2005 Volkswagen Jetta

OVER THE PAST 11 MONTHS OF OWNING MY VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS (LIGHTBULB ONLY) SEVEN TIMES. ALSO, OTHER VARIOUS BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. THE FIRST TIME, I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 DAY OFF THE LOT (USED). THE FIX IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO PURCHASE NEW HEADLIGHTS. I'VE TRIED HIGH QUALITY SYLVANIA H7 LIGHTS, AND ALSO TESTED THE LOWER QUALITY TO SEE IF IT WOULD LAST LONGER, OR HOLD OUT AT ALL. VW (VIA A DEALERSHIP, NOT CORPORATE) HAS INDICATED THAT IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, A SEAL IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, OR THE OBVIOUS POOR VENTILATION TO RELIEVE THE HEAT BUILD-UP. THERE IS A PLASTIC CAP INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON EACH HEADLIGHT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE SOCKETS. IT DOES GET VERY HOT IN THERE. VW DID INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT COVER BULB REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY, AS FREQUENT OR INFREQUENT AS IT MIGHT HAPPEN. ON A SEPARATE NOTE, AUTOZONE (LOCAL PARTS DISTRIBUTOR) HAS MADE COMMENTS INDICATING THE TYPE OF BULB (H7) IS OF POOR DESIGN ON ANY VEHICLE. ANOTHER ACQUAINTANCE HAS ADVISED ME ON HER VW, THERE ARE SIMILAR LIGHTING ISSUES. I AM SEEKING A RESOLVE, AS THE LIGHTS ARE RATHER EXPENSIVE ALONE, AND LETTING THE DEALERSHIP FIX THEM EXTREMELY COSTLY. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED WAS THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE, AND THE LAST TIME WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. TO NOTE, THE HEADLIGHT USUALLY BLOWS OUT WHEN I START THE VEHICLE, NOT WHEN IT'S RUNNING. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I AM EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AS TO NOT TOUCH THE BULB DIRECTLY, AS I KNOW THIS TO CAUSE DAMAGE. *TR

MY TRUNK HAS NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY FROM THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK WITHIN A FEW WEEKS TO BE REPAIRED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART AND IT TOOK A FEW MORE WEEKS. WHEN THEY REPLACED IT, IT STILL CONTINUED NOT TO CLOSE PROPERLY. I HAVE THE OLD PART. I ALSO RECENTLY HAD AN AIR BAG DEFAULT SENSOR COME ON. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING THIS AND THEY CONTINUE TO ADVISE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO CHARGE ME A DIAGNOSIS OF 97.50 AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL IF THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE TRIED TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEY INSIST THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ROOM AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO MY VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS HAZARDS THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING YET THEY FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR CUSTOMER. *TR

I OWN A 2005 VW JETTA TDI. AT APPROX. 60,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAVE REPLACED THE SAME FLAP MOTOR 3 TIMES AND IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, COOLING KIT, SENSOR, AND IT COMES BACK AS A FLAP MOTOR FAILURE. HAS VW HAD A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE FLAP MOTORS ON THE TURBO DIESEL MOTORS?. VW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 VW 2.5 JETTA. MY FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 32,000 MILES WHEN THE BACK BRAKES WENT OUT. FOLLOWING THAT, MY BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME FAULTY. AFTER REPLACING MY BRAKE LIGHTS, THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $38 TO CHANGE THEM AGAIN. THEY WENT OUT ONCE AGAIN BEFORE THE DEALER DECIDED TO INFORM ME THERE WAS A DEFECT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME MY SPARK PLUGS WERE WET FROM THE RAIN. THEY SUGGESTED THE 40K MILE MAINTENANCE AT $500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AGREED TO DO THIS ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME ON AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 MORE TIMES UNTIL THE DEALER FINALLY REVEALED THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS. THEY WERE DYING ELECTRONICALLY ONE BY ONE AND THEY HAD TO ORDER 5 NEW UPDATED COILS FROM MICHIGAN FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN. 6 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 50 MILES. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THE A/C FAN MOTOR HAS DIED. THERE IS NO SENSOR FOR THIS SO THE FAN MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED AT $780.00. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE LARGER FAN IS WORKING, BUT IT IS WEAK AND MIGHT NEED REPLACED AS WELL. THE CAR JERKS AND RUNS VERY ROUGH. MY CAR ALSO MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN I START IT. WHEN I AM SITTING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT FOR A CAR THAT HAS 56K MILES CURRENTLY. *TR

