2001 Volkswagen Jetta problems
The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has 862 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (14%) concerns electrical system. After that come engine (14%) and air bags (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 862 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 44 and 15
- Injuries and deaths
- 54 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 51,000 miles 454 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 55 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 109 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 98 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 59 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 52 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 34 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 24 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 10 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 454 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 51,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 44,000 miles (75 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 44 complaints mention a crash; 15 complaints mention a fire; 54 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta with enough data (654 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving down the highway for no visable reason, airbags on passenger side deployed. Side seat airbags and all the celling airbags deployed. I did not see anything in the road and no physicall damage was donr to my car. VW said to contact my ins and tell them I had a reck. I did not and would not lie to them. At this time nothing has been fixed.
While driving smoke filled in car, flames appeared between driver seat & counsel. My 17 y/o got 2nd degree burns putting out flame. Airbag, driver side deployed while car was shut off and seat was being moved back. This caused pain to my husband's arm.
While driving at 40 MPH the consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle and no air bags deployed. The front end was smashed in and the vehicle is totaled. Please provide details.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle intermittently stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact experienced failure identical to the one mentioned in the recall, although the VIN was excluded from the recall. The VIN and recall number were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 52,000.
I bought this car used in 2003 and had problems with it since. ESC light comes on all the time. Replaced ignition coils, mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, and spark plugs multiples times to try and fix the check engine light that keeps coming back on. It keeps spitting out random cylinder misfire codes. Passenger side window broke. The arm rest hinge broke. The glove compartment hinge broke. Brake lights need replacing constantly.