RoadVitals

2001 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
668
Latest Jan 28, 2021
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
52
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 16, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 668 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 668 · page 1 of 27

Airbags
Filed Jan 28, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JS

NHTSA ID
11390173
Incident
Dec 1, 2020
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 10, 2019

TAKATA RECALL -THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11254533
Incident
May 10, 2019
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 2019

THE CHANGE IN GEARS FEELS ROUGH. IT SEEMS AS IF THE GEARS ARE SKIPPING OR BEING FORCED. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED DOWN BUT THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CARS FEELS AS IF IT IS STRUGGLING.

NHTSA ID
11183338
Incident
Feb 2, 2019
Mileage
73,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 23, 2018

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD LIKE 35 OR 40 MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED,, THE ONE FROM THE SEAT AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG ONE ... I ALMOST WENT DOWN OUT OF THE ROAD ... IT GOT ME BY SURPRISE

NHTSA ID
11064303
Incident
Oct 21, 2017
Mileage
195,500 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 17, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11063377
Incident
Jan 6, 2016
Filed Jan 16, 2017

STARTER PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR MOST TIMES WILL SCREECH REALLY LOUD. LED TO THE CONCLUSION IT IS THE STARTER FROM ONLINE FORUMS OF OWNERS OF SAME GENERATION JETTAS. SEEMS TO BE A PREMATURE WEAR ITEM. CAR HAS UNDER 130,000 MILES AND OTHER CARS OF SAME AGE AND MILEAGE DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. FELL LIKE THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE STARTER.

NHTSA ID
10945588
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
126,000 mi
Filed Oct 6, 2016

CAR WILL STALL AT A 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN IN MOTION. IT WILL DO THIS AT ANY SPEED OR ON ANY ROAD GOING UPHILL OR DOWN HILL. HAVE PUT 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS IN CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP SOLENOID AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA ID
10914295
Incident
Oct 5, 2016
Mileage
195,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 17, 2016

THE WELD HOLDING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD BROKE OFF. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS VERY MINIMAL RUST.

NHTSA ID
10874826
Incident
Jun 16, 2016
Mileage
270,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 16, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10849951
Incident
Feb 26, 2016
Mileage
137,354 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10820563
Incident
Jan 14, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 16, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WHILE PREPARING TO DRIVE OFF. I WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS MOMENTARILY. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED. I WAS PUT ON A STRETCHER AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR 8 HOURS. THE AIRBAG OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. SOME TIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. VOLKSWAGEN INSPECTED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS FAULTY IN THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
10810694
Incident
May 3, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 19, 2015

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON MY 2001 VW JETTA DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS PARKING MY CAR AT WORK. AS I CAME TO A FULL STOP WHERE I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM INSIDE THE CAB OF MY JETTA. THE LOUD BANG DISTORTED MY THINKING PROCESS AS I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE LOUD NOISE CAME FROM. AS THE SMOKE FILLED MY CAR I STILL COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPEN UNTIL I LOOKED AROUND INSIDE THE CAB OF MY CAR AND WITH THE SMOKE INSIDE THE CAB I WAS ABLE TO SEE A WHITE BAG STICKING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT IN MY CAR, THIS IS WHEN I KNEW THAT THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME, THERE WERE NO HEAVY WINDS BLOWING EARLY THAT MORNING, AND I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES NOR DID I HIT ANY SIDE CURVES WHILE PARKING MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG STILL WENT OFF.

NHTSA ID
10783328
Incident
Oct 19, 2015
Mileage
190,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR INTERIOR SEAT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10782953
Incident
Oct 14, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2015

THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS BOTH ON THE FREEWAY AND ON THE STREETS. THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING, ENGINE SHUTS OFF. WHEN I PULL TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE CAR STARTS WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP, BUT THE ISSUE WASN'T IDENTIFIED AFTER THE INSPECTION, TEST DRIVING AND CODE READING.

NHTSA ID
10734378
Incident
Jun 20, 2015
Mileage
139,500 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 22, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10700973
Incident
Mar 21, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 26, 2014
2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING TO MY PARENTS HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH FOUR OTHER PASSENGERS WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER THORAX AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING SHUTTING OFF MY ENGINE AND FILLING MY CAR WITH SMOKE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE BODY, SUSPENSION, OR TIRE OF MY VEHICLE AND NOT NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING AFTER THE INCIDENT. TWO OF MY PASSENGERS SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRAPES TO THEIR ARMS, SHOULDERS, NECK, AND RIBS, AS WELL AS TEMPORARY HEARING IMPAIRMENT ONE OF THOSE PASSENGERS BEING A CHILD. CURRENTLY THERE IS A HOLE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE AIRBAG RIPPED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND DAMAGE TO MY HEADLINER. THE AIRBAGS' DEPLOYMENT WAS UNWARRANTED AND HAS ROBBED ME OF MY PIECE OF MIND WHILE DRIVING. I FLINCH EVERY TIME I AM UNABLE TO AVOID A ROAD IMPERFECTION FOR FEAR THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO SOMEONE GOING FASTER THAN I WAS--THAT SITUATION COULD END TRAGICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668359
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Mileage
156,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2014
2 injuries reported

