1995 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Latches/locks/linkages Problems

HOOD OPENED WHILE DRIVING REAR BRAKE LINE FAIL

Mileage: 138,544

I BOUGHT MY JETTA III GLS IN 1995 BRAND NEW. WITHIN A YEAR THE MOLDING ON THE DOORS STARTED PEELING OFF AND EVENTUALLY FALLING OFF. THE DEALER SENT IT TO A BODY SHOP TO HAVE IT GLUED AND IT NEVER STUCK. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR YEARS WITH ONE MOLDING MISSING. I HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE POWER WINDOW MOTORS AND PARTS. FAILURE OF THESE POWER WINDOWS ARE CONSISTANTLY FAILING ONE AFTER THE ANOTHER. I HAD SMOKE AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND FAILING BLINKERS WHICH WERE BOTH RELATED. I REPLACED THE BLINKER SYSTEM AND PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THE LOCK FREEZE EASILY IN COLD WEATHER AND I HAVE HAD THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK COMPLETELY FALL APART WHILE UNLOCKING THE CAR. THE SEAL ON FRONT WINDSHIELD IS WEARING AWAY CAUSING LEAKING OF RAIN AND THIS WILL BE FIXED WITH $100 RESEALING OF WINDSHIELD. RUSTING IS OCCURRING UNDER CAR AND ON UNDERSIDE OF DOORS, VW SAID IT MUST BE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT TO BE COVERED (WOULDN'T THAT BE BIGGER PROBLEM IF IT OCCURRED FROM THE INSIDE??). THE OIL SEAL IS LEAKING. THE OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. THE MIDDLE CONSOLE WAS PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND DEALER TOOK IT LOCK OUT SAYING IT WAS BROKEN. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID CONTAINER HAS BROKEN TWICE. THIS IS ALL WITH 85,000 MILES. THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH JETTA BUT WINDOW MOTORS AND MOLDING ARE BY FAR TWO MAIN PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED WITH A RECALL, ASK ANY JETTA OWNER. *NM

LOCKS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. *LA

WHERE TO START? PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK CYLINDERS, WHICH BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS BLOWN OUT, REPLACED THE BULBS AND 1 MONTH LATER THEY ARE BLOWN OUT AGAIN, WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED, THE STEEL CABLE SNAPPED INSIDE THE HOUSING FAULTY DESIGNED WHEEL AND MOTORS BLOWN, CAN NOT BUY MOTORS SEPARATELY NEED TO BUY THE WHOLE REGULATOR WHICH COSTS OVER $200, PAINT PEELED AND CRACKED, SIDE MOLDING FELL OFF HAD TO RE-GLUE, AND THAT IS ALL I CAN THINK OF OFF HAND I AM NOT INCLUDING THE NUMEROUS SUSPENSION AND EXHAUST PROBLEMS.*JB

Mileage: 100,000

WHILE DRIVING, HOOD FLEW UP AND SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD, DEALERSHIP WAS IN POSESSION OF VEHICLE FOR 30 DAYS, CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF RECALL 98V16 UNTIL THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WANTS DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR ALL CHARGES SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN. *SLC

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER CAME OUT WITH KEY! DEALER REPLACED, AS WELL AS REPLACING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK. I WAS CHARGED LABOR AND PARTS. APPROX $110 . COMPLAINED TO VW OF AMERICA (CUSTOMER SERVICE) TOLD THAT LOCKS TO THEIR KNOWNLEDGE NOT A KNOWN PROBLEM! CAR OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY COULD NOT MAKE ANY $ ARRANGEMENT WITH ME. I HAVE REVIEWED NHTSA RECORDS FOR 95-6 JETTAS. SUM TOTAL OF AT LEAST 15 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD DOOR LOCK CYLINDER PROBLEMS. LUCKILY I DID NOT GET LOCKED OUT OF CAR SOMEWHERE FAR FROM HOME! HOWEVER I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCK THE CAR EITHER AGAINST THEFT! VW SHOULD AT LEAST FIX AN ITEM SUCH AS THIS NO CHARGE LOCK CYCLINDERS SHOULD NOT COME OUT, WHEN YOU LOCK OR UNLOCK YOUR CAR! THE LOCK CYLINDER MECHANISMS ARE FAILING UNDER NORMAL USAGE. THANK YOU FOR ATTETION TO THIS MATTER.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE CYLINDER LOCK HAS COME COMPLETELY OUT OF TH DOOR. THE TRUNK LOCK IS UNWORKABLE AND JUST FLOATS AROUND WHEN TRYING TO UTILIZE IT. DEALER HAS STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS REPORTED.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HOOD LATCH RECALL COMPONEMT FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD WHEN THE LATCH FAILED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING. (98V-160) *MJS

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK FELL OUT. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE LOCKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

DOOR LOCK CYLINDER IS FAULTY, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO STICK AND NOT OPEN. DRIVER HAS TO ENTER CAR FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND REPAIRED DOOR LOCK CYLINDER 4 TIMES, AND STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK

CONSUMER HAS OWNED TWO 1995 JETTA MODELS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED DOOR LOCK FAILURES, THE LOCK ASSEMBLY HAS COMPLETELY COME OUT OF THE DOOR HANDLE, RESULTING IN DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON ONE OCCASION. MJS

WENT TO LOCK THE DOORS AND THE LOCK CAME OUT WITH THE KEY.

FROZEN OUTER LOCKS WOULD NOT SPIN, CAUSING LINK BETWEEN LOCK TUMBLER AND SERVOMOTOR USED TO RAISE/LOWER LOCK BUTTONS & ENGAGE SECURITY SYSTEM TO FAIL. FAILURES OCCURED IN BOTH LOCKS PREVENTING OWNER FROM GAINING ENTRANCE TO CAR. DEALER HAD NO PARTS - AND OFFERED NO HELP. RETRO-KIT TAKES 1-4 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. THIS LEAVES JETTA WITH NO WAY TO LOCK IT.

RECALL 98V160000. DEALER IS NOT TAKING PROPER CARE OF THE RECALL. THERE IS NOW A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE WIRING. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CAME OUT.

VOLKSWAGEN HAS TWO ONGOING RECALLS (SEPTEMBER 1998): CHECK/REPLACE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE AND CHECK/REPLACE HOOD LOCK ASSEMBLY. I CANNOT FIND A LOCAL MARYLAND VOLKSWAGEN DEALER THAT WILL PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON A SATURDAY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN FOR SERVICE. THEREFORE, IN ORDER FOR VEHICLES OWNERS TO GET THIS WORK PERFORMED, MOST OWNERS WILL HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK. ALTHOUGH THE RECALLS ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT SAFEY ISSUE, THE DEALERS ARE NOT PROVIDING REASONABLE MEANS TO CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES CHECKED OR REPAIRED. MANY VEHICLES MAY GO UNCHECKED OR UNREPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACCESS TO SERVICE. I COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC., CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800-822-8987. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERS ARE INDEPENDENT FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I WAS ONLY OFFERED PHONE NUMBERS OF OTHER DEALERS WITHIN A 50 MILE RADIUS.

LOCK CYLNDERS FELL OUT OF BOTH THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS,LEAVING CONSUMER WITH NO WAY TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V160000). DEALERSHIP HAS NO PARTS AFTER BEING NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. SAME ENTRY AS REF NO. 829508. *AK *ML

DOOR LOCK FROZE, NOT OPENING W/KEY. WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN & THEN MAKING CLICKING NOISES WHEN TRYING TO ROLL WINDOW BACK UP. NEEDED TO PULL WINDOW UP BY HAND. AIR CONDITIONER MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNED ON. WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO STRESS. RECEIVED RECALL FOR NOOD LATCH, BUT UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. PAINT IS CRACKING. RADIO GOES OUT. VW SAYS THAT THERE IS A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT HAVE NOT HELPED REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

DOOR LOCK FROZE, NOT OPENING W/KEY. WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN & THEN MAKING CLICKING NOISES WHEN TRYING TO ROLL WINDOW BACK UP. NEEDED TO PULL WINDOW UP BY HAND. AIR CONDITIONER MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNED ON. WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO STRESS. RECEIVED RECALL FOR NOOD LATCH, BUT UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. PAINT IS CRACKING. RADIO GOES OUT. VW SAYS THAT THERE IS A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT HAVE NOT HELPED REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALLS 98V195000 AND 98V160000. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE, PARTS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V160000) IN MAIL. CALLED DEALER. INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE HOOD LATCHES. WILL NOTIFY WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING SINCE OCTOBER. *AK

RECALL # 98V160000 VW/HOOD LATCH; CONTACTED DEALER YESTERDAY FOR THE THIRD TIME WITHIN A ONE MONTH. RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON 10/15/98. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER NOT SURE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. SAME SITUATION EXISTS FOR A RECALL FOR BRAKE LINING FAILURE THAT OWNER HAS ALSO RECEIVED. *AK *ML

WHEN DRIVING THE HOOD LATCH MAY POP OPEN. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, AND THE HOOD LATCH OPENING WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED THE DEALER ,AND THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE PART FOR THE HOOD LATCH. *AK

THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK HAS FAILED 4 TIMES 10/4/96 REPAIR COST 57.00 31K MILES 3/24/97 0.00 40K MILES COVERED UNDER PART WARRANTY 9/19/97 200.00 50K MILES 10/15/98 NOT REPAIRED YET. 70K MILES I TELEPHONED VW REQUESTING THEY COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. VW REFUSED TO LET ME KNOW IF OTHER JETTAS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF A HIDDEN WARRANTY EXISTS.

THREE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL (#98V160000) (MFG. RECALL #UC) & NOTIFIED DEALER. WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED MANUFACTURER & TOLD PARTS MAILED TO DEALER. DEALER HAS YET TO RECEIVE PARTS FOR HOOD LATCH. BEEN TO 2 DEALERSHIPS. *AK TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT THREE TIMES. RADIO FAILED. CLUSTER HOUSING REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALARM COMPUTER REPLACED. HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACED.DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR BUTTON REPLACED. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED. *YH

WHEN LOCKED THE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER CAME OUT OF THE CAR. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO TIMES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT THE LOCKS BACK, AND THE KEY STUCK IN THE LOCK. DEALER CONTACTED AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK CYLINDER CAME OUT OF THE DOOR HANDLE AND STUCK ON THE KEY UPON UNLOCKING.

THE DOOR WIL NOT LOCK AND STAY CLOSED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE FAILED WHEN THE KEY TURNED IN THE CYLINDER, MAKING THE DOOR IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE METAL PART OF THE CYLINDER WHICH COME SINTO CONTACT WITH LOCKING MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR IS MADE OF VERY SOFT ALUMINUM, WHICH CAN BEND/BREAK OFF VERY EASILY. *AK

FIRST DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKED THEN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER VEHICLE.

THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS UP WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE DOOR BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER'S DOOR ASSEMBLY LATCH MECHANISM IS BROKEN, DOOR WON'T SHUT, PREVIOUS DOOR WOULD FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, OWNER TIES UP DOOR, NOT FIXED. *AK

DRIVERS DOOR LOCKING/LATCHING MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE .WHEN DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR IT WILL SOUNDS LIKE IT IS CLOSING, BUT WHEN MAKING TURN ETC..THE DOOR OPENS.WHEN THIS OCCURS THE DOOR OPEN WARNING BUZZURD COMES ON.*AK

VEHICLE'S DRIVER DOOR LATCHING/LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR AND DRIVING, UPON MAKING A TURN, THE DOOR OPENS, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON ALERTING OF A DOOR BEING AJAR/OPEN*AK.

VEHICLE'S DRIVER DOOR LATCHING/LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR AND DRIVING, UPON MAKING A TURN, THE DOOR OPENS, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON ALERTING OF A DOOR BEING AJAR/OPEN*AK.

FRONT DOOR LATCHES SLIP TO CLOSED POSITION WHENEVER DOORS ARE OPENED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE DOORS. *DSH

RIGHT FRONT POWER LOCK NEEDS HANDLE.