Own a 2005 VW Jetta, brought into dealership today with 106K miles on it and now they are saying the timing chain has jumped. This sounds like it is a common problem, so why isn't there a recall.

- Spencer, MA, USA

Check engine light came on while returning home after shopping. Car was towed to the repair shop. Diagnosis was catastrophic failure of engine due to a timing chain jump on a 72K mile, 2.5 liter, 2005 VW Jetta two months after purchase.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

2005.5 new Jetta 60,000 miles and the timing chain has slipped teeth and thrown the engine out of time. New timing chain from dealer is between $4700-$5600. All maintenance and service was done at the dealer. From internet searches it appears this is a growing problem on early model years. The dealer has also added to their owners manual that the timing chain is now a serviceable item. However it was never in my manuals.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

Shortly after I bought car I noticed a noise coming from (sounded like) engine. I also noticed car not changing gears smoothly. Felt as if it was having a hard time shifting especially up hill, I took the car in and was told this is just how a VW shifts and sounds. I told them I did not notice it when I initially owned the car. They ran a diagnostic since now the engine light is on the windshield wipers come on at their own will, the clock looses time constantly, and the noise has got a lot worse and so has the gear shifting. The diagnostic they say showed the dual fans are both burned out. If they are burned out why are they still making a loud noise several seconds after I turn the car off? they have also told me no transmission problem exists but another dealer told me they cannot know that because the diagnostic will not pick up on a bad transmission only a totally failed one. Which the car will be out of warranty then. These cars have obvious transmission problems and electronic problems that are being ignored. After having all this problem I looked on internet and was astonished at the number of people with all the same problems as me. Slow and hard shifts, wipers, car acting as if it is stalling, clock losing time, battery going bad too quick. Brakes constantly bad. This car is just a lemon. Why will the government not do a total recall. There is tooooooo much wrong with tooooo many of them.

- Bryant, AL, USA

The engine seized for no apparent reason. No warning lights, no engine lights, no loss of oil. They could not explain why the engine seized. They removed starter, removed oil pan could not find anything wrong. I came to a stop and stopped the car for 5 minutes and it would no longer run. This could have happened when I was driving. The engine just stopped dead. There was no warning that there was anything wrong. I wonder if this is an electrical problem.

- Worcester, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. The cam, rockers, and the duel mass fly wheel in his engine failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and he was advised that he needed to replace various components in the engine at an expense of $6500. The Volkswagen manufacturer was notified, and he was advised that because his warranty expired he was ineligible for a free remedy. The failure mileage was 114,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.

- Chatsworth, NJ, USA

We have been experiencing an issue with our 2005 Jetta since purchase. Whenever we start the car from cold we experience a very loud noise that lasts for about 20 seconds. We have taken the car in to the dealer 3 times and the dealer stated that this was not a normal sound. Unfortunately at first they said this was normal. Only now are they admitting this is not normal for a new car. They have been unable to determine the problem after 3 attempts and Volkswagen are stating this is a normal issue. The dealer did replace the catalytic converter which did not do anything to help.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

Any time the vehicle is not operated for a few hours or longer, the engine makes a very loud grinding noise upon starting. The noise lasts less than 30 seconds, then a high-pitched noise follows before both noises cease. I have been experiencing these noises since I purchased the vehicle. I took this vehicle to the dealership for repairs due to this noise, and was informed that there was nothing they could do and that all new vehicles on the lot were making the same noise. The salesman suggested that the grinding noise was the catalytic converters starting up and the high-pitched noise that followed was the fuel pump. Still, it does not sound normal, and the noise does not occur if the vehicle has only been resting for a matter of minutes. I find it difficult to believe that a normal function of the vehicle would make such a noise, and then only make it on certain occasions.

- Hurricane, WV, USA

When the car has been sitting for a couple of hours it makes a loud grinding noise when you start it. This lasts for about 20 seconds and then goes away, but it occurs everytime you start the car after it has been sitting for a little while. I was told the noise was normal by my sales rep. I have had the car 2 and 1/2 months and the noise just doesn't sound right.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

I have encountered several issues the most alarming currently is a smell of burning oil upon heavy acceleration which hasn't been located by the dealer even though the car has been in the shop twice since I purchased the vehicle in may of 05.

- Florence, KY, USA

When we cold start of our 2005 Jetta, the engine sounds like an airplane engine firing up -- the car revs itself after 10 seconds and then when you put it into reverse or drive -- it lunges. Called VW and had the car to the dealership. They agreed that the car had an issue and sent out a VW tech to put a resonator on the car -- didn't solve the problem. Then after 2 months of fighting the dealership and VW, we wee told that the car is performing to spec and that VW would not do anything to fix this issue.

- Westlake, OH, USA

When the car has been sitting for a couple of hours it makes a loud grinding noise when you start it. This lasts for about 20 seconds and then goes away, but it occurs everytime you start the car after it has been sitting for a little while. I was told it was the secondary air pump and that it's normal. We've had the car for a week, and the noise just doesn't seem right.

- New Providence, NJ, USA