2002 Volkswagen Jetta Equipment Problems

2002 VW JETTA WITH WHAT IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE A/C UNIT STOPPED WORKING. ALL ITEMS WERE CHECKED AND NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF LEAK, ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR OTHER WAS FOUND. DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE ALL ITEMS IN THE A/C SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AC CLUTCH IS HELD ON BY A NYLON NUT AND THESE ARE NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THIS FLAWED DESIGN. A SEARCH ON ANY VW DISCUSSION BOARD WILL PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SUBSTANDARD DESIGN. THIS WAS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY VW. HOW MANY OTHER CONSUMERS PAID FOR A NEW A/C SYSTEM (FAN, COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH ECT.) WHEN ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED CLUTCH. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DESIGN WAS ONLY IN EXISTENCE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS REPLACED BY VW. SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO ALL OF THE CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS DESIGN. THIS PART IS ALSO FOUND A LOT OF TIME BY VW TECHNICIANS WHEN THEY REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE BELLY PAN. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO WINDOW REGULATOR RECALL WHERE THE USED A PLASTIC CLIP INSTEAD OF METAL. *TR

2002 JETTA TDI DEVELOPED ODOR ON THE INTERIOR AT 20000 MILES. NATIONAL VOLKSWAGEN IN JACKSONVILLE, NC HAS SERVICED PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT CORRECTION OF ODOR PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM ODOR WILL GO AWAY SINCE THEY CLEANED OUT AIR CONDITIONER BOX BY REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH. NATIONAL ALSO DISCOVERED PROBLEM IN A NEW 2004 PASSAT. ODOR STILL EXISTS. CAR HAS BEEN DETAILED, SPRAYED WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. VARIOUS PEOPLE HAVE SAT IN CAR AND WITNESSED ODOR. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TAKES WORD OF THE DEALER THAT PROBLEM IS FIXED AND ODOR WILL GO AWAY ONE DAY. *AK

OWNERS MANUAL INDICATES THAT SEAT BELT WARNING ON DASHBOARD WILL ILLUMINATE IF SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORN. HOWEVER, IF SEAT BELTS AREN'T WORN NOTHING WILL FLASH AS A REMINDER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THIS IS FOLLOW-UP TO A TELEPHONE COMPLAINT FILED 5/13/02 . I WAS TOLD BY CAROLYN THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING A FORM IN THE MAIL TO SIGN. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 2 WEEKS AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL #02V031000 FREE OF CHARGE. THEY CLAIM THAT I HAVE TO PAY $78.00 FOR THEM TO CUT A "K-WIRE" SINCE THE ORIG. RADIO WAS REPLACED WITH A CD PLAYER/RADIO. THE SERVICE MANAGER (ERIC AXFORD) CONFIRMED THIS ON 5/13. I THEN CALLED VOLKSWAGON OF AMERICA WHERE I WAS TOLD BY KARI STADLER THAT THE DEALER COULD CHARGE FOR THE "FREE OF CHARGE" RECALL. THAT IS WHEN I FILED THE COMPLAINT WITH YOU. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE I WHEN I CAN EXPECT THE RECALL TO BE HONORED. THANKS. *AK