2001 Volkswagen Jetta Lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INDICATOR SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT ONLY ALLOWS ME TO GET A REPAIR AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA 4 HOURS FROM THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. THEY WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO REPAIR IT LOCALLY AND GET RE-IMBURSED. IT IS 4 HOURS TO THIS DEALERSHIP MEANING AN OVERNIGHT STAY. THE TOTAL COST OF THE TRIP IS MORE THAN THE REPAIR. IS THERE ANY OPTION TO GET THIS REPAIRED LOCALLY? NO ACCIDENT..........YET. THE RECALL IS FOR A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL # 04V096000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). SHE WAS CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER GAVE HER A LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIRS WILL BE $2,000. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,860.

TURN SIGNAL ON 2001 VW JETTA OPERATES AT RANDOM OR NOT AT ALL. THIS CONDITION BEGAN OCCURRING FOLLOWING THE REPAIR OF A MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 06V183000 & 04V096000). SIGNALS FAILED TO TURN ON, OR TURNED ON WITH SPORADIC FUNCTIONING. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY A SHORTED HAZARD SWITCH. HAZARD SWITCH WAS REPLACED FOR A COST OF US $131.55. DEALER INDICATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM (RECALL 04V584000) HOWEVER INDICATED VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL DESPITE HAVING AN IDENTICAL ISSUE. IF FIND IT UTTERLY RIDICULOUS THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS GIVEN THAT THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS RECALLED FOR OTHER JETTAS. IN ADDITION I FIND IT MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE AS VOLKSWAGEN IS PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK AS INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNALS IS A SAFETY CONCERN: FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN TURNING OR PERFORMING A LATERAL MOVE COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT. THERE IS NO DEALER IN THE CONTACT'S AREA, BUT THERE IS A REPAIR CENTER. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY INCIDENTS WITH HIS VEHICLE; HOWEVER WANTS TO PREVENT THE INCIDDENT BEFORE IT OCCURS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. A NHTSA RECALL, #04V096000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL. A REVISED RECALL #06V183000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED THREE TIMES . THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AT 23,000, 40,000 & 42,000 MILES. WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED THE EPC LIGHT TURNED ON AND SOMETIMES IT TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK UPDATED 1/30/2007 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING ANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06V183000 NOR IN # 04V096000 DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS MATCHED THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE PRESENTED.

AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM AN AUTO SHOP THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I HAD THEM JUMP START IT AND THE AIRBAG DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTED. IT BEEPED AND SAID AIRBAG FAULT ON THE DASH. THEN THE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM STARTED TO SIMULATE THE SOUND OF THE TURN SIGNAL AS IF IT WAS ON. FIRST IT WAS AFTER I COMPLETED THE TURN IT WOULD STAY ON AND SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN THE CLICKING NOISE. WITHIN A MONTH IT STARTED DOING IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. I AM UNSURE IF THE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THE FLASHERS DON'T SEEM WORK AT RANDOM AS FAR AS I CAN TELL FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAD A DEALER RESET THE AIRBAG FAULT BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY "THINK" THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I'M NOT ABOUT TO SPEND 500 DOLLARS ON SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER ISN'T EVEN SURE OF THEMSELVES. *JB

THE BRAKE SWITCH LIGHT IN MY VW JETTA HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES. WHEN THIS SWITCH IS NOT WORKING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS OF MY CAR ARE INOPERABLE, LEADING TO A GREAT RISK OF ACCIDENT. MY JETTA IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE RECALL THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED, BUT I CONTINUE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY 2001 JETTA VOLKSWAGEN FOR 3 YEARS BOUGHT IT USED IN THOSE 3 YEARS HAVE HAD THE EPC LIGHT COME ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONE OF THE TIME THAT HAD THE DEALERSHIP FIX FEEL UNDER THE RECALL LIST. SINCE THEN IT HAS FAILED 2 DIFFERENT TIMES THE LATEST OF THE 2 ONCE IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC STATED WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE PHONE TO CORPORATE TO COMPLAIN THAT IS ALL WE CAN DO. NOW IN AUGUST IT HAS FAILED AGAIN WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR NO REASON. WHEN THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON THE BRAKE FAIL TO WORK AT ALL. LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS NOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT DAY BUT COULD HAVE BEEN SINCE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. *NM

