To start out, this is my girlfriend's car. I have ATTEMPTED to deal with the dealer in a civil way. It didn't work.
My g/f has everything under an extended VW HITECH warranty. I was told both by the dealer and by the Corporate office it was not covered. I whip out the warranty contract and it is covered. I highlighted the applicable lines and brought it to dealer. I was promised a refund of the 250$ that they charged to "rig" the alarm system. Was told it would take 10 days to receive the check from the corporate office. Check isn't here yet (day 14). All kinds of promises.
Other Problems: Windows change directions if hazard lights turned on/off. Radio gets extremely. Car doesn't always start (anti-theft problem that goes to the alarm perhaps?) I am to the point of taking it to a auto-electician and charge the 100$/Hr back to them (of course the warranty doesn't allow that). Mike from the service department doesn't even check the "repair" (if you wish to call it that) the mechanic performed. They changed the color of the bypass wire from red to black, like I wouldn't know it. I know for a fact 97-99 Jetta's have been found with electrical problems. Stop lieing and start doing something.
Next dealer:
Cooley Volkswagen & Mazda
401 North Greenbush Road
Rensselaer, NY 12144-9435
(518) 283-2902
Cooley was doing work on the alarm/anti-theft. The car was dropped off with out a tape in the tape deck. The car was returned NOT FIXED and a tape was stuck in the deck. The deck would not operate. Turns out the tape was one of the service manager's there (at least he looked at the car). Asked about the tape and was told I had left it in (I don't use tapes, I have a CD adapter). Brought car back in to have tape deck fixed. Came back near closing and was told it was fixed. Tape was still in deck, radio still wouldn't operate. Car was kept again and it turned out to be an electrical issue (the fuse wasn't blown and I tried to remove battery cables so I could enter the security code... But it wouldn't prompt for the code). They said something about it not being plugged in. I find that odd being they use locking connectors on the back and that no one had been working on the radio or dash that I was AWARE OF.
The corporate office does the usual "we'll look into it." They have a problem and tell me each dealership is not under their control. Here is an idea. Next one won't be a VW. Then I won't have a problem now will I? How's that for your business plan! As far as I am concerned, they breached the contract on the warranty by not honoring it.
Other note, I have an 85 VW Cabriolet that has never had any problems. Seems like they don't make them like they used to. Love my Cabriolet, but the Jetta is a P0S. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT buy a Jetta! And if you have one, trade it in BEFORE you start having problems.
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