2001 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 677 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 41 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 51 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 7, 2014
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Campaign 14E007000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 07V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchMay 24, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 06V183000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, hazard flashing warning lights, switchDec 16, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 04V584000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 20, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 04V096000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, owners/service/other manualSep 12, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 02V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipJan 31, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 02V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
677 reports, newest first.
Visibility, Jul 31, 2002
WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED- DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO DOOR- 4 WEEKS LATER STILL WAITING TO BE FIXED. KNOWN PROBLEM- DANGEROUS- WINDOW TAPED SHUT- BUT DOES NOT REALLY CLOSE WINDOW- STILL OPEN PARTIALLY AND TONS OF WIND NOISE- VERY DISTRACTING
Electrical system, Jul 29, 2002
BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, AND WILL NOT WORK WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO THE WORK.*AK
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Structure, Equipment, Jul 29, 2002
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS!!! THE DAY I WAS TO PICK MY CAR UP, DRIVER WINDOW NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SINCE THEN IT HAS FALLEN INTO DOOR 3 TIMES. AIR CONITIONER LEAKED INTO INTERIOR, SOAKING CARPETS AND SMELLS BAD. BRAKE LIGHTS STUCK ON WHEN CAR IS OFF, ARM REST AND GLOVE BOX BROKE. RECEIVED ZERO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR VOLKS.OF AMERICA. WHAT IS NEXT???
Structure, Jul 26, 2002
THE FRONT BUMPER IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. WHEN PARKING, THE FRONT BUMPER PASSES OVER STANDARD CONCRETE 'TIRE STOPPERS'. WHEN REVERSING OUT OF THE STALL (EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS), THE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY DETACHES FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN'S SUGGESTED SOLUTION IS "NOT TO PULL SO FAR INTO THE PARKING SPACE". UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF YOU ARE TOO "FAR IN" UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE AND THE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. I HAVE PERSONALLY OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM OCCUR ON AT LEAST FOUR OTHER JETTAS (BOTH HERE IN HONOLULU AND ON THE MAINLAND). ON OUR JETTA ALONE, THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN MAKING COSMETIC REPAIRS TO THE BUMPER, COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE BUMPER ASSEMBLY WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, A PARTIALLY DETACHED BUMPER ASSEMBLY COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 25, 2002
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 55 MPH VEHICLE LOSS ALL POWER DUE TO A FUEL PUMP FAILING WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE IS ALSO CONSUMING OIL POSSIBLY DUE TO -O- RING BEING MISSEADED DURING MANUFACTURING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB
Visibility, Jul 25, 2002
HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN I WENT TO ROLL DOWN DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. WINDOW WOULD ONLY GO DOWN, NOT UP. WINDOW IS NOW ALL THE WAY DOWN INSIDE OF DOOR AND WONT ROLL UP.*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 19, 2002
BACK BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ROTORS WERE WARPED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Jul 14, 2002, fire
SMOLDERING FIRE PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. MAY BE RELATED TO ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. WILL CONTACT DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.*AK
Visibility, Jul 11, 2002
I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY JETTA'S REPEATED WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEMS!!*AK
Visibility, Jul 10, 2002
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW FALL OUT OF TRACK AND DOWN INSIDE DOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO REPAIR ALL FOUR WINDOWS.*AK
Air bags, Jul 3, 2002, crash
CONSUMER STATES DURING A REAR END COLLISON, NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES.*JB
Visibility, Jul 3, 2002
FOR THE 2ND TIME, THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HAS BROKEN. THE FIRST TIME (DRIVER'S SIDE), I BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE REGULATOR MYSELF. THE 2ND TIME (PASSENGER SIDE), THE DEALERSHIP (DIRITO BROS IN WALNUT CREEK, CA) FIXED IT UNDER "GOOD WILL". WHEN I FIXED IT MYSELF, I NOTICED NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE REPLACEMENT PART AND THE ORIGINAL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY PERFORM SEVERAL WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACEMENTS DAILY. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I CAN CONFIDENTLY STATE THAT THE PLASTIC ROTOR (WHICH HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF ALL MY WINDOW FAILURES) IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERDESIGNED FOR THE FUNCTION IT MUST PERFORM. *AK
Air bags, Jul 2, 2002, crash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T COME OUT.*AK JLG