I OWN A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH A 2.8 ............................................................................................................. LV6 ENGINE AND 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON 03 AUG 2006 (MILEAGE: 84028) I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE WHEN THE ECL INDICATOR CAME ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 19 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRST TIME WAS 10 NOVEMBER 2004 (MILEAGE: 68184) IN WHICH THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA RECALL #04V-09600 (20 FEBRUARY 2004). IN BOTH CASES THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF THORNTON, COLORADO. THE FIRST SWITCH REPLACEMENT USED PART #1J0-945-511-D, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT USING PART #1J0-945-511-F. THIS IMPLIES A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DESIGNED BY VOLKSWAGEN BECAUSE OF FLAWS WITH THE DESIGN USED TO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE SECOND INCIDENT OF THIS BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY EITHER THE FEBRUARY 2004 RECALL THAT REPAIRED THE FIRST INSTANCE OR THE NEW RECALL 06V183000. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO FUNCTION LONGER THAN 19 MONTHS. ITS FAILURE PLACES MY FAMILY AND I AT RISK OF INJURY OR EVEN DEATH DUE TO A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF VOLKSWAGENS INABILITY TO PROPERLY DESIGN A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE TO PROTECT ITS OCCUPANTS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD MAKE A SERIOUS EFFORT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM PERMANENTLY OR DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SAFETY BY REPLACING THE SWITCH AT MANUFACTURER EXPENSE. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE (1-800-822-8987, REF. #60279193) THEY CLAIMED THIS SERVICE WAS NOT COVERED BY EITHER RECALL AND SINCE THE PART HAD PERFORMED PAST THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE SWITCH AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *NM

MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT IN MY 2001 VW JETTA GLS 2.0L. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH GOES OUT THERE IS NO WARNING IN THE DASH TO LET ME KNOW IT WAS OUT. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BREAK LIGHTS UNTIL SOMEONE AT A STOP LIGHT YELLED OUT THEIR WINDOW TO TELL ME. I TOOK MY CAR TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW BREAK LIGHT SWITCH. IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM FOR VW'S OF ALL YEARS AND MAKES. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, VW HASN'T RELEASED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AND IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE GET KILLED OR HURT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART. I'VE ALREADY SPENT THE $12 TO FIX IT SO THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT GETTING MY MONEY BACK. IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES. *NM

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE IS NO INDICATION IN THE CAR TO INDICATE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. *JB

NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE UNTIL THE FAILURE OCCURRED. NO INCIDENTS AS OF YET. BOTH TAIL LIGHTS AND WINDOW BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. CAR WAS SERVICED ON A PREVIOUS RECALL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL #04V096000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO SUGGESTED ALERTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 01/09/07. *JB

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE ON 2001 VW JETTA GLS TDI SEDAN, IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V096000. BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHEN CAR WAS PARKED & TURNED OFF. DEALER REPLACED SWITCH AT COST OF $193.23 PARTS & LABOR, DEALER & VW OF AMERICA STATE THAT VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN SCOPE OF RECALL FOR 04V096000. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THIS SAME CAR, I BELIEVE FIRST WAS COVERED AS A WARRANTY REPAIR. PART NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS VWN 1J0 945 511 D. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 04V096000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (2001 VW JETTA GLS TDI) RESEARCHED ON INTERNET SAYS THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART, BUT IS NOT IN EFFECT YET. DRIVING WITH BRAKE LIGHTS STUCK ON IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND SPEEDY RECALL FOR THIS ITEM IS ESSENTIAL. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE FUSE IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, AND SOON AS CAR IS TURNED ON THE LIGHTS STAY ON MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO KNOW WHEN I AM STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. COULD SERIOUSLY CAUSE MANY ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE FOR ALL VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM

2ND OCCURRENCE OF BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE - 2001 JETTA. INITIAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. SWITCH COST WAS REIMBURSED BY VW AT NO CHARGE. 2ND FAILURE OCCURRED ON 9/17/05. FIRST SWITCH MANUFACTURED BY EATON. SECOND SWITCH MANUFACTURED BY DELPHI. *JB