1998 Volkswagen Jetta equipment problems

EQUIPMENT

LATE IN APRIL, 2013 I INSTALLED A PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM ON A 1998 VW JETTA TDI. THE CONTROL ARM WAS PURCHASED FROM AUTOZONE ( THEIR PART # 520-782) AS AN ASSEMBLY WITH THE BALL JOINT INSTALLED. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THEN WHILE DRIVING IT BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. ON EXAMINATION, 2 OF THE 3 BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM WERE MISSING, AND THE THIRD WAS EASILY REMOVED BY FINGER. WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED ALL 3 WERE IN PLACE. THE ONE BOLT REMAINING DID NOT HAVE ANY LOCKING COMPOUND, NOR DID IT HAVE A MECHANICAL LOCKING DEVICE, SUCH AS A LOCK WASHER OR LOCK NUT. I INSTALLED 3 HARDENED BOLTS WITH LOCKING COMPOUND, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE FOR THE PAST 5 DAYS. IF THE THIRD BOLT HAD FALLEN OUT, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, AND THE PROBABLE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10511820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AND SUSTAINED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND THE JACK BROKE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE JACK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD BE THE CONTACTS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT. THE JACK WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA complaint #10373468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPPERATE PROPERLY. I HAD THE REGULATOR REPLACED. A YEAR LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED. THAT REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. A YEAR LATER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FAILED AGAIN. BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED, THE REAR DIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED AS WELL. BOTH REGULATORS ARE BEING REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THESE REPAIRS WILL BE OVER $2000. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT THE SAME PROBLEM CAN OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VW VEHICLES AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT IT - BE IT A DESIGN FLAW, MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, ETC. FAILED REGULATORS ARE BOTH A SAFETY AND SECURITY PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT NHTSA TAKES THESE COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10154541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

THE POWER WINDOWS ON MY 1998 VW JETTA III FAILED. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCASION 4 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD MY CAR. CURRENTLY BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE POWERS WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. I HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPAIRED SINCE ITS A VERY EXPENSIVE RAPAIR. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF 1998 VOLKSWAGON JETTA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TYPE OF CAR I HAVE.

NHTSA complaint #10098262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED WITH ONLY 45000, I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF JETTA OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME DEFECT. THE COST ESTIMATED AT VOLKSWAGEN WAS 1600 DOLLARS.

NHTSA complaint #764400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

VOLUME UNCONTROLLABLE; VOLUME BLASTS OR REDUCES AT WILL; SEVERE AUDIBLE SHOCK. NLM

NHTSA complaint #759887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS, SOME UNDIAGNOSED. UNSYMPATHETIC DEALERSHIP. REOCCURING PROBLEMS. MOST PROBLEMS OCCURRING AFTER LEASE/WARRANTY WERE UP. TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 2 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON, A/C NOT WORKING, ENGINE NOT STARTING ALTHOUGH STARTER WAS REPLACED, OR WHY ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING. ALL THE PROBLEMS APPEAR RELATED. THEY ALL OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME.THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW BECAUSE NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #731100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

THE SKI RACKS INSTALLED BY A DEALER CAME OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE SNOW BOARDS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. YH

NHTSA complaint #552576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE CAR HAS A REOCURRING PROBLEM WITH A MILDEW SMELL IN THE A/C SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAS SPRAYED DISINFECTANT IN THE VENTS AND WAS GOING TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN THE UNIT. THE REGIONAL VW REP. HAD SAID THAT SPRAYING WAS ALL THEY WERE GOING TO DO. HOWEVER, THERE IS A FLYER AT THE DEALER, PUBLISHED BY VW OFFERING AN OPTIONAL SERVICE TO ACRYLIC COAT THE EXAPORATOR. I FEEL THAT VW KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND WHILE I AM UNDER WARRANTEE, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE TO ME. VW DOES NOT AGREE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM EXISTING WITH BACTERIA LADEN WATER (LEGIONAIRES DISEASE, ETC). I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TREATED FOR A FUNGAL INFECTION ON MY TORSO THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS RELATED OR NOT, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF SKIN PROBLEMS IN MY 36 YEARS. THE SMELL IS HORRIBLE, AND I DON'T THINK A NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

NHTSA complaint #711793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

CD PLAYER FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #609465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER PIPE EXPLODED.

NHTSA complaint #609734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.