Visibility, Jul 2, 2002
SUNROOF IS UNABLE TO OPEN DUE TO INTERIOR OBSTRUCTION, PLASTIC PIECES FROM ASSEMBLY CRACKED AND CRUMBLED OUT OF SUNROOF.*AK
Air bags, Jun 27, 2002
I HAD A CLIENT, WHO IS AN 11 YEAR OLD BOY WITH AUTISM, IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT OF MY CAR. WE WERE SEVERAL FEET FROM A STOP SIGN WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUMPY ROAD. IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO THE STOP SIGN, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING SOUND TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, THE AIR BAGS ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WERE DEFLATING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO SEE IF SOMETHING FELL ON THE CAR TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLIENT SITTING ON THAT SIDE WAS OKAY. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. THE CLIENT WAS SCARED BUT PHYSICALLY OKAY. THE CAR STARTED RIGHT BACK UP SO I TUCKED THE AIRBAGS IN AND DROVE TO THE CLIENT'S HOME. MY CONTACT WITH VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN VERY UNSUCCESSFUL. THEY ARE CLAIMING PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS DUE TO LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. THEY ARE SHOWING WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF FRONT RIGHT AND REAR LEFT TIRES AS EVIDENCE OF PROPER DEPLOYMENT DUE TO LATERAL SKID. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THERE WAS NO LATERAL SKID ,AND THAT THE TRIGGERS MISFIRED OR ARE DANGEROUSLY TOO SENSITIVE.*AK
Visibility, Jun 25, 2002
PASSENGER WINDOW FALLS DOWN INTO DOOR WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW. THIS FIRST OCCURRED IN MAY 2001, AND WAS FIXED. PROBLEM REPEATED IN JULY 2002. VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT A FIX OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IS NOT YET AVAILABLE.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 21, 2002
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOSES POWER WITH OUT WARNING. NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATE BEFORE OR AFTER VEHICLE STALLS. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIRS. WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK, THE MILEAGE WAS RUN UP TO AN INAPPROPRIATE AMOUNT. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN 4 TIMES PRIOR FOR VEHICLE NOT STARTING. DEALER EXPLAINDED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG AND THAT THEY HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE APPROX. 120 MILES. THERE IS AN UNANSWERED 82 MILES TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ECM POWER RELAY AND A PIN AT THE ECU CONNECTOR.
Visibility, Jun 19, 2002
A FRIEND HAS A 1999 OR 2000 JETTA & HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER SAYS THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IN JETTA MODELS & VW HAS YET TO RECTIFY IT. THE DEALER HAS HAD A STEADY STREAM OF JETTA'S TO FIX, DAILY. EVEN NOW, MY REPLACEMENT PART IS ON ESTIMATED TWO WEEK BACKORDER. I ASKED AN UNKNOWN TO ME, JETTA DRIVER @A STOPSIGN IF HE HAD THIS PROBELM & SAID ONE TIME. HE REPORTED HIS GIRLFRIEND'S JETTA HAD IT HAPPEN TWELVE(!) TIMES, & A LAWSUIT WAS PENDING. APPARENTLY THE PLASTIC PIECE HOLDING THE WINDOW FAILS IN AZ'S +100F HEAT. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT RECOURSE IS BEST TO PURSUE.*AK
Power train, Jun 12, 2002
WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WITHOUT WARNING SHIFTED TO GEAR THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND GEAR GOT STUCK IN PARK. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ON MANY OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, HAVD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM WITH GEARS.*AK
Visibility, Jun 10, 2002
THE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE ON MY FRONT, PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOW. BASED ON THE LARGE NUMBER OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATION, I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR IS DEFECTIVE. VW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PART AND HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REGULATOR IN MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS THE WINDOW REGULATOR CAN SUDDENLY FAIL AND CAUSE THE WINDOW TO DROP DOWN INTO THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. IN ADDITION TO BEING A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION, THIS WOULD PLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AT INCREASED RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT SHOULD THIS OCCUR DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR OR SNOWFALL.*AK
Exterior lighting, Jun 4, 2002
BACK BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE WORN OUT, AND THE LIGHT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BRAKES NEED SERVICE HAS NOT COME ON YET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 21, 2002
RECEIVED RECALL 02V031000 NOTICE AND HAD REPAIR WORK DONE. WHEN REPAIRS WERE FINISHED PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. DID NOT HAVE PROBLEM WITH BRAKES UNTIL RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK
Visibility, May 20, 2002
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FALLS OUT WHEN PUSHING DOWN AUTOMATIC WINDOW SWITCH WHILE DRIVING.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Visibility, May 13, 2002
WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT. ALSO, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Visibility, May 6, 2002
ONGOING FAILURE OF PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTORS, MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK