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Used 2001 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars
398 reviews

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2.75 out of 5 stars

MANY SMALL PROBLEMS = ONE BIG ONE!

Won't be back! , 01/16/2004
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 16,500 MILES ON IT. BY THE TIME IT HAD 18,000 I WAS ALREADY REPLACEING THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. EVERYTHING THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC IN THE CABIN HAS BROKEN AT LEAST ONCE. THE REAR BRAKES STILL HAVE ISSUES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RESOLVED AND THE DEALERSHIPS CRACK MECHANICS CANNOT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. THE ENGINE EATS COOLANT, THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY IN COLD WEATHER, AND THE OIL FILTER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE ON YOUR OWN! RUN AWAY FROM THIS CAR!

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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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4 out of 5 stars

Review of 2001 Jetta Wagon

gbuccolo, 09/04/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

The Jetta wagon looks great, is fun to drive, and can haul a lot of stuff...but it is not reliable. It has spent 30 days in the shop in one year. The problems have been sensor malfunctions, failed switches (casuing the car to be unable to switch out of park), and transmission problems (causing 4th gear to fail and the other gears to malfunction). VW dealer and customer service has been terrible. I have serviced the vehicle at TransOcean VW in Pasadena. I would not reccomend them. In additional to the mechanical problems, they dented the car.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

If I knew

siren78, 04/30/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This is a great car in general, but I would strongly advised you of some major problems. Take the leather interior, the black material seats will leave you spending hours a week tring to remove the dust that will accumulate on it, and it is extremely hard to remove. Also pay the extra for the 1.8 liter or TDI or even better VR6 cause the regular model is slow, slow slow!!! You will be disapointed it has no power. If I would have to do it all over I would much rather spend that money or less on other models, like acura or nissan ... But the comfort, the cheap fuel and the style still makes it worht buying!

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1.88 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Jetta Sucks

parker , 10/09/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

In one year, I have brought in my VW over 10 times to have it fixed.It is never a good sign when you know everyone by their first name in the service department. The customer service is horrible. No matter the problem, drivable or not, they could not work me into their schedule unless it was atleast a week away. My car is under warranty and they will not give me a loaner. I have currently been a week and 4 days without a car. If you're thinking of buying a VW, think again. Just go to your local service department at the vw near you and you'll see how many people are waiting.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Love my Car, Not my dealership

Kristina, 07/07/2008
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS Wolfsburg Edition 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

To be honest I love my car. I don't love my local VW dealership. Every time I take her in for a $100 oil change something needs to be fixed. However, being female I always go for a second opinion before I get anything done and half the time they are just trying to rip me off. The catalytic converter did go. But it was under and extended warranty because there was an error in all 1.8ts in 2001. The O2 sensors. Fine, it was time for them to go. As for the rest I will never go back to my dealership unless I have a problem no one else can figure out.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Jetta TDI

marku, 04/19/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI 4dr Sedan (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I bought the Jetta TDI about a year ago, and have not been sorry. In terms of reliability and ergonomics, it was and is the hands down winner in its class. I get about 39MPG in mostly highway driving, which is slighly less milage then the advertised 41 highway. Bottom line: spend the extra $$$ and get the Jetta!

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