25th Sep 2005, 19:28

I have a 2000 VR6 and all the issues with the seat springs, seat heaters, check engine light, cup holders, cd player, ignition coils 2X, emergency brake and Oxygen sensors all went bad at around 75K, right after the warranty expired. I never fixed any of the items except ignition coils and O2 sensors because the car wouldn't run. Now the car runs fine with the check engine light on for 50k miles. Other than that the car is reliable. Just did rotors and pads at 145K. Very easy job and inexpensive if you do it yourself and cheap if you buy parts online somewhere.

3rd Dec 2005, 23:39

I have a 2001 VW Jetta GL, which I purchased in 2003. Since I have owned the car the only problems I have encountered is a wax smell in the inside of my car! Everyone that rides in my car thinks I have melted color crayons from my kids in it! I asked the dealership why I have a wax smell, and they told me that they pour wax in the door panels so that when they ship the cars overseas the salt won't rust the doors. I live in Nevada, so of course with the extreme heat we have here in the summers, the wax melts and drips down the outside of my car! Does anyone else have this problem? Also, I agree VW has terrible customer service, and I will never buy another VW.

4th Dec 2005, 16:54

So the only problem you have encountered is the wax smell inside of your car, and you won't buy another VW? That's ridiculous. Misery loves company...

5th Dec 2005, 09:05

VW has been wax-dipping cars since 1985 or so. It is to prevent rust. They do it to all cars, no matter where they are made, shipped or sold. EPA has made them use a different, softer & smelly 'wax'.

BTW, ask the dealer how much salt water is between you and Puebla Mexico?

26th Feb 2006, 22:32

I thought that the wax smell was just my car. I blamed the kids in the back seat for the crayon smell. I have enjoyed my 2001 VW Jetta. I've had the brakes replaced at 30k miles. My fuel pump went out at 50k miles (cost $300 for the part + $80 for the labor). The springs under the seats fell out, but were replaced right away at 40k miles. I'm at 55k miles right now and the check engine was on for about 100 miles (2 days) then turned off. Had all the recall work done. The most annoying thing about the car is the rattle on my emergency brake and the occasional wind noise. Still, this is the most reliable car I've ever had.

13th Mar 2006, 18:06

I have a Volkswagen GLS 2001. I have had several issues with my car, all of which have come and gone, or seemingly resolved themselves. I'm very young (18) and don't know much about cars, but right now my EPC light is going on and off, and I looked in the manual, and it said "Electronic Power Control". I have NO idea what that means. Needless to say, I don't have cruise control when the EPC light comes on.

It went away since I started getting midgrade gas, but gas at $2.47 is just not doing to well to my teenage bank account.

Along with that, the paint around the air conditioner is peeling off (making my car look terrible).

7th Apr 2006, 16:52

My 16 year old is now on a toll highway getting farther away from home with major problems in her 2001 Jetta GLS. (71,895 miles.) It is over heating according to her oil/engine gauge. She's pulling over for awhile to let engine cool down, not long enough to get much farther anywhere. Last night was her first notice after visiting a friend nearby. She slept in the car till morning because of the warning and letting it cool. When she got home, it seemed car might have went into the warning red because she needed a quart and a half of oil. Now she's got oil and she has had full coolant. She is now also complaining she isn't getting heat though the blower is blowing in air. And, when she does call for heat, the engine temperature rises faster. So for now, no heat on and she pulls over to stop when engine hot. I just told her when she turns off the motor to keep keyed on for the fan to run, I hope that's so. Amazing the engine is still running smooth. Any help/suggestions?

7th Apr 2006, 20:31

To the above poster - if the car explodes, it's your fault. That's neglect. Fix your car; it could be the thermostat. But cars are not meant to be driven while in the red. 78,000 miles is not low mileage either.

19th Apr 2006, 00:11

I have a 2001 VW Jetta VR6 with 36,800 miles on it and My EPC Light came on. I just got the thing and its doing this. I don't even know what it is. I have One Week with it and this happens. I'm a young guy (18) and I need some real good advice. If you can E mail me at ivansalazar882006@hotmail.com PLEASE!!! I appreciate your time.

19th Apr 2006, 19:15

I have a 2001 1.8T. Awesome Car! Very responsive, the handling and the take off feels like a Porsche Boxter which I was able to drive for two months until the entire".com" industry collapse. I'm having issues with the wheel bearing right now and the car is making a loud noise, but I think it was my negligence that leads to the wheel bearing problem. My car has 84K miles and despite the bearing problem the car still runs like a champ. I don't want to jinx myself, but I believe VW are OK as long as you take care of it, after all Germans knows a lot more about car performance than most car manufacturer out there.

27th Jun 2006, 11:56

I love my 2001 Jetta, and I just purchased it a week ago tomorrow. It is the car I always wanted, but never got for myself.

The check engine light came on Saturday. Now I am sad and upset with myself reading all of these horror stories.

I bought it used and without a warranty. I could kick myself. I hope I got a good one. I hope I did not make the stupidest mistake of my life thus far.

I'm taking it to VW dealership's service department in a week per their instructions to drive it for about 2 weeks with the light on. Is that good advice? Help!

27th Jun 2006, 21:37

I'd stay clear of any VW dealerships. Try and find an import specialist or a mechanic who can work on VWs.

27th Jun 2006, 22:38

Why don't you take it to a pep boys or auto zone, I hear they do free on board computer scans. that should tell you why the light is on (everyone here suggests that the dealership doesn't know whats going on :P) might be a good idea, especially if they say to drive it for two weeks...

They might suggest two weeks in order to cycle the gas. in our old volvo, if we put low quality gas into it, the check engine light went off...morgan.