOULD SAY NO CD IN WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE A CD IN THE JACKET IF YOU KEPT PUSHING THE BUTTON SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK. AT TIMES YOU CAN ONLY READ HALF THE CALL LETTERS FOR STATIONS. ROLLING DOWN BACK OF THE WINDOWS YOU WOULD HEAR A VERY LOUD PRESSURE THUMPING NOISE. SO LOUD YOU COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW IN THE BACK. WHEN YOU WOULD TAKE THE CAR IN. MECHANIC'S ALWAYS SAID, IT WAS BASICALLY OUR IMAGINATION. *JB

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (COMPLAINT NUMBERS 30291114,30343786 AND 03092183) OUR 2001 JETTA STARTED CLICKING AND BLOWING WHITE SMOKE. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TURBO AND WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THEM ON MAY 19, 2003 AND THEY DID REPLACE THE TURBO. HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED US THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL CLICKING. THEY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD NOT BEEN CHANGING THE OIL WHICH IS WHY THE ENGINE WAS CLOGGED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEN GAVE US THE RUN AROUND FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEY WANTED OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, WHICH WE PROVIDED. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THE TURBO REPLACEMENT WAS DENIED BY VW AND THEY ATE THE COST. HE TOLD US THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY MORE WORK ON THE CAR. ON JULY 09, 2003 WE HAD THE CAR TOWED FROM THE DEALERSHIP.I WENT TO VW AND SPOKE WITH THE NEW SERVICE MANAGER, DONNIE FIELDER. THE NEW SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY HAD JUST REPLACED A GUYS ENGINE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS OURS. HE SAID THEY MESSED UP AND REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY NO QUESTIONS ASKED AND LATER DECIDED HE HAD NOT CHANGED THE OIL. HE SAID THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ENGINE AND WOULD NOT TOUCH OUR VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO ALTERNATIVE IMPORTS ON CHARLOTTE AVENUE. SAM (A.I.) SAID THE ENGINE WAS FULL OF SLUDGE. HE FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR CASES ON A MECHANICS WEB SITE. HE ALSO FOUND THAT VW DID NOT PROPERLY COMPLETE THE TURBO REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE IS THE SAME ONE (1.8L TURBO) THAT VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED, AT LEAST IN THE PASSAT, HAS A SLUDGE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE JETTA EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ENGINE. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PASSATS TO 8 YEARS UNLIMITED MILEAGE.

DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA.*MR THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONSUMER WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TO 7 YEARS/70000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE FOR A STATE EMISSION INSPECTION BUT FAILED THE TEST. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *NM

THE AIR COMING OUT OF MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA'S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT STARTED TO SMELLING LIKE MELTED CRAYONS AND ENGINE FUMES. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE AIR CONDITIONER BROKE DOWN, AND I TOOK IT TO GET REPAIRED AT DEEL VOLKSWAGEN IN MIAMI. I TOLD THE SERVICE AGENT THAT THE CAR ALSO HAD A TERRIBLE SMELL OF CAR FUMES AND TO PLEASE CHECK THAT. THE NEXT DAY, I RECEIVED A SERVICE REPAIR QUOTE FOR $1,300 THAT INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY FUSE BOX, MAIN FAN, A/C FAN AND FAN MODULE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED IN THE CAR ON 10/22/2004. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE A/C HAD THE SAME ENGINE FUMES SMELL, AND TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON, RICARDO WILDER, THAT THE A/C STILL SMELLED THE SAME. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL JETTA'S SMELLED THE SAME, AND THAT I SHOULD DRIVE IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO LET THE NEWLY REPLACED PARTS DO THEIR JOB. IT IS NOW APRIL, 2005 AND THE CAR STILL STRONGLY SMELLS LIKE ENGINE FUMES. AT THE END OF MY DRIVING DAY, MY CLOTHES AND THE INSIDE OF THEE CAR SMELL LIKE ENGINE FUMES. I NOW DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS AND MOON ROOF OPEN AND WITH THE A/C OFF IN ORDER TO FIGHT THE STRONG SMELL. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER THIS SMELL IS, IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY HEALTH. *AK

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE HAS MY OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY. I LOST TRACK AFTER 6 TIMES. THE DEALER (FAULKNER VOLKSWAGEN), HAS TOLD ME EVERYTIME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CAUSED BY THE OXYGEN SENSORS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS THAT THIS FAULT IN THE SENSORS CAN CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AT ANYTIME. WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, I LOOSE POWER IN MY CAR AND SOMETIMES IT STALLS EVEN WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS MYSELF. I HAVE BEEN READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2001 JETTA. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS OR RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES DUE TO THIS YET, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MATTER THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *AK

MY 2001 VW JETTA TIMING BELT BROKE, LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND COST OVER $3300.00 TO REPAIR THE BLOWN ENGINE, NOT ONCE WAS I TOLD UPON PURCHASE OR TRIPS FOR SERVICE AT ANY VW DEALER THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED AT 60 OR 70,000 MILES. , MY CAR HAD 97,000 AT THE TIME. THE CAR FROM DAY ONE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN COSTLY REPAIRS FOR A VEHICLE I THOUGHT TO BE VERY RELIABLE, LOVE THE LOOK OF THE CAR AND IT HAS GREAT PICKUP BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE OF THE REPAIRS FOR ITEMS THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *AK

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 2001, THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEM MAINLY WITH THE CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I HAD MINOR PROBLEMS THAT GOT FIX AND IS FINE NOW. NOW MY MAIN ISSUE IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT BEEN ON AND OFF EVER SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR. WE ARE IN 2005 AND I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING RID OF IT. USUALLY WHEN THE CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER AND SHAKE AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS. THANK GOODNESS THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED I WASN'T ON A BUSY ROAD. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE BRAKES SEEMS TO FAIL TO WORK BECAUASE I WOULD HAVE TO STEP ON IT REALLY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. AFTER GETTING FIX THE LIGHT WOULD REAPPEAR A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. SO I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS SINCE ALL THE TIMES I DID TAKE IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WHICH THEY HAVE REPLACED ALREADY. TOMORROW (4/1/05) I'M TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM BECAUSE LATELY THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WORST. NOW WHEN I FIRST TURN ON THE CAR, I HAVE TO WARM IT UP FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STEP ON THE GAS AND GO OR ELSE IT'LL SHUT DOWN ON ME. EVEN WITH THAT THE CAR BARELY MOVES THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT WILL JERK AND DRIVE ON A NORMAL SPEED. I HAD MAJOR SERVICE DONE ON THE CAR AND THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. TOMORROW WILL PROBABLY BE THE THIRD TIME AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS NEW. I DOUBT THAT THE PROBLEM WILL EVER GO AWAY BECAUSE I BEEN HAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR AND I OWN IT FOR FEW YEARS NOW AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIX. I HONESTLY THINK I BEEN SOLD A LEMON, BUT SPEAKING WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE VW DEALER, THEY DON'T THE ISSUE IS BIG.