2003 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER TO THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,072.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTS ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR WAS ALSO BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE AMB AUTO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO FAILED AND THE TURBO AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ *TR

TRANSMISSION STRAINED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WATER PUMP WENT OUT CAUSE CAR TO RUN HOT.. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT BLOWER HEAD GASKET.... AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF

FORTUNATELY, MY SON WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS..HE ROLLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AHEAD OF HIM. HE TOLD THE WRECKER DRIVER THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING FELL - WE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE MOTOR WAS ACTUALLY SITTING CROOKED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN, ON ONE SIDE BROKEN OFF ON THE OTHER STRIPPED.THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD OUTCOME. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR IT (UNREPAIRABLE). WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BLOCK AND/OR ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THE PART IS BETWEEN $ 3100-3700 - PLUS LABOR. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MOTOR RUNS GREAT! I HAVE CONTACTED VW - WITH NO LUCK.. BUT ADMITTING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY POORLY DESIGNED..MAYBE NOT STRONG ENOUGH MATERIAL, BUT IT IS OR COULD BE DANGEROUS. AS I STATED FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS A T A RED LIGHT..NOT GOING DOWN THE HWY AND COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. *JS

MY WATER PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OVERHEAT SIGN LIT UP. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. AFTER A PAINFULLY LONG DRAWN OUT TOW, TAXI, RENTAL CAR, AND RETURN TO PICK UP THE CAR 1 WEEK LATER (DRIVE 200 MILES THERE AND THEN BACK TO DO SO), THE GARAGE WHICH REPAIRED MY CAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD "DESIGN FLAW" TO THE WATER PUMP WHERE IT HAD A PLASTIC PART THAT WOULD COMMONLY FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A "WELL-KNOW" PROBLEM IN THE JETTA, MANY PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED & WRITTEN ONLINE ABOUT IT. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I INSTALL AN "AFTER-MARKET" PUMP WITH ALL METAL PARTS SO THAT IT WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN, WHICH I DID. MY CO-WORKER WHO OWNED A JETTA A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN MINE (2001?) FOR 10 YEARS AND LATER TRADED IT IN, INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IN FACT HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP 3 TIMES DURING THE PERIOD SHE OWNED THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WATER PUMP DESIGN IN THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. IF IT HAD BEEN RECALLED & FIXED PRIOR TO MY BREAKDOWN, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO ENDURE THE WHOLE ORDEAL I WENT THROUGH. *TR

CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN AT QUARTER TANK OR LESS. PARTS REPLACED, STILL OCCURS. THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT ALWAYS COMES BACK, AND IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM THAT IS BEING IGNORED BY VW OF AMERICA. THIS IS HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS AND MOST LIKELY THOUSANDS OF VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF, BEETLE AND GTI OWNERS. WE HAVE BEEN CONNECTING THE DOTS THROUGH ONLINE VW FORUMS AND ARE FRUSTRATED! THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS REPORTED DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS AND THEREFORE DECELERATION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. JUST THIS MORNING MY JETTA STALLED IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK DOING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, IT'S HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS OF VW'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2005, AND IT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU. *TR

THE PLASTIC DIPSTICK HANDLE ON MY 2003 VW JETTA CRACKED OFF THE DIPSTICK AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE PART NUMBER IS 06J115611E. *TR

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A HOT SPOT IN THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT IN THE FALL OF 2012. I HAVE TO PUT A CUSHION BETWEEN MY RIGHT LEG AND THE SEAT OR IT WILL NEARLY BURN. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH EITHER THE O2 SENSOR OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHENEVER IT RAINS AND IT'S COOL WEATHER. THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER, SPUTTER AND LURCH UNTIL IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE THEN IT ACTS NORMALLY. FINALLY, FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR BY HITTING THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR. I JUST REACHED THE 100K MARK AND KEEP UP REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR SO I'M A LITTLE UPSET THAT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE HAPPENING SO EARLY. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED A BURNING CRAYON SMELL IN MY 2003 VW JETTA FOR A FEW MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR DETAILED AND HAD THE DEALER CLEAN THE AC DUCTS YET THE SMELL REMAINS - AND GETS STRONGER IN HOT/HUMID WEATHER DAYS. I SEE OTHERS HAVE LISTED COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE - AND THE SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL UNDER THE CARPET SEEMS TO BE THE CULPRIT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AFFECT BREATHING AND COULD BE TOXIC. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, ENGINE DROPPED AND FELL ON THE AXLE AND BROKE IT. *TR

RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, OIL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING OIL AND CAMSHAFT CHAIN TENSIONER (TIMING BELT) RATTLING FROM LACK OF OIL. I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO METAL PARTICLES AND CARBON IN THE OIL PAN.

