Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 125 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.
The 25 most recent of 125, in the owner's own words
MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT OFF. I HAVE BOUGHT A NEW COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE HAS CAME BACK ON.PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS CAR.THANKS.GOD BLESS U.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED, AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD ISSUES OPENING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN COOLANT FAN, ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET, BOTH REAR SHOCK AND MOUNTS, BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS, FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, AND BOTH OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,354.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES SOFT AS A MARSHMALLOW NOT WARNING NOTICE GOT STOPPED AND THERE WAS A HISSING NOISE BUT NO BRAKE FLUID ON ANY OF THE BRAKES...... I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH AFTER REPLACING THE WATER PUMP IT KEEPING FLUID IN IT ALSO USING THE GEICO DISCOUNT EQUIPMENT TO SEE HOW MY DRIVING IS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ONE ABOVE THAT THE LOOKS LIKE A TRIANGLE.... DID THE DIAGNOSTIC CAME UP WITH A 1000 CODE AND ONE OTHER THE DEAL DIDN'T FIND THE 1000 CODE BUT RESET WITH NO LUCK TURNING THEM OFF AFTER SERVICE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 13 MPH THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI LOCK) WAS RELATED; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02/14/11 *BF UPDATED 02/22/11
ABS UNIT MALFUNCTION CAUSING A STOP BRAKE LIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN ALL VW AND AUDIS FITTED WITH A BOSCH ABS MODULE. NOTHING ON MY PASSAT HAS WORKED RIGHT! I HAVE SPENT ABOUT 3000 USD TO FIX A CAR SO IT CAN FUNCTION LIKE ONE, NOT THE DEAL I WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN I WENT OUT TO BUY A CAR. NOW THIS UNIT NEEDS ABOUT 1400 USD BEFORE LABOR TO FIX? 5000 USD AND SOME ON A 2001 PASSAT? SHORT OF GETTING A HORSE AND CARRIAGE, COULD VW JUST ACCEPT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS UNIT AND RECALL IT ALREADY. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE ON FIRE, RUNNING DOWN THE FREE WAY AND GET ON LOCAL NEWS HOLDING A VW OR AUDI EMBLEM FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE? ASKING MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIPS IF THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON OCCURRENCE ELICITS A CHUCKLE ONE WOULD ONLY GET IF THEY WERE DOING STAND UP. THEY KNOW IT, DEALERSHIPS KNOW IT BUT WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. EVERYONE IS LIVING OFF EVERYONE'S BACK POCKET...WE CALL IT CAPITALISM! SO CAN THIS TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS FOR ONCE GET TO THOSE WHO ARE IN NO POSITION TO SEE THE FUTURE AND REALIZE THE LEMON THEY ARE BUYING IS SUCH BEFORE THE FACT! GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS ARE SET FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN, AND WHEN IT DOES, THEY SHOULD BE USED TO CORRECT SAID ISSUE.*TR
I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT ONLY ALLOWS ME TO GET A REPAIR AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA 4 HOURS FROM THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. THEY WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO REPAIR IT LOCALLY AND GET RE-IMBURSED. IT IS 4 HOURS TO THIS DEALERSHIP MEANING AN OVERNIGHT STAY. THE TOTAL COST OF THE TRIP IS MORE THAN THE REPAIR. IS THERE ANY OPTION TO GET THIS REPAIRED LOCALLY? NO ACCIDENT..........YET. THE RECALL IS FOR A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED CAR AND, WITHIN THE SAME WEEK, IT BEGAN TO STALL. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO FAILURES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND THEY GAVE HER A LIST OF ALL THE FAILURES. THE LIST INCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION, RATTLING IN THE ENGINE, AND THE BRAKE SENSORS. THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND EACH ARE THE INCORRECT SIZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR ALL THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
ABS/ASR LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ABS MODULE AND PUMP. AFTER READING ONLINE, I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
2001 JETTA. IN TRAFFIC, A CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY TWO CARS BEFORE ME.... I STOPPED IN RESPONSE AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - BRAKES FAILING , ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILING - AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
WE HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI THAT WE BOUGHT IN DAYTONA BEACH, FL. THE CAR HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT. WE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WE WERE ON RT92 WHEN THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER; THIS IS IN A 50MPH SPEED ZONE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND AS SOON AS TRAFFIC WOULD LET HIM HE GOT OVER IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND ALL THE TIME THE CAR IS GOING SLOWER AND SLOWER. HE DECIDED TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, PUTTING HIS FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL HE GOT IT BACK UP AND THEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING FASTER. THIS CAR HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES ALL ON ITS OWN. THEN WE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A NOISE SOUNDING LIKE AIR BRAKES. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME (20 MILES) THAT DAY AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING A U-TURN AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,239 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,239. UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF
MY CAR HAS HAD MODULATION PROBLEMS WHICH COME AS POWER SURGES WHILE DRIVING AND MORE RECENTLY WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND IN TRAFFIC. *TR
ON A CLEAR DAY, DRY PAVEMENT, WENT TO BRAKE IN CITY TRAFFIC AND BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ME TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT ( CAUSING $2600 DAMAGES) AND TOTALLING MY CAR. NO INJURIES. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE LOW SPEED I WAS TRAVELLING. *TR
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $2,500.00!! I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, MODEL BUT AM BEING TOLD THAT MINE IS NOT ONE OF THEM-THAT MY VIN # DOES NOT FALL INTO THE RECALLED ONES. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS CAN BE SINCE ALL OTHER INFORMATION MATCHES UP AND AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE PART, WHICH I AM BEING TOLD CAN CAUSE FIRE HAZARD! *TR
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 2001 VW JETTA, PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2001.INCLUDING : WINDOWS SPORADICALLY MALFUNCTIONING (WHEN I CALLED VW CORPORATE AS WELL AS MY LOCAL DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT AFTER THE DEALER EVALUATED PROBLEM I COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR CHARGE DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS!!); TRUNK LATCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE (OUT OF WARRANTY) AND NOW LATCH DOES NOT RESPOND TO REMOTES NOR TO THE INSIDE RELEASE ON DRIVER DOOR; DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT RESPOND TO REMOTES NOR TO CONTROL ON DRIVER DOOR (THE OTHER THREE DOOR LOCKS ARE PRESENTLY FUNCTIONING); INTERIOR COATING ON PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES AND CENTER CONSOLE BEGAN TO PEEL WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF DELIVERY; CENTER CONSOLE LATCH BROKE LONG AGO; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/OFF SPORADICALLY (BROUGHT CAR TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC BUT PROBLEM UNDIAGNOSED); A WAX SUBSTANCE WAS CONSTANTLY RUNNING INTO DOORWELLS; VW DEALER REPLACED COIL, CABLES AND BUFFER IN RESPONSE TO ROUGH ENGINE IDLE COMPLAINT AND I INCURRED ALL COSTS AND INCONVENIENCE OF CAR IN SHOP , THIS AT 72,000 MILES,HAZARD LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED; TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED; NOW I HEAR OF A BRAKE LIGHT RECALL AND AN EMERGENCY LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM. I AM JUST REALIZING RECENTLY THAT I AM NOT ALONE WITH MY JETTA PROBLEMS, THAT NUMEROUS JJETTA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS ( I RESEARCHED ON INTERNET) . VW CUSTOMER SERVICE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL IN RESOLVING THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. I WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND THEN A MONTH OR SO LATER I HAVE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT, OR THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT OR THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. I AM REPLACING ABOUT 4-5 LIGHTS PER YEAR ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR ALSO NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. 1/2 OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER WORKING, AND WHEN I UNLOCK THE CAR IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON ME WITHIN 15 SECONDS UNLESS I START THE ENGINE.
ABS/BRAKE LIGHT ON WITH NO ENGINE CODE. 1600 REPLACEMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND THE SECOND FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE. HE WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NOTICE # 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, HE HAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER TWICE DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 127,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL # 04V096000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). SHE WAS CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER GAVE HER A LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIRS WILL BE $2,000. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,860.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT REPORTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REMEDIED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND ONE MONTH LATER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPC LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THE CURRENT SPEED IN WHICH THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING, REDUCED DRASTICALLY. THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BAD WIRING AND PERFORMED THE REMEDY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO PERSIST. THE CONTACT THEN STATED FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH, HOWEVER IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER. THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH FAILURE ALSO CONTINUED TO PERSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,908 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.AK
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED THREE TIMES . THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AT 23,000, 40,000 & 42,000 MILES. WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED THE EPC LIGHT TURNED ON AND SOMETIMES IT TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK UPDATED 1/30/2007 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. A NHTSA RECALL, #04V096000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL. A REVISED RECALL #06V183000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.
I OWN A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH A 2.8 ............................................................................................................. LV6 ENGINE AND 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON 03 AUG 2006 (MILEAGE: 84028) I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE WHEN THE ECL INDICATOR CAME ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 19 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRST TIME WAS 10 NOVEMBER 2004 (MILEAGE: 68184) IN WHICH THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA RECALL #04V-09600 (20 FEBRUARY 2004). IN BOTH CASES THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF THORNTON, COLORADO. THE FIRST SWITCH REPLACEMENT USED PART #1J0-945-511-D, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT USING PART #1J0-945-511-F. THIS IMPLIES A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DESIGNED BY VOLKSWAGEN BECAUSE OF FLAWS WITH THE DESIGN USED TO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE SECOND INCIDENT OF THIS BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY EITHER THE FEBRUARY 2004 RECALL THAT REPAIRED THE FIRST INSTANCE OR THE NEW RECALL 06V183000. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO FUNCTION LONGER THAN 19 MONTHS. ITS FAILURE PLACES MY FAMILY AND I AT RISK OF INJURY OR EVEN DEATH DUE TO A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF VOLKSWAGENS INABILITY TO PROPERLY DESIGN A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE TO PROTECT ITS OCCUPANTS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD MAKE A SERIOUS EFFORT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM PERMANENTLY OR DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SAFETY BY REPLACING THE SWITCH AT MANUFACTURER EXPENSE. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE (1-800-822-8987, REF. #60279193) THEY CLAIMED THIS SERVICE WAS NOT COVERED BY EITHER RECALL AND SINCE THE PART HAD PERFORMED PAST THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE SWITCH AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *NM
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.
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