NHTSA Complaint #10132168 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I PURCHASED MY JETTA IN MARCH 2002, AND EXPERIENCED NO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 30,000 MILES. ON JULY 19, 2003, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO VW AFTER HEARING A RATTLING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS AND IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT (MILEAGE: 33,996). THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, HOWEVER AT THE SAME TIME, THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED DUE TO A VW RECALL, THE FIRST OF SEVERAL. I CONTINUED TO CONTEND WITH THE RATTLING FOR SEVERAL MORE MONTHS, AND FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO VW ON NOVEMBER 14, 2003 (MILEAGE: 39,038). AT THIS POINT, THE PRESSURE HOSE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR FUNCTIONED WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL JULY 2004, WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WORKED SPORADICALLY. I DID NOT REALIZE THE CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM UNTIL AUGUST 25, 2004, WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW SERVICE SHOP IN, WHERE I WAS CHARGED $4 FOR A COOLING FAN FUSE AND $90 IN LABOR (NOT TO MENTION THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO ANOTHER PRODUCT RECALL). I WAS CHARGED $101.76, AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT SOLVED! ON AUGUST 27, 2004, I SPENT $659.04 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO HAVE BOTH THE AC AND RADIATOR COOLING FANS REPLACED (MILEAGE: 52,650). I DROVE MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOVEMBER 16, 2004, WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SPENT ANOTHER $93.28 FOR A NEW COOLANT SENSOR, COOLANT REFILL, AND LABOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON IN APRIL 2005, AND RESULTED IN ANOTHER TRIP TO THE MECHANIC, COSTING ME ANOTHER $45.53. ON AUGUST 5, 2005 (MILEAGE: 68K), MY CAR OVERHEATED YET AGAIN. THE CURRENT SITUATION I AM FACED WITH IS $450 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND $150 TO REPLACE A VACUUM HOSE. I AM HESITANT TO DRIVE MY CAR, FOR FEAR THAT IT WILL OVERHEAT AGAIN, OR WORSE, WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. *NM