2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Exterior Lighting Problems

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH MY 2005 JETTA SINCE PURCHASING IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS. CAUSE: THE FUSE BOX ONTOP OF BATTERY MELTED, ALONG WITH THE FUSES AND GROUND WIRE. THEN THE COOLANT RESEVOIR HAD TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THE FANS NOT TURNING ON BECAUSE OF THOSE FUSES MELTING. THEN, THEN RADIATOR. THEN THE BREAK PUMP, EXAUST MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW. THE THING RECENTLY WASNI HAD NO BREAK LIGHTS. WENT TO CHANGE BULBS. KEPT BREAKING THE FUSES. THEN STUCK IN PARK. SAW A RECALL LISTED FOR FAULTY BREAK SWITCH. CALLED VW THEY STATED MY RECAL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. SO SORRY IT WAS UP TO ME TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. TOLD THEM OF EVERY OTHER ISSUE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. BASICALLY I BOUGHT A VERY UNREALIABLE, UNSAFE, PIECE OF GARBAGE. THAT I ASSUMED WAS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE FOR MYSELF SND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN TO BE DEPENDANT UPON GETTING US SAFELY PLACE TONPLACE.

THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS AND GAS FILL DOOR FROM FUNCTIONING. THE CAR BECOMES UNSAFE SINCE THE LEFT SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK AND THE WINDOW WILL NOT OPERATE SO THE DRIVER CAN DO A MANUAL SIGNAL. VW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE STATING THAT THE ORIGINAL WIRING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT AND BREAKS CAUSING THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE CAR AND FIX THE PROBLEM. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED ON THIS ISSUE, AND IS CLOSE TO SETTLEMENT, BUT WILL ONLY COVER CARS LESS THAN 8.5 YEARS OLD. MOST OF THE CARS EFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE, 2005 AND 2006 MODEL YEARS, ARE OLDER THAN 8.5 YEARS SO VW WILL NOT FIX THEM. THE FOLLOWING YOUTUBE VIDEO DEMONSTRATES ALL OF THESE ISSUES, PLEASE VIEW IT FOR FULL DETAILS: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=P1EQ5XL-ZPM THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE HAS INFORMATION ON THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT: HTTP://WWW.WIRINGHARNESSSETTLEMENT.COM/ *TR

Mileage: 66,521

I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE IN THE "ON" POSITION AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALL LIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY LEFT IT OVERNIGHT AND EXAMINED IT THIS MORNING. THEY NOTED THIS WAS A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND INDICTED THE HOUSING HAD MELTED OVERNIGHT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, VOLKSWAGEN HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE COMPLAINT # [XXX]. WHEN I SPOKE WITH VOLKSWAGEN THEY SAID THEY ARE ONLY COVERING VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE THROUGH MANUFACTURED YEAR 2003. MY CAR IS A 2005. OBVIOUSLY, THIS ISSUE PERSISTED BEYOND THE YEARS THEY INDICATED, AND THEY EXPECT THE OWNERS NOW TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND DAMAGES CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE. I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS ISSUE EXTENDS BEYOND THE PERIOD THEY INDICATED AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER MAKING THIS A RECALL ITEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF THIS ISSUE BECOMES A RECALL ITEM. I FEEL, AT A MINIMUM, THE DEALER SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 54,000

LEFT TURN SIGNAL, DRIVERS DOOR/ALL REMOTE WINDOW SWITCHES, TRUNK/FUEL DOOR RELEASE, DRIVERS DOOR LOCK KEY FOB LOCKING OF DRIVERS DOOR/DRIVERS DOOR INTERNAL LOCK ARE ALL INOPERATIVE. OCCASIONALLY, THE CABIN INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WITH A DRIVERS "DOOR OPEN" INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR IS CLOSED AND SECURE (BUT UNABLE TO BE LOCKED FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK SWITCH IN THE PASSENGER CABIN). THE PRIMARY SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DISPLAYS ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND DRIVERS WINDOW (ALONG WITH ALL OTHER WINDOWS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ON DRIVERS DOOR) ARE INOPERATIVE IF NEEDED TO MAKE A HAND TURN SIGNAL OR EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT (OR SUBMERGED UNDER WATER FOR AN EGRESS). DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH REFUSED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE FAULTY PART. I HAVE PERFORMED EVERY MANUFACTURE REQUIRED SERVICE REQUIRED (ALL DOCUMENTED) SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. IT HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE ON MY PURCHASE IN EARLY 2007. PER VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, GROUP 97: 09-01 (201-7600), FEBRUARY 26, 2009, STATES THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MANUFACTURED 80 MM TOO SHORT. THIS RESULTS IN PUTTING STRAIN ON THE NUMEROUS WIRES IN THIS HARNESS NEAR THE DOOR BOOT AND CONNECTOR PLUG CAUSING WIRES TO BREAK AND/OR ELECTRICALLY SHORT. MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE VIN RANGE OF THIS MANUFACTURES SERVICE BULLETIN. THE NEW REPLACEMENT DRIVERS DOOR ELECTRICAL HARNESS ARE NOW 80 MM LONGER THAN THE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED (INSTALLED) FAULTY PART THAT THE MANUFACTURE IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST (PARTS OR LABOR). I WILL PAY FOR MY REPAIR PERSONALLY, BUT BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS FAULTY PART COULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS IN ADDITION TO OTHER MOTORIST. *TR

