2000 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving with the front driver’s side seat heater activated, the seat became extremely hot. The contact started smelling a burning odor coming from the seat. The contact felt a hole in the seat, which burned the contact's middle finger. The contact immediately pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact’s back started burning due to the extreme heat of the seat back. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a hole in his jacket and approximately four holes that had formed in the front driver seat due to the seat heater failure. The contact was not treated for the burns to his back. The contact stated that two dealers were notified of the failure but neither provided immediate assistance. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 489,000.

NHTSA ID

11617892

Incident

Oct 3, 2024

Mileage

489,000 mi

CAR WILL NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN FAR ENOUGH TO WARM-UP THE ENGINE. MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES--UP TO AN HOUR--BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. THE PROCESS OF TRYING A RESTART RESULTS IN MUCH UNBURNED FUEL VAPOR IN THE EXHAUST STREAM. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DOES NOT TURN ON OR OFF WITH THE OPENING OF A DOOR. HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN LOCKING THE CAR, AUTO-DRIVERS SEAT POSITIONING DOES NOT WORK. ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR PERFORMS QUITE WELL--GOOD ENGINE POWER, STEERING, ETC. HOWEVER, THE NON-STARTING AFTER BEING DRIVEN A DISTANCE COULD RESULT IN BEING STRANDED AND PLACED IN DANGER. *TT

NHTSA ID

10446012

Incident

Mar 10, 2010

Mileage

84,000 mi

I OWN A 2000 VR6 JETTA AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL TWICE DUE TO THE DEFECTS OF THE IGNITION COIL CRACKING. I READ A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THIS WEBSITE BACK IN 2005 AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, I LOST POWER AND IT STARTED TO STALL ON ME. I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I PANIC. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT THAT RELIES ON MY CAR AND I TRAVEL 300 MILES TO COLLEGE. I NOTICED A LOT OF SPARKS BY THE IGNITION COIL AND I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT MIGHT CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10288773

Incident

Oct 10, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY 2000 JETTA VR6 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING COIL ISSUES FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS WET/RAINY AND HIGH HUMIDITY. IF THE CAR SITS IDLE FOR 6-8 HOURS WITH A COLD ENGINE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START THE ENGINE WITHOUT CONSTANT SPUTTERING. THERE IS NO POWER IN ACCELERATION UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP COMPLETELY. DURING THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND REMAINS ON UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I START UP THE ENGINE OR UNTIL THE WEATHER BECOMES LESS HUMID. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THRU A PUDDLE OF WATER CAUSING IT TO SPLASH THE COIL AREA. I REPLACED THE IGNITION WIRES TO THE TUNE OF $145 BUT THAT DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255084

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

I OWN A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, THE CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, I REALIZE THE CAR IS OLD AND WAS BOUGHT AS IS IT STILL SHOULD MAINTAIN TO PROPERLY RUN. IT HAS CAUSED A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THE CARS WATER PUMP FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 75MPH, IT STARTED TO STALL I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE, I PULLED OVER THREW HEAVY TRAFFIC, IT WAS A 1000 DOLLAR REPAIR, I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A FAILED WATER PUMP, ALSO, THE CAR STARTS AND REVS AT 2000 RPMS OR IT HAS TROUBLE STARTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND CANT FIND THE PROBLEM, ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS ARE NUMEROUS, I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE SOME COMPENSATION FROM THE VW CORPORATION AND ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF A VW OF THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250024

Incident

Jul 4, 2008

Mileage

102,000 mi

FIRE IN 2000 VW JETTA VR6, POINT OF ORIGIN AT IGNITION COIL PACK ON THE TOP LEFT-FACING SIDE OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240064

Incident

Jul 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BULB. AFTERWARDS, SHE WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO POINTED OUT THE MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT. SHE PROVIDED THE OFFICER WITH THE PAPERWORK OF HER RECENT REPAIR. THE OFFICER INSTRUCTED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BULB AND REALIZED THAT IT WORKED. SHE PURCHASED NEW BULBS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. SHE ASSUMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ON AUGUST 12, 2008, THE CONTACT HAD HER DAUGHTER FOLLOW HER TO A DEALER 30 MILES AWAY. HER DAUGHTER WAS INSTRUCTED TO SOUND THE HORN EVERYTIME HER BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. HER DAUGHTER SOUNDED THE HORN A TOTAL OF 13 TIMES ON THE 30 MILE TRIP TO THE DEALER. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10237996

Incident

Feb 21, 2008

Mileage

113,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 VW JETTA ALREADY HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2000 VW JETTA AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORTS WHEN I PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED ON THE SHOULDER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT REDUCED POWER............................ALSO MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN STICKING ON AND NOT WORKING ALL THE TIME AS WELL.................NOT SURE HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE BUT HERE GOES RIGHT BY MY AC SWITCH ON MY CAR THERE IS A BUTTON THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CIRCULATE THE AIR THROUGH THE CAR BUT WHEN I PUSH IT IN A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD COMES ON AND SAYS BRAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I HAVE A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER, ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING AND MY HAZARDS HAVE STOPPED AS WELL WAS HOPING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME AS THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230239

Incident

May 28, 2008

Mileage

139,095 mi

I AM REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON THE MODEL YEAR 2000, VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AND CAR NOT STARTING UP AFTER UP OR BEING PARKED AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION PLUS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL. AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING AND NOT STARTING WHEN IGNITION IS ACCELERATED, I HAVE ALSO I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BREAKING EFFORTS WHEN I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES OR LONGER - I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT A REDUCED POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT START UP FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND NERVOUS WHEN DRIVING - AND HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AND HAVE PAID FOR COSTLY REPAIRS. STILL TO NO AVAIL, IT KEEPS HAPPENING. TIRED OF THE VEHICLE - WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION MODULE ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS - YEAR 2000 PLEASE ASAP !!! I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE WORST PLACES WITH THE VEHICLE - WITH NO HELP TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229591

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY VW JETTA KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING AND LIGHTS UP AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT, BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK. OVER THE LIFETIME OF THIS CAR (I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 8 YEARS), I HAVE HAD THIS CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION OVER 10-15 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225391

Incident

Apr 2, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

BOUGHT USED VW FROM A DEALER. DEALER WAS DOING BRAKES/INSPECTION, AND ON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE STUNK OF BURNT ELECTRIC SMELL. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THIS WAS AROUND 50,000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS CODES CONTINUE TO COME UP NOTHING IS FOUND. DEALER SENT CAR TO AUTHORIZED VW DEALER TO FIX - LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON. AROUND 87,000 MILES CAR BEGAN TO DRAIN BATTERY AND WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER NEW BATTERY. TOOK TO AUTHORIZED VW CAR SHOP. SEEMS SOMETHING WITH FUSES/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AGAIN MANY CODES BUT NOTHING SEEMS WRONG, ACCEPT FOR THE WHOLE NOT STARTING. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED - LIGHT STILL ON. LIGHTER SOCKET NO LONGER WORKS. NOW AROUND 89,000 MILES AND IT IS NOW EARLY 2008. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219742

Incident

Feb 3, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

MULTIPLE AND VARIOUS DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING COSTLY AND UNNECESSARY DEALER VISITS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204853

Incident

Oct 3, 1999

Mileage

900 mi

I PURCHASED A USED CERTIFIED 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN JANUARY 2004, AFTER ONLY ONE WEEK OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE ACCELERATOR WAS MAKING A VIBRATING SOUND AND STALLING CONTINUOUSLY. OKAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE - I PURCHASED A USED TRANSMISSION AND THEN THE ENGINE THROTTLE FAILED AND THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START ONE DAY - HAD THAT REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE $1700. NO THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. OKAY, THERE'S MORE, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES WITHIN THREE YEARS, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, LIGHTS AND FOG INTERIOR FUSES AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES, I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE - AND IT STILL IS RUNNING BADLY. AS OF TODAY, THE CAR WON'T MOVE WITHOUT WARMING IT UP FIRST FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES FULLY - WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR WITHOUT WARMING IT UP FIRST - IT WILL STALL AND MAKE A LOUD EMBARRASSING NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE IS GOING TO EXPLODE - AND YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY MAKE IT MOVE BY PRESSING VERY HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR AND PRAYING THAT IT WON'T JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND NEVER START AGAIN. MY VEHICLE HAS 117,000 MILES ON IT HAD 43,500 WHEN I BOUGHT IT (I KNOW STUPID WASN'T I) IT WAS MY FIRST VEHICLE. I KNOW A CAR IS NOT SUPPOSE TO LAST FOREVER, BUT DAM DOES IT HAVE TO COST SO MUCH TO TRY AND KEEP IT RUNNING UNTIL IT DIES. PLEASE HELP ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10204787

Incident

Aug 28, 2007

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR & WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 2000 JETTA TDI WITH 55,000 MILES. CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND AUTOMATIC SHIFTING ABILITY ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY CREATING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN FAILURE PROBLEM WITH VW SINCE I WAS TOLD IT IS COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY & "IT'S HAPPENED TO A LOT OF OTHERS". WE HAD TO LEAVE CAR WITH A DEALER IN NJ & RENT A CAR TO GET HOME TO MASSACHUSETTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168081

Incident

Sep 9, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AS I WAS DRIVING UPHILL THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS FAILING AND LOSING POWER. IT REGAINED POWER, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND FOUND MANY CODES ON IT, BUT NOTHING WRONG. HE CLEARED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I NOW HAVE 87,000 MILES AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY. NOW, I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR REGULARLY BY MY MECHANIC TO HAVE THE COMPUTER CLEARED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AFTER HE CLEARED IT LAST TIME. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164219

Incident

Jul 23, 2006

COIL PACK FAILURE ON 2000 VW JETTA GLX V-6; THIS JETTA MANUFACTURED LATE IN 2000 AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR 2001-2003 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10130032

Incident

Jul 12, 2005

Mileage

72,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THE IGNITION COIL WAS BAD. THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL AT A COST OF OVER $700.00; PARTS ONLY. THE CONSUMER HAS VISITED A WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL ON A LATER MODEL; 2001 VW JETTA. HIS CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AS LISTED ON THIS RECALL. HE HAS TALKED TO VW AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM. HE NOTICED PROBLEMS ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. THE DEALER TOLD HIM IT HAD A 100,000 10 YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. 8JB

NHTSA ID

10129883

Incident

Jul 4, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

MY CAR HAD RECALL #04V096000 PERFORMED APPROX 1.5 YEARS AGO (A SWITCH WAS REPLACED). THAT SAME SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. IT IS THE SWITCH THAT DETECTS WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE PRESSED THE BRAKE, ALLOWING ME TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SOMETIMES IT ALSO AFFECTS MY BRAKE LIGHTS, CAUSING THEM TO NOT TURN ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, ON MAY 14, 2005 I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER THE RECALL. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THIS TIME IT DID AFFECT THE BRAKE LIGHTS - THEY WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A FUSE, BUT DUE TO THAT SWITCH, AND THAT THE TWO ARE CONNECTED. WHEN THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD MALFUNCTION AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SWITCH (AGAIN). THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES SUCH AS A SHORT TO THE GROUND WHICH REQUIRED A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY, ESP LIGHT WHICH INDICATED A BAD BRAKE LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A BAD ABS PUMP AND RELAY. UPDATED 01/27/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10121211

Incident

May 12, 2005

Mileage

30,000 mi

I AM THE PRIMARY REPAIR PERSON FOR THIS VEHICLE. OVER ITS HISTORY, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPONENT FAILURES THAT IN MY OPINION ARE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE AND AGE. I PERSONALLY KNOW THE OWNER, AND KNOW THAT IT IS NOT OPERATED UNDER UNUSUALLY HARSH CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COSMETIC CRASH EARLY ON, OTHERWISE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO UNUSUAL OUTSIDE FACTORS. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. PRIMARY USE IS ON LONG TRIPS. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND STORED FOR ABOUT 3-6 MONTHS EACH YEAR. FIRST PROBLEM: AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM LEAK: THE EXPANSION VALVE FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. CHECK ENGINE/ MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT: HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME WITH THE SAME DTC, A MANUFACTURER SPECIFIC CODE RELATED TO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN FREE REPAIR OF THE WINDOWS WITH A REVISED RETAINING CLIP, AS THIS PROBLEM OCCURS FAR TOO OFTEN, AND FINALLY, THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAVE WORN COMPLETELY WITH THE FRONT PADS IN VIRTUALLY NEW CONDITION. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY ALL FOUR ROTORS BEING EXCESSIVELY PITTED, WITH LARGE AREAS OF THE ROTOR FACE ACTUALLY FLAKING OFF. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT I MAY END UP NEEDING TO REPLACE THE REAR CALIPERS, AS WELL, DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10118321

Incident

Apr 22, 2005

Mileage

21,000 mi

1) NO EVENTS OR PRIOR WARNING OF FAILURE. 2) FAILURE -- KEY LOSES PROGRAMMING AND CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH ELECTRONIC IMMOBILIZER. CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AND MUST BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPROGRAMMING OF KEYS. *AK 3) LOST PROGRAMMING OF KEY IN JUNE 2004 WHILE CAR PARKED AT HOME. CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED KEYS. OCCURRED AGAIN ON 3/9/05 WHILE 70 MILES FROM HOME. CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED THE ONLY KEY -- THE SPARE & VALET KEYS NOW INOPERATIVE, REQUIRING CAR TO BE DELIVERED TO DEALER TO GET ALL 3 KEYS REPROGRAMMED TO MATCH.

