1996 Volkswagen Jetta 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

NHTSA ID

10198308

Incident

Jul 20, 2007

Mileage

125,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10160740

Incident

Jun 22, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10152770

Incident

Jan 12, 2006

Mileage

114,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10117049

Incident

Mar 25, 2005

Mileage

164,493 mi

SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A PUFF OF SMOKE AROSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND I LOST USE OF MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO THE SAME AFFECT. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL ITEM ? AVE HAD QUITE A FEW OTHERS PROBLEMS IN THE 6 MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE OWNED OUR 1996 JETTA. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105707

Incident

Dec 23, 2004

Mileage

106,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10094117

Incident

Sep 22, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10090456

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10074777

Incident

Jun 2, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10067915

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

10058702

Incident

Mar 20, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

10025522

Incident

Jul 31, 2002

ALL PROBLEMS HAVE REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER TO NO AVAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

748388

Incident

Jul 12, 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

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

NHTSA ID

740493

Incident

Jan 30, 2001

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.

NHTSA ID

736642

Incident

Oct 31, 1996

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

NHTSA ID

735065

Incident

Oct 20, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

10006988

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

Mileage

56,300 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

734295

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

721592

Incident

Apr 16, 1999

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.

NHTSA ID

720716

Incident

Mar 28, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

718985

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

TRANSMISSION JUMPS WHEN SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND 2ND TO 3RD, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT 43K, HOWEVER PROBLEM IS RECURRENT.*ET

NHTSA ID

784255

Incident

Feb 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

714082

Incident

Jan 27, 1997

IGNITION WAS STICKING.DRIVING AT 55 GOING TO TURN HEADLIGHTS ON,THERE ARE NONE. PULL OVER TURN CAR OFF AND KEEP RESTARTING.WIPERS THE SAME. BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR. TOLD IGNITION STICKING.REPLACE AT MY COST. NEVER TRIED WHILE DRIVING BUT EXPERIMENTED AT A STOP. IF CAR IS RUNNING AND YOU LIGHTLY TOUCHED IGNITION...CAR WOULD SHUT OFF.THIS I ASSUME WOULD ALSO HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING. I WAS QUITE A FEW CUSTOMERS WERE BRINGING IN THEIR CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

713186

Incident

Jul 1, 1999