I was looking for a thread someone had started a few months ago with the country of manufacture and problems experienced to see if there is any relation between the two.

I own a 2002 Jetta Wagon with the diesel engine. Granted my car was built in Germany because it is the wagon, but I have had no real problems. I think it was in the shop once for something minor.

I have put 39000 miles on it (most of it during the summer of 2003) andit needs to go in for repairs one more time, however it is still under warranty.

Personally I think that this indicates that the car is well made, but again, it could be the genuine German engineering.

I found the following VIN info about the country of origin for anyone who is interested.

Manufacturing Country-1=U.S.,3=Mexico,9=Brazil,W=Germany

I own a 1999 Cabrio that has 43K miles on it. The car has been in the shop 48 times and needs to go back this week. As I read through these postings, I’m blown away by how much we all have in common. Brakes at 25K? You bet. Rotors too, because “…on VW’s everytime you do pads you must do rotors..” Poor service? You bet. I had a service manager ask me if… “perhaps your boyfriend or husband could understand this better..” WHAT? You name it, it’s happened to my car. I have talked to people at all levels of the VW organization; they will comp the service at hand, but it doesn’t matter when the car’s in the shop so much - plus, who has the time to yell at VW EVERYTIME the car has an issue? I have resorted to doing the only thing possible which is to tell everyone that will listen not to buy a vw. To date, I’ve told over 300 people about my experience. I encourage the rest of you to do the same, and never to buy from VW again.

The only Vehicle that I have owned in 35 years of driving where the only gears you can select are 1st,3rd and 5th and sometimes when your lucky reverse.

We have a 2001 Jetta GLS with about 11,000 miles on it.

This past Christmas we were visiting out of state and barely hit a MINOR bump on a rural road. The oil pan cracked and immediately emptied. The car was towed and the oil pan was replaced.

After the oil pan was replaced, the mechanic noted a distinctive ticking sound that can now be clearly heard deep in the engine. This ticking noise seems to increase with acceleration.

The mechanic said he could not identify the cause of the ticking and wondered if it was a ball bearing that was loosened when we hit the bump. He told us it would cost $1000’s just to have the problem diagnosed because they would have to take the engine apart. He then said we might have to have the engine replaced.

Since we had already waited almost an extra week for the new oil pan, we left on his advice to drive the car 200 miles home and notice if the noise got worse. It didnt get worse, but it certainly didnt get any better.

We took the car to a local dealer to identify the problem. They accessed the first mechanics report and basically repeated it back to us with no new information. They also told us it will take $1000’s to simply diagnose the noise because it is inside the engine. They also said that we will probably need a new engine.

The recommendation of a new engine is remarkable to me since neither dealer has actually diagnosed the problem and apparently won’t unless we give them $1000s of dollars to take the engine apart first!!!

I do not understand how it can be possible to need a new engine in a (basically) new car after simply hitting a bump in a road? How can a cracked oil pan (which I understand is a weakness in the Jetta) have created such a fiasco? Has anyone else had this kind of problem? and if so can you help us identify a solution?

Thanks so much for any insights. We are sick to our stomachs over this.

I owned a Jetta and after i was done with it i’ve made this VW Sucks Links page:
http://home.comcast.net/~2004galant/vwsuxlinks.htm
We have to stop VW

Mechanic says my Bug needs a total new engine! It smokes, stumbles, misses and overheats. And all I it’s got on it is 340,000 miles! Good think they quit making these Aircooled POS!

I can imagine How bad of VW’s manufacturing skill after i owned a Passat. It just a trouble maker and ruined German mechanical reputation over 100 years.

It keep creating trouble for me during 3 years. sometimes, I am just fraid to drive it.

My VW STINKS! Both literally & figuratively because it’s now leaking oil onto the engine and burning through the radiator. I bought it certified- pre-owned piece of garbage, I mean Passat! So far, replaced brakes(600), battery (ok minor stuff) CV Joints and boots (1,000), coolant system (2 weeks after I bought it to the dealer and they couldn’t find a problem, ALSO, coincidentally 2 weeks after my warranty expired… to be followed up by 4 new tires plus alignment… Oh wait! not a routine alignment b/c the ty-rods are rusted SOLID! (949)- Dealer promised to fix under open recall, then called back to say recall has already been done and the ty-rods failed again, so I must fix (540 + labor) Then routine oil change- wrong again- oil pan gasket leak… took it in to dealer to repair- FOUR different oil leaks (740)!! I’ve only had this 99 passat for 2 years, it has less than 52,000 mi on it and have spent almost 30% of cost of vehicle on repairs!!! I am young and wanted a reliable sturdy, vehicle. A vehicle of the people… Not what I got! I agree, “VW has changed the successful marketing philosophy that they had 10 years ago when they made cars that ran trouble free, simple to fix. I will never buy a VW again or a car that has a relation with VW”

started with 45,000 miles on it. Ive had it to the shop 9 times in the past 12 months. Ignition coils replaced, Mas Air Flow sensor two times, Both O2 sensors, Seals and Gaskets,They told me it was my sparks and wires one time, Fuse box. Every single time when the problem has apparently been fixed the light has come on literally within a day or two. VW of america doesnt care…you go through their red tape but their communication with the dealership is minimal. The service people are rude. The service manager Jeff At Jim Wynn vw in Norristown Pa had the nerve to tell me that they would try one more time but he doesnt feel like inheriting a headache of a car??? are you kidding me?? You are a Vw dealership if you dont feel like servicing a vehicle then either fix it or take down your VW sign. Morons…anyone with similar problems email me at BAKGTI@yahoo.com yes sadly my name shows you how i once though of these cars….this was my first and last VW I will ever own.

My 2003 VW Passat 1.8T is a piece of !@#$. My engine seized with having 20k miles and 5 oil changes. The dealer is screwing me around and they said VW may not warranty this vehicle. The dealer told me I must not have maintained the vehicle. I told them my car is in better shape than the cars in their showroom!