Owner was driving Volkswagen and noticed sparks coming from the glovebox area. He pulled over, opened the glovebox, but saw only smoke. He then opened the hood and observed flames on the left side of the bulkhead/firewall. Fire burned throughout the passenger compartment, the front undercarriage, and part of the engine compartment. Cause undetermined.

- Seekonk, MA, USA

We purchased our 2001 Jetta 1.8L turbo wolfsburg edition in Jan of 2003 from a certified used VW dealer. When we drove off the lot, not 5 minutes later, the turbo seemed to fail and we began to lose power, epc light came on, check engine light came on. We immediately took car back to dealer and they fixed problem. Everything ran fine until Sept 2003 our check engine light came on, shortly after we received notice that there had been a recall regarding ignition coils. We took our vehicle to a local dealership where they replaced the coils free of charge. This solved the light issue for a couple of months, then it came back on again, this time when idling fluctuating between 700 RPM and about 1500 RPM and stalling on occasion. We took the car to a local garage and they ran a diagnostics, cleared the failures to see if that solved the problem, which it did temporarily...ever since we have been running diagnostics trying to determine why our check engine light keeps coming on, each time the problem is temporarily solved. At first the mechanic thought it was the airflow sensor, but once they looked closer determined it was a different problem. We have had corrosion removed, connections cleaned, and our lambda sensor replaced. Now our car continues to run and idle poorly and sporadically, the car stalls when you slow, the turbo works on occasion, losses power when accelerating, when car first starts it barely moves with accelerator floored, brakes are very sluggish, sometimes really having to push to get car to stop. No one seems to know what the problem is. Everytime we take it in multiple errors pop up, last time there was 17 fault codes, mechanic keeps going down the list of what to check hoping to find the problem. The bill just keeps getting bigger and nothing has been solved. Recently think that the original issue and current issues are one in the same as symptoms are becoming more similar. Help!

- Apo, AE, USA

I have a 2001 volkswagan Jetta. At least 2 or 3 times, I had my epc light switch came on on the dashboard. Each time, I had to pay out of my pockets to get it fix. When the epc light comes on, I cannot get the gear out of park. I have to constantly pump on my brakes to get it out of park. This can take anywhere from 3 minutes to an hour. I seriously believe that there is a defect with this product. I ask other volkswagan owners and they also said that their epc light comes on occasionally.

- Miami, FM, USA

Cel light would turn on and off. Car started to idle bad, sometimes it would not move when cold even with gas fully depressed. Then the car began to stall while driving. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the maf but the symptoms are still here and the car is returning to the shop today. I have read many, many accounts of the same issue.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

I purchased a 01 Volkswagen Jetta in July of 04 and in les than a month it began to stall as I was driving, so I pulled over and it could not start again. I got it towed was told it was my battery and got that replaced, then it happened again a few months later and I was told it was my alternator and got that changed. A few month ago the car would not start again, I was told it was my sensors and got that changed, within 2 months it has happened about 6 times and I've had 3 diagnostic tests that reveal nothing is wrong with the car. I don't know what else to do, al least if I know what the problem is I can fix it. But my car keeps refusing to start( for hours at a time) and everyone tells me the car is ok.

- Nmb, FL, USA

I have a 2001 VW Jetta. In the past two years I have had to replace both my brake lights 8 times. Including my headlights 3 times. My interior lights work and then they don't. I know I have an electrical problem. I had the car looked at once by the dealer and they said I must have bought a bad bulb! yesterday was the 8th time my brake light went out.

- Rochester, NH, USA

82,5310.00 just replaced the catalytic converter. We have always had some type of an electrical problem from the beginning. Cd player and stereo. Cd lcd panel would say no cd in which you would have a cd in the jacket if you kept pushing the button sometimes it would work. At times you can only read half the call letters for stations. Rolling down back of the windows you would hear a very loud pressure thumping noise. So loud you could not roll down the window in the back. When you would take the car in. Mechanic's always said, it was basically our imagination.

- Round Hill, VA, USA

Earlier this year, there was a recall for the brake light switch on my 2001 VW Jetta. The dealership replaced this. However, within the last month, the automatic shift lock (asl) has not allowed me to shift out of park on numerous occasions. Usually, I am able to wait a minute and the asl light will go off, or I turn off the car or fiddle with the steering wheel. However, three times this past week I have gotten stuck and have had to abandon the car temporarily. The last time, I was finally able to get it out of park and drive it to my local mechanic (I had an appointment with my dealership, but I couldn't get in for a week). He noticed that my brake lights were out again, and believes that the brake light malfunction may be related to the asl malfunction. This may explain why the electronic power control (epc) light turns on whenever the asl light turns on, as it indicates a problem in the electronics. The local mechanic is currently examining the problem.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA

The consumer stated 2001 Volkswagen Jetta had problems with the lights staying on. Also had a loss power issue. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership to have this problem fixed. After the car left the dealership it ran fine for a couple of hours. Then the problem recurred.. the lights were coming back on, and the car was still losing power. The car has been to the dealership twice. The was kept in the shop for three weeks. The car was under warranty both times when the problem occurred. The consumer thought that the dealership was not fixing the car correctly. The first time the car would not go over 5 mph. Then second time it would not go over 60 mph, then it took more time than usual to get up to 60 mph. This problem happened for about 3 weeks. The manufacturer has not been contacted at this point. The dealership told the consumer that the problem was electrical.

- Quncey, MA, USA

When I activate the turn signal, right or left, the signal will blink at an irregular interval and then die. This interval is not fixed...its random. Sometimes the light will blink for a while, sometimes it will blink once and die. It's the emergency flasher switch. I have not corrected it yet. I've looked at the fuses, all are socketed properly and not blown. I've looked at all 6 lights closely, and they are working and appear to be shining with the same intensity.

- Long Branch, NJ, USA

Epc light came on, could not get car out of park, ABS light came on, brake light came on, epc light came on again, mil light came on, window needed to be replaced-cable assembly failed & could not operate window, turn signals became inoperable, engine cover clamp loose, radio shorted out, epc light came on (again--3rd time!!) and again could not get car out of park, battery dies and drains car due to shortage in drivers door latch assembly, air-conditioning fails. Could not drive car. Had to have brake light switch replaced 3 times!! note, car was only 2 1/2 months old upon first incident.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

Using cup holder above cliamate control and radio lead to short circuit of climate control and the functionality of my radio. The buttons on ghe radio does not work as it use to. I will replace the climate control as soon as I can save up over $600 not to include labor.

- San Leandro, CA, USA

At no time do the hazard lights or the signal lights work. At first, the problem was intermittent, but soon became permanent. Dealer wanted to charge the consumer to check to see what the cause of the problem was.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Electronic locking system on Volkswagen Jetta. The doors would automatically lock intermittently. This caused the consumer to become locked out of the vehicle. The dealer tried to fix the problem by reprogramming the locking system on several occasions without actually fixing the problem. The dealer had currently suggested that the problem may be the door actuator.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

Replacement of coil pack on my 2001 Jetta glx. The consumer requested reimbursement. There were also electrical problems.

- Royal Oak, MI, USA

My speedometer started bouncing up and down. One second it would register 25mph the next it would register 100mph. It would do that frequently. The fuel gauge acted funny as well. It would move left and right. Finally the speedometer stopped working completely. The fuel gauge works ok now. I have read about what the problem is. The coolant migration system is faulty. The coolant bottle leaks fluid onto the electrical wiring harness which in turn acts as a vacuum and the coolant makes its way all the way to the ECM. After it reaches the ECM it makes all the electrical components act funny. This could be dangerous considering it may be the cause of air bag deployment which I have heard. My wiring harness on my coolant does have coolant on it. Which has stopped my speedometer. Thankfully my airbags haven't blown(yet). Please consider this serious issue. Thank you for your time. ~chad~

- Springfield, OH, USA

Since I have had my Jetta I have had to keep oil in the trunk because the car burns oil, I was told by the dealer that it is normal for a car to use that much oil, I have had to have the brake switch replaced, the arm rest latch replaced, cd player replaced twice, my passenger rear brake lights burn out regularly (only passenger side), my key in the ignition alarm and lights left on alarm turned and stayed on everytime I drove my car. The dealer's solution to all these problems was to downgrade my car and buy a VW beetle. I purchased a 2002 used beetle - dealer allowed me take car and promised to fix anything on the following Monday. There was a light on the dash that was lit up called epc - I asked the dealer what the light was for and they said that the alignment needed to be adjusted no big deal they would fix it when I returned on Monday. I drove the car off the lot got about 20 miles for the dealership and the car died on the freeway!!!!! while waiting for the tow truck I read in the car manual that epc stood for electric power control - it said if this light goes on do not attempt to drive - tow to dealership immediately - after that I marched right back to the dealer and got my Jetta back - however I still have all of the above problems and few to add to the list defective electric window, noisy brakes when in reverse even after brakes were replaced. I can't wait to turn the piece of @#$%# in to the dealer when my lease is up and walk away - I just feel sorry for the fool they turn around and sell it to!

- Portland, OR, USA

I have had numerous troubles with the control module having codes in it. Right now, I have a P0411 code, secondary air flow. The ECM has been replaced already, leading me to believe that there's trouble for me down the road!

- Nickelsville, VA, USA

Brake lights turn on while car is parked and remain on until battery drains. Much as described in NHTSA action number EA03002. This occurred in a 2001 VW Jetta. Dealer insisted that offending switch was only covered in VW beetle. Curiously switch was replaced by 1jo945511D.

- Sugarloaf, PA, USA

At 28,000 miles the electronic odometer has failed. It is not covered under waranty, the repair will cost $500+ and the car true millage unknown.

- Washington, DC, USA