Faults:

The head gasket was blown when I first got the car. Replaced by crummy mechanic who over-charged me.

Head required rust-removal and cleaning. Again replaced and was again overcharged.

Alternator blew at 112,000 miles. Replaced 3 times before finding a good one.

Wiring harness to radiator fan melted, 500 miles later, destroying the relay solenoid and O2 sensor and temp sensor.

Faulty radio wiring caused battery to drain after heaving driving.

Heater core blew at 115,00 miles, took 3 months to replace.

Headliner is falling down badly.

Cheap plastic dash and door pieces are beginning to fall off.

Questionable third-party wiring in engine may be cause of continual wiring faults.

Odometer stuck at 112,000 miles.

General Comments:

This has been a learning experience for me for sure. I bought the vehicle from my former boss for 200 bucks, then promptly got over-charged by a bogus mechanic to fix a relatively minor head gasket repair. After 1700 dollars and 4 months in the shop with 0% communitcation, I was left with a car with a running engine, and not much else.

The former owners of this car as well as my ex-convict boss should be prosecuted for abusing this car as much as they have.

It's a testament to VW Engineering that its even lasted THIS long! I'm slowly restoring it to a decent daily driver, with dreams of it someday becoming a cute little car with a decent stereo.

I can't blame Volkswagen, and I only curse myself for getting suckered and for deluding myself into thinking that this ex-wreck of a car was something I could handle. It's a tough little bugger to maintain, that's for sure!

Faults:

After having the car for a week, I had had to replace the muffler, other than that, the car has been great.

General Comments:

I love the car, good engine, great gas mileage, and awesome handling.

Faults:

Where do I begin. Upon buying this car used back in 1999 the AC was already out.

The suspension needed to be replaced with new springs and two tires needed replacement. This was expected being a 9 year old car, but things only got worse.

In the first winter the speedometer went dead. It only works when it's above 50 degrees outside.

The power steering went also went out.

The battery needed replacement.

The alternator also needed replacement.

The muffler has been replaced twice.

The car generally bogs down now at speeds above 40 mph. This is a dangerous condition especially when merging onto highways. I don't know what the problem is and the mechanics don't either. It can't make it up steep hills at all.

Just recently the light switch on the car went dead. This should never happen in a car. I could only use my brights for a week. I have a part time job at night so this was horrible.

My drivers side, side-mirror has fallen out and is being held in place with super glue.

Just two days ago my drivers side door handle snapped off. This is the second handle this has happened to. Only the front passenger door has no problems. The door handle design on this Jetta is so bad. I think the manufacturers must have been on crack to make the actual lever the size of a tooth pick. If you live anywhere where the weather freezes do not even think about getting this car.

Cold weather operations are also unreliable. I don't know how many times now the car has not started on a cold day even with a new battery.

There is another serious problem involving highway driving. If I take my Jetta on the highway for over a half an hour and turn the car off at a gas station or whatever it will not start. It takes at least another half an hour to sit before it will start. I have learned to keep the car running when getting something to eat or using the bathroom because if I shut it off I will be stuck for over a half an hour. The Volkswagen dealership does not know what to do about this.

General Comments:

If the car is working it handles pretty well.

For being a 12 year old car it still looks great. The factory paint is almost untouched and after a good wax it looks new.

I am a student and this is my first car. I will NEVER buy another Volkswagen product again. I know a used car will have some problems, but this is ridiculous. By calling this car a lemon, I am giving it a compliment. It's much much worse.

Is anybody looking to buy a Jetta? I have one for sale.