Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

1121122124126127248

Comments

  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I have had the shop FOREMAN working on this car the whole entire time too. So it's not like the mechanic doesn't know what he's doing. They can keep this darn car. I will NEVER even think about purchasing another VW product, and will tell everyone I come in contact with who is looking for a car to avoid VW like the plague that they seem to have turned into.
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    have you ever seen the movie "Network"? if not, i recommend you rent it. it's a classic. Peter Finch has a very famous line that i think you can relate to.

    previous posters make a good point about the many times your dash has been taken apart. this is a case where the remedy may have been worse than the original problem. like a car that's been repaired from a serious accident and never drives like it originally did.

    so what kind of car are you thinking of getting after this car? if for some very very unfortunate reason your next car also has rattles, will you have the dealer take your brand new spankin car apart again? you might just want to live with the rattles.
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    Don't know for the SLK 2.3L Compressor (my cousin has the V6).
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I don't know what kind of car I plan to get next. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

    Also, the shop foreman called this morning. He is the one who had been working on the car the entire time. He was like, "what happend?". I told him I drove the car over the same roads that he and I drove it over together with the rep, and the dash rattled. I also had a friend with me, so I have a witness. I told him I was tired of all these problems with this car, and I would be retaining a lawyer to deal with them from here on out. I am over this.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    serious question: do you think that ruining the experience for other VW drivers/buyers is going to make you feel better? i see that you are in the mindset of making VW pay right now (i can understand that, to a degree), but why bring other totally "innocent" people into it?

    i know! drive your car to Colorado or Arizona and put it in the path of one of the wildfires. problem solved! :)
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Actually, I posted my feelings and problems with the car because I would want to prevent someone else from getting sucked into VW like I did and having an experience like I am having right now.

    If people feel that strongly about a Jetta, then they will not care what I say, they will buy one anyway. I read these same kinds of posts about a year ago, and I still was dumb enough to buy a Jetta. There is one born every minute, my mother used to say.

    Of course, one might buy a Jetta and have no problems with it at all. You all are the luvky ones. Just remember that it's more of a gamble with this car than with some others out there, that you are going to get one that's not as good.

    And also, I am glad you find humor in the problems I am having with this ~$25,000 car. If you were making the payments on it, I think you would be laughing out of the other side of your face.
  • hoodornamenthoodornament Member Posts: 114
    I for one agree with Vocus to a degree, for a car that is supposed to make the driver feel "coddled" with nice interior parts and feel, rattles would totally erase this feeling and give the impression of a cheap car (which the price you pay is not). Ive driven 13k largely troublefree miles on my Passat w/o rattles (havent heard many other passat owners with this complaint), and my gfriend a shade over 1k on her Jetta w/o rattles (knock on wood). I actually had quite a few american cars (Grand am, F Explorer, Buick Regal, Chevy Chevette) of which none of these every rattled that I can recall (even after 80k miles), if the Americans can do it with a "cheap" looking and feeling car, why cant VW?
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    i don't mean to laugh. not laughing. just smiling. trying to get you to SNAP OUT OF IT. you seem so miserable and bitter. it can keep snowballing, or you can decide that this is not going to make you sour, and get on with your life. it is a car. THAT RATTLES. that is it. i know you have this whole "its the principal of it" mentality, i did too when i was your age, but there comes a time when you have to save yourself :) now, if this was your health, and a doctor was screwing you around, sure, this drama would be necessary, but it is just a Jetta.

    again, not laughing at you at all. please don't think that!
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    huh? my Jetta doesn't rattle. most other Jettas don't rattle.

    what were you trying to say? that American cars DON'T rattle because the three you drove didn't rattle? that would be like Vocus saying that Jettas rattle because his rattles.

    i must have missed a previous post.
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    You see that in every thread, there's always some disgruntled owner, because their car sucked from day one, or just didn't meet their requirements.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I have pretty much let the problem go with the car. I am, however, not going to stop letting people know about my experiences with VW. I am doing this so save anyone else from the problems I have gone through. Of course, this is my viewpoint and opinion, and I don't expect anyone else to understand it.
  • AnakinAnakin Member Posts: 410
    You even see it in the Accord forums. I know a guy who had an Accord coupe that I suspect had nothing wrong with it in a mechanical sense, but he was unhappy with the paint and some other cosmetic issues, so he traded it for a GTI. His GTI has had a few minor mechanical issues, but he's happy with it cosmetically, and loves to drive it.

