Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 686 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 88 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 84 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 75 | 11% |
| Visibility | 57 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 57 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 54 | 8% |
| Power train | 43 | 6% |
| Structure | 31 | 5% |
| Seats | 17 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 12 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE CHANGE IN GEARS FEELS ROUGH. IT SEEMS AS IF THE GEARS ARE SKIPPING OR BEING FORCED. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED DOWN BUT THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LI
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD LIKE 35 OR 40 MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED,, THE ONE FROM THE SEAT AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG ONE ... I ALMOST WENT DOWN OUT OF THE ROAD ... IT GOT ME BY SURPRISE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT OFF. I HAVE BOUGHT A NEW COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOW MY
NHTSA complaint: Steering
STARTER PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR MOST TIMES WILL SCREECH REALLY LOUD. LED TO THE CONCLUSION IT IS THE STARTER FROM ONLINE FORUMS OF OWNERS OF SAME GENERATION JETTAS. SEEMS TO BE A PREMATURE WEAR ITEM. CAR HAS UNDER
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
CAR WILL STALL AT A 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN IN MOTION. IT WILL DO THIS AT ANY SPEED OR ON ANY ROAD GOING UPHILL OR DOWN HILL. HAVE PUT 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS IN CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP SOLENOID AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
THE WELD HOLDING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD BROKE OFF. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS VERY MINIMAL RUST.
NHTSA complaint: Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED, AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD ISSUES OPENING. THE CONTACT A
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/s
Risk: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLE
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED I
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 67 | good |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 69 | good |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 58 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 686 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 88 of them (13%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 67/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.