2000 Volkswagen Jetta 4 from North America

Summary:

Lemon

Faults:

My car has never passed the state's vehicle inspection/emissions test, due to oxygen sensors or another sensor going bad.

The check engine light is constantly on.

The windows on the driver's and passenger's side have both fallen down several times due to faulty regulators.

Sometimes the dealer fixed them under warranty, other times I had to pay to have them fixed.

General Comments:

Do not buy a VW Jetta.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 27th January, 2003

2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Stick with Toyota (our other vehicle)

Faults:

Right window fell off of it's tracks at around 50,000 miles. This was fixed free-of-charge at our dealer (Pasadena, CA).

Alternator started making funny noise at around 50,000 miles as well. Our dealer said it was a bearing in the alternator and that it would cost around $600 to fix. I'm waiting to see if it gets any worse.

Car hesitates pretty badly if you don't use the right kind of gas (e.g., Chevron with Techroline).

Battery died at 54,000 miles. The dealer said I couldn't replace it myself because when the battery is disconnected, all of the timing information in the car's memory is wiped out - anyone know if this is true?

Brake pads needed replacing at 54,000 miles.

General Comments:

This is a pretty fun car to drive. We haven't had as many problems as I see others have had. Perhaps we should sell it... :-)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th January, 2003

26th Dec 2004, 19:57

We have changed our battery several times ourselves without problems. Dealers will say anything to make money. Still a piece of junk.

26th Dec 2004, 22:27

Yes, it's true, all information stored in the ECU's memory is wiped out when the battery is disconnected. Vehicles will relearn all the proper settings on their own, although certain vehicles are said to have specific ways of doing this. I think you would be fine just replacing the battery yourself and saving the labour charge the dealer would pin on you.

2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 2.8 VR6 from North America

Summary:

A fast, but hideously unreliable piece of junk

Faults:

The check engine light has come on seven times in three years. Three of these times the light came on within fifty kilometers of the dealership. Once the light came on before I got out of the parking lot.

The coil pack cracked, costing over CAD 1000 to replace.

The fuel pump relay required replacing, along with the fuse box.

The trunk release didn't work at delivery.

The glove box hinge broke, resulting in the glove box door falling off every time it is opened.

The armrest catch broke off.

One of the rear door handles no longer returns properly to it's rest position.

The temperature sensor failed.

The windshield washer fluid reservoir light comes on intermittently, even when full.

The airbag warning light is on. I dread to think how much that one is going to cost me.

Several parts of the stereo system illumination no longer work, and the stereo often starts up in random ways.

There have been more problems, but it is difficult to remember them all.

General Comments:

The car is fantastic to drive, even if a little shaky in the winter.

This being said, the car is thoroughly unreliable, and very expensive to maintain.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st January, 2003

30th Apr 2004, 08:09

I just got my airbag light problem addressed. It was a seatbelt malfunction, that is apparently common with Jetta/Golfs of this type. It is not covered under extended warranty as I found out.

26th May 2005, 20:09

My seatbelt warning light has just come on on my 2000 Jetta GLS TDI as well. I will get it taken care of tomorrow, hopefully at a reasonable price. The prior posts are accurate, this car, at its core, is a good car, but it has some major defects. The interior trim is very susceptible to wear and the glow plugs on the diesel have gone out the three winters I've owned the car (I live in warm New Orleans). I won't give it a chance to go out again as I'm selling this car in favor of a new Accord. Regarding extended warranty coverage - without fail every time I submitted car for ext. warranty work, it was challenged as not being under warranty. I had to repeatedly contact Volkswagen USA for assistance. Service and support has been awful. I have to say that I cannot recommend this car. While there are numerous positives, its unrealiability combined with the abysmal service make this car less of a value than the many comparable vehicles available today.