Failed on Both…
So my 2001 1.8T Jetta is currently at VW Service for about the 10th time for an ongoing problem..a problem that’s existed since about 3,000 miles on the car…it now has 46,0000 miles…My Jetta’s engine will hesitate, idle very roughly, and sometimes stall. Most recently it stalled as I pulled out into traffic (not the safest way to start my day).
Among other things, it’s had several Engine Control Modules and updates, A Secondary Air Flow Pump, Spark Plugs, and most recently, the “”recalled”" Ignition Coil…which we all hoped would be the final solution…unfortunately not.
Yeh – and I probably shouldn’t but can’t help but mentioned how I was blamed (yup, me the customer) for using the wrong blend/grade of gasoline. (I wasn’t and it shouldn’t matter anyway).
In addition to the stalling/hesitating and rough idle, the ‘check engine light’ indicator often comes on…and off…then on again for a while…you get the idea.
Then there’s the traction control light that periodically would come on not only on perfectly dry surface during smooth driving conditions…but whilst sitting idle in my driveway as well.
And while on the subject of “”German Engineering and Design”"…shall I describe the peeling rubbery substance they chose as a coating for parts of the interior? The poorley specified ‘velour’ upohlsty that requires I use sticky tape to clean – vaccuums are worthless on the stuff. Plastic stuff occassional falls off…I often find ‘pieces’ of my car while clenaing it.
Exterior…about the same. The door molding on the driver’s side doors began falling off…and then there’s the ‘defect’ or discolouration in the paint job I pointed out to a service rep. at the dealership who offered to ‘buff it out’ with a $150.00 Detail job…no explaination why it was defected and since I give the service departments at dealerships part ownership of representing VW…I’ll include the fact that $150 later I had a semi-clean car (shoddy at best) which needed to be returned because they ‘missed’ the paint defect and had to rebuff it.
Anybody else notice how susecptible the paint job is to scratches? My door handle looks like I grab it each day with ’steel wooled gloves’ (I dont’)…it’s ridiculous. I have ‘keyless’ entry – why does normal usage on a relatively new car result in it looking that bad?
And then there’s the $430.00, 40,000 mile maintenance. I was told by a service rep that VW requires that all dealerships do a ’standard set of maintenace/repairs’ for a scheduled service such as the 40M maintenance. I know for a fact that they didn’t rotate and balance my tires as was supposed to be included in the service…sadly, i’m not sure what they actually did do…I do though now have in writing what grade of gasoline they suggest – previously I could not get it in writing…whatever.
Anywhoo, I beg someone to tell me why VW has decided that treating their customers as if their the problem and not their cars is good business practice…I’ve been a dream when it comes to tolerance and accomodation and belief that they’d one day ‘own up’ to producing a totally inferior product…it’s a shame they missed the point – they could have saved a loyal customer time and again – and they failed.
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rick Said,
October 1, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
Failed on Both… – wow… great post. All I can say is, I have the same problem with my paint job. Is that the reason I had to test drive with the wrapper on? I have scratches all over the place on it yet they say it’s normal.
Good luck!
Lexie Said,
October 3, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
Failed on Both… – I agree…..that is a great post. And it sounds all too familiar! See my post above on doing something about all this! thanks
Meaghan Said,
October 31, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
Failed on Both… – Lisa – just a note; I, too, have a 2001 1.8Turbo. Our car was doing the same thing and we had to replace a Turbo Recircluation Valve. Hope that’s not what it is!
Kimberly Randall Said,
June 30, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Failed on Both… – Thanks for the confirmation, your response to the car is exactly what I am experiencing. Well, for awhile I thought I was loosing my mind, I have a 2002 1.8T Jetta GLS, and since brand new, not even a month old, this is January, it has been in the shop for hesitation, the dealership has replaced practically everything in the car, like the control module’ss notice I say module’s the the computer has been replaced twice, the brake switch sensor replace 7 times because it was alway’s on, even after the recall replacement, there’s just so much wrong with this car, it’s a living nightmare, right now as we speak it is in the shop again for stalling out in the middle of intersection, very scary, and with two children in the car, people don’t slow down, they see a target they head for it full steam ahead.
