Faults:

I recently purchased a 2003 Jetta from a dealer, and I am having problems with the check engine light coming on. I had driven the car about 250 miles when the light came on, I returned to the dealer and he checked the code. He stated it was probably just a sensitive sensor, as Volkswagen seems to have this problem more than normal he thought.

Two days later, the check engine light came on, but it was flashing this time. This time the car ran very rough, like it was really choking, especially between 55 and 60 miles per hour. I called the dealer and he told me to bring it right in, he figured it was a bad valve, but they would check it out and take care of it.

The dealer told me it needed a coil; they replaced it and said everything was running good so I picked it up. It did run great, but I drove about 20 miles and the engine light again came on.

The car seems to be running fine, lots of gusto without delay... is this dealer passing me a problem since he should be getting a code with this light coming on. This is my first car purchase, and I like this Jetta except for this light headache, my dad has a 2007 Jetta and I love it.

I had a 2001 Mazda Protege prior to this, and it was your generic model with no frills or power, so I was excited to get a VW with low miles and in pristine condition... or so I thought. Does anyone have any thoughts or similar problems with their 2003 Jetta VR6?

General Comments:

I am not a mechanical person, I bought this car as I liked the look. It is loaded with extras, it had low mileage, and it appears to be well cared for.

I am concerned the car might have problems beyond my means. Should I demand the dealer take this car back, or does it seem like a small problem that is fixable?

Faults:

Interior lights dim and flicker at night.

Driver window has fallen into the door twice. Replaced with clips that weren't plastic.

One day it will shift hard (feels like I'm stomping the brake) between 2nd and 3rd and continue for a week or month, and then it would shift beautifully out of the blue for a few months, and then the problems would begin again.

It shuts off when I stop. Sometimes if I throw it into park fast enough and turn it back on, it will start. If I don't, it will completely shut down. Everything digital on my dash disappears, nothing will turn on. Not even the emergency flashers to warn oncoming traffic my Jetta will not start. It doesn't even turn over, but when I pull the key out a clicking sound, almost like someone shuffling cards, starts and then the miles and time come back. If I sit patiently and play with it, it will start... sometimes in neutral. It always starts with a jump. (My battery and alternator are perfect)

When my window gets to the top my headlights dim and my brake light flashes and the car beeps three times.

It beeps three times non stop.

Engine light turns on and off whenever it pleases. I can shut it off and turn it right back on and it will be gone.

It creaks like nothing else on a bumpy road!

When I shut it off, it just dies instead. Like I said previously, no accessory will work, it won't turn over, and only responds to a jump.

General Comments:

It's quick, handles curves like a dream, and is a nice quiet, smooth highway drive.

It's comfortable, all the mirrors are big enough, and the sound system is really not too bad.

It's so good on gas!