2001 Volkswagen Jetta
The Verdict
The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has 681 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (253 complaints) and body (161 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 15/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Jetta, consider the 2025 model year which has 96% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 96% fewer complaints
View the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 138 | 34 | 107 | 151 | 32 |
| 2001 | 161 | 65 | 253 | 146 | 56 |
| 2002 | 178 | 44 | 264 | 131 | 94 |
| 2003 | 144 | 20 | 173 | 74 | 51 |
| 2004 | 55 | 10 | 58 | 79 | 31 |
| 2005 | 29 | 11 | 56 | 79 | 73 |
| 2006 | 80 | 27 | 150 | 105 | 216 |
| 2007 | 35 | 42 | 64 | 32 | 28 |
| 2008 | 36 | 21 | 57 | 30 | 45 |
| 2009 | 82 | 203 | 98 | 413 | 107 |
| 2010 | 97 | 57 | 222 | 422 | 77 |
| 2011 | 125 | 26 | 205 | 249 | 33 |
| 2012 | 144 | 33 | 145 | 159 | 33 |
| 2013 | 123 | 15 | 125 | 145 | 104 |
| 2014 | 76 | 15 | 99 | 138 | 52 |
| 2015 | 59 | 15 | 47 | 55 | 17 |
| 2016 | 30 | 18 | 32 | 69 | 11 |
| 2017 | 37 | 12 | 38 | 61 | 10 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| 2019 | 109 | 20 | 115 | 165 | 127 |
| 2020 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 4 |
| 2021 | 17 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 2 |
| 2022 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 2 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JS
TAKATA RECALL -THE VEHICLE
THE CHANGE IN GEARS FEELS ROUGH. IT SEEMS AS IF THE GEARS ARE SKIPPING OR BEING FORCED. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED DOWN BUT THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CARS FEELS AS IF IT IS STRUGGLING.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD LIKE 35 OR 40 MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED,, THE ONE FROM THE SEAT AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG ONE ... I ALMOST WENT DOWN OUT OF THE ROAD ... IT GOT ME BY SURPRISE
MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT OFF. I HAVE BOUGHT A NEW COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE HAS CAME BACK ON.PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS CAR.THANKS.GOD BLESS U.
STARTER PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR MOST TIMES WILL SCREECH REALLY LOUD. LED TO THE CONCLUSION IT IS THE STARTER FROM ONLINE FORUMS OF OWNERS OF SAME GENERATION JETTAS. SEEMS TO BE A PREMATURE WEAR ITEM. CAR HAS UNDER 130,000 MILES AND OTHER CARS OF SAME AGE AND MILEAGE DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. FELL LIKE THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE STARTER.
CAR WILL STALL AT A 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN IN MOTION. IT WILL DO THIS AT ANY SPEED OR ON ANY ROAD GOING UPHILL OR DOWN HILL. HAVE PUT 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS IN CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP SOLENOID AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW.
THE WELD HOLDING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD BROKE OFF. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS VERY MINIMAL RUST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED, AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD ISSUES OPENING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN COOLANT FAN, ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET, BOTH REAR SHOCK AND MOUNTS, BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS, FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, AND BOTH OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,354.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WHILE PREPARING TO DRIVE OFF. I WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS MOMENTARILY. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED. I WAS PUT ON A STRETCHER AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR 8 HOURS. THE AIRBAG OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. SOME TIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. VOLKSWAGEN INSPECTED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS FAULTY IN THE VEHICLE
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON MY 2001 VW JETTA DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS PARKING MY CAR AT WORK. AS I CAME TO A FULL STOP WHERE I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM INSIDE THE CAB OF MY JETTA. THE LOUD BANG DISTORTED MY THINKING PROCESS AS I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE LOUD NOISE CAME FROM. AS THE SMOKE FILLED MY CAR I STILL COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPEN UNTIL I LOOKED AROUND INSIDE THE CAB OF MY CAR AND WITH THE SMOKE INSIDE THE CAB I WAS ABLE TO SEE A WHITE BAG STICKING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT IN MY CAR, THIS IS WHEN I KNEW THAT THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME, THERE WERE NO HEAVY WINDS BLOWING EARLY THAT MORNING, AND I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES NOR DID I HIT ANY SIDE CURVES WHILE PARKING MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG STILL WENT OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR INTERIOR SEAT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS BOTH ON THE FREEWAY AND ON THE STREETS. THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING, ENGINE SHUTS OFF. WHEN I PULL TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE CAR STARTS WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP, BUT THE ISSUE WASN'T IDENTIFIED AFTER THE INSPECTION, TEST DRIVING AND CODE READING.
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES SOFT AS A MARSHMALLOW NOT WARNING NOTICE GOT STOPPED AND THERE WAS A HISSING NOISE BUT NO BRAKE FLUID ON ANY OF THE BRAKES...... I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH AFTER REPLACING THE WATER PUMP IT KEEPING FLUID IN IT ALSO USING THE GEICO DISCOUNT EQUIPMENT TO SEE HOW MY DRIVING IS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ONE ABOVE THAT THE LOOKS LIKE A TRIANGLE.... DID THE DIAGNOSTIC CAME UP WITH A 1000 CODE AND ONE OTHER THE DEAL DIDN'T FIND THE 1000 CODE BUT RESET WITH NO LUCK TURNING THEM OFF AFTER SERVICE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO MY PARENTS HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH FOUR OTHER PASSENGERS WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER THORAX AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING SHUTTING OFF MY ENGINE AND FILLING MY CAR WITH SMOKE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE BODY, SUSPENSION, OR TIRE OF MY VEHICLE AND NOT NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING AFTER THE INCIDENT. TWO OF MY PASSENGERS SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRAPES TO THEIR ARMS, SHOULDERS, NECK, AND RIBS, AS WELL AS TEMPORARY HEARING IMPAIRMENT ONE OF THOSE PASSENGERS BEING A CHILD. CURRENTLY THERE IS A HOLE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THE AIRBAG RIPPED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND DAMAGE TO MY HEADLINER. THE AIRBAGS' DEPLOYMENT WAS UNWARRANTED AND HAS ROBBED ME OF MY PIECE OF MIND WHILE DRIVING. I FLINCH EVERY TIME I AM UNABLE TO AVOID A ROAD IMPERFECTION FOR FEAR THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO SOMEONE GOING FASTER THAN I WAS--THAT SITUATION COULD END TRAGICALLY. *TR
ON MY WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT 1 DAY LAST YR, I HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER ON THEN MY CAR STARTS OVERHEATING. I WAS PANICKING, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR. I BARELY GOT HER IN 2011 AND I'VE HAD ENDLESS PROBLEMS WITH HER. WHEN SHE RUNS GOOD, SHE RUNS GREAT BUT OHH WHEN SHE HAS PROBLEMS, SHE BRINGS YOU ABSOLUTE HELL. IT BEGAN AS A SLOW LEAK & ODDLY ENOUGH ONLY LEAKING SOMETIMES. WE TOOK MY JETTA TO A SHOP IN VALENCIA AND GOT THE HOSES AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED. WHATEVER REASON THE MECHANICS DID NOT NOTICE IT, OR NOTICED IT & WERE TRYING TO SQUEEZE MORE MONEY OUT OF ME WHILE THEY DID A TEMPORARY FIX. BARELY THIS YEAR I DISCOVERED THANKS TO MY HANDY MECHANICS SAVVY BOYFRIEND - THAT IT WAS MY WATER PUMP WHICH IS DEFECTIVE. 2 INJURIES OCCURRED TO MY BOYFRIEND THANKS TO THIS OVERHEATING PROBLEM. DRIVING ON THE FWY WE STOPPED TO PUT WATER (RELIGIOUSLY CARRYING 4 GALLONS OF WATER IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES) IN 100* WEATHER W/ NO A/C & ME BEING SEVERELY HEAT INTOLERANT, MY BOYFRIEND TOOK OFF THE CAP TO THE RADIATOR. THAT'S WHEN BOILING HOT WATER EXPLODED ALL OVER HIM. LUCKILY I'M FIRST AID CERTIFIED AND HAD MY FIRST AID KIT HANDY & TENDED TO HIM. HE BEGAN TO BLISTER INSTANTANEOUSLY. THAT SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN BUT WITH MY TEMP. GAUGE READING AT REGULAR TEMP. STILL EXPLODING ALL OVER HIM. I WAS LEFT TRAUMATIZED SEEING MY BOYFRIEND GET BURNT AND SO SEVERELY IN PAIN, AS WELL AS MY OWN EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS ALONE: MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND ME HAD A SLOW REFLEX TO MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS: I ALMOST GOT HIT 5 TIMES: LUCKY FOR ME, MY HORN WORKS. WELL, NOW THE WATER LEAKS OUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE POUR IT IN. MY CAR IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHE'S ALL I HAVE. I'M JOBLESS & HOMELESS RIGHT NOW & IF I WERE TO LOSE MY CAR, I'D BE LEFT COMPLETELY HOPELESS HAVING TO START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TL TIRES, SIZE 195/65R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY HAD A BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN, TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE, AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. JCC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ADJUST THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INDICATOR SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
681 total