Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||||
| 092302 | 09/23/2002 | 10000558 | Front window regulatolr clamp torque correction - dealership, customer letter. *tt | 03/24/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||||
| 0501 | 01/04/2006 | 0601 | 10018440 | Door window, separates from window regulator clamps. *jb | 12/22/2005 |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 0603 | 04/26/2006 | 10020720 | Door windows, may seperate from window regulator clamps. *kb | 01/03/2007 | |
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||||
| 2002419 | 05/24/2007 | 10021958 | Intermittent windshield wiper, wipes across windshield once then stops. *kb | 06/27/2007 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||
| 01/03/2010 | 140000 | ||
| Tl. the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated the front passenger side window feel into the door. the contact has not taken the vehicle to the dealer. the contact called the manufacturer regarding the window and the manufacturer stated the vehicle is out of warranty so there is nothing they can do. the contact stated the manufacturer should issue a recall. the failure mileage was 140,000. jo | |||
| 02/22/2010 | 85000 | 1 | |
| 2003 vw jetta: digital display would shut off when key was removed from ignition. unable to lock vehicle doors with remote. vehicle had to be restarted for digital panel to appear (re-set) and for door to lock with remote. engine would also shut off while at a stop light and while driving on freeway. possibility to cause a crash. all digital panels still illuminated, key would be locked in ingnition, un-able to turn or be removed until car placed back in park and hand brake pulled up. issues occured bi-weekly, weekly, and now daily. vehicle brought to dealership. was told that ignition switch failed and needed to be replaced. would have been covered under warranty (warrant just expired last month). after trying to diagnose problem prior to bringing to dealership, i've found on several forums that this is not a new issue/repair for vw customers with the same make and model. many customers have had similar complaints/experiences, all of which were taken in for repair after warranty expired. vehicle is only 7 years old and is at approximately 85,000 miles. this vehicle has also had service for the following recalls: catalytic converter, failed ignition coils, failed rear window/door locks. this car is a lemon! *tr | |||
| 05/29/2003 | 76000 | 1 | |
| There is significant distortion through the windshield. *tr | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - REAR WINDOW | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 20000 | 2 | 04/15/2004 |
| Dt: according to the owner's manual the rear defroster switch is supposed to turn off automatically ten minutes after being activated. when the consumer turned on the rear defroster it did not shut itself off. as a result, the wires in the rear window did not work properly. this causes the consumer not to be able to see through some parts of the rear window. the dealership said that it was suppose to be manual. the window was replaced in february 2005. the replacement window had not experienced any damage because the defroster switch had been turned off manually. *ak (11/17/05) *sc | |||
| 08/13/2003 | 43 | 3 | 08/13/2003 |
| Problems with rear window defogger and transmission.*mr rear defogger didn't turn off. consumer feared it would cause an electrical hazard. transmission locked and wouldn't move to reverse. transmission was repaired and failed again. consumer was informed a new transmission and clutch was installed. on the day of purchase, consumer complained of the problem but the salesman stated he wasn't use to a manual transmission and ignored it. *ph | |||
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||
| 01/09/2008 | 44589 | 2 | |
| While traveling down the highway the drivers side window fell into the door. the call is undrivable in this condition as it is around 20 degrees outside and the car cannot be locked securely due to absence of window. the dealer wants to charge us $456 for a window regulator and motor. *tr | |||
| 06/09/2007 | 59018 | 1 | 10/19/2002 |
| While trying to close the front passenger window, it stopped half way up and got stuck. after pushing the electric button to lower the window, it fell out of the track mechanism and into the door. | |||
| 09/15/2006 | 65000 | 4 | |
| 2003 vw jetta. brake light switch is broken causing the vehicle to be undriveable. also, the driver side windows keeps falling into the door. *nm | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 06/20/2009 | 60600 | 1 | |
| Passenger and drivers windows spontaneously drop from frame and fall into door. this incident caused my arm to be bruised when accessing my mailbox. the failure has occurred on two doors both door required new pulleys for the window system. according to the mechanic this is a very common problem with volkswagen. *tr | |||
| 01/09/2008 | 44589 | 2 | |
| While traveling down the highway the drivers side window fell into the door. the call is undrivable in this condition as it is around 20 degrees outside and the car cannot be locked securely due to absence of window. the dealer wants to charge us $456 for a window regulator and motor. *tr | |||
| 02/21/2008 | 58900 | 1 | 01/17/2008 |
| I bought an 2003 vw jetta wolfsberg on jan. 17th, 2007. i was driving on an interstate and hit a bump and the right passenger window fell into the door panel. i went to the dealer and they said they could fix but its out of warranty and i will be responsible for all charges. i called vw and they said there are no known defects or any pending at this time. *tr | |||
| 07/20/2007 | 7455 | 1 | 09/01/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. while driving 15 mph, the contact stated that the driver side window fell when she attempted to roll it down. the dealer stated that the regulator that holds the window in place cracked. the failure mileage was 7,455 and the current mileage was 7,500. | |||
