The rear middle shoulder belt of my 1999 Jetta is constantly broken. Every time I fold the middle seat down in the back the seatbelt gets tighter and tighter and tighter. This happens until eventually the belt is too tight for me to even fold the seat down any longer and I have to take the car in to be worked on. Apparently it is some "button" that is breaking. This happens every time I try to fold the seat down and as a result I am not able to safely secure passengers in my middle seat. So far I have had this button replaced 3 times.

- West Sacramento, CA, USA

1) seat belt!!! center seat belt in back sea does not work. VW refused to fix even though this is a big safety issue! 2) musty smell from A/C!! it happens every summer. I treat it with lysol but that only lasts a week. Has it done professionally, that only lasted one month. 3) window regulators not working. Driver sidde window will only go all the way up or all the way down. Nothing in between. 4) glove box latch broke. 5) rubbercoating is rubbing off of all handles.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

I bought the car in August 2003, I noticed a repair docket from previous owner for left lower ball joint and left tie rod assemble w front end alignment on 5/29/03 at 34383 miles. I had a lot of noise under the engine. VW capistrano checked it out and said it was driver side ball joint. I bought car from a Ford dealer who did not want anything to do with it. Finally, VW capistrano forced their hand and processed it through my then current warranty. At the time, I had 45K miles on the car. I thought it shocking that a car so young should have such a major problem (for the second time). When I picked car up, a couple of days later, I heard a loud crunching noise in the front left hand side of the motor or wheel. I thought nothing of it, drove it another 5000 miles, had to replace 4 tires, and asked the tire tech to check it out. He said it was the steering knuckle and it was in bad shape. I contacted VW who said, bad luck, it's only covered for 24K miles or 2years. I again am shocked, firstly because that's impossible one of these should go out so early, added to that, if the ball joint was replaced, then isn't the steering knuckle, moved in some way shape or form, so there should be some sort of recourse. This car is a lemon, however, ca law states it isn't. I was ripped off by theodore robbins in costa mesa and wouldn't recommend anyone buy from them, they were suspect from day one once I drove my car from their lot. Also, the back right seat belt is fixed to the seat and is unusable, I complained it was dangerous, Ford said too bad, you bought it that way fix it. Since then my horn has gone out because the car 'lost' it's under wheel cover and water got into the horn. This car reportedly had a 100 point inspection, which I believe to be not true. The radio has never worked a day, it's always 'fuzzy'.

- Dana Point, CA, USA

The center rear seatbelt locked up and will not release, was told by dealer and VW customer service that this is extremely common, I was advised I can either pay the $200 + to get it repaired or else cut it and not use it.

- Lake Park, GA, USA

Rear passenger's seat belt broke. After putting the seat in the reclining position a pin broke which controlled the releasing of the seat belt, said the dealer.

- Akron, OH, USA

Brake light switch replaced because cel illuminated indicating a failure of same. After some testing, it became apparent that the brake lights were not illuminating approximately 9 out of 10 times that the brakes were applied. At approximately the same time, the right turn signal began arcing. Replaced the right front signal bulb due to carbon buildup on the bulb. Also replaced the turn signal relay. Right outer cv boot was found to be leaking grease on 5/22/2002 and again on 4/29/2003; in both cases it was replaced. Battery died on 3/10/2003. On 7/9/2002, the center rear seat belt became stuck in its retractor and would not release. Seat belt assembly was replaced. On 10/1/2001, the driver's front window regulator was replaced after the window fell into the door without warning.

- Munfordville, KY, USA