ON MY WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT 1 DAY LAST YR, I HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER ON THEN MY CAR STARTS OVERHEATING. I WAS PANICKING, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR. I BARELY GOT HER IN 2011 AND I'VE HAD ENDLESS PROBLEMS WITH HER. WHEN SHE RUNS GOOD, SHE RUNS GREAT BUT OHH WHEN SHE HAS PROBLEMS, SHE BRINGS YOU ABSOLUTE HELL. IT BEGAN AS A SLOW LEAK & ODDLY ENOUGH ONLY LEAKING SOMETIMES. WE TOOK MY JETTA TO A SHOP IN VALENCIA AND GOT THE HOSES AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED. WHATEVER REASON THE MECHANICS DID NOT NOTICE IT, OR NOTICED IT & WERE TRYING TO SQUEEZE MORE MONEY OUT OF ME WHILE THEY DID A TEMPORARY FIX. BARELY THIS YEAR I DISCOVERED THANKS TO MY HANDY MECHANICS SAVVY BOYFRIEND - THAT IT WAS MY WATER PUMP WHICH IS DEFECTIVE. 2 INJURIES OCCURRED TO MY BOYFRIEND THANKS TO THIS OVERHEATING PROBLEM. DRIVING ON THE FWY WE STOPPED TO PUT WATER (RELIGIOUSLY CARRYING 4 GALLONS OF WATER IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES) IN 100* WEATHER W/ NO A/C & ME BEING SEVERELY HEAT INTOLERANT, MY BOYFRIEND TOOK OFF THE CAP TO THE RADIATOR. THAT'S WHEN BOILING HOT WATER EXPLODED ALL OVER HIM. LUCKILY I'M FIRST AID CERTIFIED AND HAD MY FIRST AID KIT HANDY & TENDED TO HIM. HE BEGAN TO BLISTER INSTANTANEOUSLY. THAT SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN BUT WITH MY TEMP. GAUGE READING AT REGULAR TEMP. STILL EXPLODING ALL OVER HIM. I WAS LEFT TRAUMATIZED SEEING MY BOYFRIEND GET BURNT AND SO SEVERELY IN PAIN, AS WELL AS MY OWN EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS ALONE: MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND ME HAD A SLOW REFLEX TO MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS: I ALMOST GOT HIT 5 TIMES: LUCKY FOR ME, MY HORN WORKS. WELL, NOW THE WATER LEAKS OUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE POUR IT IN. MY CAR IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHE'S ALL I HAVE. I'M JOBLESS & HOMELESS RIGHT NOW & IF I WERE TO LOSE MY CAR, I'D BE LEFT COMPLETELY HOPELESS HAVING TO START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631561
Incident
Aug 9, 2013
Mileage
95,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TL TIRES, SIZE 195/65R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY HAD A BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN, TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE, AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. JCC

NHTSA ID
10619484
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ADJUST THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10611041
Incident
Jun 9, 2014
Mileage
102,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jun 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INDICATOR SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10596694
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 21, 2014

BEWARE OF THIS USED CAR - IT NEEDS SERIOUS MECHANICAL WORK. I TEST DROVE IT AND REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, THE TIMING CHAIN RATTLES, AND THE A/C DID NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560748
Incident
Jan 20, 2014
Mileage
86,642 mi
EngineInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 6, 2013

THE 2001 V.W. JETTA: THIS VEHICLE BURNS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART PER MONTH, IN DAILY, EVERDAY USAGE, CITY TRAFFIC AND SHORT HIGHWAY TRIPS, AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF OIL, EVEN WITH REGULAR OIL/FILTER CHANGES. V.W. HAS NOT NOTIFIED ME OF THIS PROBLEM, NOR CORRECTED IT AND DEALERS' WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SHODDY, FLIP-BACK, PLASTIC ARM REST IS BROKEN, CHEAPLY MADE, IT WILL NOT RETAIN OR HOLD THE DRIVER'S ARM, IT IS LOCATED ADJACENT AND NEAR THE AUTO. TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT, IT COULD AND DOES FAIL, A SAFETY HAZARD. REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS BURN-OUT AT EXCESSIVE RATES, OFTEN ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE A NUISANCE, TO REPLACE THEM. PLEASE HAVE V.W. CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS @ THEIR OWN EXPENSE, NOT MINE, OWNER.

NHTSA ID
10542302
Incident
Apr 26, 2005
Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,295.

NHTSA ID
10542295
Incident
Mar 3, 2005
Mileage
12,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Aug 26, 2013

RAINING NOT HARD . WIPERS SLOW DOWN . COMPLETE STOP OF WIPER ACTION. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF BAD OPERATION FIRST THOUGHT WAS FUSE. WAS NOT THE FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10537392
Incident
Aug 13, 2013
Mileage
85,673 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 29, 2013

CAR WAS PARKED, YOUNG MAN TOOK A BOX OUT OF MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WINDOW WAS DOWN AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO) - MAN CLOSED THE DOOR (JUST AS HARD AS MY KIDS ALWAYS DO) AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509870
Incident
Apr 27, 2013
Mileage
169,045 mi

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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