2003 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

My jetta stalls without warning when the gas gauge is at a quarter of a tank or less. No engine check light or any other any other device comes on to warn me it is going to stall. My speed does not matter. It happens at freeway speeds or around town. It does not occur if the gas gauge shows more than 1/4 of a tank of fuel. I do not know if it is an electrical problem, a fuel propulsion problem or an engine problem. From reading volkswagon forums, this is a very common problem with volkswagons of different years, including the new Tiguans. I'm sure there have been many fatalities as a result of this defect. I am surprised volkswagon has not been forced to repair this dangerous, life threatening problem before now! Maybe, a class action law suit involving products liability, merchantability, and fitness for a particular use would benefit not only owners, but the general public at large. I believe it is your duty to protect the general public from manufactures who place dangerous, defective products in the stream of commerce. Your action is required, and demanded. The first time ocurred right after I purchased the car in 2019. It has stalled many times since then, before I realized I needed to keep the fuel tank at least 1/2 full at all times. Keeping it 1/2 full at all times greatly deminishes the range of travel before I have to refill. It is inconvenient and expensive since fuel has to be purchased at places other the most economical place I usually purchase my gasoline. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11450712

Incident

Jul 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER TO THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,072.

NHTSA ID

11099851

Incident

Mar 20, 2018

Mileage

184,072 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTS ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR WAS ALSO BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE AMB AUTO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO FAILED AND THE TURBO AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

11001512

Incident

May 30, 2017

Mileage

212,000 mi

THIS IS IN REGARD TO TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77,000 MILES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY PAID OFF AND 17K MILES AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WHILE I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND GIVE A BIG JOLT WHEN GOING INTO 3RD AND 4TH WHILE STILL COLD, ONLY AFTER ENGINE WOULD HEAT UP WITHOUT ANY STOPS WOULD IT PERFORM SUB PAR. PREVIOUS TO THIS I HAD HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. DEALER QUOTED $5600 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION AND INDEPENDENT SHOP $2500. I WAS INFORMED I HAD A WORN CLUTCH AND IN 2008 I REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTINUED HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE ON APRIL 12 OF 2012 I SENT IT THE JUNKYARD. I WILL FOLLOW UP AND SEND MORE HARD COPIES DOCUMENTS TO NHTSA AS I HAVE MY ENTIRE SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2003 - 2012 TO SUBMIT. THERE ARE 100'S OF OTHER AMERICAN CAR OWNERS WITH TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUES AND ITS APPARENT THAT IT IS FAULTY MANUFACTURING.I'M ATTACHING SEVERAL PDF DOCUMENTS WITH ARTICLES AND OTHER SIMILAR COSTUMER COMPLAINTS. I HAVE ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS AND WILL SUBMIT HARD COPIES SEPARATELY HOWEVER WANTED TO GET THE COMPLAINT STARTED HERE. THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE WAS NEVER INCLUDED BUT ITS OBVIOUS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING LONGER THEN PREVIOUS RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944086

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

Mileage

77,000 mi

TRANSMISSION STRAINED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WATER PUMP WENT OUT CAUSE CAR TO RUN HOT.. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT BLOWER HEAD GASKET.... AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF

NHTSA ID

10888440

Incident

Feb 17, 2016

Mileage

110,678 mi

THE JETTA IS DEFECTIVE IN THE CAR WILL START BUT NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED IN IGNITION AND THE SIT FOR 12-15 MINUTES BEFORE IT IS ABLE TO GET IN DRIVE GEAR. CURRENTLY IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE GEAR. THE TEMPERATURE IS MILD 74-78DEGREES F AND THE CAR NEEDS TO BE CONSTANTLY SERVICED. UPON THE INCIDENT THIS JETTA WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A VISIBILITY PROBELM THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD . THE WINDSHIELF WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON THE ENGINE WAS SERVICED, IT WAS LEAKING FLUIDS, IT WAS SERVICED BY A REPUTABLE SERVICE CENTER 9 MILE EASTPOINTE A SPECIALIST IS FOREIGN CARS. THEN THE JETTA WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS STIFF , STIFFER STILL AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE DRIVING RHYTHM I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND ACCUSTOMED TO PRE POWER STEERING AND THIS WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE STEERING, WHEELS?? CURRENTLY THE CAR IS UNABLE TO BE USED AS IT WONT GO IN GEAR OF REVERSE, IT MOVES ON THE CONSUL AND THERE IS NO MOTION. THE BATTERY AND THE FLUIDS AND THE CELANOIDS,BELTS, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND LOOKED OVER. I HAD TO GET A TOW TO GET IT SERVICED IN OCT. 2014 AND WILL HAVE TO GET A TOW NOW TOO FOR THE ESTIMATE OF WHY THE FLAT FUSE ON THE BATTERY IS NOT ABLE TO GIVE THE ENGINE ENOUGH POWER TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE JETTA WAS BOUGHT USED FROM ANOTHER PARTY, AND HAD AN ACCIDENT FROM THAT OWNER, IT WAS SOLD TO ME AND SINCE THEN THE LEAKING FLUIDS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAVE BEEN SERVICED. I SEE 0 RECALLS. I REALIZE YOU HAVE OVER 40,000 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS BUT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS I TRANSPORT HUMAN PASSENGERS OF MINOR AGE AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY SEVERAL TIMES IN JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TO MANOUVER A SMALL CAR. THIS JETTA IS AGED AND HAS HIGH MILEAGE BUT THIS IS A GERMAN ENGINE? THE PRECISION AND TUNING I HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED FROM AN AUTOMOBILE IS LACKING IN THE COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE PIECES PUT INTO ACTION TO DRIV.

NHTSA ID

10762811

Incident

Oct 13, 2014

Mileage

150,489 mi

FORTUNATELY, MY SON WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS..HE ROLLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AHEAD OF HIM. HE TOLD THE WRECKER DRIVER THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING FELL - WE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE MOTOR WAS ACTUALLY SITTING CROOKED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN, ON ONE SIDE BROKEN OFF ON THE OTHER STRIPPED.THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD OUTCOME. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR IT (UNREPAIRABLE). WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BLOCK AND/OR ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THE PART IS BETWEEN $ 3100-3700 - PLUS LABOR. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MOTOR RUNS GREAT! I HAVE CONTACTED VW - WITH NO LUCK.. BUT ADMITTING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY POORLY DESIGNED..MAYBE NOT STRONG ENOUGH MATERIAL, BUT IT IS OR COULD BE DANGEROUS. AS I STATED FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS A T A RED LIGHT..NOT GOING DOWN THE HWY AND COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661457

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY WATER PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OVERHEAT SIGN LIT UP. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. AFTER A PAINFULLY LONG DRAWN OUT TOW, TAXI, RENTAL CAR, AND RETURN TO PICK UP THE CAR 1 WEEK LATER (DRIVE 200 MILES THERE AND THEN BACK TO DO SO), THE GARAGE WHICH REPAIRED MY CAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD "DESIGN FLAW" TO THE WATER PUMP WHERE IT HAD A PLASTIC PART THAT WOULD COMMONLY FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A "WELL-KNOW" PROBLEM IN THE JETTA, MANY PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED & WRITTEN ONLINE ABOUT IT. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I INSTALL AN "AFTER-MARKET" PUMP WITH ALL METAL PARTS SO THAT IT WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN, WHICH I DID. MY CO-WORKER WHO OWNED A JETTA A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN MINE (2001?) FOR 10 YEARS AND LATER TRADED IT IN, INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IN FACT HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP 3 TIMES DURING THE PERIOD SHE OWNED THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WATER PUMP DESIGN IN THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. IF IT HAD BEEN RECALLED & FIXED PRIOR TO MY BREAKDOWN, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO ENDURE THE WHOLE ORDEAL I WENT THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630206

Incident

Aug 22, 2014

Mileage

45,423 mi

CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN AT QUARTER TANK OR LESS. PARTS REPLACED, STILL OCCURS. THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT ALWAYS COMES BACK, AND IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM THAT IS BEING IGNORED BY VW OF AMERICA. THIS IS HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS AND MOST LIKELY THOUSANDS OF VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF, BEETLE AND GTI OWNERS. WE HAVE BEEN CONNECTING THE DOTS THROUGH ONLINE VW FORUMS AND ARE FRUSTRATED! THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS REPORTED DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS AND THEREFORE DECELERATION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. JUST THIS MORNING MY JETTA STALLED IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK DOING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, IT'S HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS OF VW'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2005, AND IT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10620761