    Go figure.
  • hoodornamenthoodornament Member Posts: 114
    I only base my comments on this forum and one friend w/a Jetta... perhaps I am influenced by the frequency of posts (one out every 5 posts or more has to do w/rattles).
    Additionally, I have read others refer to "rattlebox" where Jettas are concerned, and I dont think this reputation came just from Edmunds, but who knows ?
    On a good note, my cooworker has a 95 Jetta that has mechanically held up very well (125k miles) other than some brake anamolies and stuff like molding falling off and of course "rattles" early on. My gfriends Jetta so far has been very nice w/no problems at 1k.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    hood - i see what you are saying now. keep in mind, the one in five posts that is about rattles in here, is from one or two of the same people :)

    and Anakin is totally right, it is not the car, it is the person's state of mind at the time they have the car. i think in Paul's case, wrong car, wrong time. he can't get over the monthly car payment thing. for that money he expects perfection. never gonna happen. i think he should just get a cheap old beater, rattles and smoke and all, and just not have a car payment. cause you can bet, his next car, it will have problems (all cars do), but we won't be hearing about them nearly as much. then it isn't the "car" anymore....it is the person driving it. i did the same exact thing, just opposite. i had Hondas (supposed to be great cars) that were awful, got VW's, and couldn't be happier.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    That's funny, perfection was very close with the Protege I had. I upgraded (I thought, but what a mistake that was) to the Jetta for its performance. That is the only thing that is better than the Protege though.

    So I had close to perfection in the Protege at ~$15K, and can't get it at $25K. What is wrong with this picture???

    Maybe you, Justin, think the Jetta is the best car in its price range, out there. I beg to differ.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I spoke with the shop foreman this morning at around 9, his first words being "what is the problem". His answer, "apparently you and your mechanics can't fix a car right". Don't come at me with a question unless you want an answer. Anyway, I told him I heard the rattle (and had a witness as well), and I was sick to death of dealing with the car. I called my lawyer as soon as I got to work, and I am meeting him on the 3rd to see what I can do about it.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The Jetta is faster and has a nicer interior than the Protege, that's it for advantages IMO.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I have already found that out. But the sum is not as good as all its parts, at least not on my example.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Did not VWoA tell you that it is NORMAL?

    :D
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Newcar: "nicer interior"

    Even after being taken apart and put back together a dozen or so times?

    Chikoo: "Normal"

    I would not call that normal. It is an aberration at best.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Well, if it didn't rattle, and it didn't need to be taken apart, the Jetta's interior is nicer. For those of you who have rattle free Jettas, you have nice interiors. Vocus and whoever else has rattles got stuck with the "blue-light special" interiors. Get it? Blue lights? K-Mart?

    I love the blue lighting BTW.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    The blue dash lights is one thing that I really like about the Jetta alot.
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    Every female I know loves the interior lights.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    and girls LOVE that color ;)
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    A friend of mine bought a VW about 2 years ago and his sister hopped in one day and exclaimed, "You have violet lights!" He admonished her never to use the word violet in reference to anything about his car. LOL
  • 4itgog4itgog Member Posts: 15
    I have a dearly beloved 2002 VW GTI, which creaks & rattles a bit when the outside temperature is in the 90's, and the AC is on. When the temps are equalized, all noises vanish.
    Obviously, expansion & contraction are at work here. regardless, the radio goes up and the joy of driving resumes.
  • tulanekid24tulanekid24 Member Posts: 25
    Here is a link about Lemon Law court cases in Louisiana. I thought you might be interested in it since your next step is an attorney.


    http://www.pharislaw.com/war.htm


    Pay special attention to the section on the vibrating Lincoln town car since that is your major complain too! It is about mid-way down on the page.


    Good luck with getting your car getting repaired properly.

  • tulanekid24tulanekid24 Member Posts: 25
    Someone please help me here. How difficult is it to Fix the cruise control on a New Jetta. I have had my 2002 Jetta GLS 1.8T for 2 months. It has 1500 miles on it.

