1995 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Complaints

ON MY 1995 VW JETTA TWO OF THE DOOR BUMPER GUARDS (ONE ON THE FRONT LEFT DOOR AND ONE ON THE BACK RIGHT DOOR) HAVE FALLEN OFF. THESE ITEMS ARE GLUED ONTO THE DOORS MIDWAY UP. ACCORDING TO A DEALER IN SUMMITT NJ, THESE BUMPERS ARE GLUED ON AS OPPOSED TO

FROZEN OUTER LOCKS WOULD NOT SPIN, CAUSING LINK BETWEEN LOCK TUMBLER AND SERVOMOTOR USED TO RAISE/LOWER LOCK BUTTONS & ENGAGE SECURITY SYSTEM TO FAIL. FAILURES OCCURED IN BOTH LOCKS PREVENTING OWNER FROM GAINING ENTRANCE TO CAR. DEALER HAD NO PARTS - AND OFFERED NO HELP. RETRO-KIT TAKES 1-4 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. THIS LEAVES JETTA WITH NO WAY TO LOCK IT.

WHEN TRAVELLING AT 30 MPH, THE REAR END JERKED, SPARKS FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. WHEN STOPPED, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND DRUM WAS MISSING. DEALER CONTACTED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. REPAIRS MADE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A DISINTEGRATION OF WHEEL BEARINGS. *AK

RECALL 98V160000. DEALER IS NOT TAKING PROPER CARE OF THE RECALL. THERE IS NOW A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE WIRING. *AK

START CHIME AND RADIO DIDN'T COME ON. HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIXED COSTING $586. DEALER WAS RUDE AND SAID 'THESE THINGS HAPPEN', EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL FAIRLY NEW. THE PLASTIC VISOR HOLDER ON PASS. SIDE BROKE, REPLACED FREE BY DEALER, AND THE WRAPAROUND THE PASSANGER SEAT BOTTOM BROKE, BOTH REPLACED ONLY BECAUSE CAR STILL UNDER FULL WARRANTY. THIRD REAR BRAKE LIGHT CASING IS BROKEN. NO ONE HAS TOUCHED IT. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR FREE. WILL COST $80. VW OF AMERICA CALLED AFTER I COMPLAINED AND SAID "SORRY, CAN'T FINACIALLY HELP YOU."

VOLKSWAGEN HAS TWO ONGOING RECALLS (SEPTEMBER 1998): CHECK/REPLACE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE AND CHECK/REPLACE HOOD LOCK ASSEMBLY. I CANNOT FIND A LOCAL MARYLAND VOLKSWAGEN DEALER THAT WILL PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON A SATURDAY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN FOR SERVICE. THEREFORE, IN ORDER FOR VEHICLES OWNERS TO GET THIS WORK PERFORMED, MOST OWNERS WILL HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK. ALTHOUGH THE RECALLS ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT SAFEY ISSUE, THE DEALERS ARE NOT PROVIDING REASONABLE MEANS TO CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES CHECKED OR REPAIRED. MANY VEHICLES MAY GO UNCHECKED OR UNREPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACCESS TO SERVICE. I COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC., CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800-822-8987. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERS ARE INDEPENDENT FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I WAS ONLY OFFERED PHONE NUMBERS OF OTHER DEALERS WITHIN A 50 MILE RADIUS.

LOCK CYLNDERS FELL OUT OF BOTH THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS,LEAVING CONSUMER WITH NO WAY TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVLEING AT 35MPH AND HAD AN FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

DOOR LOCK FROZE, NOT OPENING W/KEY. WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN & THEN MAKING CLICKING NOISES WHEN TRYING TO ROLL WINDOW BACK UP. NEEDED TO PULL WINDOW UP BY HAND. AIR CONDITIONER MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNED ON. WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO STRESS. RECEIVED RECALL FOR NOOD LATCH, BUT UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. PAINT IS CRACKING. RADIO GOES OUT. VW SAYS THAT THERE IS A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT HAVE NOT HELPED REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V160000). DEALERSHIP HAS NO PARTS AFTER BEING NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. SAME ENTRY AS REF NO. 829508. *AK *ML