WATER PUMP FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AFTER BEING PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY TWO YEARS PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER COULD MAKE REPAIRS BUT AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

AFTER TAKING MY 2003 VW JETTA 1.8L TURBO TO THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR A BROKEN DIPSTICK AND IGNITION RECALL, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE IN WHICH THE CAR HAD UNDER 68,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS NOT UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY AND WOULD COST AT LEAST $900 TO CLEAN OUT THE ENGINE. UPON DECIDING TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC FOR A 2ND OPINION, THE CAR SEIZED UP AND CEASED TO WORK WHILE DRIVING. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS BLOWN FROM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP WHEN OIL CHANGES HAD BEEN PERFORMED AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS THOUGH THE MANUFACTURES OWNERS MANUAL STATED IT ONLY HAD TO BE CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT OTHER THAN FOR ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE OR A REBUILT ENGINE. AFTER HAVING A USED ENGINE INSTALLED FROM A SALVAGE YARD, I DISCOVERED FROM THE CAR POURING SMOKE AND MAKING A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE. APPARENTLY WHEN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WENT IT ALSO DAMAGED THE TURBO AS A RESULT OF SLUDGE BUILD UP. I'VE FURTHER DISCOVERED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO VW CARS WITH 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINES FROM MODELS FOLLOWING 2000. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE THE TURBO IS CONSIDERED AN ACCESSORY TO THE ENGINE, THE TURBO WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SALVAGE YARDS ENGINE WARRANTY I JUST HAD INSTALLED AND WOULD REQUIRE THE TURBO BEING REPLACED AS WELL. THE VW DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT A REBUILT TURBO WOULD COST $1700 ALONE NOT INCLUDING SMALL PARTS AND LABOR AFTER I HAD ALREADY SPENT $2800 ON A USED 1.8L TURBO ENGINE AND SMALL PARTS AND LABOR. THE USED ENGINE HAD 46,000 MILES ON IT SO IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT IT WILL ALSO GO DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE. *TR

WE PURCHASED AN 03 VW JETTA WAGON APPROX. 2.5 YEARS AGO. WE CHANGED THE OIL AT THE DEALER EVERY 5000 MILES. WE MISSED ONE OIL CHANGED AND THE ENGINE STALLED ON THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO A VW MECHANIC. WE WERE TOLD IT A HAD TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE DO TO SLUDGE-WHICH THEY SAID WAS LACK OF MAINTENANCE. WE PAID 16,000 FOR THE CAR, IT HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT, WE PUT 20,000 MILES ON IT. WE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND WE WERE TOLD THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WE CAN DO-IT WAS SOLD AS IS. WE CONTACTED VW AMERICA AND THEY TOLD US JETTAS' DON'T HAVE THE SLUDGE PROBLEM, IT'S THE PASSAT WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS IT'S THE 1.8T ENGINE THAT IS THE PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF THE CAR IT'S IN. WE HAVE NO RECOURSE. THE CAR NOW SITS IN OUR DRIVE WAY WITH NEW TIRES AND A BROKEN ENGINE. A NEW MOTOR PLUS INSTALLATION WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ONCE AGAIN THE WORKING PEOPLE GET SCREWED.

WHEN I START MY CAR, THE ENGINE IDLES INCONSISTENTLY AND THE CAR SHAKES OR STUTTERS. IF I BEGIN DRIVING NORMALLY ONE OF TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN, EITHER THE ENGINE WILL STALL (HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY) OR THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE IDLING PROBLEMS UNTIL IT WARMS UP. IN THE SECOND CASE, THE CAR WILL DRIVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNTIL I COME TO THE FIRST HILL. IF THE CAR DOWN SHIFTS WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE ASR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND FROM THIS POINT ON THE CAR HAS A DIFFICULT TIME SHIFTING GEARS. THE SHIFTING IS ABRUPT AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT SOUND NORMAL. IF I STOP, TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE CAR APPEARS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. TO AVOID THE ABOVE PROBLEM, I DO THE FOLLOWING WHEN FIRST STARTING MY CAR. I START THE CAR, TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND REV MY ENGINE TO ABOUT 3000 RPM'S. I HOLD THIS RPM FOR ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS AND THEN I NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ONCE AND BECOME STRONGER AND THE ENGINE WILL THEN REV UP ANOTHER 500 RPM'S ON ITS OWN. AT THIS POINT I USUALLY DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE ASR PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 2007 AND PERSISTED UNTIL 2010 WHEN IT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED. *TR

2003 VW JETTA: DIGITAL DISPLAY WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. UNABLE TO LOCK VEHICLE DOORS WITH REMOTE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED FOR DIGITAL PANEL TO APPEAR (RE-SET) AND FOR DOOR TO LOCK WITH REMOTE. ENGINE WOULD ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. POSSIBILITY TO CAUSE A CRASH. ALL DIGITAL PANELS STILL ILLUMINATED, KEY WOULD BE LOCKED IN INGNITION, UN-ABLE TO TURN OR BE REMOVED UNTIL CAR PLACED BACK IN PARK AND HAND BRAKE PULLED UP. ISSUES OCCURED BI-WEEKLY, WEEKLY, AND NOW DAILY. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (WARRANT JUST EXPIRED LAST MONTH). AFTER TRYING TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM PRIOR TO BRINGING TO DEALERSHIP, I'VE FOUND ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE/REPAIR FOR VW CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS/EXPERIENCES, ALL OF WHICH WERE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND IS AT APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD SERVICE FOR THE FOLLOWING RECALLS: CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FAILED IGNITION COILS, FAILED REAR WINDOW/DOOR LOCKS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON! *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8 TURBO, ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE FORMATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE HAS PAID OVER $500 IN REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

2003 JETTA GLS; TWICE WHEN RUNNING THE AC THE CAR SUDDENLY OVERHEATS, FUSE BLOWS. THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE GOES FAR INTO THE RED ZONE. I TURNED ON THE HEATER TO DRAW HEAT AWAY FROM ENGINE, AIR WAS SO HOT IT LITERALLY MELTED THE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE IN THE CUP HOLDER. (DIDN'T HELP MY COMFORT THAT THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS NEAR 100 DEGREES AND I'M DRIVING ALONG WITH SUNROOF OPEN, WINDOWS OPEN, AND HEATER TURNED ON HIGH!) I WAS CONCERNED THAT MY LEG WAS BURNED AS WELL BECAUSE THE AIR BLOWING FROM VENT WAS SO HOT. I HAD TO IDLE THE CAR EVERY FEW THOUSAND FEET TO ALLOW CAR TO COOL ENOUGH TO LIMP TO SERVICE STATION. FIRST TIME (JULY 06, CAR W/I WARRANTY @ 32K MILES), VW TOLD ME THAT THE FUSE WAS BLOWN; THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND INDICATED THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WOULD NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY. SECOND TIME (NOV. 2007, CAR OUT OF WARRANTY @ 51K)), NON-VW MECHANIC ABLE TO REPLICATE AND SAID THAT FUSE BLEW BECAUSE "COOLING FANS ARE DRAWING TOO MANY AMPS (UP TO 100 AMPS) WHEN STARTING. WHEN RUNNING THEY ARE STILL DRAWING 37 AMPS AND SHOULD BE LESS THAN 20 AMPS." ALTHOUGH THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY TWICE, AND I HAVE YET TO REPAIR (TOO EXPENSIVE AT $800+ AND I'M UNEMPLOYED), I LIVE IN GREAT FEAR AS WARM WEATHER APPROACHES THAT I WILL BE "BURNED" BY THIS ISSUE AGAIN. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. *TR

2003 VW JETTA - FUSE BOX INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTED! *TR

I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT FAILURE OF THE IGNITION COILS ON A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ( ) WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE. VW HAS ALREADY RECALLED A NUMBER OF JETTAS OF THIS VINTAGE AND WITH THIS ENGINE FOR REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE COILS ON THIS CAR. ONE FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN POORLY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL FOUR COILS AT A COST OF $384.48. THE CAR ONLY HAD 23,726 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE IMMEDIATE ENGINE FAILURE. CLEARLY, THE VW DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE COILS ARE SUBJECT TO UNEXPECTED FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE EVEN THOUGH VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO RECALL THE PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER THE YEARS HER VEHICLE SPORADICALLY OVERHEATS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND HAD THE OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED TWICE, THE THERMOSTAT, THE BATTERY, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAN, SECONDARY AIR PUMP, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $2,000. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT IF THE REPAIR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN REMEDYING THE FAILURES, THEY MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,126 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

MY 2003 VW WOLFSBURG EDITION JETTA CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR WILL ALMOST STALL THE POWER CATCHES AND POWERS BACK UP PRIOR TO STALLING. THE LIGHTS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR GO OUT, THE RADIO TURNS OFF, THE CLOCK LOSES POWER, THE ENGINE LOSES ENOUGH POWER TO NOT ACCELERATE, BUT STILL DOES NOT STALL. THE POWER LOSE LAST FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO FLICKER. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES EVERY DAY. SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THE COOLANT FANS AND CENSOR (1ST DIAGNOSTIC FROM VW DEALERSHIP), REPLACED THE 2ND COIL (2ND DIAGNOSTIC FROM VW DEALERSHIP) REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH (LESUEUR CAR CO), & REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE (3RD DIAGNOSTIC LESUEUR CAR CO) WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM LESUEUR CAR CO I DIDN'T GET A MILE AWAY WHEN THE CAR LOSE POWER AGAIN. I BOUGHT THIS 2003 VW JETTA FROM CARDINALE WAY OF SCOTTSDALE LAST SEPT. (2007) I ASKED FOR A BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC I FOUND OUT MY WARRANTY IS NOT WHAT I ASKED FOR. IT'S JUST A POWER/TRAN WARRANTY WHICH DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING! I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $1300 IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS TRYING TO FIX THE POWER LOSE PROBLEM AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR?!?! EVERYTIME IT GIVES A DIAGNOSTIC ERROR, WE FIX THE ERROR, AND THE CAR STILL CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER! IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 6 TIMES, TWICE AT A VW CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP AND THE 4 OR 5 TIMES AT LESUEUR CAR CO WHICH IS THE LARGEST NON-CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP IN AZ. I HAVE CONTACTED CARDINALE WAY AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO??? I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS TO PAY ON A CAR THAT NO ONE CAN FIX!! AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THINGS THAT AREN'T THE PROBLEM EITHER! IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP IT WILL BE VERY APPRECIATED. THANKS *TR

MY 2003 VW JETTA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS THAN IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. THE LATEST TWO PROBLEMS WERE; 1) THE ENGINE COIL (WAS REPLACED ONCE BY RECALL) AND 2) MY FUSE BOX ON TOP OF MY BATTERY MELTED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS ON THE CAR. WAS TOLD THAT ONLY ONE ENGINE COIL WAS ALLOWED UNDER THE RECALL, AND WAS TOLD THE FUSE BOX MELTING WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT EVER FIND THE "REAL" REASON FOR IT TO MELT. *TR

ON MARCH 1, 2004, I PURCHASED AND FINANCED A 2003 JETTA TDI FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP IN CHICO, CA. I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH MY NEW VEHICLE IN LATE NOVEMBER 2005, WITH MILEAGE AT 47399. I SUFFERED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AND IN TRAVELING UP HILLS. DURING THE LOSS OF POWER, I ALSO NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT HEAR THE WHINE OF THE TURBO AND ASSUMED THAT THE PROBLEM MUST BE RELATED TO MY TURBO. THE CHICO DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WITH A SCAN TOOL BUT WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY MY COMPLAINT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURBO PERSISTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE CHICO DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 7, 2006, WITH MILEAGE AT 50856. ONCE AGAIN, THE CHICO DEALER WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY MY COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEIR SCAN TOOL DID NOT PULL A CODE. THE CHICO DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE LOSS OF POWER. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE CHICO DEALER ON JANUARY 7, 2006. FEELING DEFEATED AND FRUSTRATED, I SUFFERED THROUGH THE TURBO PROBLEM FOR ANOTHER YEAR. DURING THIS TIME, I WAS FORCED TO TAKE EXTRA SPECIAL PRECAUTION WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY IN CASE MY TURBO FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, WHEN I EXPERIENCED A LOSS POWER TRAVELING UP-HILL, I WAS FORCED TO UTILIZE MY HAZARD SIGNAL AND MOVE TO EITHER THE SLOW LANE OR THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO ALLOW OTHER VEHICLES TO PASS ME. WHEN MY TURBO FAILED TO RESPOND PROPERLY, MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL AT A MAXIMUM OF 45-55 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AND 35-45 MPH WHEN TRAVELING UP-HILL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, EVEN LARGE SEMI-TRUCKS PASSED ME TRAVELING UP-HILL. THE PROBLEM WITH MY TURBO JEOPARDIZED MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS' AS WELL AS THOSE TRAVELING AROUND US. THIS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG WITHOUT THE PROPER ATTENTION TO MY CONCERNS AND I FEEL UNSAFE WHILE TRAVELING IN MY VW. *TR

I HAVE A PIECE OF JUNK VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T THAT IS A LEMON. AT 64,000 MILES THE FAN SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS TO THE TUNE OF $800. THEN AT 70,000 MILES THE AIR TUBES MELTED MAKING THE CAR RUN TERRIBLE. THAT WAS ANOTHER $600 DOLLARS TO FIX. NOW AT 71000 MILES THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD IT TALKING TO THE DEALER AND CONSTANTLY WRITING VOLKSWAGEN. THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS AND THEY DO NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS. THANK YOU, GEORGE AND LAURA BOGDAN *TR

PURCHASED A USED 03 VW TDI ON 04/05, HAD THE WARRANTY TRANSFERRED AND REGISTERED TO ME AT VW. BRIEF RANDOM INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHERE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND FOR 1-3 SECONDS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN. (THIS COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR HEALTH) VW DEALER COULD DO NOTHING WITHOUT A FAULT CODE. THIS CONTINUED FOR 2 YEARS AND 24000 MILES. ON 02/04/08, I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, DID AN ERRAND, CAME OUT AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE ONLY TO HAVE IT IDLE ROUGH THEN DIE OUT, DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. I RESTARTED ENGINE 6-7 TIMES, ON THE 8TH TIME IT RAN NORMALLY. NEXT DAY SAME HAPPENED TO WIFE. I LOADED CAR ONTO A FLATBED AND DELIVERED TO VW DEALER 60 MILES AWAY. THEY FOUND THE EGR THROTTLE VALVE STUCK, REMOVED IT, CLEANED OUT BUILT-UP CARBON. THIS COST $370.00 WE DO NOT KNOW IF THESE INCIDENTS ARE RELATED. *TR

A) 1) DROVE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES ON THE MORNING OF 05/21/07 WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. 2) VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE A LOT. 3) FAILED IGNITION COIL #3 WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. B) 1) DROVE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 1 MILES ON THE MORNING OF 11/07/07 WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. 2) VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE A LOT. 3) FAILED IGNITION COIL #4 WAS REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COIL INSIDE THE CYLINDER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE MONTH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,890 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,046. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ THE COIL PACK WAS REPLACED

WHILE DRIVING FROM PA TO BOSTON MY CAR'S ENGINE BROKE DOWN IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE VW 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINES. THE PASSAT (FROM '98-'04) HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. I DRIVE A '03 JETTA WITH VW'S 1.8 TURBO ENGINE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PASSAT THE WARRANTY WAS NOT EXTENDED. I STILL HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS OF PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND IT ONLY HAS 70,000. ALL VW CAN/WANTS TO DO TO HELP ME IS OFFER $1,500 IN REPAIRS OR TRADE IN. I'M LOOKING AT $7,200 AND OWE $1,600 ON THE CAR. *TR

THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE RIGHT AFTER THE 75,000 MILE CPO WARRANTY ENDED. THE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TURBO. THE TURBO HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES AND VW AND AN INDEPENDENT VERIFIED THAT THE TURBO WAS FAULTY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ASKED TO CHECK THE ENGINE (UNDER WARRANTY) FIVE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE TIME AFTER THE FIRST TURBO WAS INSTALLED, THEY REPORTED THAT ALL WAS FINE. AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY ENDED, THEY SAID THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VW HAS SHIFTED ALL RESPONSIBILITY TO ME. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS BURNING OIL, AND AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NO WARRANTIES APPLY. THE TURBO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, HOWEVER, NO ONE (INCLUDING VW) CAN EXPLAIN WHY IT KEEPS FAILING, DESPITE PERFECT MAINTENANCE. *TR

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

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 1999.5 - 2001 MODEL YEAR JETTAS, BUT NEVER FOR THE 2003 AND NEVER A RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN. VW HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DURING WORK OUT OF STATE. DIAGNOSIS AT A SERVICE STATION INDICATED BOTH ELECTRICAL COOLING FANS HAD FAILED. I REPLACED THEM WITH AFTERMARKET FANS IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FANS AND FOUND THE COOLING TEMP SENSOR HAD BEEN SHORTING OUT. I WAS CHARGED OVER 900.00 FOR THE FANS AND TOLD THEY WERE NOT COVERED SINCE I HAD PUT AFTERMARKET FANS ON THE CAR. I OFFERED TO GIVE THE DEALER THE STOCK FANS SO THEY COULD VERIFY THEY WERE NOT WORKING BUT THEY REFUSED. GIVEN I DID NOT CAUSE THE OEM PARTS TO FAIL AND MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR OR IT'S WIRING WITH THE TEMPORARY FANS I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED. ALSO, A SEARCH OF ONLINE VW USER GROUPS INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, (HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL REPORTS ON ONE SITE). I WAS ALSO CHARGED FOR THE OEM COOLING PARTS WHICH HAD FAILED SUCH AS TEMP SENSOR, TEMP SWITCH AND FAN CONTROL MODULE. FOR THE RECORD, I CALLED VW AND REQUESTED A TOW TO SERVICE AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN. *JB

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. A VEHICLE FOLLOWING MY SONS CAR ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE (MY SON WAS OUT OF STATE RETURNING HOME) NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND BLOW HORN AND FLICKERED LIGHTS. MY SON LOOKED IN HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BY VEHICLE FOLLOWING. THE JETTA NEVER LOST POWER AND WHEN HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THE JETTA WAS SMOKING AND THE FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND WITH IN MINUTES FULL FLAMES. THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM AND IT CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE JETTA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT GET THE FIRE OUT AND HAD TO BREAK THROUGH THE HOOD. THE WHOLE FRONT (ENGINE AREA) WAS BURNED. THE JETTA WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEREFORE WE PERSONALLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT (THINKING STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD PROVIDE A RENTAL AND WANT TO INVESTIGATE) ALL THEY DID WAS REFER US TO VOLKSWAGEN. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON MARCH 27, 2005 AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I HAD TO REPORT TO MY INSURANCE. VOLKSWAGEN ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.... THEY WOULD ONLY PAY WHAT INSURANCE WOULD PAY??????? MY SON ALSO TALKED TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND ALL THAT WAS SAID IS HE (THE DEALERSHIP OWNER) WAS SORRY AND GOOD THING HE (MY SON ) HAD INSURANCE. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T EVEN OFFER TO TRY AND HELP US GET BACK INTO A VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION (NO ENGINE WARNING, NO POWER LOSE, SMELL ETC.) THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG. THE SMOKE WAS GOING UP UNDER THE JETTA AND OUT UNDER THE BACK. THE BLESSING IS THE VEHICLE BEHIND MY SON.... WHAT IF HE HADN'T CAUGHT MY SONS ATTENTION?????????? THE AUTO INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER FOR WHAT WAS LOST IN THE VEHICLE, JUST THE JETTA. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WERE DONE AS RECOMMENDED BY VOLKSWAGEN????? *NM

