Problems with 2000 Volkswagen Jetta ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I purchased a 2000 vw jetta on 6/16/10. two weeks after purchase, the vehicle began to have problems & since i have had the vehicle, it has had to have the following repairs: 2 fans, abs sensor would come on & lock up the wheels, so the system had to be unplugged, coolant system had to be replaced, a transmission replaced & a certified transmission specialist found it had been taken out prior & 4 cyl parts were used in a 6 cyl vehicle, & thermostat had to be replaced. the cost of repairs to date are approx. $5,200 & i only paid $4,995 for the vehicle. this vehicle is not safe and should not have been sold in the condition it was in. the seller failed to disclose that the vehicle had underlying problems after i inquired several times. the business should be held responsible for selling an unsafe vehicle and i wonder how many other vehicles the business has sold like this. i have this vehicle in for repairs more than i have been able to drive it & when i purchased it, the seller was aware i needed a reliable vehicle to get to the kidney transplant very quickly. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer diagnosed the failure as the catalytic converter and advised having it replaced. the manufacturer would not provide any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 82,000. the vin was not available.

Car will not start after being driven far enough to warm-up the engine. must wait several minutes--up to an hour--before it will start again. the process of trying a restart results in much unburned fuel vapor in the exhaust stream. the interior lighting does not turn on or off with the opening of a door. horn does not sound when locking the car, auto-drivers seat positioning does not work. on the highway, the car performs quite well--good engine power, steering, etc. however, the non-starting after being driven a distance could result in being stranded and placed in danger. *tt

My 2000 jetta gls vr6 has on three different occasions lost power when driving and the check engine light came on. on all three occasions, i brought the car to the vw service department to have it diagnosed as a faulty coil pack and wires. each time i replaced paying over $1000 out of my own pocket, for what is clearly a defective part with the vw coil packs in vr6 engines. *tr

While driving our 2000 vw jetta the timing belt that is not supposed to be serviced until 105k snapped, destroying the engine and leaving the car paralyzed on the highway. all required maintenance was done at dealer for this car. it had 89k when the catastrophic failure occurred. *tr

I own a 2000 vr6 jetta and i had to replace the ignition coil twice due to the defects of the ignition coil cracking. i read a complaint about this issue on this website back in 2005 and it is very expensive to replace the ignition coil. while i was driving the car, i lost power and it started to stall on me. i almost got into a car accident on the highway because i panic. i am a college student that relies on my car and i travel 300 miles to college. i noticed a lot of sparks by the ignition coil and i am very scared to drive my car because it might catch on fire. please help!!! *tr

Since vehicle was purchased, there has been numerous problems and issues with the vehicle. the most troublesome and expensive is the cooling system. i have had 3 different repair shops look at it and "fix it" only to have the car do the same thing. the temperature gauge does not indicate that the car is overheating, however, it must be. i have been stranded multiple times (almost everyday in my commute to from work and school), after i sit in traffic over 20 minutes, out of nowhere the radiator cap blows off the cooling reservoir spilling the liquid all over the engine and causing the car to smoke. i have even burned had a second degree burn from having to pull over and opening the trunk so i can refill after it cools. someone has yet to figure out what is wrong with the vehicle. the check engine light has been on for years, again only to have multiple people look at it, and not have the problem solved. i will crank the engine but the car will die out. but if i hit the speed control to set the speed it will stay on. the car will hesitate and i will start off slow then it will go at normal speed. last but not least i have gotten pulled over 3 times in the last 3 weeks because the brake lights go out. i have replaced these brake lights all recently but they will burn out within days with out me knowing. it is horrible vehicle, i have spent a lot of money trying to get it repaired. everytime it goes in the shop is for days i have to get a rental car everytime. enough to say that the car rental people know me by name! my job and school are affected by this each and everytime. i suffer from anxiety every time i get in the car because i don't know what will happen next! it is stressful and ridiculous having to deal with this. please help! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the spark plugs were changed on the vehicle. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they noticed that the sixth valve was losing pressure. the manufacturer recommended that the engine be replaced. the contact feels that the manufacturer should replace the engine because it was a safety issue. the current mileage with the new engine was 2,000 and the failure mileage with the old engine was 188,000. updated 08/21/09. *lj due to the cylinder 5 failure, the engine is burning excessive amounts of oil, emitting smoke from the tailpipe. the engine had already been replaced, but performing poorly. updated 08/26/09. *jb

My 2000 volkswagen jetta needed a full replacement of the oil pan and gasket. there is no reason that this part should need to be replaced. also at 121,000 miles the catalytic converter was replaced and volkswagen had it under extended warranty up to 120,000 and would not replace the part for me. there is no reason these parts should need replacement. the car has 129,500 miles on it, has been garaged, never been in an accident and has mostly highway miles on it. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for maintenance work. while it was being test driven at 30 mph, the engine failed. the mechanic stated that a seal failed, which allowed the engine to fail. the contact was unaware of which seal was affected. the dealer repaired the vehicle and installed a new engine. the mechanic also stated that they were aware of the failure due to numerous others that have experienced the same failure. the failure mileage was 86,900 and current mileage was 89,000. updated 03/05/09 *cn the engine had 2 broken rods the #3 and #4 and there were large holes in the block. the failure was due to hydraulic lock or a volume of oil getting in the cylinder and stopping the piston. updated 03/12/09. *jb

My 2000 vw jetta was being driven today by my fiance on 295 south in rhode island. he noticed the coolant light come on, and so looked at the temp gauge and saw that it had not risen any higher than normal. after keeping an eye on the gauge for a few minutes, he noticed it suddenly drop to 0 and so he pulled over, figuring a hose had broken or something to that extent. when he exited the vehicle he noticed some black smoke coming out from under the hood, and the hood itself starting to bubble from the heat. the car itself burst into flames at that point and my fiance had to back away from it immediately for fear that it would explode. the car had recently been inspected and was working perfectly fine except for a small coolant leak up until today, so we have no idea what caused such a sudden combustion. no one was hurt, thankfully, but it was only a matter of minutes before the car went from operating normally to being completely engulfed in flames, so he could very well have been hurt or worse. the fire dept and state police arrived and secured the area, which included blocking traffic completely on the highway for fear of an explosion, and put out the fire. the car was completely burned beyond recognition. *tr

I own a 2000 volkswagen jetta, the car has had numerous problems, i realize the car is old and was bought as is it still should maintain to properly run. it has caused a safety hazard when the cars water pump failed while i was on the freeway doing 75mph, it started to stall i was in the far left lane, i pulled over threw heavy traffic, it was a 1000 dollar repair, i have researched the problem and found numerous complaints about a failed water pump, also, the car starts and revs at 2000 rpms or it has trouble starting, check engine light comes on frequently and cant find the problem, engine malfunctions are numerous, i feel i should have some compensation from the vw corporation and all the other owners of a vw of this year with the same issues. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. since the vehicle was purchased in april of 2008, it stalls and shuts down without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. the failure code was located at the gas throttle position sensor. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 107,000 and current mileage was 113,770.

My sister was killed in a fire caused by a 2000 volkswagen jetta. she fell asleep with the car on. the car caught on fire and she was killed. the investigated are saying it was a failure of the exhaust system. *tr

I purchased a used certified 2000 volkswagen jetta in january 2004, after only one week of purchasing the vehicle, the engine light came on, the accelerator was making a vibrating sound and stalling continuously. okay, the transmission went out and it had to be replaced at my expense - i purchased a used transmission and then the engine throttle failed and the car wouldn't even start one day - had that replaced at my expense $1700. no the old parts are not available. okay, there's more, the brakes have been replaced a total of four times within three years, the engine light is still on, air bag light on, brake light on, lights and fog interior fuses and exterior lights have been replaced i don't know how many times, i have put so much money into this vehicle - and it still is running badly. as of today, the car won't move without warming it up first for about 45 minutes fully - when you press on the accelerator without warming it up first - it will stall and make a loud embarrassing noise as if the engine is going to explode - and you have to literally make it move by pressing very hard on the accelerator and praying that it won't just shut off while driving and never start again. my vehicle has 117,000 miles on it had 43,500 when i bought it (i know stupid wasn't i) it was my first vehicle. i know a car is not suppose to last forever, but dam does it have to cost so much to try and keep it running until it dies. please help me with any information you may have to assist me in this matter. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle began to shake and then shut off completely. the check engine warning indicator light illuminated and the contact smelled smoke. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the coil pack failed. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 84,000.

While driving at 65 mph on a 2 lane undivided hi-way; engine cut out, without warning of any kind (1.9 litre diesel-2000 jetta) this obviously caused an unsafe situation. vehicle would turn over but not start. dealer repaired by replacing power relay for engine control module (relay 109). have researched this relay on various sites, and found dozens of failed relays, some in similar circumstances. apparently, the original black relay fails, new relay is a change up (grey in colour). *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. while driving 2-60 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate when she depressed the accelerator pedal. the contact had to release then reapply the accelerator pedal. the repair shop stated that the egr cooler clogged the intake manifold. the intake manifold was cleared. the contact drove approximately twenty miles, and then noticed smoke coming from under the hood. the contact took the vehicle back to the repair shop and they stated that the egr leaked. the failure mileage was 87,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.

At about 50,000 miles as i was driving uphill the engine felt as if it was failing and losing power. it regained power, but the check engine light came on. i took it to an independent mechanic who ran a diagnostic, and found many codes on it, but nothing wrong. he cleared out the computer and sent me on my way. i now have 87,000 miles and have been having the same problem continuously. now, i have to take my car regularly by my mechanic to have the computer cleared out. the check engine light came on 2 days after he cleared it last time. i called volkswagen and they said there is no recall on the electrical system, but that they have had this complaint before. *nm

1) i purchased a vw tdi with a diagnosis of a bad turbo and an intermittent check engine light. i had the car seven months and put 12,984 miles on it with no problems. i took the car to the dealer and had the car diagnosed as to why the c.e. light was on. when asked about repairing the turbo by the counter man i told him i intend to drive it until it breaks then have it repaired. i asked him if there would be a problem doing that he explained to me the car would be sluggish then not run. vw diagnosed my car as having a "turbo waste gate blown" i deferred the repair intending to drive the car until the turbo went. 2) on the way home, six miles from the dealership, the car ran slightly rough. i observed light smoke coming from my car in the head lights of the cars behind me. i deducted my car was burning carbon since carbon build up was noted on the report. i slightly depressed the accelerator and the car raced forward. i immediately removed my foot from the gas pedal and nothing happened. the car raced forward so quickly and with such force i would compare it to a muscle car being floored. the car kept accelerating. i looked at the tachometer and it was going by 4,000 rpm. this diesel engine was screaming. instinctively i depressed the clutch to regain control of the car. the engine revved then blew. i was 7 miles from the dealership. service manger stated that a gasket in the turbo let go causing the engine to suck oil from the crankcase fueling the engine. he told me that nothing could stop the engine from revving not even turning off the key. he told me that all diesel engines were made this way. there is nothing vw could do for me. i called vw customer service, level 2 operator told me since i was told about the turbo being broken there is nothing they can do. 3) my car is sitting with a blown engine and a blown turbo. *jb

After coming up a steep hill in a heavy snowstorm, the engine of my 2000 gls v6 volkswagen jetta caught fire and burned up. the car was in excellent condition and well serviced. i parked the car in the garage and there was no sign or smell of smoke. after the third trip out to the car to unload groceries, smoke began to come out from the hood. fortunately, i was able to get the car out of the garage or my home would have burned to the ground. despite the cold temperatures and snowstorm outside, flames soon began to drop below the car from the engine and flames 8 feet high engulfed the front half of the car before the fire department could put out the fire. just before arriving home, by low gas light came on (it was expected), but no warning appeared about the temperature of the engine. i would have immediately pulled over had there been a high temperature warning. the coolant level was normal. because of the unusual circumstances, i believe the cooling system is faulty. *jb

This complaint concerns the 2000 vw jetta tdi diesel. apparently, the egr system, in conjunction with the closed crankcase ventilation system, provides an opportunity for the crankcase oil vapors and soot from the egr to mix in the engine intake manifold. with time, the intake manifold becomes almost completely clogged with this oil/soot mixture, causing the engine to lose power and hamper such normal driving activities such as highway merging, passing, and emergency accident avoidance procedures due to loss of power. volkswagen usa, the manufacturer, in many cases refuses to acknowledge the safety issue in regards to this gradual and severe loss of power, resulting in owner paid service charges which may exceed $1000 dollars (in some cases). nowhere in any of the advertising or marketing literature of the vw tdi engines is a reference made to required periodic "intake cleanings" and it's inherent service costs. this vehicle is clearly not designed for safe and continued usage in the united states - people are going to get killed driving these things if vw doesn't acknowledge and repair this design defect, especially in high traffic areas. *jb

My o2 sensor was replaced and now two need to be replaced again. i was told that i have to pay for this to be replaced again. this has caused my catylytic convertor to go bad.

I bought the car may of 2004 since then have had to replace o2 sensors 2 times. and is in the shop right now its been there for a week. there telling me that it was from maryland that the problem occurred in. yet when i drive the car it dies. how did the guy get it here from maryland with it braking down all the time. i feel as if their trying to take advantage of me because they don't want to fix it for me and i'm a women so they think i know nothing about cars. this is affecting my life and work. *jb

Car temperture gauge suddenly shot up to 230 degrees this particular morning. the vehicle usually signals us if there is something wrong i.e. brake light, engine light, oil, etc. without prior warning and knot knowing why this is happening the car was driven to the dealership instead of the intended destination. the customer service rep at dealeship guestimated that a water pump needed replaced which is causing the vehicle to overheat. the car could not be serviced that day due to prior appointments of the dearlership. the car was driven back home until late sunday evening when the car was driven back to the dealership for possible repair monday morning. car was smoking and then tunred off. the car was towed to the dealership monday evening. as of tuesday 6/7/05 the mechanins at the dealership report that the car cannot be repaired due to the hoses melting into the engine. the car was serviced several times prior to the incident at the same dearlership, once even for inspection in february 2005 and this repair was never mentioned. since feb. the car has been serviced for oil changes and several minor repairs needed such as mirror, cup holder, tires, etc. prior to the incident the car was driven over 300 miles and no warning light or signal was given. now the car is unrepairable. the dearlership claims that a 2000 vw jetta is only worth 1500 dollars!

Five separate parts of the cooling system have failed within a six month period. two covered under warranty, three more resulting in approximately $1400 in repairs. water pump, thermostat, and radiator hose all were replaced. also replaced a flange and a plastic pipe. *nm

At 46,747 miles change-over-valve/intake manifold failed to operate properly. international auto body mechanic diagnose problem as requiring a new intake manifold. vw of america fixed problem under power train warranty but changed valve not manifold. valve failed again in 10 months but warranty has now expired and coverage has been refused. warranty work performed did not resolve problem but served only to allow warranty to expire. *jb

Check engine light came on one week ago. had oxygen sensor replaced 3 days ago because that's what the diagnostics showed that it needed. today the check engine light came on again and won't go away. can't afford to spend money having mechanics "attempt" to fix this problem. i know it's a common vw jetta issue and i want something done about it! *nm

Most recently, the water pump failed. apparently this is another common failure, which should be covered by a recall. here is the list of other problems i have had: -both window regulators failed (covered by recall) -tensioner pulley on serpentine belt failed at 40000 miles ($400) -maf sensor at 47000 miles (covered by recall) -catalytic converter failed 50000 miles (covered by emissions recall) -alternator failed at 55000 miles ($450 - using rebuilt alternator) -water pump failed at 60,000 miles ($350 repair bill). the question is...what's next? i plan to sell the car within the next few months. *jb

I purchased a 2000 vplkswagen jetta in the year 2002, pre-owned. i have had nothing but problems with it since i bought it, and now am trading it in, and taking a $3000 loss. here is a list of the problems i have had in the last 2 years listed from first problems to most recent: 1. window tray broke, window fell into the door. $300 2. trunk latch broke, had to get replaced $50 3. sunroof broke, would not move and needed the entire thing replaced including the motor. $1800 4. water pump leaked out all coolant, needed to be replaced $ 600 5. strut coil snaped in half while driving, needed to replace both sides $500 6. lastly, (this is the point when i decided to file a complaint and trade the car in for another brand) water leaking from the electrical panel on top of inside roof. sunroof then malfunctioned, opening when the car was started and the knob was not touched. had to pay to disconnect power sunroof. whatever you do, please, do not buy a vw jetta. that is unless you want to have it continually in the shop and having to spend a lot of money on repairs. *ak

There is a continuing problem with the exhaust system. i have had to have it repaired 3 times in the last year and half. the volkswagen dealership has repaired it over and over again. i am getting really worried that one of these days something really bad is going to happen,and i may be injured. i would buy another car but i simply can't afford it. after fixing an exhaust 3 times who could afford anything else. i am a loyal volkswagen owner and this is the second vw i have owned and i never had a problem with any of the other cars. if there is anything you can do to help it would be greatly appreciated you. *jb

My car has 58,000 miles on it and like many others on this site it has suffered problem after problem with each one getting more serious. i have replaced a mass air flow sensor,glove box,turbo parts,and some plastic clips on the arm rest. but, when the air conditioner, fuel gauge started acting up, and the fact that this car has stalled on us three or more times recently (while out driving),then safety becomes an issue. the dealership could not fix the problem with the air conditioner coming and going or the stalling problem, as for the fuel gauge, we just fill up for every 280 miles put on the tripmeter. *ak

Failure of drivers side power window - first time, however i expected it to happen since i found 53 complaints on this web site alone. this isn't the first time to encounter major repairs on this car. just 4 weeks ago paid 1,100 dollars to replace oil pump and mass airflow meter. why isn't there a recall yet? *ak

2000 vw tdi manual transmission with 65,000 miles. engine check light comes on, definite loss of power, worse when engine has been running for awhile. car has no acceleration and can not hold speed going up relatively minor hills. took it to the dealer who put it on the computer, said that the wastegate valve was stuck but was okay now. problem reoccured. definite safety problem on highway because there is no acceleration available to the driver.*ak

2000 vw jetta 1.8 turbo. check engine light came on around 35,000 miles, replaced mass air flow sensor for $99.00 after calling corporate vw. check engine light came on at 45,000 miles. replace mass air flow sensor again for free, replaced brake light switch, replaced turbo sensor and several relays for $280.00. replaced clutch at 51,000 miles, found out they use the same parts as the tdl on the turbo car. currently have a blown head gasket, more than likely due to the mass air flow sensor and turbo sensor causing issues with the engine. estimated repair costs $1200.00. *ak

Bought the used 2000 jetta in may 2004. a month later in the dealer because check engine light went on. they changed oxygen sensor. car started stalling/hesitating again and several weeks later in the dealer again. they changed the mass air flow sensor. continued to hesitate/stall and went into service again and they found nothing wrong. no codes are coming up showing there is something wrong. this car is going again on monday november 22, 2004 into dealer for the same problem. the problem has never been corrected and i can't believe i have such problems with this car that cannot be corrected. it only has 43,000 miles on the car and this is probably the reason it was traded in and has low miles.*ak

Owner's son was driving volkswagen and it started overheating. during the course of the evening, he tried a few times to let car cool down and then continue driving, but the engine would continue to overheat. he managed to continue driving and noticed smoke coming from the back of the volkswagen. he shut the engine off and coasted to a stop. he got out and noticed sparks dripping from underneath the vehicle. the vehicle became engulfed in fire. cause undetermined, but spark plugs showed evidence of a rich air/fuel mixture. *nm

Who would have thought that a 4 year old vehicle could fail emisions inspection?stohlman, the volkswagen dealership stated that the repair of the oxygen sensor was covered by warranty, but they still charged me for labor. i want to be reimbursed for the labor charge. *ak

From stop the vehicle would sometime stall. the consumer was unable to accelerate. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the vehicle had a bad mass air flow sensor (maf) and was replaced. the dealer found nothing wrong with the vehicle. the driver side door lock did not always lock automatically and would cause the alarm to sound. the problem was diagnosed but the problem was not fixed. the vehicle alarm would sound when the vehicle was started. *sc

While driving 60 mph vehicle stalled. vehicle was towed to a dealer, and technician determined engine needed to be replaced. *ak

I am experiencing a loss of power on hills and when trying to accelerate an intermitant check engine light appears. i own a vw jetta tdi 2000. the dealer diagnosed the problem 1st as a turbo control module, $252.00. some increase in power but not very much, check engine light off. 2nd trip to dealer after an 1-1/2 hour discussion about charging me another diagnostic fee and my consenting the problem was diagnosed as carbon in intake and egr valve replacement. i asked 4 questions :how does carbon get in an air intake?, how did the technician determine this was problem? why wasn't it identified the 1st time i took car in and what guarantee would i get? the dealer would not or could not answer these questions and the customer service rep at vw america has not answered them but has offered to pay 100% parts and labor for the repair after two days of calling and trying to get an answer from both of them. don, is the customer service rep who offered to pay for repair upon my going to another dealer and paying for another diagnostic to verify the problem, as the first dealer has refused service to the vehicle because i insisted on answers to my questions before ok'ing repair. the number i called for vw america is 1-800- 822-8987. i have about 81,000 miles on the car and this problem creates a serious saftey hazard on the interstate or any highway where a slow moving vehicle may be a hazard. *ak

Owner tried to start engine after vehicle sitting unused for one week. engine would not start, so owner jump-started it and let it run approximately 5 minutes. owner then drove vehicle approximately 8 minutes and noticed smoke coming from the center console and the right front of the vehicle. pulled over and called the fire department. exhaust system was overheated and showed blue heat discoloration. plastics and carpet on center floor of passenger compartment were burned.

Oil burns excessively. as a result, catalytic converter malfunctioned, and was replaced twice within four months.*ak

While driving at any speed vehicle lost power and stalled. dealer replaced the intake air filter which was clogged at consumer's expenses of $ 1,892.94. *ak the consumer was informed that the problem was due to the throttle body and the intake had carbon build up. the intake and egr were cleaned and the air mass meter was replaced . the air meter was defective. after the repairs, the consumer noticed that the engine would continue to come on. *sc

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the vehicle would jerk abnormally with the illumination of the check engine warning lamp. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised that the mass flow air sensor failed. the contact had received notification of a voluntary manufacturers recall in regards to prior to the failure. the vehicle was repaired under the recall. less than four years later, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was then contacted yet they offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 42,000. updated 07/20/11*lj the sensor light for the mass air flow replaced twice in december 2007 and again in june 2011. updated 07/25/11

Mass airflow sensor and coolant temperature switch failure at 47000 miles. volkswagen of america stated car outside of 36 month emissions warranty.*ak

Took car for routine oil change. was informed that there was a crack in the engine block and that the entire engine needs to be replaced. this was confirmed by a vw dealer, however, no one seems to know why the engine block would get a crack. in fact, the dealer told me that they had only ever seen this incident once before. my car had never overheated or anything prior to this. the car is now sitting in my garage because i cannot do anything with it. it cannot be sold and i can't afford $7100 for a new engine. in fact the car is not even worth that much. this is not the first problem that i have had with the car...there have been numerous other things (such as the check engine light/mass air flow sensor, fuel tank had to be replace twice, the trunk latch broke one day, the rear breaks had premature wear, glove box latch broke). these are poorly constructed vehicles. i wish i could get rid of it.*ak

Check engine light coming on intermittently and the car began to idle poorly and stall, becoming dangerous to drive. the car was checked for error codes and it was determined the mass air flow sensor had to be replaced. the car is just out of warranty and the service dept quoted over $400 to repair. spoke with an independent parts store, they said the same part is used in 4 cyl and 6 cyl 2000 jetta's, and vw is charging around $60 for the 4 cyl and well over $150 for the 6 cyl, for the same part. i have the 2000 6 cyl jetta and they would not sell me the part.

Failure of vehicle's air mass sensors.*mr the mass air flow sensor failed. a new throttle body was also installed. the consumer believes these parts were poorly designed. *nlm

Purchased new jetta 1.8t from dealer in 8/00. have taken it back several times due to check engine light and back firing w/slight hesitation on acceleration. they replaced air filter 8/01, 10/3/01 replaced defective sensor & valve, 2/02 couldn't find reason for continued backfiring, had oil change and reset light. next couple of times the light came on they said to wait a couple of days --it did go off. 5/03 they performed diag test and reset light. said if came on again i'd need catalytic converter. 8/13 in shop again for check engine light this time diag test said they should replace the mass air flow sensor & wiring. told me not under warranty even though the check engine light has been a consistent ongoing problem. will be calling vw customer care. *jb