NHTSA ID

10113883

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

113,900 mi

2000 VW JETTA, VR6 ENGINE, 49,3331 MILE. WHENEVER MY CAR WAS IDLE FOR MORE THAN 6-8 HOURS AND WAS EXPOSED TO RAINY\WET WEATHER, THE ENGINE WOULD EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE ISSUES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER AND SOUND LIKE IT WAS ON THE VERGE OF STALLING. IF I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT LETTING IT FULLY WARM-UP, THE ENGINE WOULD EXPERIENCE A SEVERE PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION, CHARACTERIZED BY POOR, ROUGH ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE, AND I WOULD RECEIVE THE EMISSIONS WORKSHOP WARNING MESSAGE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 1-2 YEARS. AT FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS MILD, BUT OVER TIME IT WORSENED. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION COIL AND IGNITION LEADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND THUS FAR THE ISSUE WITH MY ENGINE HAS NOT REAPPEARED. VW ISSUED AN IGNITION COIL RECALL FOR VARIOUS OTHER 2001, 2002 AND 2003 MODELS. IT APPEARS THE IGNITION COIL RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER MODEL YEARS AS THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF PART THAT SHOULD NEED REGULAR REPLACEMENT. IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS THERE'S A DEFECT WITH THIS PART.

NHTSA ID

10112298

Incident

Feb 14, 2005

Mileage

49,300 mi

1) VEHICLE COMFORT MODULE SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR! 2) A MAJORITY OF THE FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY THIS MODULE FAILED, INCLUDING ALARM GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING, FUEL CAP RELEASE NOT WORKING, DOOR LOCKS, TRUNK RELEASE, ETC. ALL FAILED. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, THE ALARM WENT OFF AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO TURN IT OFF. CALLED EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE AND THEY SHOWED ME HOW TO DISABLE THE ALARM (TURN THE KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK ON AND OFF SEVERAL DOZEN TIMES). HOWEVER NONE OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS WORKED, MOST SERIOUS WAS THAT THE FUEL CAP COULD NOT BE OPENED. I HAD TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE I RAN OUT OF FUEL! 3) TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE COMFORM MODULE AND MOST OF THE SYSTEM OPERATIONAL AGAIN. 4) HOWEVER OVER TIME, ONE BY ONE VARIOUS SYSTEMS STARTING MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. WITHIN WEEKS, ONE OF THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WOULDN'T CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY. LATER THE TRUNK RELEASE DIDN'T WORK WITH THE REMOTE. THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULDN'T GO OFF AUTOMATICALLY. OTHER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED FUNCTIONING, ETC. 5) SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THESE WERE NOT CRUCIAL FUNCTIONS, I LIVED WITH THESE FAILURES. BUT NOW I'M UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR, NOT KNOWING WHERE AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, EVERYTHING STOPS WORKING AGAIN. 6) I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND DESCRIBED THIS. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED AT MY OWN COST. THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY COULD NOT HELP FIX THIS. I ARGUED THAT THIS WAS A CORE COMPONENT THAT FAILED - NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR OR MISUSE, BUT THEY STILL SAID SORRY!*AK

NHTSA ID

10100928

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

Mileage

25,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CLUTCH BECAME STUCK AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO JIGGLE THE GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF AC COMPRESSOR FAILED. NEW BATTERY WENT DEAD. FOUR WINDOW FAILURE DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TC

NHTSA ID

10101029

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, MY 2000 JETTA GLS, VEHICLE HESITATES AND STALLS (ENGINE LIGHT ALSO WOULD COME ON AT TIMES). ON SIX OCCASIONS TO SERVICE, VW CLAIMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. THE SEVENTH TIME, CONVENIENTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION, THEY FOUND A BAD IGNITION COIL...WHICH OBVIOUSLY, I HAD TO PAY FOR. SPEAKING TO FOUR ACQUANTAINCES THAT HAD SAME VEHICLE, ALL REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE HESITATION AND STALLING. THE KICKER CAME FROM MY FRIEND WHO RECEIVED A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE (IGNITION COIL RECALL) FOR HIS 1.8T JETTA. A CALL TO VW (1800-822-8987) TO INQUIRE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY EXPENSES REVEALED THAT MY JETTA VIN DID NOT MATCH THE RECALLED VIN'S!!! HOW CAN A PART THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED NOT BE COVERED FOR MY VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME PART? THIS IS ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT OWNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE BEING TALKED INTO UNNECESSARY REPAIRS AND SIDETRACKED FROM THE REAL ISSUE AND ARE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALLS OR SIMPLY DO NOT FILE COMPLAINTS. A LITTLE BIT OF INFO...TO TEST FOR THE PROBLEM, RUN YOUR VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF GAS (ONE OR TWO GALLONS WILL REVEAL THE PROBLEM), AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!!! SINCE THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED, NO PROBLEMS...HMMMMMM! I URGE ALL TO CALL VW AND FILE COMPLAINTS WITH AAA AND NHTSA IF YOU HAVE BEEN DUPED. EVENTUALLY, THE TRUTH WILL WIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098206

Incident

Dec 1, 2002

Mileage

5,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THEN STAYED ON, FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE SPUTTERING. THEN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IN WHICH THE FAILURE WA A FAILED IGNITION COIL. THE IGNITION COIL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THIS FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT INDICATE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092428

Incident

Dec 26, 2001