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Used 2001 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars
398 reviews

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3.75 out of 5 stars

The Oil Consumer

Varina, 10/18/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Burns 1 quart of oil every 3000 miles - even though the ownder's manual says it can go 5000. Also, owner's manual claims oil burning will go away after "short break-in" period - it does not go away ever.

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* Starting MSRP of $21,995 for a 2025 Jetta S 1.5L TSI® with 8-speed automatic transmission. Prices exclude destination, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

4.63 out of 5 stars

Love my Wolfsberg but ...

ally, 10/16/2003
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS Wolfsburg Edition 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

All in all I love this car. It is fun to drive, responsive, get gas mileage, but it has had its problems. driver's seat frame replaced twice, lumbar support repaired, passenger seat frame replaced once, cupholders are useless, doors squeak but wiping weather stripping with Armor-All helps. speakers rattle, coating on the inside trim is peeling, driver side window clips and rotor have been replaced, ignition coil replaced, and the a/c quit at 32,000 - dealer said it is an electrical problem and they are researching. My biggest complaint is with the dealer - they are VERY rude, do not return calls, and argue with me when I bring my car in for repair.

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2.63 out of 5 stars

will never buy a jetta again

SERG JG, 03/02/2003
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW PERIOD,THEY VERY NICE FEATURES BUT, RELIABILITY IS NOT THERE.I'VE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE CD CHANGER MORE THAN ONCE,I'VE HAD PROBLEMS W/TRANSMISSION MORE THAN ONCE,I'VE HAD PROBLEMS W/THE EXHAUST (MAKING NOISES)AND THER WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER WINDOWS SYSTEM TOO...ANYWAY IS BEEN TERRIBLE TO OWN THIS VEHICLE SO,I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A VW CAR.THANX.

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  • 5 Colors
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* Starting MSRP of $21,995 for a 2025 Jetta S 1.5L TSI® with 8-speed automatic transmission. Prices exclude destination, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

4.25 out of 5 stars

Loved it

kristikrum, 09/15/2013
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Sad to say I totalled my wagon last week. This was a very functional and reliable car for me. I haul lots of stuff to work every day, so it was great for the space factor although removing head rests to lay seats flat was a bit cumbersome. I received the car at 70,000 from and rode it to like 117 in 2.5 years. In that time I changed the impeller (seems common) on the coolant system and the front bumper shield thing rides a bit low to the ground so it was dragging and held up by duct tape in its last few months. The brakes were great, and I didn't mind the cup holders either way. This car saved my life in my accident where I hit the cement wall on the freeway, so I'm 4eva grateful.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

One of the few happy Jetta owners

MyJettaOK, 10/21/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Considering trading for new GTI was going to look at those reviews and thought I'd check the Jetta reviews first. Wow. Surprised by all the problems. Have the base GL with 5sp. Added alloys wheels and CD player. So far, knock on wood, no problems. Electrical, engine, windows, etc. all fine for last 2 yrs. Car has been just as reliable my last Acura. Been to the dealer only for 2 oil changes and to install CD player. Hope the GTI reviews are better or I may stick with what I have. Cool message board.

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2.25 out of 5 stars

Ticking Time Bomb

klc, 11/06/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

29k mi. Have replaced the transmission, AC..twice, window clips..twice (window dropped into door), climatronic ac thermostat, CD player, radio, cup holder, center console/leather arm rest..(handle broke), battery...(they used unsealed batteries before 2002 which leak in hot weather like here in Houston), and have reprogrammed transmission points...8 times (red lines and shakes car). There is 2 second delay when shifting from R to D. The brakes wear out at 15-20k mi and have no sound indicator so that you ruin the routers w/out even knowing it. This wolf in sheep’s clothing will take every dollar you have in repairs.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Economy, Performance, and Style

Lanark, 05/09/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI 4dr Sedan (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I absolutely love my TDI. It took a while to find one with a 5 speed, but it was worth the hunting. I can't believe this kind of pick-up from a standstill on a diesel. And naturally, unless you're in the market for a hybrid, you can't beat the mileage. Plus, even though the car is (comparatively) low-priced as far as German sedans go, it seems to be an eye- catcher, not to mention that there almost seems to be a TDI clique/club/cult? Comfortable and stylish interior for two adults (don't plan any road trips for four 6-footers) Only real complaint is: why doesn't VW give up on the dial knob for seatback adjustment that they've been using ever since the (original) Beetle?

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3.88 out of 5 stars

Gotta be something betta

nghappycabin, 10/30/2009
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

When it's in operating condition, the ride is awesome and fun. Comfortable, stylish & unique features on the interior. I like the way it drives and the comfort, but there's been just too many problems with it to recommend it to others. Window fell into the door, oil plan needed replaced, some computer sensor for $180, serpentine belt and I've had to replace the same headlight bulb twice w/in last 30K miles. Interior parts look nice but they break easily and are expensive to replace. Trunk latch snapped in cold weather, console latch busted & cup holder broke ($160 for a new cup holder, for example). Just found out the cooling fan is broken ($500). Everything is expensive to fix.

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2.5 out of 5 stars

GLX Wagen

tubs, 11/09/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Since bought as demo with 4k, front roters have been replaced, cupholder non-functional, power roof adjusted, then would not close completely, and the transmission is absolutely horrible, in that it upshifts too quickly when starting from a stop, then downshifts abruptly just to keep up a moderate acceleration. During this, the RPM jumps back and forth from 1500 to over 3k. Dealer has told me twice that the tranny is normal, but in over 500,000 miles and a lot of vehicles, I have never driven such a strange transmission. Next is to the VW rep, I guess, or lemon suit.

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4 out of 5 stars

Check Engine Light: bane of my existence

frozen01, 11/21/2009
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've had so many issues! It's like they've gone out of their way to make repairs and maintenance as difficult and expensive as possible. The engine leaks oil, a known VW issue. The worst part is the check engine light. In the 3.5 years I've owned this car, the CE light has been OFF for a total of 2 months. I have taken it to 5 different mechanics, each one plugs it in to the diagnostics computer and either gets NO codes or codes that make no sense. All they can do is turn it off, but it just comes back on. No one can fix it, no one can even find a cause, but the car can't pass an emissions test, and so now I can't legally drive it. $12K wasted!

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