Faults:

Minor electrical issues like door sensors and horn, which were easily fixed with some basic know-how and great online tutorials.

Rear wheel bearing has been the only other issue.

General Comments:

I've owned 4 MKIV (1999.5-2005) Jettas, and would buy one again. Early models up to 2001 had common electrical issues, but they generally aren't anything more than annoying.

The 2.0 engine is very solid and reliable, as long as the timing belt is kept up on. Many early 2.0 engines do consume some oil, so checking at every fill up is a good idea.

Overall I've put about 150,000 miles on my Jettas, and each of them has ended (or currently has) over 150k miles. My wife's '00 has 207k, while mine has 176k, and the original 2002 I owned and sold to a friend has 150k (I've known that one for 9 years and have not known of any problems).

Faults:

- Trunk release motor quit after two years with infrequent use.

- Trunk lock hard to turn, causing the key to eventually break.

- Interior finish layers bubble and peel.

- Plastic glove box mechanism broke with rare and gentle use.

- Window regulators failed.

- Replaced window regulator failed with light use

- Innumerable plastic clips, pieces, and parts crumbled.

- Perpetual tail light problems.

- Almost inaccessible (inexpensive part, expensive to replace) coolant component failed.

- AM frequencies on the radio never worked.

- Gear shift knob metal decoration peeled, causing pain handling it.

- Cheap wrap of the gearshift knob disintegrated.

- Wheel well plastic failure.

- Plastic spoiler below front bumper too low, causing snags.

- Serpentine belt pulley and tensioner failed.

- Cylinder 5 low compression (a recent development at 150,000 miles).

General Comments:

I have been generally content with this car, but after listing things that have gone wrong, I realize that I am able to put up with things more than what most people might. I have been pleased that there really have been no major problems and I expected to continue with this car for a few more years, but now there is low compression in one cylinder, which caused my mechanic to say "it's time to let it go and move on".

I am fairly gentle on vehicles; front brakes lasted me 106,000 miles. I still haven't had to replace the clutch at 150,000. I haven't had to replace struts or any suspension parts. The paint still looks great. The seats and interior in general are still nice except for the peeling and bubbling of a rubbery finish coat over much of the plastic on doors and console. I did most minor work myself, and when I would call my mechanic for an appointment, he had assumed I'd sold the car or found a new mechanic.

It was the little stuff that was annoying, such as the tail lights and the trunk latch motor and all the little plastic pieces that fail; these parts were outrageously expensive through the dealer, and junk yards didn't have them because they were all broken on their cars as well. The engine seems shoe-horned into its compartment, making it very difficult for a mechanically-inclined person to work on and expensive to pay a mechanic to get in there.

I've owned two Jettas, which have lasted me a combined 30 years. I was so pleased with the 1985 version that I bought the 2000 when the 1985 one hit 300,000 miles. I will not be looking at another Jetta.