2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Electrical System 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

RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS BLOCKED INSIDE DOOR

Mileage: 98,000

MY CAR GOT HACKED MY CHARLIE MILLER AND CHRIS VALASEK WAS SEEN OVER AT MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE ON 4/29/2017 AND MY EX BOSS CHRIS STUTZ JR IS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE BREAK IN OF MY HOUSE AND CARS EDWARDSVILLE POLICE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE FRIEND OF THEM I HOPE I DON'T GET KILLED OVER THESE HACKS BUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

Mileage: 220,185

THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY MELTED DUE TO OVERHEATING FROM THE ALTERNATOR CABLE. NO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL LOAD HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE BATTERY. JUST NORMAL USE OF THE CAR CAUSES THIS TO MELT.

Mileage: 151,000

WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE HEATED SEAT OPTION TURNED TO A 5 (HIGH), WHILE THE CAR WAS WARMING UP, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT STARTED TO BURN THROUGH THE CLOTH COVER DIRECTLY WHERE MY METAL JACKET ZIPPER WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CLOTH SEAT SURFACE. I IMMEDIATELY POURED WATER ON THE SEAT TO ENSURE A FIRE DIDN'T START. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SEAT HEATERS SINCE THIS INCIDENT.

Mileage: 162,000

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER IGNITED BURNING THROUGH SEAT TRIM AND BURNING DRIVER WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED IN A SEAT THAT THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD REPLACED UNDER THE INITIAL RECALL (HOWEVER DATE ON SEAT IS 11/25/2002 BEFORE CAR WAS DELIVERED IN 4/2003 - SO DEALER NEVER ACTUALLY REPLACED IT . SEAT RETAINED AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

Mileage: 170,000

IAM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY JETTA IN THE GARAGE. I MOVED 3 AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND MY CAR IS NO LONGER GARAGED. MY HEADLINE IS STARTING TO DETACH FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND THE LEATHER THROUGHOUT MY CAR IS CRACKING. I NOTICED THERE WAS A CLASSSS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE SUNROOF DRAIN GETTING CLOGGED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WHO CAN I CONTACT TO SEE IF I QUALIFY FOR THIS ACTION. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL I DID TAKE MY JETTA TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE, IS THIS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS GARAGED AND NOW ITS OUTSIDE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMETS, WHICH HAS CAUSED THIS DAMAGE? THANK YOU,

Mileage: 120,000

"TAKATA RECALL" BURNED FUSE BOX CAUSED ALTERNATOR TO GO BAD.

Mileage: 260,000

HAVING WORKED IN VW DEALERSHIPS MY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING AT ONLY 130,000 MILES ON IT WHICH HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND COMPLAINT BY MANY. WHEN IT ACTS UP IT WON'T UPSHIFT OR WILL DROP DOWN INTO LOW GEAR AND ONE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT BEING REAR ENDED WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS.

Mileage: 132,306

ENGINE BATTERY FUSE BOX MELTING. REPLACED TWICE. FOUND OUT IT ALTERNATOR WIRING IS BAD. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD. CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FAULTY ALTERNATOR WIRING.

Mileage: 188,000

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY VW JETTA 2003 AND HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE VEHICLE. MY LIMIT WAS THAT ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTING THE FUSE BOX AND THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND POTENTIALLY INJURED INDIVIDUALS OR CAUSED GREAT HARM. THE SAD PART ABLE THE ENTIRE SCENARIO IS THE FACT THAT I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE THAT SPOKE WITH BREA S. WHICH MAY NOT BE AN ACTUAL NAME BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE IT AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD SPOKEN TO HER LEADERSHIP ASHLEY AND THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERNS AND JUST BECAUSE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND MENTIONED IT ON A BLOG THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME. NOW FOR ME SOMETHING THAT CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE FOR MOST PEOPLE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND BEETLE MODELS, IT AMAZES ME THAT VW CUSTOMER CARE DOES NOT SEE IT AS THERE ISSUE, BREA WAS OUT OF THE AUBURN HILLS LOCATION IN MICHIGAN. THIS REALLY NEEDS FURTHER ATTENTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, THE BATTERY FAILED TO MAKE CONNECTION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.

Mileage: 193,000

THE FUSE BOX IN THESE OLDER JETTAS MELTS BECAUSE IT IS ON TOP OF THE BATTERY, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. ITS VERY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 86,000

ALTERNATOR HARNESS WIRING AND FUSE BOX ARE UNDER-ENGINEERED FOR ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS AND OUTPUT GIVEN BY ALTERNATOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUSE BOX AND ALTERNATOR HARNESS WIRING DUE TO RISK OF ENGINE BAY FIRE. MANY OTHER VW OWNERS IN THIS GENERATION AND DIFFERENT MODELS ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO GO UNNOTICED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD THAT ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE BATTERY FUSE BOX WHERE HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE OVERHEATED WIRES AND OVERWHELMING SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND THE SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE BATTERY FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 96,000

THE ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE CAR ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FUSE PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, THE HARNESS, AND THE FUSE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

Mileage: 43,000

THERE IS A FUSE BOX ON THE TOP OF MY BATTERY AS THERE WAS FOR ALL MK4 JETTAS, GOLF IN ALL MOTOR TRIMS. THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY MELTED. WHEN OPENED THERE WAS A BLACK WIRE SEVERED FROM THE BOX. WHEN TURNING THE BATTERY OVER THE CABLE WIRE WAS ARCHING. THE WIRE WAS ACTUALLY SPARKING. THERE ARE FUSES IN THE ORIGINAL BOX BUT THEY NEVER BROKE, TRIPPED. *TR

Mileage: 154,000

BATTERY FUSE BOX MELTED. ENGINE OVERHEATED AND CUT OFF. *TR

Mileage: 112,432

AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING . FOUND LEFT FUSE ON FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY IS BLACK AND MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

THE REAR DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK WITH THE KEY FOB OR THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ION THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

THE DAY BEFORE THE CAR QUIT, IT WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE MALL PARKING LOT. A BATTERY PACK GOT IT STARTED, AND IT WAS DRIVEN HOME, WITH THE THOUGHT THAT IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, IT WAS BEING DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL SEARS, FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY, WHEN THE ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. 30 SECONDS LATER LOTS OF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CAR SPUTTERED AND STOPPED DEAD IN THE LANE OF TRAVEL. IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, AND POWER ACCESSORIES WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS STOPPED ON A VERY BUSY 2 LANE BACK ROAD, WITH NO SHOULDERS OR SIDE STREETS, UPHILL, ON A BLIND HILL. AFTER 1 1/2 HOURS OF WHITE-KNUCKLE DIRECTING TRAFFIC, AND CALLS TO: MY AUTO CLUB, AND THE LOCAL POLICE; A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER, AND A LOCAL TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP AND GAVE ME A LIFT TO MY REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM WAS A PARTIALLY MELTED FUSE PACK, THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE BATTERY, AND AN OVERLY RESISTIVE CABLE BETWEEN THE FUSE PACK AND THE ALTERNATOR. THE SOLUTION WAS: THE CABLE END LINKED TO THE FUSE PACK WAS RE-TERMINATED, AND THE MELTED FUSE PACK WAS REPLACED. BETWEEN THE TOW AND THE REPAIR, IT SET ME BACK ABOUT $300.00. I ALSO FOUND A BLOG THAT LISTED MANY OTHER VW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4986219-FUSE-BOX-ABOVE-BATTERY-MELTING . I ALSO DISCOVERED A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT WAS FILED IN 2012, THAT WAS BASED ON THIS PROBLEM: HTTP://GOTACLASSACTION.COM/VOLKSWAGEN-NAMED-IN-CLASS-ACTION-OVER-FUSE-BOXALTERNATOR-CABLE-ASSEMBLY/ . I HOPE THAT THE CURRENT REPAIR HOLDS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE. CLEARLY, A FUSE SHOULD BLOW BEFORE THE OVERALL FUSE PACK MELTS. *TR

Mileage: 116,898

I HAVE A JETTA THAT CONTINUALLY BURNS OUT THE FUSE BOX, WHICH JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. THE FUSE BOX TO REPLACE COSTS AROUND $100. EVERYTIME. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM I AM ENCOUNTERING ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. IGNITION COIL ETC. I EVEN WENT AND PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY FOR 160.00. CAR WILL NOT RUN? HELP. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

CAR HAD A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STOPPED MOVING FORWARD AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC, THE BATTERY LIGHT THEN CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IN A 30 MILE ROUND TRIP, THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BATTERY MOUNTED FUSE BLOCK HAD COMPLETELY MELTED AND WAS EXTREMELY HOT. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE PASSENGER SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A BURNING SENSATION COMING FROM THE SEATED AREA OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING A BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT AND CAUSING A MINOR BURN TO THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SMALL FLAMED TO THE PASSENGERS RIGHT PANT LEG HAD TO BE EXTINGUISHED DURING THE INCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BURN HOLE MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH IN DIAMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HEAT ELEMENT INSIDE THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. JFT

Mileage: 125,000

THE ALTERNATOR CABLE GOT SO HOT IT STARTED A SMALL FIRE IN THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF MY BATTERY. COMPLETELY MELTED/BURNT THE FUSE BOX. I SEE THERE IS A GOOD PATTERN OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THESE JETTA AND BEETLES. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

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

Mileage: 89,235

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

Mileage: 89,235

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

Mileage: 89,235

MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HAS EXPERIENCED A COIL PACK FAILURE CAUSING A REDUCTION IN POWER, AND THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE. ACCORDING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, THE HOUSING OF THE COIL PACK WAS CRACKED WHICH ALLOWED MOISTURE TO AFFECT ITS OPERATION. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR 4 CYLINDER ENGINES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

THE REAR O2 SENSOR ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FAILED CAUSING THE MIL INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE. THE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR EMISSIONS. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

THE SAFETY LIGHT ON THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR THAT LIGHTS UP WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED FAILED ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILURE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM. THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

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

Mileage: 94,000

REAR PASSENGER DOORS FAIL TO RESPOND TO KEY FOB. STAY LOCKED/ UNLOCKED.

Mileage: 40,000

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

Mileage: 145,000

BOTH FRONT SEATS, THE BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE BOLSTER BURNED. THE HEATED FRONT SEATS WILL OVER HEAT, THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE CONFINED TO THE RIGHT BOLSTER ON THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE SEAT. THE HEATING ELEMENTS GET HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL. BEING THE SIDE OF THE SEAT I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY LEG AWAY AND POWER OFF THE HEATED SEAT. IF LEFT ON THE SEATS WILL START TO SMOKE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVEN'T TRIED , BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE SEAT COULD CATCH ON FIRE IF LEFT ON. THE LOCAL DEALER'S SERVICE REP SAID JUST UNPLUG IT THE OPTION. *TR

Mileage: 153,000

DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT HAS SMALL BURN MARKS, IS DISCOLORED, HAS EXPOSED ELEMENTS, AND SEAT FOAM IS MELTED. TWO PAIRS OF PANTS OBTAINED SINGE MARKS ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I DRIVE THE CAR TO AND FROM THE CITY VIA INTERSTATE FOR 40 MINUTES EACH WAY. SEAT HEATERS ARE TYPICALLY ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER WHEN I USED THE SEAT HEATERS I COULD SMELL A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL. SINCE IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE WINTER SEASON I FIGURED IT WAS JUST HEATED DUST ON MY SEATS FROM BEING INACTIVE ALL SUMMER. THE FINAL TIME I USED THE SEAT HEATERS (1/26/12) THE SMELL GOT SO BAD THAT I HAD TO OPEN THE SUN ROOF FOR AIR. I ALSO NOTICED THE SEATS GOT HOTTER THAN USUAL AND WONDERED IF MY SEAT BACK WAS HEATING AT ALL. AS WAS USUAL WHEN THE SEAT WAS HOT ENOUGH I WOULD MANUALLY TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I NOTICED BROWN MARKS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY PANTS. I THEN LOOKED AT THE SEAT AND SAW THE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT ELEMENT WAS REPLACED IN MAY 2006, THE PASSENGER SEAT AUGUST 2006, DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL/WARRANTY SERVICE.

Mileage: 120,000

HOLA MI HIJA TUVO UNA EXPERIENCIE TERRIBLE CON SU AUTO.ELLA SE DIRIGIA A LA UNIVERSIDAD EN SU AUTO Y DE MOMENTO COMENZO A SALIR HUMO PR EL AREA DONDE ESTA EL GUIA Y EL CONTA MILLA MAS O MENOS POR LO POCO QUE NO PUDO EXPLICAR POR LO AFECTADA QUE ESTABA.INMEDIATAMENTE ELLA SE DETUVO Y SE BAJO DE VEHICULO PARA LLAMAR A SU PAPA Y JUCTO EN ESE MOMENTO SE INCENDIO Y ESTAMOS SEGUROS QUE FUE UN PROBLEMA DE FABRICA PARA QUE SE INCENDIARA DE ESA MANERA.GRACIAS A DIOS QUE MI HIJA ESTABA FUERA DEL VEHICULO PORQUE POR LO QUE RAPIDO SUCEDIO NO LE HUBIERA DADO DE SALIR Y LA HISTORIA HUBIERA SIDO OTRA.HAGO ESTE REPORTE PARA QUE NO VUELVA A SUCEDER ALGO ASI.PORQUE MI HIJA ESTA SUMAMENTE AFECTADA. MUCHAS GRACIAS POR SU ATENCION. *TR

Mileage: 122,000

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE SETTING OF 0-5. IT'S EITHER ON, OR OFF. MEANING, 0-4 THE SEAT HEATER DOESN'T HEAT THE SEAT. BUT WHEN I TURN IT TO 5 ON THE SETTING WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE SEAT GETS SO HOT IT BURNS MY LEGS THROUGH CLOTHING. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE SPEED TRAVELED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 211,000. UPDATED 12/14/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXHIBITING AN INTERMITTENT HESITATION. UPDATED 12/20/11. *JB

Mileage: 170,000

MY SEAT HEATER FAILED IN MY 2003 VW JETTA, BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT UNDER MY LEFT [XXX]. I WAS STARTLED WHEN SUDDENLY THERE A STRONG BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR, THEN A HOT SPOT IN THE SEAT OCCURRED WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO QUICKLY SHIFT MY SEATING POSTING AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN THE CITY AND ABLE TO PULL IN THE IN A PARKING SPOT QUICKLY AND THE SEAT OR MY CLOTHING DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. THE SEAT WAS SET TO 3 ON A SCALE OF 1-5. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 125K MILES ON IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *LN

Mileage: 125,000

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 VW JETTA. I WAS RECENTLY BURNED(11/2010) BY THE SEAT HEATER WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR SEAT SMELLED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START ON FIRE. MY CAR HAD A RECALL NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT FOR THE SEAT HEATERS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MALFUNCTION IN THE SEAT HEATER THAT VW HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH BASED ON THE RECALL AND THE PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. I CAN NO LONGER USE THE HEATING UNIT. I TOOK IT TO PATRICK MOTORS IN AUBURN, MA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THEN MAYBE ASK VWOA IF THEY WOULD HELP. I WAS NOT WILLING TO PAY MORE MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AS PROBLEMATIC. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

(PRIOR INCIDENT) 05/27/08 AT 32K MILES ALTERNATOR HARNESS BURNED AND MELTED FUSE PANEL (WHILE CAR OPERATING AT LOW SPEED RETURNING HOME FROM LOCAL TRIP). FUSE FAILED TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF TERMINAL CONNECTOR ON ALTERNATOR HARNESS AT FUSE PANEL. CURRENT INCIDENT: 08/06/10 AT 47K MILES THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 32K MILES BURNED AND MELTED FUSE PANEL AGAIN, AND ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT (CAR FAILED TO START AT HOME AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT). FUSE AGAIN FAILED TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF TERMINAL CONNECTOR ON ALTERNATOR HARNESS AT FUSE PANEL. *TR

Mileage: 47,315

AS WE WERE DRIVING HOME, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH STARTED BLINKING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING, BUT IT JUST STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. SO WE COASTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES TO A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE. WHEN WE ARRIVED, WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD WE NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX/HARNESS THAT SITS ON THE BATTERY WAS VERY HOT. WE OPENED IT AND SAW THE FAR LEFT BLACK WIRE/CABLE WAS BURNT UP AND MELTING THE PLASTIC IN THE HARNESS. THE BLACK WIRE WAS EXTREMELY HOT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, IT WAS 3 YEARS AGO, BUT I DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. I SPENT OVER $500 FIXING WHAT SEEMS TO ME THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. ON THE DEALERSHIP RECEIPT IT SAID "FOUND GENERATOR HARNESS AT BATTERY FUSE BOX MELTED CAUSING HIGH RESISTANCE IN VOLTAGE CIRCUIT.....REPLACED FUSE BOX AND GENERATOR CABLE". ON THAT OCCURRENCE IT WAS SO BAD THE BURNS HAD RUINED MY BATTERY CAUSING IT TO LEAK. I CALLED VW MANUFACTURING, BUT THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL AND JUST TOLD ME TO CALL MY LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN IF THERE WAS A FIRE HAZARD. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED, LOOKING FOR AN UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR THIS...IF IT IS THE CABLE OR SOMETHING ELSE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONNECTION WAS RESET BUT THE WIRE/CABLE CONTINUED TO GET EXCESSIVELY HOT. *TR

Mileage: 111,000

STARTED CAR AND TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS. STARTED DRIVING HOME AND THE DASHBOARD DIMMER SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE WENT OUT BUT ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE OUT. *TR

Mileage: 74,050

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL WAS FOUND TO HAVE FRIED CABLE FROM ALTERNATOR LEADING TO FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY. PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND FIXED 3 YEARS PRIOR TO BEING FOUND AGAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH TIMES CABLE AND FUSE BOX WERE REPLACED. PICTURES OF THE SECOND INCIDENT ARE AVAILABLE. ALSO FOUND THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER JETTAS AS WELL. WORRIED THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

2003 VW JETTA: DIGITAL DISPLAY WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. UNABLE TO LOCK VEHICLE DOORS WITH REMOTE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED FOR DIGITAL PANEL TO APPEAR (RE-SET) AND FOR DOOR TO LOCK WITH REMOTE. ENGINE WOULD ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. POSSIBILITY TO CAUSE A CRASH. ALL DIGITAL PANELS STILL ILLUMINATED, KEY WOULD BE LOCKED IN INGNITION, UN-ABLE TO TURN OR BE REMOVED UNTIL CAR PLACED BACK IN PARK AND HAND BRAKE PULLED UP. ISSUES OCCURED BI-WEEKLY, WEEKLY, AND NOW DAILY. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (WARRANT JUST EXPIRED LAST MONTH). AFTER TRYING TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM PRIOR TO BRINGING TO DEALERSHIP, I'VE FOUND ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE/REPAIR FOR VW CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS/EXPERIENCES, ALL OF WHICH WERE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND IS AT APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD SERVICE FOR THE FOLLOWING RECALLS: CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FAILED IGNITION COILS, FAILED REAR WINDOW/DOOR LOCKS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON! *TR

Mileage: 85,000

SUN ROOF DRAIN CLOGS!!! NO DIRECTION IN MANUAL FOR CLEANING NOR WARNING THAT IT CAN HAPPEN. I FOUND NEARLY THREE INCHES OF WATER IN THE FLOOR AND WATER ALL OVER THE INTERIOR FUSE BLOCK. MY CONCERN IS FIRE RELATED. CORROSION CAN LEAD TO HIGH IMPEDENCE CONNECTIONS AND AFTER WATER INTRUSION I HAVE NO IDEA HOW SAFE MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS. THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD INCIDENT AND I FINALLY FOUND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM BY DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE OUTLET NIPPLE IS THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 121,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE VEHICLE HAS A FUSE BOX THAT IS UNDER THE HOOD LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY. THE 150 AMP FUSE IS FOR THE ALTERNATOR; HOWEVER, THE FUSE ITSELF IS GETTING HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE BOX. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE ARE NO EXISTING RECALLS; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE OCCUR FREQUENTLY. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 79,000.

