7.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$400
Average Mileage:
37,700 miles
Total Complaints:
13 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. trade! (1 reports)
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problem #13

Feb 092011

Jetta 2.5L

  • Manual transmission
  • 85,128 miles

My engine light kept coming on during cold weather, had the car in to be checked out and was told it was nothing just a sensor that acted up in the cold. Three weeks after this checkup i took it in to have a wheel bearing changed. After the bearing was changed the car would not start. They tell me now the timing chain jumped when it was brought it and when they tried to start it it damaged the engine and i now need a new engine....I have had the maintenance work done like clockwork...I now need a new motor...I will NEVER buy another Volkswagon.

- razor7, North Bay, ON, Cape Verde

problem #12

Nov 202010

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,137 miles

k here is the deal my moms Jetta or lemon ... has had the engine light on for like ever and she's had it checked and they fixed like everything and cost her an arm and a leg.... but the light was still on.....but she figured because they just fixed everything then it was all good... but just one Sunday we were traveling home and the engine light started flashing and the car was jerking and sputtering ... it was cold so i figured she needed gas line anti freeze so put that in... nope didn't work... drove to the closest town about 20 kn away and checked the oil... nope.... ended up having to stay at a hotel for the night... i took the car manual in and read that if the engine light is flashing then that means there is something wrong with the catalytic converter... we ended up getting the car towed to a dealership and they are saying its a blown piston and we need a new motor................. WTF is up it that ... the book says its the exhaust system and drive slowly to the closest dealer well we did and now we broke the FN motor that's bull

- tanyaa, Ile-a-la Crosse, SK, Canada

problem #11

Sep 102009

Jetta 2.0L T

  • 77,000 miles

Spent 2500.00 at VW Dealer no fix quit spending. Hoping someone else has problem and solved it. Also makes popping sound in area of exhaust when cold.

- Graydon G., Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada

problem #10

Sep 082009

Jetta GLI 2.0L T

  • Manual transmission
  • 60,000 miles

This is the 3rd time dealing with this issue. The first authorized VW dealer replaced ignition coils, rocker arms and ever filter found in the car - to no avail. Then after they told be to basically get out of their sight (Clements Auto of Mankato, MN) I ended up taking it to Westside VW in St. Louis, MN - and they did similar things and kept the check engine light gone for 2 months and now it is back. All in all, I have paid at least $1,500.00. This is by far the most problematic care I have ever owned - and I don't plan to get any VW for the rest of my days. German engineering my ass!

Update from Jul 20, 2010: This is an update to my previous Gripe/Rant. As it turned out, my check engine light ended up being the demise of my GLI. After taking it back the 8th time - and have it is diagnosed for the very last time - they decided to just 'replace' major components of the engine - which translated to $3k for engine plus 3-4k labor. That is when I decided to give up and trade it for another car. I enjoyed the Jetta GLI peppy turbo 2.0 - but I just had to let it go.

Total approximate cost: $1,800.00

- Ermias A., Mankto, MN, US

problem #9

Nov 112009

Jetta GLI

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

We bought a vw for its wonderful engineering and have had nothing but trouble.2006 jetta 50,000 miles now, Light comes on about every 2 to 3 months.Had spark plugs replaced,35,000 mile said it just needed the $485 check up. Did that didn't help replaced the lifters,replaced engine flap,So many times to the dealership I can't count.Now light is on again something to do with fuel system,third time back on this issue.I want to drive this car off of a cliff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- broesch, Newport, WA, US

problem #8

May 012008

Jetta 2.0L T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

My check Engine light went on about two years ago, I brought it to the dealer they told me it was some sort of turbo valve ($400). It came back on a couple months later brought it in again, they told me it was just a simple reset. It came back on a couple weeks later, decided to drive with it on for a while. Now the lease is coming due, brought it in to be fixed to avoid excessive wear and tear charges even though I am within my miles. They told me its the air intake valve and its another $400, so i let the have it at the service desk and they reduced it by $200. Guess what the check engine light came on again, two weeks later. It is at the VW dealer right now getting fixed again, this time I am refusing to pay anything. What a bunch of Bull sh*T. Anyone experience disputing the excessive wear and tear charges of a lease company?

- gpaul, Brewster, MA, US

problem #7

May 012008

Jetta 2.0L T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

My 2006 Jetta has been to the dealer 5 times since May for a random engine misfire. The first time they told me it was the gas, second time they replaced the ignition coils, 3rd time they swapped the spark plugs and injectors, fourth time they replaced the rocker arms and lifters. It will be back to the dealer this Thursday for the fifth time. This has been the most unreliable car I have ever owned. Also this year It was in the shop numerous times for the intake runner control motor. The trunk latch quit working and the red light on the door fell off. What a pile of crap. I'm about ready to get myself a lawyer. If anyone has had this problem with the random misfires and has had their car fixed successfully, please email me at delasueno@yahoo.com. My local dealer I think is at a loss. I'm guessing they need to change out the engine and electrical system.

- Clayton S., Scott AFB, IL, US

problem #6

Feb 132007

(reported on)

Jetta 2.0T 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,200 miles

... another update on the check engine fiasco. From the last post (visit #5) I left my car at the servicing dealer for 6 days for more troubleshooting with the quality technical manager (which was flown in especially for me) from VW and they replaced the spark plugs and cleaned out the fuel line. They mentioned I should change the type of gas I use, even though I already use premium ... but anyway, my car was ready last night and of course this morning..... the check engine light came on again... so back to the servicing dealer I went.... more to come later ;) wish me luck!

- radnj1972, Garfield, NJ, US

problem #5

Feb 072007

(reported on)

Jetta 2.0T 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,100 miles

.... more details on the VW jetta check Engine light problem. So the servicing dealer kept my car for 8 days, and replaced a fuel injector, some manifolds, and a pentometer (can't spell that word just right) and returned my car to me just yesterday. They did lots of troubleshooting with their QTM, and I thought perhaps they finally found the problem. However, this morning I went to start the engine, and the check engine light came on again... so back to dealer I went, and off to the Lemon Law courts I go! will continue to update my posts here as I receive updates.

- radnj1972, Garfield, NJ, US

problem #4

Jan 272007

(reported on)

Jetta 2.0T 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,975 miles

....24 hours passed, and guess what?? The check engine light went on again! This is really becoming a nuissance. First thing Monday I am calling back the service advisor and they better take my car in right away. I am also calling VW directly and lodging a complaint and possibly filing for lemon law here in NJ if VW of America doesn't resolve my problem to my satisfaction. Never have I owned a car that has been so unreliable, at such a young age in the car's life... more to come

- radnj1972, Garfield, NJ, US

problem #3

Jan 182007

(reported on)

Jetta 2.0T 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,500 miles

Round 2 of the check engine light wars with VW. So, during another cold weather start, the check engine light went on again, only this case the light would not flash. It just stayed on period, and did not go away. I called the service dealer again and they could not fit me in for a week or so, but scheduled the appointment. Wouldn't you know, the day before the appointment the light went away! So I showed up for my appointment, and they ran 90 minutes of tests on the car and could not duplicate the problem. Same stored code P0300. They reset the code again and explained that this was part of a problem with random engine misfires upon cold starts and they reprogrammed the system somehow to react to this. Okay I Said.... only of course there's a round 3....

- radnj1972, Garfield, NJ, US

problem #2

Jan 182007

(reported on)

Jetta 2.0T 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,600 miles

just TWO days went by since the last time I had the check engine light, but of course the light went on again this morning! I called the dealer immediately, and lucky for me, I was able to reach the service dept manager! I explained my discontent with this annoying engine light popping on and that I have no time to play around with this. He said that he knows its a known problem that VW is trying to fix, and conveniently, a real VW person is actually coming to my particular dealer's location for some training.. so he said bring it on this and that date, and we will just give the car to this tech to try to figure out.. lol. We shall see what happens...

- radnj1972, Garfield, NJ, US

problem #1

Jan 182007

(reported on)

Jetta 2.0T 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles

I recently bought into the European market of vehicles, and decided to go with Jetta. My purchase was for an '06 jetta back on May of last year. Ran great all summer long. However, when the cold weather started (I live on the north east) the annoying little yellow engine light started flashing. It would flash every time I cold-started the engine. Sometimes the light would stop flashing, sometimes it would not. When the weather warmed up a little (say over 40 degrees F) the light would not flash at all. Very odd I thought. Anyway, during my next routine service visit mid december, i took the car into the shop and asked they take a look at the code. They simply reset the code and said it returned a code P0300 , random engine misfire. The tech could not duplicate the problem, so they reset the code in hopes it would go away. Yea right. Two weeks later the light came on again......

- radnj1972, Garfield, NJ, US