Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS ON MY JETTA. I CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK IT TO 4 REPAIR SHOP AND NO ONE COULD FIND WHATS WRONG WITH IT. I'VE PAID OVER 1200 ON OTHER REPAIRS. WHAT CAN I DO . *TR THANKS CHRISTINA
VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. TIRE WAS CHANGED, BUT THE TIRE LEANED INWARD INTO THE VEHICLE. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE REAR AXLE BROKE WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
MID-1999 VOLKSWAGEN INTRODUCED THE JETTA IV SERIES. THE COILS SUSPENSION SPRINGS ON THE 4-CYLINDER TDI DIESEL ARE TOO TALL AND TOO SOFT, LEADING TO EXTREME OVER STEER AND BODY ROLL IN CURVES AND EXTREME INTOLERANCE FOR WIND TURBULENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CREATED BY NATURE, TRACTOR TRAILERS AND (EVEN) SMALL CARS. THIS IS (NEARLY) AN ADMITTED DEFECT, AS VOLKSWAGEN OFFERS A SPRING UPGRADE KIT FOR 4-CYLINDER JETTAS IN ITS AFTERMARKET CATALOG! NESTLED RIGHT THERE BETWEEN THE CUSTOM KEY FOBS AND FLOOR MATS! FURTHERMORE, REVIEWS OF THE 2005 MODEL REVEAL A COMPLETE OVERHAUL TO THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH STIFFER AND WIDER TIRES, TO NO AVAIL. THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN TO TASK ON THIS ISSUE. I AM REPORTING TODAY, AS IT IS ONLY MODERATELY WINDY AND (YET) I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING STABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS COULD BE AN UNDETECTED FACTOR IN MANY INCIDENTS.*JB
STRUTS (FRONT) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY OF THE CAR (WELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD). THE REPORT OF PROBLEMS WAS IGNORED BY THE DEALER AND NOT EVEN RECORDED AS A COMPLAINT UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WHEN THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM (AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED) THEY INDICATED THAT THE CAR MUST BE IMMEDIATELY REPAIRED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THIS SAFETY PROBLEM EXISTED BEGINNING FROM THE TIME OF DELIVERY. THE DEALER AND VW HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE COST RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *LA
MAJOR GAS LEAK ON RECENTLY PURCHASED (USED) 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, ALSO NEEDED REPAIR TO LEFT FRONT SHOCK TOWER, CAUSES AND REASONS FOR NEED OF REPAIR UNKNOWN. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING SHOCKS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A HARD BOUNCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS. *AK
WE HIT A LIGHT POLL AND A TELEPHONE POLL. WE HIT THE LIGHT POLL FRONT AND CENTER AND THE TELEPHONE POLL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT. WE HIT BOTH GOING 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVER THAT THE CAR WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE POLLS, ENOUGH TO BREAK THOUGH THE SUB-FRAME, TEAR OFF THE AXEL OF THE DRIVERS FRONT, AND PUSH ENGINE UPWARDS BREAKING THE ENGINE MOUNTS. THE DAMAGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTINUES TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAUSING IT TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE DOOR SO THE INJURED CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DO NOT EXPLODE; RATHER IT IS MISSHAPED THE RIM, THE WHEEL WELL, AND THE TIRE IT SELF. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WHY? IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO SEE THE PICTURES OR WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PICTURES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY E-MAIL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! JESSICA A. RIGAUD. *AK
30K SERVICE, REPORTED TO DEALER THAT STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES...ASKED DEALER TO CHECK ON ALIGHMENT PROBLEMS. DEALER NO ALIGNMENT NEEDED, BUT BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN 50% & ALSO NEEDED NEW ROTORS. DEALER INSISTED CAR OK TO DRIVE & ADVISED TO COME BACK @ 35K SERVICE TO HAVE NEW BRAKES & ROTORS INSTALLED @ APROX. $600. AFTER SERVICE, I DROVE HOME ABOUT 50 MI. & PROBLEM GOT WORSE, INCLUDING A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE. I CALLED DEALER & THEY REFERRED ME TO A DEALER CLOSER TO MY HOME, 3 DAYS & 300 MILES LATER, 2ND DEALER ASKED HOW MANY TIMES I HAD CHANGED THE BRAKES, BECAUSE I NOW, NEEDED ROTORS, AND WORSE, ALL MY TIRES WERE "CUPPED" & I ALSO NEEDED A WHOLE NEW SET OF TIRES...I ASKED 2ND DEALER IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE, BUT RECOMMENDED CHANGING BRAKES, ROTORS & TIRES @ A COST OF $1,100. DEALER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE LACK OF ROTATING & BALANCING TIRES COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNEVEN WEAR (AKA: CUPPED TIRES). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LOUD RUMBLING NOISE, WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY, SINCE THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED. THE 2ND DEALER INVOICED THE 1ST DEALER FOR THIS SERVICE CHARGE. 3 DAYS LATER, I WENT TO GOODYEAR TIRE SHOP (FOR 3RD OPINON) BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE TIRES MAY BE DEFECTIVE. GOODYEAR ADVISED ME THAT CUPPED TIRES RESULT FROM UNEVEN WEAR (USUALLY RECOMMEND ROTATING & BALANCING TIRES EVERY 10K MI.), IF NOT, PROBLEMS W/BRAKES & ROTORS. GOODYEAR COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED @ ONLY 30K MI. SUCH A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AT ABOUT 60K MILES, BUT NOT ROTORS. GOODYEAR BALANCED & ROTATED MY TIRES & ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEELWELL, CAUSING A LARGE GASH IN THE WHEELWELL. IN THE INTEREST OF CONSUMER PROTECTION, I SEEK YOUR PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING A POSITIVE RESOLVE TO THIS MATTER. MY CAR HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME @ DEALER SERVICE SHOP. VOLKSWAGEN MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD CRAFTSMANSHIP & POOR SERVICE ADVICE. PLEASE HELP!!
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2000. IT IS THE NEWLY REDESIGNED JETTA. SINCE IT'S PURCHASE THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 9 TIMES FOR WATER/AIR LEAKS, TWICE FOR FAILED DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION STEERING FAILURE, NAMELY THE SHOCK, BEARING, SPACER, RETAINER (STRUTS). IN ADDITION SEVERAL PIECES OF THE INSIDE MOLDING HAVE DETACHED. ONE OF THE LARGEST SAFETY ISSUES FOR ME, OTHER THAN THE STRUT, IS THE POORLY DESIGNED FLOOR MATS WHICH POP LOOSE, SLIP FORWARD , AND CATCH THE GAS PETAL CAUSING ACCERLARATION. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS MOLDED OVER TWICE. I HAVE INFORMED BOTH THE SELLER AND THE MANUFACTURING OF MY COMPLAINTS AND HAVE DEMANDED A REFUND OR A LEMON LAW TAKE BACK. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT FEEL VW HASN'T BEEN HONEST ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THE "NEW" VW HAS HAD. I JUST WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHER OWNERS OUT THERE ARE EXPERIENCEING THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY HELP FROM VW ALSO.*AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS (BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING, DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS FELL DOWN AND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, REMOTE DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND FLUCTUATES WITH OUTDOOR TEMP, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED, TAIL LIGHT FLICKERS, THE CD LIGHT FLASHES). NLM
FRONT BUMPER HAS BEEN PULLED LOOSE TWICE IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS WHILE BACKING FROM DRIVEWAY. THERE IS ALSO TRANSMISSION GUARD SCRATCHES. FIRST INCIDENT 10/29/99, CURRENT INCIDENT 10/09/00.CONTACTED VW U.S. CUSTOMER CARE CENTER (1-800-822-8987) CASE # 732875, WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT A "DEFECT" PROBLEM. I DISAGREE. FRONT SUSPENSION AND BUMPER DESIGN PROBLEM.*AK
THE CAR BOTTOMS IN THE FRONT-RIGHT SIDE OUT WHEN 4 PASSENGERS ARE IN THE CAR AND YOU TRAVEL OVER RELATIVELY SMALL BUMPS IN PAVEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THIS NEW CAR (APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS). THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANTS WAS NO MORE THAN 600 POUNDS, AND THE SPEED AT THE TIMES OF INCIDENT WERE ALL UNDER 30MPH. AT THE CARS 10,000 CHECKUP, I ASKED THE DEALER TO INSPECT, AND HE REPORTED THAT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE HAS RESULTED TO THE SUB-FRAME. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. AT ALL TIMES, THE CAR WAS OPERATED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (DAYLIGHT, LOW SPEED, WITHIN VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS, AND ON NORMAL PAVEMENT). I NOW AM SCARED TO DRIVE WITH 4 PASSENGERS. IS THIS POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE CAR IS A DIESEL AND THEREFORE WEIGHS MORE? HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS COMPLAINT? THANK YOU.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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