RoadVitals

2001 Volkswagen Jetta Heating & air conditioning Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the heating or air-conditioning system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Heating & air conditioning reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 14, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 668 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. 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. 11 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.

Owner reports naming heating or air-conditioning

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 14, 2007

SEAT HEATER IN VW JETTA '01 BECAME VERY HOT (LIKE BURNING CIGARETTE ON BUTTOCKS) ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS - AND FINALLY STOP WORKING. PER THE DEALER THE ELEMENT DID SHORT OUT - HAS DISCOLORED FABRIC - AND IS NOW BEING REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $275 -- THE COVER WOULD COST AN EXTRA $350+ WHICH I PASSED ON REPLACING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10185020
Incident
Feb 26, 2007
Mileage
93,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 24, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS HEATED, AND ONE NIGHT SMELLED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. SHE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS, AND THEN HER BACK AND LEGS WERE GETTING REALLY HOT FROM THE HEATED SEAT.*AK CONSUMER STATES ON 05/25/05 HEATED SEATS WERE ON AND A SHOCK WAS FELT IN CONSUMER'S LEFT LEG. CONSUMER TURNED IT OFF THEN BACK ON IN 15 MINUTES TO SEE IF IT WOULD REOCCUR AND 5 MINUTES LATER SEAT BECAME HOT AND EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK IN LEFT THIGH AGAIN.*SB *NM

NHTSA ID
10122244
Incident
May 25, 2005
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Apr 14, 2005

THE AIR COMING OUT OF MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA'S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT STARTED TO SMELLING LIKE MELTED CRAYONS AND ENGINE FUMES. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE AIR CONDITIONER BROKE DOWN, AND I TOOK IT TO GET REPAIRED AT DEEL VOLKSWAGEN IN MIAMI. I TOLD THE SERVICE AGENT THAT THE CAR ALSO HAD A TERRIBLE SMELL OF CAR FUMES AND TO PLEASE CHECK THAT. THE NEXT DAY, I RECEIVED A SERVICE REPAIR QUOTE FOR $1,300 THAT INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY FUSE BOX, MAIN FAN, A/C FAN AND FAN MODULE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED IN THE CAR ON 10/22/2004. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE A/C HAD THE SAME ENGINE FUMES SMELL, AND TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON, RICARDO WILDER, THAT THE A/C STILL SMELLED THE SAME. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL JETTA'S SMELLED THE SAME, AND THAT I SHOULD DRIVE IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO LET THE NEWLY REPLACED PARTS DO THEIR JOB. IT IS NOW APRIL, 2005 AND THE CAR STILL STRONGLY SMELLS LIKE ENGINE FUMES. AT THE END OF MY DRIVING DAY, MY CLOTHES AND THE INSIDE OF THEE CAR SMELL LIKE ENGINE FUMES. I NOW DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS AND MOON ROOF OPEN AND WITH THE A/C OFF IN ORDER TO FIGHT THE STRONG SMELL. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER THIS SMELL IS, IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY HEALTH. *AK

NHTSA ID
10117886
Incident
Oct 22, 2004
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 8, 2005

THE HEATING ELEMENT FOR THE HEATED SEAT BECAME SO HOT IT MELTED THE LEATHER SEAT OF THE CONSUMER'S 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *NM THE DEALER STATED THAT LIQUID APPEARED TO BE SPLIT ON THE LEATHER SEATS CAUSING THE DEVICE TO SHORT OUT AND OVERHEAT WHICH CAUSED THE DEVICE TO SHORT OUT AND OVERHEAT WHICH CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT COMPENSATION. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10114882
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Dec 12, 2004

1 ) WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON, THE SEAT BECAME BURNING HOT, TO A POINT WHERE I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT. THIS IS WHILE I AM DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE I-580. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW WITH NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO FOUND FROM OTHER REPORTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES, TO A POINT WHERE SOME CAUGHT ON FIRE. VW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND THE SERVICE DEPT EVEN WENT AS FAR AS RECOMMENDING ME JUST SWAPPING THE PASSENGER TO DRIVER SIDE HEAT CONTROL. *JB 2) THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT HEATER ALMOST LED TO A ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WHILE NOT COMPLETELY SEATED TO PULL OVER . 3). VW HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE SINCE THEY STATE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10102762
Incident
Sep 17, 2004
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Dec 8, 2004
1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BECOME UNUSUALLY HOTTER THAN NORMAL. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE DEALER WANTED A NON REFUNDABLE FEE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO THE CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. *TC THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD A FAINT BURNING SMELL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10099346
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Mileage
36,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 8, 2004

