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Tracy of Fairview Park OH (4/30/05):
I have a 1999 Volkwagen Jetta Wolfsburg edition. I bought the car used but, until now, it has been an excellent car. A few months ago, the electric windows in the front and back on the passenger side of the car stopped working. Shortly thereafter, the back window on the driver's side of the car began to slip down into the door. I called the Volkswagen dealer on Lorain Ave. in North Olmsted (Cleveland), Ohio and was told that there was a recall on the late 1999 and 2000 models for window problems, but that since my car was an earlier 1999 model, it was not covered by the recall (even though it appears to be the same problem!) I then called Customer Care at Volkswagen of America, but they said there was nothing they would do, the vehicle was out of warranty, etc.
The consequences of Volkswagen's inaction to repair a known defect in the window mechanisms of this car have been that my passenger side windows won't go down -- a dangerous issue if there was to be a wreck and the windows could not be let down -- and that the back driver's side window slips down into the door, causing an inability to properly secure the car, as well as damage to the car from rain, etc. The window can be held up periodically by duct tape. I do not feel that I should have to pay for a known defect in the manufacturing of the car that has caused me anguish in not being able to properly secure my car and is devaluing the car.
Walter of Dexter MI (3/13/05):
More window regulator failures in 1997 Passat TDI. This is now failure number 9 in less than 3 years. The power window regulator fails, the window jumps the track and drops to the bottom of the door. This is compounded by faulty door latch roll pins which prevent the door from opening resulting in the real possibility of passengers being trapped in the car if the window fails to roll down, and the inability of rescue personnel to open the car doors from the outside.
Damages: Well over $1000 in repairs.
John of Laguna Niguel CA writes (3/12/02):
The power window regulator has failed three times in 9 months on my 1999 certified pre-owned VW GTI (Golf). So far, they've paid for the problem but act as if nothing is wrong. Volkswagen of America will not admit that there is a problem with the power window regulators on their vehicles, even though EVERY person that I know who has a new Jetta or Golf has had this happen. Simple research turns up dozens of complaints about the same problem, but not one instance of Volkswagen ever admitting to a design defect. This is just bad business. How many current owners will never buy a Volkswagen again?
Hillary of Pasadena, CA, writes:
I am the owner of a 1995 Volkswagen Jetta GLS, and I have had constant problems with the power windows, almost from the day I got it. Within a couple of months, one of my windows froze half up. I took it to my local dealer (I lived in Stockton, California at the time). In talking to an acquaintance who had the same make and model, she said she had had the same problem. Since then, my windows have frozen (either up, down, or in-between) no less than eight times among all of my power windows (I've lost count, it's happened so many times).
As I write this, my right rear window is stuck up, the left rear is stuck down, and the two front windows can only be rolled up or down with the key from the outside. I've taken it to two different dealers (Volkswagen of Santa Barbara and Stockton), as well as my local non-dealer mechanic at various times to have the problem fixed. Sometimes the windows spontaneously begin working again, other times when the motor is taken apart and reassembled, it begins working again. Once, all four went out at the same time, which was fixed by replacing the fuse. Then, it promptly blew out again within two days.
I've had two of the motors replaced (I think), and on one instance when I took my car to my non-dealer mechanic, he told me that the dealership had the window motors in stock, which are a $400 item. He said that this is an unusually high-priced part for the dealer to have in stock, which made him (and me) think that many other Volkswagen/Jetta owners were having the same problem as I was.
When one (or more) of my windows freezes down, I'm unable to take my car places I need to go, for fear of someone breaking in to or vandalizing my car. When one (or more) freezes up, I'm uncomfortable, even with the air conditioning (and it makes it difficult to order at drive-through restaurants!). These situations are very inconvenient, but nothing compared to having to go without my car while the problem is being fixed over and over again. I haven't calculated my exact out-of-pocket expenses related to the windows, but I would estimate it at over $2000 over the past 5 years, since my warranty ran out long ago.",""
Reading some of the complaints on your site, I found that Cabrio and Beetle owners have had similar problems. I am interested to know if there are any window-related class action lawsuits, and I am not aware of any window-related recalls.
Hillary's original complaint was filed during the summer. On Oct. 23, 2000, she sent us this update:
Since I wrote my complaint, I took my car to my local
dealership to be fixed (New Century Volkswagen in Glendale, California), and
the total cost came to -- get this -- $835.66! I had to replace two regulators
and a motor. The parts alone were nearly $500! I'm in the process of
reconstructing my service history concerning the windows, and have already
been informed by the dealership in Stockton, California (now called Toyota
Town) that the first time a window broke was under warranty in the Fall of
1995. This latest round of repairs with such a high price tag certainly adds
to my frustration! Thanks for your help!
Caroline
of Whitestone, NY, writes:
I
purchased a new Cabrio approx. 7mths ago. The motor on my
window went out and had to be replaced,the speaker on my car
did not work, and my transmission went.
When
I found out that the transmission went out I requested a new
one. Their answer was that I will get a rebuilt one. I feel
as if my car was made up of used parts.
The
reps that I spoke w/ did not return my calls or offer me any answers
to my questions.
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August 28 2008
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