11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Biggest mistake of my life so far...
Date of Review: Apr 8, 2003
The Bottom Line: It's too bad there aren't more diesel cars on the market because the diesel engine is great technology. The package around the engine... Plagued with problems.
I purchased a 2002 VW Jetta Wagon TDI. The first problem, which I was told could not be fixed, was the tremendous wind buffeting noise that occurs when the windows are down. I am constantly having to adjust the windows (sunroof, front, and rear) at different speeds because of the sound. It is deafening and feels like you are being beamed up into a spaceship. Then, the windows have a nasty way of intermittently rolling down when you are trying to roll them up. Usually the second try will do it, but not always. The doors have been tightened twice so far but they're starting to feel loose again. The stereo quit working one day (no time, no cd, no sound, nothing). My dealer said they were recalled and had to be replaced. My car was in for the fourth warranty repair (10 months; 12,000 miles) and the sunroof leaked at the dealership. The dealer said it was because there was so much dirt and debris in the tracks that the water had no where to go. The dealer said it wasn't a warranty issue and advised me to contact my insurance company. My car had never been on a dirt road, was always garaged, and was washed with loving care weekly. I'd never bought a new car so I took care of it well. The dealer said he didn't know what to tell me but "that much dirt build up is not a warranty issue." About two weeks later he called and said fortunately he had an employee in VW repair class and the employee learned that the oil used to lube the sunroof had been recalled because it hardens and causes the tubes to block thereby causing the sunroof to leak. They repaired the sunroof (under warranty) along with all of the floor mats, lining, etc. Now it smells like mold (really, really bad) and I'm heading to arbitration. It's unreal how many problems this car has had.