DRIVER SEAT BURN,SEAT COVER HAD LIQUID OF SOME TYPE LEAK INTO SEAT THROUGH SEAM INTO HEATING ELEMENTS. CAUSED A SHORT. *BF *TC *JB

NHTSA ID
10099831
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
Mileage
64,221 mi
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Oct 14, 2004

SAFETY ISSUE WITH 2001 VW JETTA. *BF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BECAME UNUSUALLY HOT THAN NORMAL AND THE INTERIOR LEATHER COVERING DEVELOPED A METALLIC APPEARANCE. A VW REPRESENTATIVE LOOKED AT THE SEAT AND STATED IT LOOKED LIKE EXTERNAL DAMAGED, BUT THE SEAT HAD TO BE FULLY INSPECTED FIRST. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR IF WAS DETERMINED IT WAS NOT THE HEATING ELEMENT, BUT IF IT WAS THE HEATING ELEMENT VW WOULD COVER ALL COSTS. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A BEVERAGE WAS SPILLED ON THE SEAT WHICH CAUSED THE HEATING SEAT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, IN WHICH THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10097355
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Jul 15, 2004

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2001 V.W JETTA. I HAD VEHICLE ONLY 6 MONTHS AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF EMISSION CONTROL SENSOR. 5 MONTHS AFTER THAT, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS INOPERABLE, NEEDING THEM TO REPAIR. 2 MONTHS LATER, OWNED FOR 1 YR 1 MONTH, CAR WAS BURNING A LOT OF OIL SO CONSUMPTION TEST WAS DONE AND DETERMINED TO BE TRUE,THAT THE CAR WAS IN FACT CONSUMING ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL. AS "A COURTESY TO ME, THE CUSTOMER" VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED PISTON RINGS, ROD BEARINGS AND DEGLAZED CYLYNDER WALLS. THEY HAD MY CAR 6 DAYS TO REBUILD ENGINE. 6 MONTHS LATER CAR WAS SHAKING REALLY BAD WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, TOOK IT IN AND SERVICE TECHNITION DISCOVERED THAT REAR BRAKES WERE WARPED AND REAR BRAKE PADS HAD "PREMATURE WEAR." THOSE WERE REPLACED. THROUGHOUT THIS COURSE OF TIME THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT HAD BEEN REPLACE 2 TIMES,AIR CONDITION VENT WAS NOT WORKING AND HAD TO BE REMOVE AND INSTALL NEW CENTER AIR OUTLET,ARMREST BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH BROKE, AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AND BEEN REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT ARE STILL FAULTY,NOT WORKING AT THIS TIME. VOLKSWAGEN HAS TREATED ME AS THOUGH I WAS THE ONE INCONVIENCING THEM!! I REGRET PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AND WILL CONTINUE DISCOURAGING ANYONE FROM EVER BUYING A VOLKSWAGEN! I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR!! AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE NOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE. KNOWING THERE ARE MANY OTHER VW'S ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME MECHANICAL PROBLEMS MY CAR, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AS WELL AS MYSELF! *LA

NHTSA ID
10081156
Incident
Sep 6, 2001
Mileage
5,689 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Dec 30, 2003
1 injury reported

INJURY DUE TO HEATED SEAT IN JETTA 2001. SERIOUS INJURY TO THE SACRAL NERVE AND SCIATA NERVE RESULTING IN COMPLETE "SADDLE" NUMBNESS FOR 4-5 WEEKS AND SEVERE NUMBNESS IN THE FEET FOR 5+ WEEKS WITH LASTING NUMBNESS IN SOLES OF FEET CONTINUING NEARLY ONE YEAR LATER.

NHTSA ID
10051351
Incident
Feb 16, 2003
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+1 more
Filed Jul 29, 2002

NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS!!! THE DAY I WAS TO PICK MY CAR UP, DRIVER WINDOW NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SINCE THEN IT HAS FALLEN INTO DOOR 3 TIMES. AIR CONITIONER LEAKED INTO INTERIOR, SOAKING CARPETS AND SMELLS BAD. BRAKE LIGHTS STUCK ON WHEN CAR IS OFF, ARM REST AND GLOVE BOX BROKE. RECEIVED ZERO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR VOLKS.OF AMERICA. WHAT IS NEXT???

NHTSA ID
764857
Incident
Jan 25, 2001

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .