1996 Volkswagen Jetta Interior & seats Problems

WELL, ITS AN OLD CAR YES AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY SEVERE MALFUNCTIONS EXCEPT ON PRETTY MUCH EVERY LATCH MECHANISM ON THE CAR. CURRENTLY, THE TRUNK DOES NOT OPEN. THE LATCH IS BROKE AND WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEY PLACED IN IT OR WITH RELEASE BUTTON. TO OPEN IT, I HAVE TO LAY THE BACK SEATS DOWN AND CRAWL INTO THE TRUNK AND ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY RELEASE MANUALLY. TO ADD TO THE MESS, BOTH REAR DOORS WILL OPEN BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL CLOSE AGAIN. I'VE HAD TO RIG A WIRE TO PULL THE LATCH INTO ITS LOCKED POSITION TO KEEP BOTH DOORS CLOSED. (RESULTING IN THE ONLY 4 DOOR COUPE I KNOW OF!) *TR

NHTSA ID

10188837

Incident

May 1, 2004

IN LATE FEB 2005 PURCHASED A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (WHICH WAS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE) AND IN (APPOX) SEPT 2005 WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PACKED FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE FLEW UP. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND IT VISUALLY LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF CARDBOARD CRUMPLING HOWEVER THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT IT CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. I CONSIDER MYSELF AND THE PASSENGERS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AND/OR DID NOT CRASH. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED TREMENDOUS BODY DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND CAN NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND AS I MENTION PREVIOUSLY THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. I AM UNCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT SIMILAR VEHICLES TO MINE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BUT I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT / FAILURE DUE TO THE FACT OF THE SAFETY LATCH MALFUNCTION. I AM NOT 100% SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE HOOD WAS NOT SHUT COMPLETELY BECAUSE I DID NOT PHYSICALLY CHECK IT BEFORE THE INCIDENT BUT REGARDLESS THAT IS WHY I THOUGHT SAFETY LATCHES WERE PUT INTO USE ON VEHICLE HOODS TO PREVENT SUCH DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156592

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

1996 VW JETTA - DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 0 C OR 32 F. THIS MATCHES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 57 9702 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 53643. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052644

Incident

Jan 7, 2004

Mileage

108,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, 1996 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS, FROM THE STORE, I NOTICE THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY THERMOSTAT STARTED TO GO BACK AND FORWARD LIKE IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF MY VENTS INSIDE OF MY CAR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE, THAT SMOKE(WHITE SMOKE) CAME FROM INSIDE MY CAR, SO I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD, BUT NOTHING WAS BURNING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOLD MY HUSBAND ABOUT THIS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS GONE OR WAS BURNED OUT. I THEN ASKED HIM HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO GET IT FIXED AND HE STATED THAT THIS COULD BE A COSTLY JOB. I NEEDED MY CAR FIXED SO I TOOK IT TO A EUROPEAN SPECIALIST AUTO SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT FOR A COST OF $800.00 PLUS TAX!!!!! THIS WAS OUTRAGEOUS, BUT I NEEDED TO GET IT FIXED. WHERE CAN I CALL TO GET MY REFUND??? THIS IS ENTIRELY A LOT OF MONEY!!!!! *NLM

NHTSA ID

10049230

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HOOD FLEW OFF, BREAKING WINDSHIELD . DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013687

Incident

Jun 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND HIT WINDSHIELD. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8009443

FRONT DOOR LATCHES FAIL TO OPERATE, CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

760072

Incident

Mar 20, 2002

CYLINDERS CAME OUT WITH THE KEY. THEY JUST STOPPED WORKING AND CAME OUT! I CAN NO LONGER LOCK MY CAR OR USE THE KEY TO GET INTO IT. I HAVE TO LEAVE IT UNLOCKED AND CLIMB IN THROUGH THE BACK SEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

754550

Incident

Nov 10, 2001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED AND CAUSED ALARM TO GO OFF, POWER WINDOWS NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED LOCK SYSTEM WHICH HELPED FOR AWHILE. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN, AND THIS TIME MECHANIC LOCATED ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT HAD FUSED TOGETHER UNDER DASH AND WERE CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

890690

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (98V-160) HOOD LATCH PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES HOOD AND WINDSHIELD WHEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

NHTSA ID

552776

Incident

Jul 30, 1998

BOTH BUCKET SEATS HAVE NO CUSHION. CONSUMER IS SITTING ON THE FRAME IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. DEALER SAID THEY REALIZED THE PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY 25 % AS LONG AS CONSUMER PAID 75% FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

856367

Incident

Feb 7, 1999

FREEZING DOOR LOCKS, BROKEN WINDOW REGULATORS, INABILITY TO USE AFTERMARKET DISC BRAKE PADS AND OTHER ITEMS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BY VW IN "TECHNICAL BULLETINS" BUT CUSTOMER MUST PAY FOR THEIR ERRORS. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFO. ABOUT THIS IF CONTACTED. CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR MANUFACTURER ERRORS (ACKNOWLEDGED BY MANUFACTURER.)

NHTSA ID

715652

LOCKS HAVE FALLEN APART AND CAME OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING THEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO ENTER AND EXIT VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

838915

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN, AND PASSENGER ALMOST FELL OUT OF VEHICLE DUE TO LATCH BEING BROKEN. ALSO, WHEN SHUTTING PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, DOOR WILL POP OPEN BECAUSE OF THE LATCH BEING BROKEN, AND LOCKS DON'T WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

838706

Incident

May 31, 1999

DRIVING FOR 1/4 MILE AT ABOUT 20 MPH - STRONG BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FROM UNDER DASH BOARD - PULLED OVER - TURNED CAR OFF - TRIED TO START CAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT NO ELECTRICITY AT ALL (COMPLETELY DEAD). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUSLY INCIDENT ON A CONJESTED HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

703287

Incident

Feb 13, 1999

RECALL 98V160000/ CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR THREE MONTHS, PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT HOOD LATCH OR BOLTS UNTIL PARTS ARE IN. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

832773

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY GRIND AND SQUEAK, AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, HOOD LATCH NEEDS TO BE FIXED DUE TO THE HOOD FLYING UP WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD BLIND THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

832752

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HOOD LATCH ON SEPT. 2, 1998. THE PARTS FOR THAT RECALL HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE SINCE THE DAY THAT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

830145

Incident

Sep 2, 1998

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR THE HOOD LATCH. MANUFACTURERS RECALL#1H24Q3 AND NHTSA RECALL#98V160000. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVALIBLE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

829537

Incident

Oct 15, 1998

HOOD LATCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID

529923

Incident

Sep 19, 1997

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, FRONT END VIBRATES AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT/PASSENGER'S SEAT CAME OFF THE TRACK/ STEEERING WHEEL BOLT CRACKED TWICE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING/WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TWICE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

526270

PLASTIC SEAT RUNNER CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

603834

Incident

Aug 1, 1996

OUTSIDE DOOR LOCKS FREEZE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

514878

Incident

Feb 11, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, HOOD LATCH CAME UNFASTENED, HOOD FLEW UP; LATCH MADE OUT OF FLIMSY MATERIAL; NO WARNING; SPEED 30 TO 35 MPH. TT

NHTSA ID

979208

Incident

Feb 14, 1996