NHTSA Complaint #764780 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

THE FRONT BUMPER IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. WHEN PARKING, THE FRONT BUMPER PASSES OVER STANDARD CONCRETE 'TIRE STOPPERS'. WHEN REVERSING OUT OF THE STALL (EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS), THE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY DETACHES FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN'S SUGGESTED SOLUTION IS "NOT TO PULL SO FAR INTO THE PARKING SPACE". UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF YOU ARE TOO "FAR IN" UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE AND THE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. I HAVE PERSONALLY OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM OCCUR ON AT LEAST FOUR OTHER JETTAS (BOTH HERE IN HONOLULU AND ON THE MAINLAND). ON OUR JETTA ALONE, THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN MAKING COSMETIC REPAIRS TO THE BUMPER, COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE BUMPER ASSEMBLY WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, A PARTIALLY DETACHED BUMPER ASSEMBLY COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK