2001 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical System Problems

TAKATA RECALL -THE VEHICLE

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES SOFT AS A MARSHMALLOW NOT WARNING NOTICE GOT STOPPED AND THERE WAS A HISSING NOISE BUT NO BRAKE FLUID ON ANY OF THE BRAKES...... I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH AFTER REPLACING THE WATER PUMP IT KEEPING FLUID IN IT ALSO USING THE GEICO DISCOUNT EQUIPMENT TO SEE HOW MY DRIVING IS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ONE ABOVE THAT THE LOOKS LIKE A TRIANGLE.... DID THE DIAGNOSTIC CAME UP WITH A 1000 CODE AND ONE OTHER THE DEAL DIDN'T FIND THE 1000 CODE BUT RESET WITH NO LUCK TURNING THEM OFF AFTER SERVICE. *TR

MY JETTA WILL NOT START AFTER NO SIGNS OF AN ISSUE. I'VE HAD IT TOWED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE TO PEP BOYS (PER WARRANTY COMPANY) AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME BUT THAT IS IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT SEEMED AS IF SOMETHING WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I'VE TAKEN THE BATTERY TO PLACE OF PURCHASE AND RESULTS WERE GOOD AND THE BATTERY IS FINE. PEP BOYS RECOMMENDS I TAKE CAR TO VW DEALER. THIS IS TOUGH ON MY FAMILY AND I BECAUSE THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR AND NO ONE CAN TELL US THE REASON WHY OUR CAR DOESN'T WORK. CAR WAS PURCHASED 7/24/2010. *TR

LOCK UNIT FOR CENTRAL LOCKING DRIVERS SIDE FRONT VW PART F220 SWITCHES INDICATING A "DOOR OPEN" STATUS FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS ON UNITS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2001. VW REDESIGNED THE PART IN 2002, BUT OFFERED NO CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR VEHICLES WITH THE FLAWED DESIGN. WHEN THE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE, THE LAMP ON THE DOOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED, MAKING IT INVISIBLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IN ADDITION, THE DOME LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. FINALLY, SINCE THE CAR DOES NOT SENSE THAT THE DOOR IS OPENED, IT WILL RE-LOCK ITSELF AFTER 30 SECONDS, POTENTIALLY STRANDING A DRIVER OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL DEPRESS BY ITSELF MAKING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (SO FAR). THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. IT'S DONE IT MAYBE 4 OR 5 TIMES. *TR

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) : THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER GO OFF AFTER STARTED THE ENGINE. *TR

SLIGHT SMELL OF SMOKE IN 2001 VW JETTA WHILE DRIVING. PARKED CAR AT HOME AND RETURNED TO CAR APROX. 30 MINUTES LATER TO FIND CABIN FULL OF SMOKE/SMOLDERING FROM AREA BEHIND RIGHT REAR SEAT. DISCONNECTED BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL AND PUT WATER ON SMOLDERING AREA TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. 8-10 INCH HOLE BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH RIGHT SIDE OF REAR DECK. UPON MY INITIAL INSPECTION IT APPEARS TO HAVE INITIATED FROM THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WIRING. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY, THUS MAKING YOU LOSE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE NO POWER IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND YOU HAVE TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND RESTART HOPING THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO YOUR DESTINATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME FOR APPARENTLY NO REASON. WE HAVE HAD IT DIAGNOSED BUT WITH NO RESULTS. HELP!! *TR

2001 VW JETTA EPC LIGHT COMES ON ALOT. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. CAR SLOWS DOWN TO 20 MPH OR LESS. HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS THAT THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THIS IS UNSAFE OR MYSELF AND MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN. *TR

ENGINE IDLES ERRATICALLY UP TO 5000 RPM THEN LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. CLOSE COLLISIONS (REAR END) FOR 2 YEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND EPC LIGHTS COME ON AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. IN AND OUT OF REPAIR SHOPS, INCLUDING DEALERSHIP, COST APPROXIMATELY $2,000 IN REPAIRS. *TR

UPON STARTING THE CAR, IT IDLED LOUDLY AND ROUGHLY. AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 MINUTES THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK (AS IF THERE WERE MULTIPLE MINI STALLS WHILE DRIVING). WHEN THIS BUCKING/BUMPING BEGAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN TO A CAR DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL HAD FAILED. THE OWNER, DESPITE TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR, WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS PART REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, WHERE IT PRESENTLY REMAINS. THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE MOST RECENT DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE PRIMARY FAILURE WAS THE WIRING HARNESS AND WOULD COST $2,300 TO REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000. THE CONSUMER STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC GERMAN AUTO REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE TUNE OF $1896 + $300 DEDUCTIBLE. UPDATED 03/07/08 *TR

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VR6 1. COIL PACK. MODELS BEFORE THIS HAD INDIVIDUAL COIL PACKS THAT WERE RECALLED DUE TO CRACKING. THIS COIL PACK IS ENDURING THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MANY JETTA'S AND HAS YET TO QUALIFY AS A RECALL. WHY?? 2. WIPER BLADES STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENDURED THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE MOTOR STOPS WORKING. *JB

I HAVE RECENTLY HAD THE IGNITION COIL ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGON JETTA GLS VR6 GO BAD AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN POWER LOSS WHILE ON THE ROAD AND COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAYS OR OTHER HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS.

WHILE LEAVING TO RUN ERRANDS WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE CARMY 2001 JETTA GLX VR6 STARTED LOSING POWER AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKENNA VW THEY SAID I HAD A BAD IGNITION COIL, WIRES, AND SPARK PLUGS. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC LEVEL ISSUE WITH 2001 JETTAS. A VW PRESS RELEASE CONTAINED INFORMATION THAT THEY WERE ISSUING A RECALL, HOWEVER VW REFUSED TO INCLUDE MY CAR IN THE RECALL FOR REASONS THEY WILL NOT DISCLOSE. THEY ARE SELECTIVELY CHOOSING WHICH CARS TO FIX, ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDE SPREAD AMONG ALL THEIR VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AS CONSUMERS ARE GETTING FACED WITH $1100 BILLS FOR EACH IGNITION COIL DEFECT - I BELIEVE MINE HAS 6. THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST ONE, HOWEVER I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT MULTIPLE COILS ARE FAILING CAUSING NEAR-ACCIDENTS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE SPARK IGNITION COIL AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V096000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK UPDATED 10/30/2006 - *NM

I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGAN JETTA. AT LEAST 2 OR 3 TIMES, I HAD MY EPC LIGHT SWITCH CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD. EACH TIME, I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKETS TO GET IT FIX. WHEN THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON, I CANNOT GET THE GEAR OUT OF PARK. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUMP ON MY BRAKES TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. THIS CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 3 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. I SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PRODUCT. I ASK OTHER VOLKSWAGAN OWNERS AND THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEIR EPC LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. *NM

I'VE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX. I STILL WONDER WHY IT'S NOT A LEMON. HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH WHICH WAS A RECALL. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TECHNICIANS MADE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND SAID I NEEDED THE HEAT SENSOR CHANGED SO I DID. AFTER A WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP AGAIN SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WHICH I PAID FOR AGAIN 78 BUCKS. THIS TIME THE TECH'S SAID I NEEDED THE SPARKS AND WIRES CHANGED BECAUSE IT WAS SHOOTING BLANKS. PRE-PAID FOR THE PARTS AND WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED, I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO GET IT FIXED SO I DID. LATER, I GOT CALL FROM THE SERVICE REPS AND SAID MY IGNITION COIL BROKE SO THEY HAD TO ORDER THAT AGAIN. AFTER EVERYTHING WAS SAID AND DONE. I JUST WANTED TO LET MY FINANCER TO JUST VOLUNTARILY REPO THE PIECE OF TRASH. ONE MORE BREAK DOWN AND I'M HIRING A LEMON ATTORNEY. THIS IS TOO MUCH. *JB

2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX VR6. IN OCTOBER OF 2004 NOTICED THE ENGINE SURGING EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN ACCELERATING. EVENTUALLY, THE MIL WENT ON AND THERE WAS A DRASTIC LOSS OF POWER. AFTER BRINGING IT INTO THE DEALER, IT WAS DEEMED TO BE A $700 IGNITION COIL PACK. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOUND THAT VW RELEASED A RECALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 STATING A RECALL ON ALL 2001 COIL PACKS. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. I LOGGED A COMPLAINT WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY DID NOTHING. IN MARCH OF 2006, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AND ONCE THE MIL LIGHT WENT ON, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER. THIS TIME IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL PACK, WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS AND THEY CHARGED $1200. WHEN I EXPLAINED I HAD THE SAME ISSUE 14K MILES AND 17 MONTHS EARLIER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, AS THE COIL PACK WAS PAST ITS 12K MILE WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME AND AGAIN REFERRED ME TO VW CUSTOMER CARE, WHO COULD CARE LESS AS MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY DUE TO LOSS OF POWER AND SURGING. I AM IN PROCESS OF WRITING A DEMAND LETTER TO VW, WHICH WILL MOST LIKELY NOT DO MUCH AND WILL FORCE ME TO TAKE VW TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO REPAY ME FOR ALL OF THE REPAIRS MADE. *JB

I PURCHASED A 01 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN JULY OF 04 AND IN LES THAN A MONTH IT BEGAN TO STALL AS I WAS DRIVING, SO I PULLED OVER AND IT COULD NOT START AGAIN. I GOT IT TOWED WAS TOLD IT WAS MY BATTERY AND GOT THAT REPLACED, THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR AND GOT THAT CHANGED. A FEW MONTH AGO THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY SENSORS AND GOT THAT CHANGED, WITHIN 2 MONTHS IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND I'VE HAD 3 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS THAT REVEAL NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO, AL LEAST IF I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I CAN FIX IT. BUT MY CAR KEEPS REFUSING TO START( FOR HOURS AT A TIME) AND EVERYONE TELLS ME THE CAR IS OK.*JB