Mileage: 79,000

I HAVE A 2003 JETTA GLS. I HAD ABOUT 65K MILES ON IT AND THE SPEEDOMETER FIRST FLUCTUATED WILDLY THEN DIED, OR APPEARED TO BE DEAD. IT WOULD RANDOMLY START WORKING FOR A FEW DAYS AND OFTEN WOULD DIE AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NON FUNCTIONING SPEEDOMETER AFFECTS FUNCTION OF AUTO LOCKING DOORS, ODOMETER, TRIP COMPUTER, AND RELATED FUNCTIONS (THEY DO NOT WORK WHEN SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING). MY MECHANIC TESTED THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR LOCATED ON THE TRANSAXLE. IT IS FINE. I HAD THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED (TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $700, $500 OF WHICH IS FOR THE PART!). NOW I AM BEING TOLD IT MAY BE A COOLANT MIGRATION ISSUE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE MY 99-01 CARS. HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN NO TSB FOR 2003 JETTAS AND NOW MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ($6K HAS BEEN MENTIONED) REPAIR. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MY ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE, MANY FAILED SPEEDOMETERS IN THIS MODEL YEAR JETTA, ALTHOUGH VW TO DATE IS SILENT W/CUSTOMERS. *TR

Mileage: 65,743

1/10/08 I HAD MY 2003 VW JETTA IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THE IGNITION COIL #3 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 4/11/08 IGNITION COIL #1 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I FOUND THE RECALL ON YOUR WEB SITE AFTER THE APRIL PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT STATES 2003 JETTA. ON 12/4/08 I HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION COIL #4 AND ON 1/21/09 ANOTHER WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE LAST TWO. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC AND WAS ONCE AGAIN TOLD THAT MY 2003 JETTA WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 66,413

I HAVE HAD 27 THINGS BREAK OR FAIL ON MY 03VW JETTA 1.8T. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 01/06 WITH 32,000 MILES. AFTER BUYING THE CAR THE FIRST FIVE MINS THE WINDOW SHATTERED. FIRST TWO MONTHS 2 TIRES BLEW OUT, FRONT RIM CRACKED, BACK TIRES OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DEALER PAID TO FIX RIM BROKE 2 WEEKS LATER THE DEALER PAID FO USED SET OF SIMILAR RIMS. EVERY LIGHT INSIDE AND OUT WENT OUT BY 05/06 DRIVER SEAT WONT RAISE UP CARGO NET IN TRUNK FALLS APART DEALER WONT COVER. GAS AND TRUNK RELEASE BUTTONS FELL DOWN INSIDE OF DOOR. RADIO STOPPED WORKING FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS ARE SHORTING OUT. DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH GOES UP WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN AND DOWN WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH IT FOR IT TO GO UP. EXHAUST HANGER BROKE CAUSING CHATTER. SWAYBAR BUSHING FELL OUT CAUSING GRINDING AND SHAKING WHEN EVER MOVING. NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ALL THESE HAPPENED BY 05/07. NOW ITS 10/08 AND I HAVE 84,000 MILES. CURRENT PROBLEMS ARE REAR SPOILER BRAKE LIGHT HANGS DOWN(DEALER JUST GLUED IT IN PLACE LASTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS) CAM AND CRANK SEALS LEAKING OIL CAUSE ODOR INSIDE OF CABIN. IF I DRIVE FOR MORE THEN AN HOUR I GET SICK AND LIGHT-HEADED. SEAT, CARGO NET IN TRUNK, IS STILL BROKEN. RADIO STILL ISN'T FIXED SO I JUST WENT AND BOUGHT AN AFTER MARKET. SPEAKERS STILL SHORTENING OUT ONLY WHEN ITS COLD OUT. KEYLESS ENTRY ONLY WORKS WITHIN 4FT OF THE CAR. IN THE WINTER THE CAR ONLY GETS 18MPG ON THE HIGHWAY AND ABOUT 14 IN THE CITY AND THE CAR IS PARKED IN A HEATED UNDERGROUND GARAGE. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

2003 VW JETTA GLS WAGON WITH 62K MILES, ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TOWING TO LOCAL MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THE MAIN FUSE HOLDER HAD SHORTED OUT AND BEGUN TO MELT, RISKING AN ENGINE FIRE. PART WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM REPAIRED FOR $237. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

LOST POWER, RADIO STOPPED WORKING, A/C STARTING BLOWING HOT AIR, EPC LIGHT CAME ON, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I JUMPED THE CAR. I MADE IT HOME THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START THE NEXT MORNING. AFTER EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HAD MELTED. THE WIRE FROM THE FUSE BOX TO THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED. WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS IN BIRMINGHAM, AL THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? *TR

Mileage: 115,000

MY 2003 VW JETTA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS THAN IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. THE LATEST TWO PROBLEMS WERE; 1) THE ENGINE COIL (WAS REPLACED ONCE BY RECALL) AND 2) MY FUSE BOX ON TOP OF MY BATTERY MELTED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS ON THE CAR. WAS TOLD THAT ONLY ONE ENGINE COIL WAS ALLOWED UNDER THE RECALL, AND WAS TOLD THE FUSE BOX MELTING WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT EVER FIND THE "REAL" REASON FOR IT TO MELT. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

