1996 Volkswagen Jetta Wipers & Visibility Problems

DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL (12 MINUTE DRIVE) AT NIGHT AND THE AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS SMELLED FUNNY, LIKE COOLANT. I TURNED OFF THE FANS BUT STILL SMELLED FUNNY. I TURNED THE FANS BACK ON AND WHITE 'SMOKE' WAS COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND IT SMELLED HEAVILY OF COOLANT. MY WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG UP WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOWS AND SUNROOF AND TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD TO GET THE WINDOW TO DEFOG, BUT IT ONLY GOT WORSE. I COULD BARELY SEE AND FELT LIKE I WAS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SO I PULLED OFF ON THE NEAREST COUNTY ROAD. THE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND I STILL COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING SO I OPENED THE DOOR AND DROVE TO A SAFE SPOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE WAS COOLANT ALL OVER ON THE FLOORBOARDS AND THAT THE HEATER CORE HAS FAILED. *JB

DT*:THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, THERE WAS STINGING/BURNING SENSATION TO THE CONTACT'S FOOT. WHEN THE FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE GAS PEDAL, A STEAMING LIQUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE FOOT AND ON THE FLOOR AROUND THE PEDALS. THE LIQUID WAS SPEWING FROM AN AREA UNDER DASHBOARD ABOVE THE GAS, BREAK AND CLUTCH PEDALS. STEAM/VAPOR ALSO APPEARED TO BE COMING OUT OF THE DEFROSTER VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ACCESSORIES WERE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED OVER AND OFF THE ROAD. THE HOT LIQUID CONTINUED TO SPEW AND BURN THE CONTACT'S FOOT AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. THE VAPOR OF THE LIQUID FILLED THE VEHICLE INTERFERRING WITH THE CONTACT'S VISION.

ON JANUARY 12, 2006, AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AN OPAQUE WHITE GAS WAS QUICKLY RELEASED FROM MY HEATER VENTS AND WITHIN SECONDS EFFECTIVELY TURNED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY CAR INTO A GAS CHAMBER. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INCREASED AFTER I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY REMOVE THE VEHICLE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR WAS SOLD WITH A PERMANENT MAINTENANCE FREE PINK VW ANTIFREEZE. THE DOCUMENTATION THAT CAME WITH THE CAR INDICATED THAT OTHER THAN TOPPING OFF THE ANTIFREEZE PERIODICALLY THAT NO MAINTENANCE WAS NECESSARY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY HEATER CORE FAILED; THE DEALER SAYS IT FAILED BECAUSE OF LACK OF MAINTENANCE. IF THE SYSTEM IS MAINTENANCE FREE THEN HOW CAN A COMPONENT FAIL BECAUSE OF LACK OF MAINTENANCE? I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN VANDALIZED, BUT THE DEALER DIFFERED. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY WARNINGS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS OCCURRING IN SERVICE BULLETINS OR ANY OTHER VW LITERATURE. IF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A HEATER CORE IS POSSIBLE DOESN'T THE MANUFACTURE HAVE A DUTY TO WARN THE PURCHASERS OF ITS PRODUCTS? *NM

HEATER CORE RUPTURED, CAUSING THE COOLANT TO SPILL OVER THE DRIVER'S FEET. THIS EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP, MAKING THE ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD DIFFICULT.*AK WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE HIT A BUMP AND HOT COOLANT FELL ON HIS FEET. THE STEAM FROM THE HOT COOLANT FOGGED UP THE WINDOWS AND ESCAPED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO PARKING LOT TO AVOID CRASHING BECAUSE OF THE STEAM ON THE WINDOW. VOLKSWAGEN AGREED TO REPAIR HEATING CORE.*SB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT SIDE WINDOWS WERE NOT GOING UP AND DOWN AT WILL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED WOULD COST AT LEAST $500.00 PER WINDOW, WHICH CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE.*AK

THE REAR SIDE WINDOWS OF MY JETTA HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DOOR. *JB

JUST PURCHASED MY FIRST VW JETTA. MAY BE MY LAST VW PERIOD. MY WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW TAKES NO REPONSIBILITY FOR. FIXING IT MYSELF, IT COSTS ME $150 EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I SHOULD CHARGE VW $70 AN HOUR FOR LABOR!*AK

SINCE I HAVE HAD MY 1996 VW JETTA GLS, ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL FOUR WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BROKEN. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR JETTAS. *AK

ALL FOUR WINDOWS IN MY '96 JETTA HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. PROBLEMS INVOLVE THE WINDOW REGULATORS AND THE MOTORS. AS IT IS TODAY, MY VEHICLE HAS THREE OPERATING WINDOWS WITH DEFECTS (MAKES LOUD CRUNCH SOUND WHEN ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN) TO A STUCK-HALF-WAY WINDOW THAT WON'T GO UP OR DOWN. *JB

ALL FOUR WINDOWS BROKE IN MY VW JETTA GLS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, AS THAT WAS WHAT I COULD AFFORD. WHEN THE FIRST TWO BROKE, I CALLED VW USA (NOT THE DEALERSHIP) TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM I FOUND THE TECHNICAL BULLETINS DESCRIBING THE EXACT ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING. THEY TOLD ME SPECIFICALLY "MA'AM, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO THE CAR, THEREFORE WE CAN ONLY PAY FOR 1/2 OF THE COST OF REPAIR". I WAS FURIOUS AT THE SUGGESTION THAT ALL I DO ALL DAY IS SIT IN MY CAR AND BURN OUT THE WINDOW MOTORS. I IGNORED IT UNTIL A FEW MONTHS LATER WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR AS I WAS ENTERING THE PARKING GARAGE AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS. I CALLED VW AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE I WAS A 2ND OWNER AND THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR ME. I GOT TWO OF THE THREE FIXED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $900 (WHICH WAS HALF OFF) AND LEFT THE 3RD (IN THE REAR) BROKEN. NOW, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE TWO REMAINING BROKEN WINDOWS SINCE IT IS NOW A 100% FAILURE RATE. 50% IS UNACCEPTABLE, BUT 100% IS DOWNRIGHT RIDICULOUS AND NO CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS FRUSTRATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ALSO, I KNOW TWO OTHER JETTA OWNERS (BOTH OWN 1997 MODELS) AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE HAD AT LEAST 2 WINDOWS BREAK. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, EVEN FOR 2ND OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR BRAND OF AUTOMOBILES.*AK

