While parked, panels located under engine and side protectant pieces, became unattached. Dealership tried to blame on driver- which isn't true, as the car was not driven in three days - all panels show fatigue, and some odd-cracking damage. Second repair shop show demonstrated weak screws, cracking along mouting points, and the bumper becoming unattached. Including damage to the screws themselves, with premature rusting, and the screw's heads completley falling off. While being towed to dealership, all panels became detached. (3 pc system) this is a certified-used vehicle - org. From il sold in mn. Vehicle was in dealership that week for oil change, dealership reported no problems - however after the fact, the car was parked in a garage. VW will not stand behind their product as they feel that it was not caused be the scews malfunctioning, but by "added and unknown stress increases.

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

The bumper dislodged from it brace while backing up. The bumper was against a curb when moved, no addtional weight was added when moving into or out of parking spot, besides the weight of the driver.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

On March 19, 2001, I parked the above mentioned Jetta in a parking space in front of a retail store where there was a concrete block to prevent cars from pulling too far up. As I was leaving, the bumper which was overhanging the block was pulled off. Gossett initially didn't want to fix at N/C since things like this were not covered under their normal warranty. They said the bumper was designed so if there was any impact from colliding it would collapse for safety reasons. The Volkswagen office agreed to fix it at N/C. on 4/109/01, a Mr. Brannon, a gossett rep. Called to see if I was satisfied. I told him that I wasn't because it had come off a 2nd time. But I never heard from them again about this matter.on 4/09/01, the bumper had pulled off a 2nd time when parked in a normal parking space in front of my mother's assisted living facility. This time a normal curve was the culprit. On 4/10, I had an independent body shop fix it. It has come off slightly three times since when coming out of 2 different driveways, and turning left on my street. Since the damage was not to the extend of the first 2, I was able to push the bumper up and reattach the few screws holding it together. There would have been countless other incidents if not for the fact that I have driven it gingerly. I was told by an independent body shop in memphis and an authorized Honda/VW body shop in college park, md that the low design of the Jetta, as well as many other cars, is such that the bumpers are easily pulled off. They said that they see these bumper problems. The bumpers are poorly engineered. At the time of the orginal problem, I found on the NHTSA board the follwing incidents of the same thing 10/09/00 ODI id#735047, 01/28/01 ODI id#741248, 09/22/00 ODI id#733361 all had the same problem I reported to your Agency. And there were many more reported on your site then. The Jetta gets wonderful safety scores, but a bumper that comes off so easily is a danger to me. It is ludicrous.

- Germantown, TN, USA

No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

Bumper is the same color as car. Bumpers are attached by snaps under car, right side of bumper came unhooked. Took dealer about 5 times, currently, other side is coming off.

- Carmichael, CA, USA