2005 Volkswagen Jetta: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Apr 5, 2014 · Electrical · 102,242 miles · FL

Wire harness in both front doors are broken due to short wires and the purge valve is also broken and the over head light is faulty and I feel like the 2005 -2006 volkswagen jetta 2.5 should be recalled due to faulty wiring in the vehicle and volkswagen is aware of the problem but will not resolve the issue and I think they should at least fix the problem for the consumer. I hope someone investigate this issue asap!!!!

Filed Jun 7, 2011 · Lights, Transmission · 71,000 miles · MO

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?

Filed Dec 15, 2010 · Transmission · 80 miles · CA

There is a long running issue with the 2005 1/2 vw jetta v transmission valve body that is a safety issue with the transmission. When the trans gets hot sitting in traffic. The transmission slips in and out of gear or shifts very hard or will not shift at all and may cause a rear end accident as the jetta does not shift. Vw america does know of the problem and issued a extended warranty to 100,000 miles or 7 years. But after doing extensive research there are jetta's that are out there that have mileage over the 100,000 miles. When you call vw, they refuse to help and do not care about the safety of the people that own their product. There is also issues with premature brake light bulbs and head light bulbs burning out.

Filed Jul 7, 2010 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · CA

When sitting in stop and go traffic, the transmission shifts very hard in and out of the shifting sequence. When that happens the transmission will take a few seconds to shift into gear and thump very hard. After calling a vw dealership, I was informed that this is a very common issue with the new jetta's and beetles. Also there is very heavy crazing with the head lamp fixtures and cannot be repaired and causes serious impairment at night when the head lights are on.

Filed Dec 1, 2008 · Lights · CA

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.

Filed Oct 12, 2006 · Lights · 500 miles · VA

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.

Filed Oct 28, 2005 · Electrical · NJ · fire

Dt: the contact stated the vehicle caught on fire. The contact's son was driving and he felt that the vehicle was not getting any fuel. He pressed the gas pedal and then it stalled. He depressed the gas pedal while trying to restart it, and it started smoking. He got out of the vehicle and lifted the hood and it burst into flames. By the time the fire department arrived the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. The vehicle was totaled, according to the auto body shop the only thing that remained were the head lights. There has been no investigation as to where the fire started. She contacted volkswagen, and they told her there was a recall for a faulty fuel clamp. But she never received a recall letter. There was a police report 5021483 was taken at the scene.