ELECTRIC WINDOW OPERATORS ON THIS VOLS JETTA HAVE FAILED ON ALL FOUR WINDOWS. IN THE CASE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW THE MECHANISM FAILED WITH ONLY 31,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE DEALER ADMITS THAT THESE MECHANISMS FAIL REGULARLY BUT VOLKS USA REFUSES TO DISCUSS THE FAILURE. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE GOING TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND HE OR SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS WINDOW MEHANISM HAS FAILED WITHOUT NOTICE. VOLKSWAGEN USA REFUSES TO DISCUSS THE MATTER OR TO MAKE PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR THIS DESIGN FAULT. *AK

MY CAR HAS HAD CONTINUED WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR PROBLEMS BEGINNING 3 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR IN JULY 1996. SIX TIMES THE WINDOW MOTOR/REGULATOR HAS STOPPED WORKING. CURRENTLY THERE ARE THREE WINDOWS IN THE CAR WHICH DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I CONSIDER THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHOULD THERE EVER BE PASSENGERS SEATED BY THOSE WINDOWS IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE, AND THE DOORS DID NOT WORK THERE WOULD NOT BE A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.

WITHIN 4 MONTHS BOTH REAR WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED.THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM W/VOLKSWAGEN. THE PART IS NOW MADE OF PLASTIC. IT SEEMS THIS DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR AT LEAST REPLACED WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED. THE COST OF THE PART IS $108.00 THROUGH VOLKSWAGON DEALER. THAT IS WITHOUT LABOR CHARGES.*AK

3 OF 4 WINDOWS DON'T WORK. MOTOR BURNED OUT ON RT FRONT, REGULATOR BURNED ON LFT FRONT, RT REAR DOES NOTHING. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST UPWARD OF $800 TO FIX. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734295

3 OF 4 WINDOWS DON'T WORK. MOTOR BURNED OUT ON RT FRONT, REGULATOR BURNED ON LFT FRONT, RT REAR DOES NOTHING. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $800 TO FIX.

3 OF 4 WINDOWS DON'T WORK. MOTOR BURNED OUT ON RT FRONT, REGULATOR BURNED ON LFT FRONT, RT REAR DOES NOTHING. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $800 TO FIX.

FAULTY WINDOW SYSTEM...HAD TO REPAIR WINDOW OPERATOR TWICE! *AK

FAULTY WINDOW SYSTEM...HAD TO REPAIR WINDOW OPERATOR TWICE! *AK

POWER WINDOW REGULATORS ON ALL 4 WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM HAS BROKEN TWICE. THE SECOND TIME REQUIRING THE POWER MOTOR ALSO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RATE ON THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE BEYOND WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED.

LOCKS FREEZE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO CAR. WINDOW SEALS WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE FIRST MONTH OF LEASE CAUSING FLOODS IN BACK OF VEHICLE. WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR DEFECTIVE. CANNOT BRING WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. GENERAL MOTOR FAILURE. CAR SLOWS DOWN WHEN GOING DOWNHILL

SUN ROOF AND WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED.*ET

MY WINDOWS HAVE REPEATEDLY FAILED. I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN MY CAR. VW WILL DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE BACK WINDOWS ARE RARELY USED AND HAVE ALSO FAILED. THE FAULTY PARTS ARE ALWAYS MOTOR AND REGULATOR. THIS REPRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. I AM A FREQUENT USER OF A RIVER "FERRY". BAD WINDOWS ARE DANGEROUS IN THIS SITUATION. I HAVE RECEIVED TO HELP FROM MY DEALERSHIP OR VW. PLEASE HELP. SINCERELY, HELLER HODGE-MOORE

THE REAR WINDOW MOTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS ASSESSED BY THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $350 TO FIX THE MOTOR. THE MOTOR WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE DOOR UNTIL WE DECIDE WHEN OR HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER. IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THE COST SHOULD BE COVERED BY THEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND IS OFTEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK-UP. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLIED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.

LEFT FRONT WINDOW MOTOR FAILED CAUSING WINDOW NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE. NLM

REPORTED MY DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR PROBLEM TO VW DEALER--THEY CHARGED ME $65 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME I HAVE A DEFECTIVE MOTOR ASSEMBLEY. IT WOULD COST $269 ON TOP OF THE $65 TO DIAGNOSE THE OBVIOUS. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SEVERAL 1996 JETTA OWNERS AND THEY ARE ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS!!

RIGHT/REAR WINDOW NOT WORKING. DEALER COULD NOT FIX. DID NOT HAVE PART. I COULD NOT GET TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN PART CAME IN. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR BASIC SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD PUT A WINDOW MOTOR IN, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

RIGHT REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILS TO OPERATE.

MANUAL WINDOW CRANK FAILED.

SUN ROOF WILL NOT CLOSE.

AT A LOW SPEED WENT OVER A PATCH OF ICE AND HIT A POLE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK