Used 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Fix the Window Problem!
My Jetta's windows have broken twice already. The problem is that the window is heald up by a tiny, plastic device that breaks CONSTANTLY. It's a real hassle to get fixed too! My friend also has a Jetta and all four of her windows have fallen into the door as well. The cupholders are in a rotten spot (the condensation on the cup drips right onto the radio). I think this would have been a great car for me if a bit more $$ was spent by the manufacturer on the parts you don't see!
POWERFUL
I HAVE PUT 1500 MILES SO FAR THE JETTA IS A EXCELLENT CAR 1.8 TURBO VERY POWERFUL.VERY SMOOTH DRIVE VERY HAPPY WITH JETTA.
- GLS SedanMSRP: $4,90076 mi away
- GL SedanMSRP: $3,855456 mi away
- GLS TDI Diesel WagonMSRP: $5,980502 mi away
Worst Car EVER!
I have had nothing but problems with this car! The water pump, pistons, cylinders, locks, windows, suspension, (and the list goes on) have gone OUT on me numerous times!! I go to the mechanic at least 2 times a year, and average spending $400-$500 each trip. I hear a constant LOUD rattling sound when I drive on the freeway, and hear loud squeaking noises when i go over speed bumps, and make wide turns, & no one can fix it! I WOULD NOT recommend this car!
quick, loaded with features, Fun!
I've driven my Jetta 1000 miles, and I am really having fun with every mile! The manual trans, excellent handling, braking, and turbo have made me feel like I'm in a rally car- with interior comforts and luxury. Performance is VERY good. City fuel mileage is not great at about 25.7 right now.... I rate the build quality so far as excellent, except some stray door rattles, and everything works great. Amazing features, attention to detail- gently dimming lighting, trunk release, and the unique remote key. This is my 9th car, probably the best overall quality. LOVE the interior lighting - I could drive this car all night long!
Awesome!
So I just bought the car at the beginning of the year and I have to say this is best car that i have driven. I had a 2000 nissan pathfinder that was a really good car in terms of reliability but it had a lot of miles on it and this car was on sale and only had 40k miles on it. Drove a lot of different cars that were in the same price range, and this is by far the best car that i have ever driven. The only problem that I had was I drive aggressively, the roads in Jackson Ms are terrible so I had to put new tires on the car after about 10k miles. The tires are pretty pricey because of the rims. Other than that I have not had any problems what so ever. I love this car!!!
Do not buy VW unless made in Germany
VW are not made like they used to be, and until they do, do not keep one for more than warranty period. I grew up with my parents owning a beetle, Vanagon, rabbit, jetta, and all lasting 10 years plus with no issues. I bought a '00 jetta, kept until 45k miles and sold it to my sister, and that's when everything started failing. I bought a '03 jetta in '02; has 65k miles (fine until 50k miles when the warranty expired). Have spent $4k in past year in repairs. The electrical system is horrible! Factory radio died, temperature control module died, radiator fan and auxiliary fan failed, catalytic converter died, coolant leak, ignition coil problem, now my car won't start. Can't wait to see why.
Bigger - pocket rocket!!
Own a 2003 GLS 1.8T for 3 weeks now. Love the drive. Even more standard features. Just remember it's a compact car, not a luxury car. No complains while I still have the new car warranty.
A piece of junk
Jetta has lot of mechanical problems. We bought ours(brand new) in march 2002.Since then it has been in the dealers workshop 7 times for repairs. The car did really well for the first 2000-2500 miles. After these initial miles it has given us all sort of problems. It started with door rattling, followed by the left view mirror cracking, followed by complete failure of the audio system 2 times in a row(within 10 days) . Yesterday the drivers side window fell into the door and won't go up. Guys, think twice before buying this car. Buy it if you want to spend your week day off at the dealers place. Atleast this is what has been happening to us.
GREAT CAR!
I love my car. i drive alot for my work and i have had my jetta for over 7 months and i have 42,500 miles on it and i love it. I have not had any problems and its comfortable and fast. I also drove it from philly to california and back and it was great.
Watch out for Certified USED-Jettas
My car is the reason why certified used cars should be included in the Lemon Law. But beware... they are NOT! With 3000 left on the certified warranty my car has been in the shop every month since purchase. Included..5 window regulator replacemnts, 2 Mass airflow meters, 3 transmission removals/adjustments, and 25 days in the shop within a year! what a P.O.S...
good car
have only had it 6 weeks and am very satisfied. The dealer was great. The car is likeable and fun to drive. The car feels like more expensive cars that i've owned. The car is quiet on the highway and comfortable to drive for hours at a time.
I am screwed
I have a 2002 1.8t. While I have no complaints with the handling of the car I am concerned about its reliability. I have had to have a linkage replaced on the tiptronic transmission. My monsoon stere system kept shutting itself off or wouldn't go on at all. The finish on the drivers door handle has all but peeled off. The cup holder is a mess and whats with no cupholders in the back seat at all? The A/C is anemic. My first VW and my last.
I Guess I Got the Good One
So far, I have not had any major problems with this car unlike others that seemed to have lemons. I've only had to replace the spark plugs (40k), water pump (60k), and timing belt (60k). However, this is standard maintenance for Volkswagen cars. The interior lighting is amazing in this car. It feels like I'm flying an airplane at night! I agree that this car is not built for a tall person b/c there is little room in the back nor the front, but I'm only 5'5", So its perfect for me. The turbo is great in this car. It never hesitates when you punch it. Guess I got the good one.
There is no alternative
Amazing what 4 cyl, turbo, and German engineers can do. As former engineer, am picky. Found attention to detail superior to any other. Every inch has purpose. For 03 they smartly combined savings of GL int. with performance of 1.8T. Engine has economy of 4 cyl. but pep of turbo. Was willing to give up leather/sunroof for 1.8T. With stick, it flies. Amazingly, the "base" interior LOADED. ANY other brand in base interior would leave you with deficit in comfort or performance - requiring extra $ in aftermarket improvements.
Door/Window Rattles? Look Here!
For those of you with Window/ and Door rattles. The solution is to lubricate the door seals on the car itself.Even if you think this cannot possibly be the source of your rattles try this anyway. The best stuff to use for this is a product called Gumipledge(Sp?) It is sold by BMW dealers for about $8. They have the same issue with there cars. Lube up all the door seals and any rubber on the doors themselves. Be sure to get some on the top rubber door seal that runs along the top of the car. In addition spray white lithium grease in your door locks and hinges I guarantee this will work for many of you and your car will be rattle free. Good Luck!!!
Be very careful!
I have always wanted a VW. About six months ago I totaled my car so I was in the market for a new vehicle. I found a beautiful 2003 VW Jetta with 49,000+ miles at Carmax. It seemed like the perfect car. Given the fact that it was a 2003 with almost 50,000 miles I decided to buy the Carmax warranty. And I'm SO glad I did! A month after I bought the car the windows and door locks would only work when it seemed to be hot outside. If it wasn't about 90 I couldn't roll the windows up or down! And never mind being able to lock the doors! Shortly there after the air conditioning stopped working. Throughout the less than three months that I have owned the car, aside from everything
Overall College Car
I've had my Jetta for almost two years. I tried to drift once but I forgot I had a FWD so I smashed a curb costing me 2,500 $!!! I love switching into step-tronic or w/e its called to give that extra kick of acceleration. Great on gas but It is a girl car so society says but w/e. Really interesting bass in the car too! never thought my Jetta would be bumping bass that good.
A costly piece of junk
Jetta has lot of mechanical problems. We bought ours(brand new) in march 2002.Since then it has been in the dealers workshop 7 times for repairs. The car did really well for the first 2000-2500 miles. After these initial miles it has given us all sort of problems. It started with door rattling, followed by the left view mirror cracking, followed by complete failure of the audio system 2 times in a row(within 10 days) . Yesterday the drivers side window fell into the door and won't go up. Guys, think twice before buying this car.
So far so good
I have had my Jetta since January, and the only problems I had were a Monsoon stereo that just quit working and was replaced, and floor mat clips that break too easily. Mechanically the car seems to feel better with each passing mile. It is very comfortable and very smooth.
Loving my car!!
I love my new Jetta. I have the GLS 1.8T with the sport package. I had such a pleasant experience with it, starting with the dealership (Bertolet). They were very friendly and helpful and HONEST!
my view of a jetta
I think that the Volkswagon Jetta is one of the best cars ever made. It is in style and has great gas mileage. However, I have had troubles with the transmission.
Only feels Expensive
After driving the diesel, turbo, and 2.0 engines on the Jetta, I decided on the standard 2.0. The ride is very European and "rich". I have been reading many reviews on this car, and all the negatives from older models (cupholders, and dropping windows) have been redesigned. These two problems were mentioned in almost every review I have read. The treatment I got at the Volks dealer was what really "put me over the top" and made me go with my Jetta. I purchased from a privately owned dealer in Delray Beach, Florida who isn't part of one of those big dealer groups...You even get the owner's home phone number if you ever have a problem....impressive!
my jetta
Alittle more pricey than the rest but definently an all around better car.
JETTA GLI
FUN CAR TO DRIVE, GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY
Nice step up from my 92 GTi
I bought the Jetta with every option available, except for the CD changer. The car rides great, has plenty of power and is very easy to upgrade. I had a chip installed to boost the stock 180 hp to 212 and added a cold air intake for another 5 hp. With the stock 180 hp the Jetta gets going pretty quick for such a heavy car, and with the upgrades it really boogies. Highly reliable and fun to drive, it gets an A+ in my book.
I hate this car!
I've had 3 cars in the last 22 years, this Jetta is the only one in which extended time for repairs have caused me to lose out on jobs. I always wanted a VW but I HATE this car. The parts are too expensive, not always available, and it is hard to work on the car yourself. Pep Boys would not replace a water pump for me because the car was too complicated for their mechanics and the dealership mechanics are far from good. Everything about the car is hard. You must slam the trunk to close it, you must punch the horn to get it to honk. The doors are heavy. The seats are hard. If you drop something under a seat, forget it. The manual is complicated. And I could on and on..
1.8T
Purchased new in February 2002, since then it has left me stranded 3 times with a faulty ignition coil. There has finally been a recall on them, but it does nothing to restore my faith in the car. Nice car, poor reliability, first and last Volkswagen I'll ever buy.
The People's car could be les pedestrian
the car is well made, but there are a lot of little things that annoy me about it... the rear tweeters keep rattling, the windows fall into the door..broken glove box, peeling interior and the worst part of all is the lousy service departments. The service department alone is enough to not want to buy this car. Sadly with all the things that go wrong there is no avoiding it.
Jetta is a lemon.
The 2000 Jetta we have has been in the shop about every six to eight weeks for something. The engine is noisy, the ride is harsh, the radio is tinny sounding. A real disappointment.
Chosing VW won't be a wrong decision.
Have a 2000 VW Jetta VR6 auto but as the GLS 1.8T is the best buy. Besides turbo lag, more noticable on the on auto the car is great fun and with some practical sides. Rear seat room are made for long torso bodies and not for the long legged. Great features throughout, creaking and signs of wear become more and more apparent as months go by but not to the point of annoying. VR6 is a blast but a notible hesitation on pedal to wheel delivery. VR6 get manual. Both still eat up gas which VW should work on. The TDI is the best car though. Great gas mileage and no question a car that can easily put on nearly 200,000 miles and more! NO JOKE!
Speedy loves it!!
I love the VW. Had a 2000 Beetle but wanted more room so I got the Jetta. The 1.8T is the best. The gas pedal just says "go ahead". It has been great.
WHAT A CAR
I just test drove the Jetta GLI and all i can say is wow. The model i test drove had everything, leather sunroof and cold weather package. The engine performace even surpassed my big v8 i currently drive. The 6 speed is a blast and i WILL be purchasing my car SOON.
I LOVE MY JETTA GLS 1.8T!!!
this car is sooo cool, i love it!! my parents bought a new 2003 jetta for my birthday. yup, brand spankin new!! i used to drive a honda; but unfortunately, it died out on me. practically everyone i know including my whole family all drive japanese made cars. but let me tell you, i 'do' notice a difference...the quality is sooo much better!!! .. i'm especially excited about the heated seats!!!..turbo! ..automatic daytime lights!..how the interior lights up blue!!..spacey trunk!!, i can go on and on ..aaaaah, i love my car!!! ^____________^ YAY!!!! only got 300 miles on it, and had it for just about a week now.. he he :)
Great little package
It's easily your all-round performer. It's a compact car. It's a sporty car. It's a luxurious car. It's everything at the same time - that's why I love it. Need to dress up and hit the town in style? The Jetta's shape and form is classy enough. Want to enjoy some sporty driving? Put the strong little 1.8T engine to work, and it responds. Need a family hauler? The Jetta does the trick there too. Everything seems almost perfect, from the placement of controls to the feel of the trim. Everything works as you expect it to work, not how some funky engineering team designed it. Smart design, excellent execution. Try it - you'll love it too!
awsome vehicle
fun to drive , handles the road very well. feels like a solid vehicle. awsome sound system and hardly any out side moise.
2002 VW
Has been a great car, tail lights burned out at 15K, but otherwise wonderful. Dealship was horrible!!! Shop around for dealers.
Not what I expected from a German Car
I have had problems from the begining. The whole reason I bought the car was for the safety that it provided for me & my family. Safety doesn't count for much when it is in the shop all the time. Oil problems constantly,A/C compresor went out, windshield wiper had to be replaced(it quit working while I was on a 700 mile road trip with family, so had to sit on the road for 3hrs waiting on roadside service b/c of raining and could not see to drive)and there has been many, many more things. Service has been a pain to work with. I should have bought a Kia, at least it has 100,000 mile warranty.
Jetta Gli
Great performance for the price. All aroung great inside and out. the hp boost for the 2003 yr (25hp) is wonderful and leaves 02 owners wondering why im so quick. also with Esp (electronic skid protection) standard for 03, i have more confidence driving here in the wet weather.
VW JETTA! 2002
Leased the VW Jetta 09/2001.Jetta is a 2002 GLS automatic. Great car! Also had a 1999. They have got to raise THAT FRONT END! Way to low. Had plastic window clips replaced. Windows would fall into sleeve. Really my only problems! Great car. Looking into a 3rd in less then a year. Will trade ths lease. Ya gotta drive one! The faster you go,th better it drves! What handling!
Worst Decision I've ever made!
I heard so many great reviews about the Jetta. So, I decided to get it, without a test drive (WHY!?). I'm so dissatified with the car. It's very noisy, loud engine, doesn't accelerate quickly, no leg room, cup holders are a nusiance, defroster does nothing, etc....
Nice, Very Nice
Hi have a 2003 Blue Lagoon 1.8T, its a fabulous car. I would recommend spending extra for the sports package-- 17" wheels and firmer suspension. Con: My only concern is long dealership service waits, and the Jetta has no back seat room at all, however if you ever sit back there it is very comfortable.
Jetta GL
Excellent value for the money spent, deffinitely a cut above other compact competitors.
Smart car for Power lovers!!
Nice car with nice stable handling and smooth ride . The interior well designed and color schemes great! Engine no problems at all ....
look out svt
near perfect, very little turbo lag
really great!!
near perfect, except tail lights, they look ok
Fit to Finish
I have had the car for quite some time now 2 years and the car continues to give me that same feeling I had the first day I brought it home. German quality shines through wish interior fit and finish. The engine is stout with its great power. I have not encountered problems that others have posted, but I have always taken care of my cars. The window has not "fallen in", but the did perform the recall on the window free of charge. This is my forth VW in the last 35 years and I will continue to be a VW man!
Should be a Ford fix and repair daily
Constant repairs only 20,000 miles and most of that to repair shop been towed three times now the Windows fell out looks good just needs lots of glue and bumper to bumper for life would not recommend this car.
ROCKET SPORT SEDAN
IF YOU ARE LOKING FOR A FAST,SPORTS SEDAN YOU SHOULD LOOK HERE.FEATURES TO RIVAL MORE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES.COMPARABLE TO A BMW 3 SERIS,AND LEXUS IS300 AT $10,000.00 LESS.LEATHER INTERIOR,200 HP,6 SPD TRANS,SUNROOF & TRACTION CONTROL OR ABOUT $25,000.BEST QUALITY IN ITS CLASS.
What a beaut!!!!
Yes, the windows do "rattle" a little when you hit a bump...yes, the cupholders are in a bad place...but if you are looking for the perfect car, it is not going to come at a $25000 price tag. The car handles wonderfully, the seats are comfortable (not to mention heated), it looks better than any other small sedan and has low maintenence and the highest resale value in its class. You are not going to find a better car for the price. Oh, and to the person who said the doors are heavy...THAT IS A GOOD THING...it means it is a quality, solidly built vehicle. I highly recommend this car to anyone considering it.
Lots Of Fun To Drive
I don't know what others are talking about! This car is great. I just bought it and really love it. It is very fast and comfy. The leather is awesome, and I really like the heated seats. Sure it is a bit pricey, but well worth it.