WITHIN 6 MONTHS (4) OF THE (6) IGNITION COILS HAVE FAILED. I HAVE IT IN NOW FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH ONES. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. HAS MADE TWO STOPS. ON THE WAY TO MY HOME MY ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON, RADIO FROZE, THEN CAR SHUT OFF. WAS ADVISED FUSE PANEL ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY HAD MELTED. MECHANIC FOUND NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO OTHER ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WHICH SEEM TO BE A CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR WILL SIMPLY DIE WHEN YOU STOP AT A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ETC. IT WILL TRY TO DIE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DIGITAL DISPLAY CONSTANTLY RESETS ITSELF, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF, BUT ALSO WHILE DRIVING. THE RADIO DOES THIS TOO. THE BACK BRAKE LIGHT ALSO HAS SOME TYPE OF SHORT IN IT. IT GOES OUT AND COMES BACK ON. WE HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE IN AS MANY MONTHS. *TR

I TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER TO 5 (HIGHEST SETTING) ON MY 2003 VW JETTA TDI WHEN LEAVING MY HOUSE AT 7 AM. I USED THIS REGULARLY TO WARM THE SEAT FOR A FEW MINUTES ON COLD MORNINGS, THEN WOULD TURN IT OFF (LOWER SETTINGS NEVER PRODUCED NOTICEABLE HEAT). WITHIN ONE MINUTE I FELT A BURNING/ELECTRICAL SENSATION IN MY UPPER LEFT THIGH. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD AND THE PAIN MADE ME JUMP IN MY SEAT AND NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER (HAVING HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER). THE LEATHER SEAT HAD A BLISTER ABOUT THE SIZE OF A CIGARETTE BURN BUT HAD NOT BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH. WHILE I STOPPED THE HEATER BEFORE IT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT (AND MY PANTS), THE REAL DANGER WAS IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT FROM THE BURN/SHOCK THAT CAUSED ME TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SEAT HEATER IS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM READING SIMILAR POSTS HERE AND ELSEWHERE IS THAT THE WIRING IS NOW BROKEN IN THE SEAT (AND MANY HAVE HAD IT BREAK IN THE SAME SPOT). IF I HAD NOT GUESSED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM QUICKLY, OR IF SOMEONE WERE TO UNKNOWINGLY USE THE HEAT SETTER IN THE FUTURE, IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, PERSONAL INJURY, AND CAR FIRE. SIMILARLY, THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK FOR OTHER DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REACT TOO LATE. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA URGE VW OF AMERICA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM (MANY REPORTS HERE AND ELSEWHERE, SUCH AS TDICLUB.COM AND VWVORTEX.COM). VW HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE U.S. THEY ALSO HAVE A VOLUNTARY REPAIR FOR PASSATS OF SIMILAR YEARS, BUT NOT JETTAS OR GOLFS. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

IGNITION COIL FAILED, WAS TOLD THE O2 SENSOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS, I HAD JUST REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS 5 DAYS EARLIER, THEY ONLY HAD 11 MILES ON THEM, SO IT CANNOT BE SPARK PLUGS, QUESTION WHETHER THE O2 IS TRULY BAD, HAVING IGNITION COIL REPLACED BUT WAS UNABLE TO TELL WHETHER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS ALSO BAD UNTIL OTHER PROBLEMS ARE CORRECTED. *TR

Mileage: 78,203

ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

I DROVE TO WORK THE CAR RAN FINE. AFTER WORK I STARTED THE CAR IT BEGIN TO SHAKE. IT LOST HALF ITS POWER..THE DEALERSHIP WAS THREE MILES AWAY. IGNITION COIL WENT BAD AT 46,158 MILES AND TODAY 3-10-08 ANOTHER ONE WENT BAD AT 49,036. MY BEST FRIENDS PASSAT IGNITION COIL WENT BAD AT 19,367. I THINK THESE IGNITION COILS ARE LEMONS AND THEY NEED TO MAKE BETTER ONES. *TR

Mileage: 49,335

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COIL INSIDE THE CYLINDER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE MONTH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,890 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,046. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ THE COIL PACK WAS REPLACED

Mileage: 39,046

I HAVE OWNED A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (TURBO - 2003) AND HAVE HAD ONE HORRIBLE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. WITHOUT FAIL, I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR RANDOM MECHANICAL REPAIRS EVERY FEW MONTHS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO AND THAT VW WAS AWARE OF HOW BAD THEIR CAR'S MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO WERE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, HOW CAN SO MANY CAR OWNERS WITH SO MANY MECHANICAL ISSUES CONTINUE TO SELL IN THIS COUNTRY? I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT VW FOR LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE AND FOR CONTINUING MANUFACTURE IN AN AREA WELL KNOWN FOR ITS BELOW AVERAGE STANDARDS AND FOR CONTINUING TO BLEED THE CONSUMER WHEN IT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

NO ADVANCE NOTICE. THE CAR SHUT OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENTS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER , CARL GREGORY IN COLUMBUS, GA, COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AT FIRST. LATER THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED: 1. HARNESS P/N 1J0-971-349-HG, 2. HOLDER P/N 1J0-937-617-D, .FUSE P/N N-104-249-0. THEY DID NOT RETURN THE PARTS TO ME. SINCE NO ONE WAS SURE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OR IF THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN WITH ONLY 56622 MILES THAT I COULD NOT TRUST TO DRIVE OUT OF TOWN. *AK

Mileage: 56,600

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF JUNE 22, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Mileage: 69,000

IGNITION COILS ON 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T CONTINUE D TO FAIL EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 6 COILS IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. NUMEROUS TIMES A COIL FAILED WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. I COULD RECALL TWICE WHERE I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY FLASH LETTING ME KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS HAVING A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS AND PLENTY OF OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT I DO A TUNE-UP ON THE VEHICLE ONLY 5,000 MILES AFTER ONE WAS PERFORMED. HE COULD NOT PINPOINT' THE PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE IT EITHER. APPARENTLY, VOLKSWAGEN WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAD NOT TAKEN ACTION TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THIS WAS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS THAT SHOULD BE MORE OF A PRIORITY TO VOLKSWAGEN CONSIDERING I HAVE FOUND PLENTY OF ARTICLES ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 43,000