    I took it in when I realized that the cruise control would not work. The dealer replaced the Cruise control switch in the steering wheel. It still doesn't work!!! They kept the car for 4 days and told me they were looking for the problem. They wanted to keep the car for longer but I am leaving to go to Germany tomorrow for 3.5 weeks, and I didn't think it was a good idea leave it at the dealer for that long. I will have to take it back there in Aug when I return.

    Any ideas on what could be wrong with my Cruise control??? This is a brand new car with only 1500 miles on it!!!!! Uggg.. Please help!!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Sorry to hear of your problems. My problems started on November 20 with my car, and I bought it on November 3, 2001. I know how you feel. Hopefully, you will be luckier than I am now and they will be able to repair your car.
  • steven39steven39 Member Posts: 636
    i was looking to bye a jetta for myself but after reading all the post here i think i will pass rattles,and more rattles, and more rattles i see u guys talking about rattles so much i hear them in my dreams. anyway no jetta for me thank u
  • AnakinAnakin Member Posts: 410
    Go buy a Honda or Toyota. They're good appliances. My wife's 95 Accord has been very *yawn* very *yawn* very *yawwwwwwwnnnn* reliable.
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    hey, my car has been virtually perfect. it can happen. best car out there for me in this price range. and i think for you too.

    as far as the protege, i think the jetta has a few more advantages than what has been mentioned so far such as safety, quietness, ride comfort, workmanship, comfort features, refinement (with the 1.8t). the protege is a good economy car that competes with other economy cars. the jetta has the feel of a near luxury car.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The Jetta is an economy car also...with a premium interior and pricetag. I don't think I would consider workmanship as an advantage over the Protege and the ride comfort adavantage comes at the expense of handling.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    The interior ambience is a little better, but I can say for one (at least in my car) that workmanship is not better. Handling is not better, ride comfort is not better (they are about the same in this respect). Now the Jetta is quieter and more refined, but it should be at the price it's being offered at. And the Jetta is safer, but not by a large margin.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    LOL!

    To be honest, Paul, a lot of folks tend to blame noise on the car when it is in fact the TIRES that should take the heat for it. On my Protege ES, I recently (well, 6,000 miles ago) replaced my stock Bridgestone Poortenzas with Dunlop SP Sport A2s. They're only H-rated as opposed to the former tires' V speed rating, but they're also 50 series whereas the Poortenzas were 55s. So the sidewall isn't as tall. Anyway, despite that, my car is much, MUCH quieter on the road than it was, and still handles very, very well. (Plus it now actually holds the road in the rain.)

    In fact, when I had Dale with me going to the picnic last month, she made an unsolicited comment about how quiet my car was compared to hers (she has the same year and model car, but still has the stock tires) -- even to the point of saying she was going to buy the same tires for her car when the time comes. This is not supposed to be a plug for Dunlop SP Sport A2s (although yes, I do absolutely love them), but I'm trying to illustrate that something as simple as changing your tires can have a profoundly noticeable effect on the noise level in your car.

    Meade
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The Protege is kinda noisy. I can see how a lot of the noise comes from the tires, but I also hear a lot of noise coming in through the trunk. The back seat seems to need more sound insulation. I can't really compare it to the Jetta as I had limited time during the test drive, but from what I've read, the Jetta is supposed to be a pretty quiet highway cruiser.
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    My Jetta is rattle free. I have personally met 12 other people with 99 1/2 to current Jetta that also have rattle free cars. They have had some window regulator failures, MAF failures, and broken glove box door latches. Seems to me that the rattle pack here on the Jetta topic are likely blowing a problem completely out of proportion.
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    How are we blowing the problem out of proportion? We are just stating that we are experiencing rattles. I have never made the claim all Jetta's rattle. Please explain your VERY general post!
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    It's good that a Jetta doesn't rattle and better to have one that have windows, MAF's, and glove boxes that fail?

    Seriously though, I honestly don't think that's what you're saying.

    Anyway, it sounds like the window regulators failing happens to more than just a couple people. I've read quite a few posts in the Jetta M&R board on that.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I think Moparbad was talking about me blowing stuff out of proportion. Mopar, trade cars (and payments) with me then say the same thing.

    I was thinking last night about my car. I really miss driving it, it's been literally months. (I drove the car for roughly ONE week since April 24, if you add up the days that I have driven it. And keep in mind I am still paying my FULL payment for this same car.) I wish I had known what was going to happen when I bought this car, I wouldn't have purchased it. I do like the car as a whole, but it has lost its lusture, so to speak. I don't even think I would want another Jetta after this experience.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    hope you have multiple 'exit plans' already plotted out in case Plan A doesn't work. I think you'll DREAD driving the Jetta if you keep it, I would HATE driving that car if I was you, what with all the anguish you went through because of it....
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    "#6175 of 6193 for some reason... by blueguydotcom Jul 01, 2002 (05:08 pm)
    Every female I know loves the interior lights.

    #6176 of 6193 i thought the interior light is purple... or violet.... by the_big_h Jul 01, 2002 (05:12 pm)
    and girls LOVE that color ;) "

    You mean the interior lights on the new Jettas are blue or purple??? Seriously?

    I think this might vie with the Pulsar or the Rabbit Cabriolet for best "girl car" of all time.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Don't forget Nissan and Subaru and Mazda.

    However, the new Ford Focus seems pretty nice, too. I drove my neighbor's Saturday, and they are roomy and quick. Nice finish inside as well. Plus they are an American company.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    i have to say, for people talking about GIRL cars, i have never been exposed to as much WHINING as i have in this forum. from MEN. hmmmm. i ADORE the blue/violet/purple lights. i would love them if they were hot pink (actually, i think i really would!!)

    VENUS:

    the fact is, you and i are in the majority in real life. if Jettas were such crap, number one, they wouldn't sell, number two, they wouldn't be able to charge the premium that they so well deserve.

    PAUL - so, you stated that the Jetta is not the best value/car in the price range. please please tell me then, what is? (can't wait to hear this one!) remember, this is the car i will be expecting you to buy and not whine about when you get rid of the evil Jetta :) i want this better-than-Jetta-car in writing!! :)
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    The dash lights are a bluish tint, not the actual interior lights...I hope that clarifies things.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    the Focus seems like a tidy little car, but no silver door handles. takes it out of the running.
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    "And keep in mind I am still paying my FULL payment for this same car"

    Maybe I have a sick sense of humor and am stating the obvious, but your current loaner car is a Protege, right? Sooooo, you're paying your $25K Jetta payment for a Protege while less than a year ago you were making payments FOR a Protege? Oh the irony!!!!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Best car in price range? It depends on what your definition of best car is and what price range you are talking about. The Jetta has wide price range, and at the extremes (high and low points), there are better cars than the Jetta IMO.
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    What can you expect if you buy a Jetta? My point about the rattles is that the vast majority of Jetta owners do not experience the rattle problem that is the major point of discussion on the Jetta topic at Edmunds. The data I base this on is my personal experience, the ownership experience of the Jetta owners I spoken to, and the thousands of Jetta TDI owners at www.tdiclub.com. I can't help but wonder how the "rattle Jettas" are driven and the image of the chase scene in Ronin is the first thing that comes to my mind. The reality is that there are some problem areas with the Jetta and current VW's in general. As I mentioned before the window regulators (there is finally an improved replacement part), MAF sensors, glove box doors, oil burning in the 2.0, are the most common to the best of my knowledge. Are other makes problem free? Toyota has sludge problem, older Altimas had brake problems, Mercedes electrical problems, Jaguar (don't even get me started), so I find it comical when I read "I'll never buy another VW because it has a rattle". If my car rattled I would be mad too, but I would not buy a Nissan or Toyota thinking this was the solution to my problem. I've owned a Nissan that spent more time in the shop than the mechanics did and this was a model that was supposedly problem free.
    If only VW could make a car like the Protege. LOL.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    you have a protege as a loaner? that has got to be, well, as protege_fan says, ironic! do you feel "home" now that you are driving it again?

    you can pick up a new Protege for CHEAP. get a one year old used one (Hyundai's now hold their value better) for even cheaper. with a good warranty left too. and no rattles!

    besides, the Protege has more room i think. sounds like a plan to me! i would say you would miss the turbo engine in the jetta, but since you let the dealer keep it, you are missing it anyway, right?

    i can say, my old Protege never did rattle. it overheated with less than 100 miles on the odo, and the car shook over 55mph, but then again, i really had no business pushing like that anyway ;)
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.