Mileage: 111,970

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE POWER WINDOWS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT BOTH A WIRING AND CRASH HARNESS WAS NEEDED TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Mileage: 54,000

I PURCHASED A 2005 NEW JETTA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN JULY OF 2010. IT CURRENTLY HAS 72,000 MILES. 3 ISSUES. ONE, WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP, A CLANGING NOISE OCCURS AND LASTS FOR APPROX 30 SECONDS, THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE A VENT CLOSES AND THE SOUND GOES AWAY. TWO, THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF SOMETIMES WHEN I PULL ALONG SIDE A CURB. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR, BACK THE CAR UP, THEN PULL THE CAR FORWARD TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. THE THIRD ITEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY NOT ALWAYS AND INVOLVES SHIFTING OF GEARS. WHEN THE CAR IS GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, IT SEEMS TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR A LITTLE ROUGH BUT NOT JERKY AND SOMETIMES WHEN COASTING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE CAR SEEMS TO HESITATE WHEN I AM READY TO PUSH ON THE GAS. BUT THEN, AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS, ENGAGES INTO GEAR WITH A LUNGE. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MAN SAID HE COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY CODES. I TOLD HIM I HAD RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION'S VALVE BODY WARRANTY EXTENSION. HE DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THE CAR DEFINITELY LUNGES AND TOLD ME TO GET IT TO A VW DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK UP AS HE WAS NOT AN AUTHORIZED VW TECH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH IS 2 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOME. THEY DROVE THE CAR 3 SEPARATE TIMES TRYING TO PRODUCE THE SCENARIO I DESCRIBED BUT COULD NOT. THE TECH TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DESCRIBING THE VALVE BODY ISSUE AND HE WOULD TELL THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT HE HAD FELT THE PROB AND THAT MY CAR NEEDED A NEW VALVE BODY. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE ABOVE 20 MPH WITHOUT THE ENGINE ROARING AND THE SHIFTING HARD INTO GEAR EVERYTIME. ME AND MY DAUGHTER HAD PULLED OUT INTO A VERY BUSY 40 MPH TRAFFIC. IT WAS SCARY. AT ONE POINT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR! I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG. NEXT DAY, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT MY COST OF $5000. WHAT HAPPEN? *TR

Mileage: 71,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE; WHEN HE WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, IT WOULD STAY ON. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THERE WAS ALSO A RIGHT REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,936. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,740.

Mileage: 77,740

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH MALFUNCTION AND FIRE... RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATED WITHOUT SWITCH BEING ACTIVATED. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES IN THIS CONDITION, SMOKE CAME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. FIRE/MARKING COULD BE SEEN IN THE SWITCH AREA. EVENTUALLY THE TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT AND THE SMOKE/FIRE STOPPPED. VW SERVICE REPLACED THE SWITCH AND WIRE HARNES. THE PLACTIC ON THE SWITCH AND HARNES WAS MELTED AND CHARRED. *CN

Mileage: 105,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V063000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT STOP ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES AND, FINALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT DIMMED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME MOBILE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE MONTH AND THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,707 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,207. UPDATED 03-09-09 *BF THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOISEY AND WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. UPDATED 03/12/09.*JB

Mileage: 71,207

OVER THE PAST 11 MONTHS OF OWNING MY VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS (LIGHTBULB ONLY) SEVEN TIMES. ALSO, OTHER VARIOUS BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. THE FIRST TIME, I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 DAY OFF THE LOT (USED). THE FIX IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO PURCHASE NEW HEADLIGHTS. I'VE TRIED HIGH QUALITY SYLVANIA H7 LIGHTS, AND ALSO TESTED THE LOWER QUALITY TO SEE IF IT WOULD LAST LONGER, OR HOLD OUT AT ALL. VW (VIA A DEALERSHIP, NOT CORPORATE) HAS INDICATED THAT IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, A SEAL IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, OR THE OBVIOUS POOR VENTILATION TO RELIEVE THE HEAT BUILD-UP. THERE IS A PLASTIC CAP INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON EACH HEADLIGHT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE SOCKETS. IT DOES GET VERY HOT IN THERE. VW DID INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT COVER BULB REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY, AS FREQUENT OR INFREQUENT AS IT MIGHT HAPPEN. ON A SEPARATE NOTE, AUTOZONE (LOCAL PARTS DISTRIBUTOR) HAS MADE COMMENTS INDICATING THE TYPE OF BULB (H7) IS OF POOR DESIGN ON ANY VEHICLE. ANOTHER ACQUAINTANCE HAS ADVISED ME ON HER VW, THERE ARE SIMILAR LIGHTING ISSUES. I AM SEEKING A RESOLVE, AS THE LIGHTS ARE RATHER EXPENSIVE ALONE, AND LETTING THE DEALERSHIP FIX THEM EXTREMELY COSTLY. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED WAS THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE, AND THE LAST TIME WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. TO NOTE, THE HEADLIGHT USUALLY BLOWS OUT WHEN I START THE VEHICLE, NOT WHEN IT'S RUNNING. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I AM EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AS TO NOT TOUCH THE BULB DIRECTLY, AS I KNOW THIS TO CAUSE DAMAGE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 VW 2.5 JETTA. MY FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 32,000 MILES WHEN THE BACK BRAKES WENT OUT. FOLLOWING THAT, MY BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME FAULTY. AFTER REPLACING MY BRAKE LIGHTS, THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $38 TO CHANGE THEM AGAIN. THEY WENT OUT ONCE AGAIN BEFORE THE DEALER DECIDED TO INFORM ME THERE WAS A DEFECT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME MY SPARK PLUGS WERE WET FROM THE RAIN. THEY SUGGESTED THE 40K MILE MAINTENANCE AT $500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AGREED TO DO THIS ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME ON AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 MORE TIMES UNTIL THE DEALER FINALLY REVEALED THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS. THEY WERE DYING ELECTRONICALLY ONE BY ONE AND THEY HAD TO ORDER 5 NEW UPDATED COILS FROM MICHIGAN FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN. 6 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 50 MILES. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THE A/C FAN MOTOR HAS DIED. THERE IS NO SENSOR FOR THIS SO THE FAN MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED AT $780.00. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE LARGER FAN IS WORKING, BUT IT IS WEAK AND MIGHT NEED REPLACED AS WELL. THE CAR JERKS AND RUNS VERY ROUGH. MY CAR ALSO MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN I START IT. WHEN I AM SITTING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT FOR A CAR THAT HAS 56K MILES CURRENTLY. *TR

Mileage: 44,500

2005 JETTA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THAT A LOT OF VEHICLES WERE HAVING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILLIGHTS. *JB

AUTO HEADLAMPS MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE AUTO ENGINE IS STARTED. ALL INCIDENCES HAVE OCCURRED AFTER AUTO WAS IN CONTACT WITH WATER, SUCH AS DURING A RAIN STORM OR A CAR WASH. THE AUTO INDICATOR LIGHT FOR HEADLAMP MALFUNCTION IS LIT AND DIFFERENT HEADLAMP BULBS ARE OUT, INCLUDING THE DAY RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS. ON ONE OCCASION, ALL HEADLAMPS MALFUNCTIONED AT ONCE. AUTO WAS PURCHASED ON 4/26/05. FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPORTED ON 5/20/05. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 5/26/05, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAS NOT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 5/26/05. THE DEALER REQUESTED THE AUTO BE RETURNED WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS VISIBLE TO THEM. I RETURNED THE AUTO TO THE DEALER ON 9/25/06 TO SHOW THE SERVICE ADVISOR THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED. THEY DID NOT ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM ON THIS DAY AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS LATER. ON 10/10/06 THE AUTO WAS RETURNED FOR REPAIR, HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED ON 10/12/06 THAT BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TO MAKE A COMPLAINT (REFERENCE NUMBER 60370228) AND WAS ASKED TO TAKE THE AUTO TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE RECOMMENDED VW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TECHNICIAN WOULD NEED TO SEE THE PROBLEM AS IT WAS OCCURRING, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. *NM

Mileage: 500

FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH LEADING TO UNSAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BRAKE SWITCH FAILED AT 19,000 MILES CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. *JB

Mileage: 19,000