ADDENDUM TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP05004 OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 11 MONTHS, FOUR OF THE IGNITION COILS IN MY 2003 JETTA GLI/ 6CYL HAVE FAILED. THE SERVICE DATES FOR EACH OCCURRENCE ARE: 5-12-06, 8-9-06, 12-26-06 AND 4-5-07. UPON THE THIRD FAILURE IN DECEMBER 2006 I ASKED IF MY VW DEALER COULD REPLACE ALL OF THE ORIGINAL IGNITION COILS, AS CLEARLY A PATTERN OF FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO REPLACE COILS AS THEY FAILED AND THAT I COULD CONTACT VW TO VOICE MY CONCERN. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REQUEST THAT THEY REPLACE THE REMAINING 3 COILS, TO AGAIN RECEIVE THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE COILS AS THEY FAIL, BUT NOT PROACTIVELY. (AS LONG AS MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY.) TODAY THE FOURTH IGNITION COIL FAILED AND I AM NOW OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY COVERAGE. (WARRANTY ENDED 2-28-07.) I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE ANOTHER COMPLAINT AND WAS INSTRUCTED THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AS THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. UPON RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION, I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP05004, WHICH INDICATES THAT VW ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS ON 1-31-03, 6-6-03, 12-03 AND 1-04 INSTRUCTING DEALERS TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PACKS IN MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS. UPON FINDING THIS INFORMATION, I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN TO SEE IF MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY THE CSC, AS CSC'S ARE VIN SPECIFIC, NOT MODEL/YEAR SPECIFIC. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO RE-OPEN ACTION NUMBER DP05004. THE IGNITION COIL ISSUE IS STILL OCCURRING, AND VW IS NOT AUTHORIZING DEALERS TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SUSPECT IGNITION COILS AS INDICATED WHEN THIS ACTION NUMBER WAS CLOSED. *JB

Mileage: 49,865

THREE OUT OF FOUR OF MY IGNITION COILS HAVE BLOWN AND I HAVE LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING, HOWEVER I HAVE TO KEEP BREAKING DOWN AND GETTING MY CAR TOWED IN FOR IT TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THEY KNOW THEY ARE ALL BAD, BUT IF I ASK THEM TO FIX THEM I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEY SAY AND I QUOTE "I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT" I TELL EVERYONE HOW MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DETERRED AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE CONSIDERING VOLKSWAGENS TO BUY DIFFERENT VEHICLES. ITS A SHAME THIS IS MY HUSBAND AND I'S SECOND VOLKSWAGEN BUT THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED/OR BROKEN DOWN 9 TIMES IN LESS THEN 3 YEARS, THAT'S NOT GOOD. ONCE THIS LEASE IS UP WE WILL NEVER DEAL WITH VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN. THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THAT'S A SHAME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE COIL ISSUE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME PROBLEM, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A HUGE DEFECT AND A LOT OF VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. *JB

EPC LIGHT ON DASH KEEPS COMING ON. WHEN ON, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT CAR OUT PARK. WHEN AT IDLE AND LIGHT COMES ON, IDLES WILDLY UP AND DOWN. WHEN EPC LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA GOING 50 MPH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD GET THE CALL MADE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT DETECTED A FAINT SMELL OF RUBBER BURNING. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 110,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS CROSSING THE UNITED STATES BORDER FROM CANADA DUE TO A REQUIRED CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY FROM VW OF AMERICA STATING THAT THE VEHICLE CONFORMED TO US FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, CALIFORNIA AIR EMISSION REGULATIONS AND US EPA EMISSION REGULATIONS. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE VEHICLE MET ALL OF THE ABOVE EXCEPT THE SPEEDOMETER MUST BE KEPT IN READING MPH (WHICH IT DOES), THE ODOMETER MUST BE LABELED (IT IS LABELED IN KM), THE DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ANTILOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT MUST BE MARKED BRAKE AND ABS IN LETTERS AT LEAST 1/8 OF AN INCH HIGH. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE AND ABS INDICATORS ARE IMAGES , WHICH THE CONTACT CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS, AND THE CONTACT DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW CHANGING THE IMAGES TO WORDS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RANGES FROM $500-700. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON TDI.

Mileage: 49,100

BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS IN 2003. SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOR EXAMPLE THE GLOVE BOX COVER, WHEEL BEARING. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ON MOST NEWER VEHICLES THAT WHEEL BEARINGS DO NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE. MY CAR HAS 74,000 MILES. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING AND MY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR IF GOING OVER 30 MPH CUT OUT. THERE WAS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND 2 COILS WERE FAULTY. THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION COILS FOR CYLINDERS 1&3 AND CLEARED FAULT CODES. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT SAID VOLKSWAGEN FEELS THE IGNITION COILS ARE A REGULAR MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND AM FINDING THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE COILS. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THAT VW HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT TO VW OWNERS TO BRING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE COILS. VW REPRESENTATIVE IN MICHIGAN TOLD ME THAT THEY STOPPED DOING THAT IN 2005. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOT HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS. VW KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I LOVE MY VW BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS THIS CAR THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I TRADE VEHICLES EVERY 3-4 YEARS BUT WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. NOT BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG BECAUSE THE STRANGE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR DRIVERS. *JB

Mileage: 74,000

A WEEK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT SPEEDOMETER QUIT. NON VW REPAIR SHOP REPLACED SPEED SENSOR, THIS DID NOT FIX SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM SO THEY SENT ME TO NY VW DEALER WHO REPLACED CRANK SENSOR. COULD NOT EVEN DRIVE CAR OUT OF THEIR LOT AFTER THE REPAIR AS CAR WAS STALLING AND HESITATING. THEY THEN SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE NEEDLE LIFT SENSOR. I BEGGED THEM AT THAT POINT TO LOOK FOR A WIRING PROBLEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT 3 SENSORS COULD ALL GO AT ONCE WITHOUT A SYSTEM CAUSE. I WAS TOLD TO "TRUST THEM" AND THAT THEY HAD CHECKED WITH VW AND VW SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. "THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SAID THAT IS ALL THAT IS WRONG" . AFTER WEEK IN REPAIR SHOP VW DEALER TOLD ME CAR WAS "ALL FIXED". 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES LATER ON I-83 SOUTH OF HARRISBURG CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LURCHING OUT OF CONTROL, THEN STALLED. I WAS NEAR EXIT 32 AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF SAFELY, FORTUNATELY. HAD TO BE TOWED TO VW DEALER. NOW VW DEALER IN PA TELLS ME CAR HAD "COOLANT MIGRATION" WHICH WAS SOURCE OF ALL PROBLEMS, THEY THINK DEALER IN NY SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT. VW IS BACKING NY DEALER THAT THEY FIXED CAR CORRECTLY DESPITE OTHER DEALERS COMMENT AND MY NEAR MISS WITH BEING CRASHED INTO BY OTHER DRIVERS ON I-83. I FAIL TO SEE HOW COOLANT MIGRATION HAPPENED IN 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES. PA VW DEALER SAYS NY DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE MISSED THE COOLANT MIGRATION, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE REPLACED THE EXPENSIVE SENSORS BEFORE REPAIRING THE COOLANT MIGRATION PROBLEM. I CERTAINLY AGREE SINCE I TRAVELED LESS THAN 300 MILES AND I WAS JUST LUCKY THAT I WAS SO CLOSE TO AN EXIT AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP RESTARTING THE CAR AND COAST OFF I-83. HAD I BEEN FURTHER AWAY FROM AN EXIT OR IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN RUN INTO BY ANOTHER DRIVER AS THE CAR LURCHED AND JERKED AND STALLED. I ALSO FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY VW IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY -PA DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS "VERY CORRODED" AND THE WIRING WAS "FULL OF COOLANT". *JB

Mileage: 67,500

MY SITUATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO ODI ID NUMBER : 10136903. I HAVE A 2003 JETTA. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH, MY ABS WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AND MY RADIO TURNED OFF. AFTER STOPPING MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT MY FUSE PANEL (ABOVE THE BATTERY) HAD MELTED AND HE WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT MY CAR HADN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. A JUMP START STARTED IT. NEXT DAY, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. A JUMP START STARTED IT. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MECHANIC. MY ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS FINE LAST WEEK, IS NOW FRIED (AFTER TWO DRIVES), MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THE FUSE PANEL BURNT IT OUT. THE ALTERNATOR IN MY 2003 JETTA IS A 90 AMP ALTERNATOR. VW STOPPED MAKING THESE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR THE CARS. I REPEAT, 90 AMP ALTERNATORS ARE NO LONGER MADE FOR MY CAR BECAUSE IT REQUIRES 120 AMP ALTERNATOR. HMM. *NM

Mileage: 65,000

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI GLS. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FAITHFULLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTED IN THE USER MANUAL. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED ON THIS COMPLAINT, THE A/C CEASED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THERE WAS NO COOL AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTDOWN, THE RADIATOR FANS WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN UPWARDS OF 15 MINUTES. NEITHER EVENT HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO A VW DEALERSHIP ON THE INCIDENT DATE TO HAVE ITS NORMAL 110,000 MILE SERVICE AND TO HAVE THE ISSUES (NOTED ABOVE) DIAGNOSED. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP LATER IN THE DAY ON THE INCIDENT DATE STATING THAT A FAILURE IN THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO BE WICKED INTO THE VEHICLE'S WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO CONTAMINATION / CORROSION OF THE ENGINE AND BODY HARNESS. THE QUOTE TO REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $6,000. THIS PROBLEM IS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HARNESS ITSELF, ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT COULD BE AFFECTED SUCH AS THE AIRBAGS, ABS, SRS, ETC. ALSO, FROM MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND SOME PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM HAVE ALSO HAD SMOKE OR FIRES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. VW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (ID# C 97-01-01) FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE ON 1999.5 - 2001 MODEL YEAR JETTAS, BUT NEVER FOR THE 2003 AND NEVER A RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN. VW HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *NM

Mileage: 108,841

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION PROBLEMS WERE NOTICE WITH THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BLACK BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE PURPLE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE. THE BLACK BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD A RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE 2003 MODELS. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH, WHICH INCLUDES THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM AND THE PARK POSITION LEVER WHICH LOCKS OFTEN. ALSO THE CONTACT ONCE BECAME STRANDED ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. ALL REPAIRS MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN COVERED BY THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT BRAKE LIGHTS BECAUSE REPRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM

Mileage: 33,969

AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, MY 2003 JETTA GLI VR6 BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD STAY LIT OR START BLINKING AS I TRIED TO DRIVE HOME. I CONTACTED VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ALONG WITH MY VW DEALERSHIP (STRONG VW, SLC UT), AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST BRING IT IN. SEEING THAT I WAS BARELY GOING TO MAKE IT HOME I CONTACTED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS PROVIDED WITH MY JETTA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD TOW IT TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP (NOT WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED OR HAD MY CAR SERVICED) TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS ACTUALLY CLOSER FOR ME TO DROP OFF THE JETTA AT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP RATHER THAN TAKE IT HOME, SO I DID THAT. I FOUND OUT THE FOLLOWING MORNING THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY AND APPARENTLY EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THREE DAYS LATER, EACH AND EVERY TIME I STARTED MY JETTA A NOXIOUS SMELL WOULD FILL THE CABIN. I REPORTED THIS TO MY ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER 5 DAYS OF TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THEY INFORMED THAT SINCE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IRONICALLY IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS THAT IN THE YEAR AND A HALF THAT I HAVE OWNED MY JETTA, I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR NON-TRADITIONAL OR NON-SCHEDULED SERVICE MORE THAN 3 TIMES. MY MAJOR FEAR IS THAT WHEN THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL VW CUSTOMER FOR 20+ YEARS AND HAVEN'T HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY PREVIOUS 4 VW VEHICLES COMBINED. SADLY ENOUGH, I POSSIBLY MAY NEVER BUY OR LEASE A VW AGAIN! *JB

Mileage: 45,900

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOUR TIMES. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE GLOW PLUG, THE RELAY TO THE GLOW PLUG AND THE THERMOSTAT, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 41,000

NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON MY 2003 JETTA. FIRST VISIT WAS 9/12/02. THE OTHERS WERE: 2/21/03, 6/13/03, 10/21/04, 1/6/05, 12/14/05, 12/21/05, 1/9/06, 1/13/06. IT IS CURRENTLY ON AND IS WAITING FOR A CAT. CONVERTER. THEY CHARGED ME TO HOOK UP TO COMPUTER, REPLACED ALL COILS & SPARK PLUGS AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. *JB

Mileage: 59,400

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ABS LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED . THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ALTERNATOR CABLE BURNED THE FUSE BOX AND COVER. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THEY SAME PART WILL BE PUT BACK ON THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK *JB

Mileage: 52,000

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTY. THE CONTACT STATED S DASHBOARD CONTROL SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. LAST NIGHT WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. GOT CLOSE TO HOME AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. BY THE TIME SHE GOT WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE HOUSE THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE. HUSBAND CAME OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HUSBAND USED EXTINGUISHER ON VEHICLE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. FIRE DEPARTMENT GAVE ALL CLEAR, BUT NOT TO TRY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THIS MORNING CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SEEING WHAT THEY COULD DO. HUSBAND SUSTAINED RIGHT LEG INJURIES. CUSTOMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF EYES BURNING FROM SMOKE. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TAKEN. NO CRASHES. WE HAD JUST PICKED VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER.*AK

Mileage: 28,000

DT: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DIESEL TDI. THE ENGINE DIED AT 70 MPH. THE CONSUMER KNEW IT WAS NOT THE TIMING BELT AND BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE SIGNALS. LIGHTS TO FLASH, FLASHERS ALSO WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE TIMING BELT IS IN PLACE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. *TT *SC *JB

Mileage: 125,000

ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE CAR DIED WITHIN SIXTY SECONDS. WE WERE ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AFTER SITTING FOR 30 MINUTES, ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME THING RE-OCCUR WITHIN TWO MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS, EXCEPT FOR THE ILLUMINATED LIGHTS, BUT THIS LEFT NO TIME TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY TRAGIC OR FATAL EVENT IF WE WERE NOT ON A LOCAL, NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD.*AK

Mileage: 9,592

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, SUDDENLY A FIRE STARTED FOR NO REASON FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER GLOVE COMPARTMENT, BURNING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING TO THE FLOOR MATS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES MY CAR WAS TOTALLY ON FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER INCIDENTS OF SPONTANEOUS FIRES FOR THIS MAKE AND YEAR MODEL.*AK

Mileage: 20,000

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN MY CAR. MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN UNFOUNDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN MOST CASES IT IS MY WINDOWS THAT DO NOT OBEY COMANDS. IF I PUSH THE WINDOW UP BUTTON, THE WINDOWS MAY ROLL THEMSELVES DOWN OR GO ALL THE WAY UP INSTEAD OF JUST A LITTLE BIT UP. SAME ON THE DOWN. SOMETIMES THE PINCH CONTROL WILL ACTIVATE ITSELF AND THE WINDOW (WHICH I THINK IS CLOSING) WILL ROLL DOWN. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN PER SAY BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE WINDOW BEING DOWN AND MY DOG MIGHT JUMP OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, OR IT MIGHT DRAW MY ATTENTION AWAY FROM DRIVING WHILE I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, AGAIN, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN A FEW TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY "CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE RADIO STAYS ON SOMETIMES WHEN I AM EXITING THE CAR, AGAIN NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT REALLY LETS ME BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD A BLOWN FUSE-CAUSING THE EPC-LIGHT TO COME ON... IT WAS FOR THE REAR BRAKES. THE LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF AFTER I WAS OUT OF THE CAR.

Mileage: 1,000

MY BRAND NEW 2003 JETTA GLI FAILED TO START AT A SHOPPING CENTER. THE CAR WAS PARKED THERE FOR ONLY TWO HOURS. SEEMS LIKE THE BATTERY AND IGNITION SWITCH WORKS, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CALLED AAA. AFTER 10 MINUTES AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF CRANKING THE ENGINE, HE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. TOOK CAR INTO THE DELEARSHIP. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER TWO DAYS, BUT PUT 60 MILES ON THE CAR.

Mileage: 2,300

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION, KEYLESS KEY BATTERY DOES NOT WORK, EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LOST OF POWER, JACK FELL WHILE CAR WAS ON IT, AND PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK.*MR WHEN THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FLAT DUE TO THE TIRES BEING OVERINFLATED. *JB

Mileage: 8,067

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME NOW THAT MY 2003 VW 1.8T JETTA WOULD NOT START WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK IN THE MORNING. I UN-LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE AND GET IN THE CAR, PRESS IN ON THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY, THE HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, DOOR-CHIMES AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ALL COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. I ONLY HAVE 8800 MILES ON THE CAR AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT BOTH TIME IT HAS BEEN NEAR FREEZING OUTSIDE AND THE CAR HAD SAT OVER-NIGHT. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR THREE DAYS, WITHOUT GIVING ME A LOANER CAR BEFORE THEY TOLD ME TO COME PICK IT UP BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR TWO DAYS NOW, AND I HAVEN'T EVEN RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THEM TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MY VEHICLE. *LA

Mileage: 8,800

VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING AFTER BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN ATTEMPTS TO TURN LEFT. *LA

Mileage: 250

MY BRAKE LIGHT SWICH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY 2003 JETTA TDI VW. FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH CAUSES BRAKE LIGHT'S TO EITHER STAY ON CONSISTENTLY OR NOT TURN ON AT ALL. LOSS OF TURBO IN VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO BATTERY SHUT DOWN.*AK

Mileage: 53,000

IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON THE 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *JB

Mileage: 6,942

MY COIL PACKS SEEM TO BE FAILING, BUT CANNOT BE REPRODUCED BY THE DEALER. MY 2003 JETTA 1.8T RUNS VERY ROUGH IN THE MORNING AND THEN RUNS FINE. I AM SCARED THAT THE COIL PACKS WILL FAIL IN A CRITICAL DRIVING SITUATION.

IGNITION COIL ON A BRAND NEW VW WILL GO BAD. I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA 1.8T. IGNITION COIL #3 WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR JUST LOST POWER AND STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH. BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR AND WAS INFORM THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A NOTICE SENT OUT TO OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S POTENTIAL RISK?

Mileage: 5,200

MY WIFE'S 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HAS A BAD IGNITION COIL. BOTH VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATION AND OUR LOCAL VW DEALER, SPEEDCRAFT IN WAKEFIELD RI, ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE A COIL PROBLEM WITH ALL 2002 JETTAS AND PASSATS. THEY FURTHER NOTED TO MY WIFE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PARTS ON HAND TO PERFORM AN ACTUAL RECALL. WE ARE DEMANDING THAT THEY REPLACE ALL 4 COILS SINCE THEY KNOW THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT ALL 4 WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO THIS. WE FEEL IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO REFUSE FIXING A PROBLEM THEY KNOW WILL LIKELY OCCUR. SUCH A FAILURE AT THE WRONG TIME WHILE DRIVING COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE ARE FEARING FOR OUR SAFETY.

Mileage: 8,000

FAILURE (CRACKED) OF MULTIPLE IGNITION COIL PACKS- CAUSES ENGINE TO MISFIRE/SPUTTER- ALLOWABLE EMISSIONS EXCEEDED (MIL-LIGHT INDICATOR). SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770863****

Mileage: 3,900

IGNITION COIL PACKS ARE FAULTY ON 2002 VW JETTA'S WITH 1.8T ENGINES. THERE ARE FOUR OF THESE PARTS ON EACH 1.8T ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE TO THE POINT OF THE CAR WILL STALL AND CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. VW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COIL THAT FAILS NOT ALL DEFECTIVE COILS. OWNERS COULD BE STRANDED ON THE ROADSIDE AND FACE POTENTIAL DANGER. ONE OF MY COILS FAILED THIS JANUARY 13, 2003

Mileage: 6,300