Incident

Dec 24, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

ACCORDING TO A VW DEALER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY 2003 VW JETTA FAILED AT 89,000 MILES. THE VW DEALER STATED THAT IT FAILED BECAUSE THE MIL ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR'S COMPUTER SHOWS CODE P0420. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557622

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE PLASTIC DIPSTICK HANDLE ON MY 2003 VW JETTA CRACKED OFF THE DIPSTICK AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE PART NUMBER IS 06J115611E. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557620

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

89,000 mi

ONE OF THE TWO LARGE COOLING FANS IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PART MUST BE REPLACED TO PREVENT ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE PART NUMBER IS 6X0-959-445-F. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557309

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

89,235 mi

THE TEMP SENDER ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES IN 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557308

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

89,235 mi

THE THERMOSTAT ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AS AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES IN 2009. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557306

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

89,235 mi

MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA'S COOLANT PUMP FAILED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSED A REDUCTION IN POWER AND ENGINE OVERHEATING. REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557091

Incident

Oct 8, 2007

Mileage

37,750 mi

ALL WARNING INDICATORS (ABS, CEL, AIRBAG, ECP, BATTERY AND OTHER INSTRUMENT DASH PANEL LIGHTS) WOULD FLICKER REPETITIVELY UNTIL THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR CABLE THAT ATTACHES TO THE FUSE BOX LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS MELTING THE FUSE BOX AND CAUSING POWER DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BOTH BE REPLACED AS THE CABLE COULD HAVE BECOME HIGH RESISTANCE THEREBY CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT AT THE FUSE BOX. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR CABLE REPLACED WITH AN OEM PART AND THE FUSE BOX WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART. ON 10-9-13 WITH 104K MILES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT 6AM IN THE MORNING, THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS WERE EXPERIENCED AGAIN. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHICH SAID THAT ALL OEM PARTS SHOULD BE USED AND THAT THIS IS COMMON AS THEY HAD JUST REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR CABLE ON ANOTHER JETTA OF THE SAME GENERATION. I REQUESTED THE DEALER CHECK THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE THE PARTS THAT WERE INSTALLED LAST YEAR SHOULD NOT GO BAD IN 1 YEAR, THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO OTHER ISSUE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING A MELTING FUSE BOX. AT THE LINKS BELOW ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, EVEN ACROSS OTHER VW MODELS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM OF MELTING OF FUSE BOXES WHICH CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. (WITH PICTURES) HTTP://FORUMS.FOURTITUDE.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4562591 HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4682918-WHY-S-MY-FUSE-BOX-MELTING HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/QUESTIONS-ISSUES-CONCERNS-PROBLEMS-NEW-BEETLE/28982-BATTERY-FUSE-BOX-MELTING-04-NEW-BEETLE.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4705261-BATTERY-LIGHT-FLICKERING-ON-ACCELERATION HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4829541-BURNT-BLACK-CABLE-FUSE-BOX-ON-TOP-OF-BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547473

Incident

Nov 12, 2012

Mileage

94,000 mi

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A HOT SPOT IN THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT IN THE FALL OF 2012. I HAVE TO PUT A CUSHION BETWEEN MY RIGHT LEG AND THE SEAT OR IT WILL NEARLY BURN. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH EITHER THE O2 SENSOR OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHENEVER IT RAINS AND IT'S COOL WEATHER. THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER, SPUTTER AND LURCH UNTIL IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE THEN IT ACTS NORMALLY. FINALLY, FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR BY HITTING THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR. I JUST REACHED THE 100K MARK AND KEEP UP REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR SO I'M A LITTLE UPSET THAT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE HAPPENING SO EARLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546042

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAVE NOTICED A BURNING CRAYON SMELL IN MY 2003 VW JETTA FOR A FEW MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR DETAILED AND HAD THE DEALER CLEAN THE AC DUCTS YET THE SMELL REMAINS - AND GETS STRONGER IN HOT/HUMID WEATHER DAYS. I SEE OTHERS HAVE LISTED COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE - AND THE SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL UNDER THE CARPET SEEMS TO BE THE CULPRIT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AFFECT BREATHING AND COULD BE TOXIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526178

Incident

Mar 29, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN. WHILE IT WAS PARKED, NEIGHBORS RAN OVER TO REPORT IT WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WE SAW THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, BUT FIRE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY GROUND AND SAID THE WIRES GOING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD SET ON FIRE. ALL OF THIS WAS SPONTANEOUS. ENGINE WAS NOT ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515974

Incident

Jun 9, 2013

Mileage

145,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, ENGINE DROPPED AND FELL ON THE AXLE AND BROKE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10446721

Incident

Jan 30, 2012

Mileage

117,529 mi

RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, OIL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING OIL AND CAMSHAFT CHAIN TENSIONER (TIMING BELT) RATTLING FROM LACK OF OIL. I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO METAL PARTICLES AND CARBON IN THE OIL PAN.

NHTSA ID

10397914

Incident

Feb 11, 2011

Mileage

61,190 mi

WATER PUMP FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345036

Incident

Jul 21, 2010

Mileage

58,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AFTER BEING PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY TWO YEARS PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER COULD MAKE REPAIRS BUT AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10339672

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER TAKING MY 2003 VW JETTA 1.8L TURBO TO THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR A BROKEN DIPSTICK AND IGNITION RECALL, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE IN WHICH THE CAR HAD UNDER 68,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS NOT UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY AND WOULD COST AT LEAST $900 TO CLEAN OUT THE ENGINE. UPON DECIDING TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC FOR A 2ND OPINION, THE CAR SEIZED UP AND CEASED TO WORK WHILE DRIVING. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS BLOWN FROM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP WHEN OIL CHANGES HAD BEEN PERFORMED AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS THOUGH THE MANUFACTURES OWNERS MANUAL STATED IT ONLY HAD TO BE CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT OTHER THAN FOR ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE OR A REBUILT ENGINE. AFTER HAVING A USED ENGINE INSTALLED FROM A SALVAGE YARD, I DISCOVERED FROM THE CAR POURING SMOKE AND MAKING A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE. APPARENTLY WHEN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WENT IT ALSO DAMAGED THE TURBO AS A RESULT OF SLUDGE BUILD UP. I'VE FURTHER DISCOVERED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO VW CARS WITH 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINES FROM MODELS FOLLOWING 2000. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE THE TURBO IS CONSIDERED AN ACCESSORY TO THE ENGINE, THE TURBO WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SALVAGE YARDS ENGINE WARRANTY I JUST HAD INSTALLED AND WOULD REQUIRE THE TURBO BEING REPLACED AS WELL. THE VW DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT A REBUILT TURBO WOULD COST $1700 ALONE NOT INCLUDING SMALL PARTS AND LABOR AFTER I HAD ALREADY SPENT $2800 ON A USED 1.8L TURBO ENGINE AND SMALL PARTS AND LABOR. THE USED ENGINE HAD 46,000 MILES ON IT SO IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT IT WILL ALSO GO DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329807

Incident

Feb 3, 2010

Mileage

67,491 mi

WE PURCHASED AN 03 VW JETTA WAGON APPROX. 2.5 YEARS AGO. WE CHANGED THE OIL AT THE DEALER EVERY 5000 MILES. WE MISSED ONE OIL CHANGED AND THE ENGINE STALLED ON THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO A VW MECHANIC. WE WERE TOLD IT A HAD TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE DO TO SLUDGE-WHICH THEY SAID WAS LACK OF MAINTENANCE. WE PAID 16,000 FOR THE CAR, IT HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT, WE PUT 20,000 MILES ON IT. WE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND WE WERE TOLD THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WE CAN DO-IT WAS SOLD AS IS. WE CONTACTED VW AMERICA AND THEY TOLD US JETTAS' DON'T HAVE THE SLUDGE PROBLEM, IT'S THE PASSAT WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS IT'S THE 1.8T ENGINE THAT IS THE PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF THE CAR IT'S IN. WE HAVE NO RECOURSE. THE CAR NOW SITS IN OUR DRIVE WAY WITH NEW TIRES AND A BROKEN ENGINE. A NEW MOTOR PLUS INSTALLATION WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ONCE AGAIN THE WORKING PEOPLE GET SCREWED.

NHTSA ID

10323637

Incident

Mar 19, 2010

Mileage

61,000 mi