ENGINE FROZE 1 MILE AFTER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. NO SMELLS, WARNING LIGHTS, NOISES BEFORE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THEN I DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. CHECKED THE OIL, AND IT WAS DRY. PUT IN A QUART OF OIL AND DROVE IT TO SEE IF LIGHT WOULD GO OFF - IT LOCKED A COUPLE BLOCKS AFTER THAT. WHY DIDN'T THE OIL LIGHT COME ON SOONER? THE OIL LEVEL WAS VERY LOW , ENOUGH TO MAKE THE ENGINE FREEZE. WHY DIDN'T THE OIL LIGHT COME ON SOONER? *AK

NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON MY 2003 JETTA. FIRST VISIT WAS 9/12/02. THE OTHERS WERE: 2/21/03, 6/13/03, 10/21/04, 1/6/05, 12/14/05, 12/21/05, 1/9/06, 1/13/06. IT IS CURRENTLY ON AND IS WAITING FOR A CAT. CONVERTER. THEY CHARGED ME TO HOOK UP TO COMPUTER, REPLACED ALL COILS & SPARK PLUGS AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. *JB

EXCESSIVE BUILDUP OF CARBON IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE CAR TO START. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG VW DEALERS WITH TDI DIESELS AND THERE IS NOTHING VW IS DOING ABOUT IT. COST $700 TO REPAIR THIS. *NM

ON SEPT. 22ND, 2005, OUR 2003 VW EUROVAN BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, ROGER JOBS VW IN BELLINGHAM, WA. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWN WAS THAT THE OIL FILTER CAP HAD SPLIT, CAUSING ALL THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT, RUINING THE ENTIRE ENGINE WITHIN MOMENTS. FIVE VW EXPERTS EMPLOYED WITH OR ASSOCIATED WITH ROGER JOBS VW (ANGELA MATTIX THE SERVICE ADVISER, PETER DRAKE THE SERVICE MANAGER, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE JUAN GARCIA, AND TWO TECHNICIANS, BOB GORSUCH AND PAUL TIEGROB), UNANIMOUSLY AGREE AND ARE UNEQUIVOCALLY CERTAIN, THAT BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM, THE OIL FILTER CAP SPLITTING WAS DUE TO AN OVER TIGHTENING OF THE CAP BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP (PACIFIC VW), AND, WAS NOT THE RESULT OF, AS CLAIMED BY PACIFIC VW AND SUPPORTED BY VW OF AMERICA, A STONE FLYING UP UNDERNEATH THE CAR, WHICH WOULD CLASSIFY IT AS DAMAGE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, THEREBY EXCLUDING IT FROM COVERAGE UNDER THE LIMITED NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY. AS POINTED OUT BY THE FIVE VW EMPLOYEES LISTED ABOVE, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS STRONGLY PROTECTED AGAINST SUCH OCCURRENCES WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF HARD PLASTIC SHIELDS, ALL OF WHICH SHOW NO SIGN WHATSOEVER OF ANY KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL FILTER IN THE CAR WAS A FACTORY VW OIL FILTER. WE BOUGHT THE CAR (ALONG WITH A FULL WARRANTY) DIRECTLY FROM PACIFIC VW IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE SPRING OF 2004. ACCORDING TO THE EXPERT OPINION OF FIVE VW EMPLOYEES, IT''S CLEAR, THAT THE FAILURE OF THE OIL FILTER CAP WAS DUE TO FAULTY SERVICE ON THE PART OF PACIFIC VW, AND WAS NOT DAMAGE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. *NM

A/C FAN SIEZED, CAUSING ENOUGH HEAT TO START A FIRE. THE SHROUD, UPPER RADIATOR MODLINGS, A/C HOSE, HOOD INSULATION AND PAINT WERE DAMAGED.

VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY AND MOTOR "BLEW UP". TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THAT IT WAS FAULTY TURBO DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE TURBO. DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY CLAIMING IT WAS OWNER'S PROBLEM BECAUSE SYNTHETIC OIL WAS NOT USED.

CAR STARED PUTTING OUT ALOT OF BLUE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE ON START UP AND GAS MILAGE WAS DROPPING 5-6 MPG AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS ALOT FOR A DIESEL ENGINE. CAR LOST POWER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD BARELY RUN. ENTIRE INTAKE SYSTEM TO THE HEAD WAS FULL BLACK STICKY CARBON CHOKING THE ENGINE FOR CLEAN AIR. INTAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE COMPLETLY DISASSEMBLED (MANIFLOD,EGR VAVLE,CCV TUBE) AND CLEANED OF CARBON, WHICH BY SEARCHING THE INTERNET IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW TDI 1.9 ENGINE.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO FAIRFAX VOLKSWAGEN IN FAIRFAX, VA TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION COILS, WHICH HAD BEEN OUT FOR OVER A YEAR. I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE RECALL -- EVEN AFTER I TOOK THE JETTA TO STOHLMAN VW FOR SERVICE ON MY AUDIO SPEAKERS IN THE FALL OF 2004. THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. FAIRFAX VW TOLD ME THAT CHECKING FOR RECALLS IS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY, AND THAT IS HOW THE RECALL WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH STOHLMAN, AND THE SERVICE, OR LACK THEREOF, I RECEIVED. *AK

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2003 GLX. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTING SHIRTING ERRATICALLY. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRATICALLY MIS-SHIFT AND OR BUCK. (MODEL/GLX) *SC

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *MR THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOST OF POWER AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE INJECTOR SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS MUDDY DIESEL FUEL BUT COULDN'T PRODUCE THE FUEL FILTER TO BACK UP THE CLAIM. THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE AND A LOST OF POWER DOWN TO 25 MPH ON THE ROAD. THE ENGINE HAD A #3 VALVE GO THROUGH THE PISTON AND RUN UP AND DOWN THE CRANKSHAFT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH ANOTHER INJECTOR SYSTEM AND FUEL PUMP WAS ADDED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, A HIGH PRESSURE OIL LINE BROKE FROM THE WELD AND SPEWED OIL EVERYWHERE. THE AXLE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED AS WELL. *SC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *MR THE AIR INTAKE DUCT LEAKED WHICH CAUSED WHITE SMOKE TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED AFTER A 75 MILE TRIP. THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. THE A/C CONDENSER LEAKED WHICH CAUSED THE A/C NOT TO COOL THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE DEALER SURMISED THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE CONDENSER WAS FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE THEREFORE REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

THE OIL PUMP QUIT, CAUSING THE OIL PRESSURE LAMP TO COME ON. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE I CANNOT PRODUCE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT I HAD TO KEEP RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES DURRING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.

MY 2003 JETTA TDI WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT TO THE CAR TO GET IN IT, I FOUND IT WITH SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS I STARTED TO PULL THE HOOD RELEASE TO INVESTIGATE, I NOTICED FLAMES. I DID NOT OPEN THE HOOD AND INSTEAD QUICKLY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY RESPONDED ASAP. BY THE TIME THEY STARTED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE, FLAMES WERE ENGULFING THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER THE FLAME WAS EXTINGUISHED IN REIGNITED AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR IS INOPERABLE. I ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE MONTHS AND IT WAS NOT EVEN DUE FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE. NOW VOLKSWAGEN (VW) IS STALLING AND HAS NOT EVEN BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM ITS INVESTIGATION. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AFTER TWO WEEKS NO ONE HAS GIVEN ME A PROGRESS UPDATE. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE. *LA

10,000 MILES, MIL (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON SOLID. AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS SOLID, THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK CAR HOME AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. AFTER PRINCETON VOLKSWAGEN LOOKED AT THE CAR, TURNED OUT TO BE THAT MY 2003 JETTA GLS 1.8T THAT WAS LESS THAN 3 MONTHS OLD HAD A FUEL LEAK! I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL SENDER CLAMP WAS LOOSE AND HOSE WAS SMOKING. *JB