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2001 Volkswagen Jetta Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 668 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the engine (18% of complaints, typically around 53,500 miles). It is 4th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2001 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Engine
118 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Car started hesitating during acceleration and stalled a couple of times upon stopping. Epc light flashed on briefly once, then not again. Today, the car started decelerating on the freeway for no apparent reason, then rapidly accelerated again, which seemed like an extreme safety hazard to me. Mechanic replaced the…
: the contact stated upon inspection, it was noticed the brake light switch was inoperable. The dealership replaced the brake light switch and determined there was a NHTSA recall, # 06v183000, regarding the exterior lighting brake light switch. The VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was alerted.…
Electrical
117 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel.
I have had numerous troubles with the control module having codes in it. Right now, I have a p0411 code, secondary air flow. The ECM has been replaced already, leading me to believe that there's trouble for me down the road!
Number (4) coilpack on my 2001 vw Jetta wolfsburg went bad and the car was rendered undrivable until I used another form of transportation to get to a nearby dealer to buy a replacement
Air bags
97 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
While driving at 25 MPH, the passenger side air bag inadvertently deployed. No injuries were sustained because the seat wasn't occupied at the time of the incident. The dealership indicated that water had gotten into the air bags electrical system. (side curtain air bag)
While driving 20 MPH front air bags including the side impact air bags inadvertently deployed. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. Water was on the floor due to a leaking sunroof.
Lights
80 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, hazard flashing warning lights, turn signal, headlights.
- the contact has a recall letter concerning the brake light. There is no dealer in the contact's area, but there is a repair center. The contact currently has not experienced any incidents with his vehicle; however wants to prevent the inciddent before it occurs.
My 2001 vw Jetta, VIN [VIN], experienced turn signal failure due to a defective hazard warning flasher/switch. This switch is subject to recall id 04v5840000. Volkswagon has told me that there is no recall for my vehicle for this problem. The failure is exactly as described on the web posting for this recall. Is there…
Brakes
76 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, antilock, power assist.
Read brake pads wore out prematurley. When taken to the dealer for service and notified them of that we heard grinding and boise in the rear, they were quite surprised. This resulted in $283.05 in parts and labor to replace the pads. Parts 1j0-615-601-c (2) and 160-698-451-d (1)
Intermittently when attempting to depress the brake pedal it went to the floor by itself. Consumer had to place foot under the brake pedal to raise it off the floor. This problem occurred numerous times while driving. Vehicle had been to dealer on several occasions, and they were unable to duplicate the problem.
Visibility and wipers
71 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, glass, side/rear, windshield wiper/washer, windshield.
Passenger side window failure. We simply pulled into a parking lot, passenger pressed the button to roll down the windo, and when passenger pushed button again to raise window, it simply collapsed into the door frame.
The window regulator went out on the front passenger window. This is the second time that this has happened. I understand that litigation was filed in august 2003 in reference to this matter.
Transmission
62 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, manual transmission, driveline.
Jetta suffered a failure where the clutch plate shattered and the pressure plate failed. The clutch plate did not show drastic wear, the wear line on the clutch plate were still visibale. Vw considered this normal wear and tear. I believe that the part was defective.
Car has just had the second transmission placed in less than 11,000 miles. I have had this car in the shop 17 times losing it each time at the least for 2 days and at the most for a week and a half. The dealership and vw refuse to provide any type of assistance with a rental car leaving me to rely on others for…
Body and structure
43 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The consumer has had on going problems with the mass air flow sensor continually failing. The sensor has been replaced three times. Each time the sensor failed the vehicle lost power. The consumer received a letter from vw of america which extended the warranty of the sensor to 7 years or 70000 miles on Jetta's from…
Opened drivers door and the lower of the two bolts on the lower door secure hinge sheared off. The door has never been removed or repaired previously. The only way this could have happened is if the bolt were over tightened upon installation. The vehicle is past warranty and vw america will not pay for this…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Volkswagen Jetta recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Lights: switch
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: switch
Risk: This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: switch
Risk: If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: These vehicles were not marked or described as required by the standard.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Risk: This can result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake light switch failure
Summary
By letters dated may 24, 2006 and august 4, 2006, volkswagen (vw) notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (NHTSA recall no 06v-183) involving model year (my) 1998-2002 volkswagen new beetle and 1999-2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles equipped with cruise control.volkswagen?s recall covers 646,246 vehicles.previously, vw recalled these vehicles to replace a defective brake light switch (recalls 03v-265 and 04v-096) that was unique to vehicles with cruise control.volkswagen reports that the brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during recalls 03v-265 and 04v-096.volkswagen will install a new design brake light switch.based on volkswagen's safety recal
Engine stalling
Summary
By letter received on june 24, 2005, mr. Ronald m. Strickland of raleigh, nc, submitted a petition requesting that the agency investigate the performance of the ignition coil plugs on model year (my) 2000-2003 volkswagen jetta, golf and passat sedans.the petitioner alleges that he had experienced multiple stalling events as a result of one or more ignition coil plugs malfunctioning on his 2002 vw jetta sedan.as a result of the engine stalling, the petitioner experienced a loss of power steering and increased braking efforts when he pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road to control the vehicle.after a few minutes parked on the shoulder he was able to restart the vehicle although the
Inadvertent side-airbag deployment
Summary
The subject vehicles are equipped with side-thorax and side-head curtain airbags to protect the front and rear outboard occupants in a side-impact crash.this investigation identified a total of 499 reports (482 owners reports and 17 warranty claims).the crash sensing system?s algorithm may recognize certain non-crash impacts (wheel, tire and undercarriage impacts) as deployable events.the 97 alleged injuries were minor in nature and consist of abrasions, bruises, ear ringing and headaches.there was no alleged loss of control crash as a result of side-airbag deployment.odi also obtained counts of alleged inadvertent side-airbag deployments from peer manufacturers.the data shows that the subje
Turn signal/hazard flasher failure
Summary
This investigation was opened on october 19, 2004, based on nine reports on 2000 through 2001 jetta and gti vehicles alleging that the turn signals and or hazard flashers fail to blink, or flash.some of the complainants reported that the lights would blink only a few times and then stop.several of the complainants reported that having the hazard flasher switch replaced repaired their vehicles.by letter of december 13, 2004, volkswagen notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall of 350,000 model year 2000 through 2002 jetta, golf and gti vehicles to repair the turn signal and hazard flasher system.vw reports 216 owner reports, 4 field reports and 4960 warranty claims on this popu
Brake light switch
Summary
The number of duplicates between odi and manufacturer failure reports cannot be determined due to missing and or inaccurate information.the injury noted above was minor.on february 26, 2004, volkswagen of america, inc. (vw) submitted a defect notification (per 49cfr573) to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) advising that certain model year (my) 1999 - 2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles manufacutured with the same brake light switch as recalled under 03v-265 (my 1998-2002 new beetle) are affected by a safety defect.specifically, if the brake light switch malfunctions, the brake lights could fail to illuminate when the brakes are applied, or could stay illuminated continual
Questions about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (118 complaints, typically around 53,500 miles); electrical (117 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles); air bags (97 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 20, 2007 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Volkswagen Jetta?
- It is 4th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints, with 668 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.