The vw jetta vr6 2001 that I purchased last year for $7,000 (financing through my credit union) is a lemon. I have had it less than a year and already spent $2000 on minor repairs and I estimate that right now it needs about $4000 more in the next few months. I believe that sundance improperly sold this car, knowing that a massive amount of things are wrong with it. I had a garage with which they are affiliated look at it and completely misrepresented the shape of the car. Since acquiring it I have been plagued with difficulties with it, from head lights mysteriously going out, to the water pump failing, to the serpentine coil failing, now to the air compressor failing, as well as the computer to the A/C, and today it is the epc code (which I believe has something to do with either the catalytic converter, or computer - but the thing is losing power and the brake lights don't work which is a major safety hazard), not to mention the transmission slips and will need to be replaced. Having been plagued with these issues, I have come to find out that there are many other vw jetta vr6 2001 owners who are adamant that this car is a manufactured lemon. Vw needs to be in some way held accountable - all of us have had nightmarish lives and are paying for the defects every day.
2001 Volkswagen Jetta engine complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 118, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have my car at school in south bend indiana and it is stored outside. Early this winter the car started to idle very rough. If I tried to go too quickly after turning the car on I would get a flashing check engine light that read for a random cylinder misfire when the code was pulled. This happened several times. So I had to let the engine idle for at least 10 minutes so that it could try and warm up before I could go anywhere. In mid february I turned the car on in the afternoon and I noticed it was idling very rough. So I cracked the hood and there I saw sparks jumping from the beginning of the spark plug wires to the engine block. A mechanic confirmed what I suspected, that the coil pack was cracked and needed to be replaced. I did an online search and found that vw had issued a recall for vr6s that had problems with cracked coil packs. However, when I called them about it I was told that my car was not included in the recall. It was not the right engine model because they changed engine models half way through 2001 and my car was the old model. Despite the fact that I have the same problem with a cracking coil pack in a car of the right model from the same year they wouldn't do anything. These coil packs have been a problem for many vr6 owners as evidence from the extensive online forums. I don't understand how my car with the same problem and documented history as the 2003 recall isn't also covered in the recall. I have not had the coil pack repaired yet because it costs 500 dollars and I don't have that to spend right know.
Our 2001 vw jetta gls sputters intermittently and looses acceleration power at in opportune times. According to the dealer the problem is with the ignition coil, and that vw is aware of the problem and are recalling certain models. Ours has not had the recall as of 11/1/09. When this problem occurs, the check engine light blinks. I have found that pulling over, shutting the engine off and removing the key for 30 seconds and then re-starting solves the problem. When the dealer pulled the check engine codes, there were 2. One for the misfire and a "catalyst efficiency below threshold. The dealer said the latter is due to the misfire and in time the misfires will ruin the catalyst. Unfortunately at over 75000 miles and 8.5 years, no warranties apply. This is a safety issue that could easily cause a collision and when parts become available, we will have the ignition coil replaced. Vw is clearly aware of the problems and should accelerate their recall campaign on this issue. Also, they should replace the catalysts that have had their useful life lowered by this problem.
2001 volkswagen jetta wolfsburg edition: cylinder 3 misfired due to a faulty coilpack. Coilpack was replaced, however cylinders 2 and 4 misfire. When the mechanic tested the coilpacks, they were working properly. Presently, random cylinders continue to misfire even though brand new coil packs are installed. This causes my vehicle to lose power and idle very rough. The check engine light continues to flash which is causing damage to my brand new cat converter.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. While driving 50 MPH or less, the vehicle would rev and performed as if it would stall. The check engine warning indicator also illuminated on the instrument panel. No repairs have been made. The current and failure mileages were less than 100,000.
From the time I bought the vehicle it has been stuttering while idle. I have replaced the mass airflow sensor, master sensor, several hoses and connectors and parts of the engine. Now it stops while I'm waiting at red lights.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. The contact purchased a used car and, within the same week, it began to stall. The dealer could find no failures. She took the vehicle to another volkswagen dealer and they gave her a list of all the failures. The list included the transmission, rattling in the engine, and the brake sensors. There are four different tires on the vehicle and each are the incorrect size. The contact stated that she does not have the money to repair all these failures. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. The contact started the ignition and the engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning indicator remained lit until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic ten times and they stated that the failure was related to the air filter sensor. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 42,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began accelerating on its own. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The engine failed, which prevented a crash from occurring. The vehicle is currently being diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 109,000. Updated 11/25/08. *lj when the engine accelerated on its own, the force pushed the driver back into the seat. The speed was so great, that the engine redline and blewout the motor. Updated 11/25/08.
I own a 2001 vw jetta. I bought it 3 years ago, used from the volkswagen dealership. The automobile was sold as a "certified" auto, which I found out later does not mean much. My trunk is locked shut and does not open manually or with remote, I've had to replace cv boots, catalytic converter, transmission and numerous headlight, taillight and blinker bulbs. And today one of my headlights is so dim, it doesn't really provide any light when it is dark. I have replaced it and replaced it. It stays fine for about 2 days and then just dims out again. I can't afford to keep taking it to volkswagen. It's a rip off and they don't even fix anything right anyway. My engine fan went out all of the sudden the other day, causing the car to overheat. I had to get it towed. That isn't the first time I have had to pay to have it towed. The interior plastic coating on armrests and all plastic inside is peeling and looks terrible. When I push unlock all doors, the driver's side back seat door will not open unless I reach inside and pull the lock open manually. There is so much more, but I don't want to waste my time. I know nothing will happen, even though it is so obvious that these cars are complete lemons, and they need to stop selling them to people.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle intermittently stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact experienced failure identical to the one mentioned in the recall, although the VIN was excluded from the recall. The VIN and recall number were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 52,000.
I own a 2001 vw jetta gls vr6. Since I have owned this car I have had problems with it. I am a young woman in the military and am in full time school, so I don't have the money to run around and fix it as much as I have been forced to do. First my gas gauge went out three months after buying it $600(under warranty) then a month later o2 sensor $300(non warranty). Then it was the catalytic converter$1500(non warranty) wiring system$1000(of course non warranty) windows wont roll up without rolling down again and sometimes get stuck$700(non warranty) cruise control went out$845 (non warranty), windshield wiper motor... Stationed in alaska and couldn't go without that $750(non warranty) now my secondary air pump is out and I was quoted $1294 from private mechanic and $1400 from vw. Also the cruise is still out and the windows are doing the same again. I have talked to many people in the same boat I have been in with so many repairs. Is there anything that can be done to stop vw from making faulty parts and charging an arm and a leg? I feel though that if it is brought up to you that my voice will be heard, because when I call the volkwagen customer service and complaints I get nowhere.
1). Incident happened without warning. Vehicle stalled out while driving, leading to a loss of power and manueverable. Owner had to drift into right-hand lane to find a place to pull over. 2). No damage or injury was caused by the incident, as there was minimal traffic on the highway at that time of day. However, losing power suddenly and without warning could be disastrous in heavier traffic situations or adverse road conditions. Consequence was to limp to car dealership to have them diagnose and make repair to vehicle at owner's out-of-pocket expense. 3). Car dealerships diagnosis found faulty engine speed sensor (part # 06a-906-433-c). Sensor was replaced at owner's expense.
During the past month I have had my car in 2 times for the same problem, check engine light, with engine sputtering and stalling periodically. The first time the coils and spark plugs were replaced (dealership claimed they were lose and black), second time they thought it was the battery, which was due to be replaced anyway. Now I am one week since the last service and the light has come back on with the same problem. If I depress the clutch for too long the vehicle may sputter and possibly stall, it stalled twice at traffic lights on my way to work, and when I take off I have to heavily accelerate or it just will not go at all. I am going to check the maf (mass air flow) myself to see if I can see anything, else it will be back at the dealership on friday.
Multiple failures of radiator fan, leading to multiple replacements; multiple failures/replacements of oxygen sensor and mass flow sensor; misdiagnosed replacement of catalytic converter; water leakage into interior of car; incidents starting occurring in 2004, latest in march 2008; number of failures is an average of 3 for each noted problem.
The failure was that the loose spark plug widened the combustion chamber and that caused the loud vibration in the engine. It also affected the function of the braking system, too. So, I was told by the riverside vw dealership that the whole chamber has to be replaced at the cost of $5,400. The riverside dealership made a contact with new century dealership in glendale, ca and they did the tune-up on april 5, 2004. It was clearly the mechanic who did not screw the spark plug tightly. It was the human error on the part of the dealership. I could not use the car due to this unnecessary error that could be preventable. I have been taking my jetta to all the vw dealerships to do maintenance services and repairs, as well. My feeling is that they should replace the part where the spark plugs are at no cost due to careless error.
My catalytic converter has gone bad and vw has an extended warranty for this however because my car has the v6 engine I am told that I am not covered when my VIN number is included in this campaign. Dealer has verified the problem but declined service based on engine size.
I received last month a recall notice dated may 2007 from volkswagen america for the 2001 jetta v6. It was for a problem with the electronic control module (ECM) software for the catalytic converter monitoring system. I was instructed to go immediately to a volkswagen dealer for repair. I made an appointment and brought the car yesterday to the local dealer, santa monica volkswagen. The service team informed me that volkswagen, had unannounced to owners, closed the recall because it had yet to work out a permanent fix for the problem. Volkswagen america should have sent owners who'd received the original recall notice a letter informing them not to act on the recall, not to bring their cars in. This problem with the ECM software has resulted in the vehicle for years, having the check engine light permanently illuminated. Volkswagen never informed owners of this. As a result, I spent several hundred dollars with my own mechanic, not volkswagen dealer, trying to solve the problem. Overall, I have been highly dissatisfied with this recall. I continue to drive a car with this defect. Wasted a morning yesterday at the volkswagen dealer because of an erroneous recall notice sent to me by volkswagen, and I have already incurred significant expenses trying to solve a problem that volkswagen has known about, evidently, for many years without acting.
The car would increase/decrease speed inconsistently. Additionally, the exhaust system would smell horrible. The check engine light would be on/off intermittently and I took the car to the dealer for recall work. I was told that I needed to replace the ignition coil and that it was already done under another recall. Turns out that it wasn't done under a recall- I paid for it out of pocket after the recall was issued february 03 by volkswagen. I called volkswagen to find out if I could be reimbursed for the coils that I paid to install and was told that "my vehicle does not qualify for the recall." the press release clearly states that"all volkswagens equipped with the 2.8l engine" qualifies. Now- I'm stuck. I need to pay for new ignition coils again and neither set qualifies for the recall. A web search has turned up many other consumers that are dealing with this same issue with vw. It's a safety hazard for those of us driving vw and others on the road with us. This is my fourth jetta and may be my last based upon my experiences in getting this resolved.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. The contact brought the vehicle to the dealer yesterday to have the mass air flow meter serviced. The contact stated that this failure has been ongoing for approximately three years and has become costly. The current and failure mileage were 115,781.
Tl* - the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta gls. The engine light stays on constantly and the dealers stated that the oxygen sensor and the spark plugs are the cause. The contact stated the sensors were repaired prior to the failure and a week later the engine light has been on since the repair. The contact stated that there is a safety recall, which it does not include her VIN. The vehicle is currently at the dealer and the contact is requesting a part malfunction investigation with the manufacturer.
Engine light came on and the 2001 tdi was taken into the dealership. The dealership identified the problem as a faulty glow plug. Upon trying to remove the glow plug, the dealership broke the part. Now, the only way to remove the glow plug is to tear apart the engine, at a cost of over $1,000. Dealership will not allow me to take the car back either. Called vw customer service and they are fine with the dealership holding my car hostage. Vw must hate the customer.
We purchased our 2001 jetta 1.8l turbo wolfsburg edition in jan of 2003 from a certified used vw dealer. When we drove off the lot, not 5 minutes later, the turbo seemed to fail and we began to lose power, epc light came on, check engine light came on. We immediately took car back to dealer and they fixed problem. Everything ran fine until sept 2003 our check engine light came on, shortly after we received notice that there had been a recall regarding ignition coils. We took our vehicle to a local dealership where they replaced the coils free of charge. This solved the light issue for a couple of months, then it came back on again, this time when idling fluctuating between 700 RPM and about 1500 RPM and stalling on occasion. We took the car to a local garage and they ran a diagnostics, cleared the failures to see if that solved the problem, which it did temporarily...ever since we have been running diagnostics trying to determine why our check engine light keeps coming on, each time the problem is temporarily solved. At first the mechanic thought it was the airflow sensor, but once they looked closer determined it was a different problem. We have had corrosion removed, connections cleaned, and our lambda sensor replaced. Now our car continues to run and idle poorly and sporadically, the car stalls when you slow, the turbo works on occasion, losses power when accelerating, when car first starts it barely moves with accelerator floored, brakes are very sluggish, sometimes really having to push to get car to stop. No one seems to know what the problem is. Everytime we take it in multiple errors pop up, last time there was 17 fault codes, mechanic keeps going down the list of what to check hoping to find the problem. The bill just keeps getting bigger and nothing has been solved. Recently think that the original issue and current issues are one in the same as symptoms are becoming more similar. Help!
Faulty coolant temp sensor detected on vehicle.
Cel light would turn on and off. Car started to idle bad, sometimes it would not move when cold even with gas fully depressed. Then the car began to stall while driving. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the maf but the symptoms are still here and the car is returning to the shop today. I have read many, many accounts of the same issue.
Dt*: the contact stated upon inspection, it was noticed the brake light switch was inoperable. The dealership replaced the brake light switch and determined there was a the federal safety agency recall, # 06v183000, regarding the exterior lighting brake light switch. The VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was alerted. Updated 6/27/2006 - the switch was replaced by the original owner under recall on 4/26/05 with 44653 miles. The replacement switch failed one year later at 52675 miles. The coolant pump failed and caused the vehicle to overheat. The front woofer in the door failed internally causing the sound to be distorted.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle coolant leaked into the electrical wiring harness. An independent repair shop performed a diagnostic test, but no failure codes displayed. Upon further inspection, the mechanic determined there was a coolant migration problem. The electrical wiring harness was corroded due to the coolant leak. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer to await repair.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle looses power intermittently, at any speed. The vehicle was seen by the service dealer who determined an oxygen sensor may need to be replaced. The contact is concerned because the dealer was able to determine the cause of the problem without inspecting the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that oxygen sensor failure was a common problem with the diesel engine. Although, the dealer determined a possible cause of the problem, the vehicle was not repaired.
Dt: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated. He took the vehicle to the dealer, who diagnosed a problem with the emission control and the mass air flow sensor. The mass air flow sensor was replaced. However, a month later the same problem recurred. The dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor again. Since the second replacement there have been no further problems. This repair was not covered by the warranty, and the contact paid out of pocket for the repairs. *ak updated 11/29/2005 -
Within the first month of owning my vw jetta 1.8l turbo, the check engine light has been on and off. Each time that I take it in to have the problem diagnosed something is repaired, but in a few days the light is back on and there is a new problem. I have already had thousands of dollars of work done on the car and nothing seems to help the problem. Recently, the check engine light has been on and the car will shake violently for about 2 minutes until the car is warmed up. If I try to drive the car before the shaking stops, it barely moves even if completely depressing the accelerator, and the brakes seem to lock up, nearly hitting other cars when parked in a parking lot. When the car does warm up it lurches forward but then seems to run just fine. I have had the recalled problems fixed as well as numerous other repairs, but I am concerned that this same problem keeps happening, and that I have seen this problem on several other websites.
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