| 09/11/2006 | 63300 | 1 | 12/23/2002 |
| I have a 2003 jetta wagon tdi, 3.5 years old with 63k miles. i was driving in a narrow residential street with my windows down. i began to raise the windows and i heard a loud pop and a strange noise from the passenger side. it turns out the window mechanism had broken and the window was hanging there 1/3 close in a strange angle. i tried to lower it or raise it, but instead it just went all the way down. the sound startled me and i momentarily swerved and hit the curve. there was no damage to the car or other property. i had to drive home with wet cold air blowing in, which was very distracting. i believe this is a dangerous condition both because the original sound is startling, and because the condition becomes a distraction from driving. *jb | |||
| 12/29/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 10 mph front right and rear right window's fell down without warning.driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. the cause has not been determined at this time. *ak | |||
| 12/08/2003 | 18900 | 5 | 12/04/2002 |
| The automatic windows were defective. the driver side window was repaired twice for falling out, and once for going inside the door. the passenger's side window fell out twice.*ak.......*ak | |||
| 11/29/2004 | 19000 | 2 | 06/25/2003 |
| We purchased a brand new 2003 vw jetta in june of 2003. i have had no problems with the vehicle until yesterday, 11/28/04. we could smell something hot and burning. the drivers seat caught on fire from the heated seats, there is a hole in the seat and my boyfriend burnt his hand. within minutes of that happening, the passenger side door window just fell down. i've never seen anything like this before. somehow, the window is no longer in it's track. i have been doing some research online and finding many more instances with the windows falling and the seats catching on fire? what is the deal? this is very unsafe. i have my appointment tomorrow with our local vw dealer in erie pa to see what they will do to correct this. i want both seats looked at....i do not feel safe in my car any longer!!!*ak | |||
| 07/18/2004 | 20000 | 1 | |
| I got my 2003 vw jetta in february of '03. now not even a year and a half later i have huge problems with my car. my brake lights will randomly stay on even when the car is turned off. my windows do not always work properly. finally the worst was that i was parked in my drive way, it is steep but the same place i have parked dozens of times, when the emergency brake let go in the middle of the night and my car rolled down the drive way eventually crashing into trees. i read on other complaints that there was one other person who had experienced the failure of the emergency brake and many others who had similar electrical problems. well i called volkswagen about my brake lights and they said that indeed there was a recall on my car as a result of a failing brake light switch. turns out they had failed to inform me. i wonder what other recalls they have failed to inform people about. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 09/26/2009 | 121000 | 1 | |
| Sun roof drain clogs!!! no direction in manual for cleaning nor warning that it can happen. i found nearly three inches of water in the floor and water all over the interior fuse block. my concern is fire related. corrosion can lead to high impedence connections and after water intrusion i have no idea how safe my electrical system is. this is the second or third incident and i finally found out what was causing the problem by doing research on the internet. many others have experienced this problem and it appears that the design of the outlet nipple is the issue. *tr | |||
| 02/14/2006 | 1 | ||
| On feb. 14, 2006, i was driving 65 mph on freeway, experienced loud explosion-type noise - after coming to reality and out of shock realized sunroof was blown out - and i was covered in glass - first reaction was to believe that i had been shot with gun or that something was thrown from overpass - after police investigation, photographs by dealership and dozens of eyewitnesses viewing the remaining out glass of the sunroof (that was still attached but shattered) was pointed in an upward position towards sky - not into vehicle as if it imploded from the interior to exterior - everyone determined that it had not been struck by anything but rather just blew out. this was very frightening and dangerous - i could have been injured by the glass or been involved in an accident from the incident. everyone sent photos and spoke to volkswagen of america - they do not care - and refuse to cover under warranty or even question me about incident even though - i have informed that i am fearful to even drive vehicle now - everyone that saw the car in person - is in awe and thinks this is weird - however, vw america the only party who did not see the vehicle in person - is still sticking by their answer that it was caused by something striking the car - there are other people with other types of cars on the internet with this same experience and they also know that they were not struck - i had a police report and photos with proof that the glass blew from the interior out - vw is showing negligence towards me and other drivers. this is the 10th odd incident that i have had with vw - and the second safety hazard - i am trying to get out of the lease because i am too scared to drive the car now. they need to be held responsible - and i am appalled that they were not even concerned with my safety or if i had injuries. *nm | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - SWITCH/WIRING | |||
| While driving under rainy conditions, consumer states the vehicle wipers may stop for 15 seconds then they'll start back up again. also they stop any where on the window, and its distracting to driver. please provide any further information. ts | |||