I have told vw that if I die in the middle of an intersection because of this car, you will have a lawsuit on your hands. The dealership has used a chemical that cleans the carbon out of my engine, hoping that carbon is the issue, but I explained that it didn’t even have 800 miles on it when it started to hesiatate and stall, give me a break, now as I had expected that this carbon build up was not the issue, and the hesitation still present, like a rubberband someone hold’s you back till they want to let go. Please anyone tell me I’m not crazy. What do I do?
un_mestizo Said,
October 5, 2004 @ 6:11 am
Failed on Both… – I have a 2002 1.8T Jetta. I have taken it to the dealer four times (including today) with the same problem. Rough idle and hesitation. they can’t seem to get it right. I live in Texas and our Lemon laws suck, here. I am afraid that the statute of limitations has expired on that.
Other problems include the peeling interior, the fragile paint job and several small inconveniences. So I can sympathize.
If you hear of a solution, let me know. I will do the same.
Clint Said,
October 6, 2004 @ 2:13 am
Failed on Both… – The engine hesitate problem could be related to the coils in the ignition, there is a recall on the 2001 jetta coils… also there is a recall on the break switch. The door handle problem… I noticed the same with my car, and yes if there is keyless entry, then why does behind the handle on the actual door does it look like someone took a steel wooled pad to it??? Also I have to monsoon stereo in it and I have to say that it is the worst stereo sound I have ever heard from a factory stereo. Its so muffled it sounds like everyone is singing with clothes over their mouth I am a huge stereo person and know tons about it, and the only thing I can think about how to make it better is to replace the entire system, deck(around 360), speakers(around 350), add sub woofer(around 250), and 2 amps(around 600) then I will have good sound. Its sad that car companies cant do this simple upgrade to a car and keep the cost down little things like the stereo system to me is what makes the difference in cars, and of course the overall appeal but thats a whole other discussion. I hope the first part of this helps out with the hesitation problems and I hope there is something that can be done about the scratches behind the door handles
<~~2001 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition 1.8T
jorgab Said,
October 9, 2004 @ 1:30 am
Failed on Both… – in regards to the door handle you say you have keyless entry. but you still have to physically open the door with your hands. what is actually being scratched is the clear coat and not paint most likely and should be easy to buff out. as far as the starting have them check the wiring harness for the ignition coils to see if there may being any cracks in it. i have come across that a couple of occasions. as far as somebodies comment about the monsoon system sound. make sure the dealer has it coded properly if it is not it sounds horrible.
Ivan Said,
October 13, 2004 @ 3:11 am
Failed on Both… – Try putting higher grade gas into the car. I hope you know that it is one of the requirments for 1.8T engine. That might be the reason why your car hesitates or runs rough.
jasenm Said,
October 13, 2004 @ 5:17 am
Failed on Both… – well, vw has basiclly done away with the velour. those 05’s that do have it have a nylon like material on the sides of the seat instead of the spray on velour. it was cheap, im not denying it, but this new style is meant to prevent our fat american a**es from rubbing off the velour supports on the seats. its better. plus, passats will now be standard with leatherette, even in the gl i hear. we are also using a solid non painted material on the doorhandles, which used to peel all the time. they peel on my 00 1.8t, but thats my only gripe, that and the damn cupholder over the radio, also fixed now, btw. on another note, our owner just came back from california where they showed the new jetta, passat, concept c, concept r and gofl/gti’s, and a touareg with 3 rows of seats and a smaller, bmw x3 style suv. he says its awesome stuff, and hes a saab guy by trade, so im happy. look for the jetta march 05.
jasenm Said,
October 13, 2004 @ 5:19 am
Failed on Both… – oh yeah, no discounts on the new stuff! wooo-hoooo!!!!
Ronster Said,
October 15, 2004 @ 9:14 am
Failed on Both… – 0