THE FUSE FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX. I CALLED VW AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THEY MANUFACTURED THE VEHICLE THEY PLACED A 25 AMP FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX AND IT SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A 30 AMP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I CAN DO THIS MYSELF SINCE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PLACED ON THIS. I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I CAN GET THE FUSE OUT SINCE IT IS MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE FUSE BOX REPLACED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT I NEVER DID. I CANNOT USE MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, HEATED SEATS AND MY HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHERS DON'T EVEN WORK. I HAVE WENT THE ROUNDS WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY STICK TO TELLING ME THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS IN REPLACING THE FUSE BOX. ITS LIKE THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I BUILT THE CAR AND I PLACED THE WRONG FUSE. IF I DID BUILD THE CAR AND PLACE THE WRONG FUSE IN THE CAR I WOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, BUT I DID NOT BUILD IT VW BUILT IT AND I FEEL THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLACING THE WRONG FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX. *TR

I OWN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW JETTA 2.5 WHICH JUST HAD AN INCIDENT OF THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT GOING ON. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE SERVICED AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHICH WAS THE REASON FOR THE LIGHT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT 58,00 MILES AND MY WARRANTY WAS ONLY EXTENDED TO 50,000 MILES, LEAVING ME TO SHOULDER THE COSTS OF A NEW SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE SEATBELT'S INNER ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS HAVE BURNED OUT, BUT THERE ARE NO OTHER DEFECTS WITH THE BUCKLE. BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT HAS BURNED OUT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED UNSTABLE AND MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT IN NO WAY SHOULD I BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT REGARDLESS OF MY VEHICLE'S WARRANTY STATUS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAFETY ISSUE BUT STRANGELY VOLKSWAGEN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. ALTHOUGH I CANNOT FIND ANY INCIDENTS OF ACCIDENT REGARDING THIS DEFECT, I FEEL THAT A PROACTIVE APPROACH AND INVESTIGATION IS BETTER THAN SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE OR LOVED ONE FROM THIS DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE A 2005.5 VW JETTA TDI WITH A 5 SPEED MANUAL. IT HAS A SACHS CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN GIVING ME ISSUES FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES. IT FINALLY FAILED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK IN RUSH HOURS TRAFFIC AND DISABLED ME. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AVOID INJURY ON I-96 IN NOVI MICHIGAN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BTY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY ARE NOT HELPING OUT THE CONSUMERS. THEY HAVE A TSB ISSUED ON NOV. 7, 2007 #03 07 01. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET VW TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND HELP US OUT? IT IS GOING TO COST ME $3,000 FOR THE REPAIR NOT TO MENTION I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID INJURY ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. PERHAPS THE NEXT PERSON WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY? *TR

THURSDAY AUG 14, 2008 I WAS EXITING OFF THE HIGHWAY RT 9 EXIT 5 IN CT. THE EXIT IS AT THE TOP OF A HILL SO I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND COASTED TO THE BOTTOM. MY CAR IS A 2005 NEW JETTA WITH 2.5L 5 CYL 5 SPEED MANUAL. I HAVE ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH OR TRANSMISSION. AS I STARTED COASTING I SHIFTED THE CAR TO SECOND GEAR NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE EXIT BUT DIDN'T RELEASE THE CLUTCH. I HEARD A LOAD BANG SOUND AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGED. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY NOSE DIVED AND THE ENGINE RACED TO REDLINE. THE CLUTCH PEDDLE WAS ON THE FLOORBOARD AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO LOCKUP THE BRAKES TO FORCE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR AND COASTED TO THE STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS FOLLOWING ME AT THE TIME AS I WOULD HAVE REARENDED FOR SURE. AT THE STOP SIGN THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAME UP OFF THE FLOOR AT THE CLUTCH PARTIALLY WORK SO I DROVE THE CAR TO THE COMMUTER PARKING LOT AND LEFT IT TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. FRIDAY AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT THEY DON'T COVER WEAR AND TEAR ON CLUTCH PARTS. THE BILL WOULD BE ABOUT 2400.00 DOLLARS. BECAUSE I HAD 70000 MILES ON THE CAR I WOULD HAVE TO SEE THE PARTS BEFORE I COULD MAKE THAT JUDGMENT AS TO WEAR AND TEAR. SO I TOLD THEM TO FIX IT BUT I WANT THE PARTS. THE FINAL BILL CAME TO 2164.71 DOLLARS. THE PRESSURE PLATE AND FLYWHEEL SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ABUSE OR BURNING. THE CLUTCH HAD PLENTY OF PAD LEFT BUT WAS BROKEN DUE TO THE FORCE OF ENGAGING AT 60 MILE PER HOUR IN SECOND GEAR. THE MECHANICS REASON FOR FAILURE WAS "PRESSURE PLATE BLEW OUT" AND MY BOSS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER SAID IT LOOK LIKE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE NOT A WEAR ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHY VW GET TO WASH THEIR HANDS OF THIS UNDER A CAME OF THEY DON'T COVER CLUTCH PARTS UNDER WARRANTY AND WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF THIS COULD HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY IT COULD ALSO HAVE HAPPEN AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR