I'm Done

[Dresser77502]

My wife & I traded the 06 Jetta off a couple of days ago on a 2013 Ford Escape. After in excess of $14000 (maintenance & repairs) to keep the Jetta on the road for 121,000 miles we are done. It will be the only VW we ever own. It was absolutely the worst car I have ever owned for qaulity, reliability, and manufacturer support.

I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to answer my questions. It was always helpful. You all have a very good website here. I will check in on occasion.

Later,

Dresser77502

 

[mkvme]

14k in repairs?? *** happened? Fuel pump?

 

[tdiatlast]

Too bad. I'm afraid your $14k in maint/repairs is WAY beyond normal for these cars. Sorry for your experience.

 

[chudzikb]

Ouch! There is a reason most of us do our own work. Sorry for those that have high expectations for these cars only to be disappointed. Sometimes with VW's you win, sometimes, not so much. Got to stay ahead of the maintenance requirements.

 

[thebigarniedog]

My wife & I traded the 06 Jetta off a couple of days ago on a 2013 Ford Escape. After in excess of $14000 (maintenance & repairs) to keep the Jetta on the road for 121,000 miles we are done. It will be the only VW we ever own. It was absolutely the worst car I have ever owned for qaulity, reliability, and manufacturer support.

I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to answer my questions. It was always helpful. You all have a very good website here. I will check in on occasion.

Later,

Dresser77502

I was surprised to read the staggering amount of repair bills, so I looked at your prior posts and saw this:


http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=3980656#post3980656

Seems like most of the problem was the DSG (German for Fail) causing most of the expensive problems. Also saw a few service issues. Fealership service is not something that will cause an enjoyable ownership experience IMO. Not sure much will change at the Ford Dealerships if that is the plan. There are alot of people that do short term leases to avoid maintenance. Might be a good solution

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I can definitely believe the $14,000 figure if you had the car serviced at the dealership. Unfortunately, VW dealerships are notoriously bad and expensive, often misdiagnosing problems at the customer's expense.

It would seem that they are making an effort to correct that, slowly, but too little too late for some people such as yourself. Best wishes with the Escape!

 

[mkvme]

Im at the mercy of the dealer tonight since -
A : I dont know how to replace the part
B: No time this weekend to work on the car and figure it out.
C : I dont have a 2nd car.

If what they told me is right, its a 50 dollar part thats 400 bucks to install. And 110 diag fee if I dont have them install it. so id still be out almost 200 bucks. Im gonna have to buy a rosstech cable and if I have the tools I'll be doing my own work from here on. Just an example of how bad they over charge. Thank god its not the actual turbo gone bad.

 

[Sbeghan]

What is it? The exhaust flap? That's a 15 minute job on ramps. Go get vcds. It should be required with forum membership.

 

[nord]

I'm sorry for your experience but my '06 has been just the opposite. Currently at 150k miles and she still looks, feels, and drives like a new car. I purchased this Jetta just over three years ago with 63k miles on the clock.

Repairs and maintenance? (Other than oil and assorted filters) Timing kit at 100k. Right front and rear wheel bearings. Cooling fan. Alternator due to a bad clutch and brake pads just because. (Rears were close to needing it and I did the fronts as a matter of habit. EGR Cooler bushing was leaking. This I repaired myself at almost no cost. And a pinhole in a coolant return line which I found easily and merely cut back the hose a bit. Almost forgot... A new ASV. Gears stripped on the old one.

So... 90k miles and maybe $1200. In other words just a bit over a cent a mile. This for a car I prefer over any other that we own. Maybe not all TDI's are born equal or maybe my $1200 car would have cost me $14000 had I shopped it every time it needed something.

All I can reasonably say is that a VW (TDI's in particular) are not an economy vehicle. Rather they're a fairly expensive vehicle that returns good economy. They demand quality maintenance and seem to return the favor if their needs are met.

TDI's are for either of two types of owners in my opinion. The first being well heeled with the ability and willingness to contribute to the financial success of a professional shop or dealership. The second being a skinflint such as myself who neither trusts nor is willing to pay someone else to do inferior work.

Type 2's are usually somewhat more accomplished than your average home mechanic. They usually have the tools and the smarts to properly maintain these vehicles. And they've usually paid their dues along the way.

By this I mean about a week under the hood of the '98 New Beetle my son bought from a somewhat shady dealer in Philadelphia. Somehow I wasn't too surprised to have the CEL come on somewhere around Allentown and in the week that followed was unsurprised to find that someone had been to where I was troubleshooting at some point before I got there.

I finally found what nobody else had... A totally coked up EGR cooler. This among the other things previous folks had messed up. And so about 40 hours learning to speak VW. But for those 40 hours I learned that these are fairly simple cars and for what we paid we still got a great deal. Sold the car a year later for $2000 more than we paid!

Otherwise it might be best to buy a Prius or the like. Good vehicles but you'll never quite be as pleased with them as you would with a nice TDI.

 

[mkvme]

What is it? The exhaust flap? That's a 15 minute job on ramps. Go get vcds. It should be required with forum membership.

Turbo boost control valve

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dresser77502]

I have a good toolbox. I am an experienced mechanic. My main hobby is Harleys. I have always done my own maintenance & overhaul on them. I have done complete engine overhauls on previous vehicles I've owned. I could've continued to pay for repairs on the Jetta. I chose not to throw my time & money down a black hole any longer.

I am appalled that the qaulity of this particular car was so poor. The repairs were way to expensive & needed way to often. I also didn't like the idea of my wife & grand daughters having to wonder if the car was make it home when they went shopping or to a movie.

 

[tdiatlast]

Your experience is the exception to the rule. You got burned. I'm sorry about that.
Enjoy your new ride. You deserve a better experience.

 

[South Coast Guy]

I can definitely believe the $14,000 figure if you had the car serviced at the dealership. Unfortunately, VW dealerships are notoriously bad and expensive, often misdiagnosing problems at the customer's expense.

It would seem that they are making an effort to correct that, slowly, but too little too late for some people such as yourself. Best wishes with the Escape!

Dealers rely on return business for repairs and sales. Why would they knowingly try to screw their customers? Do you work for an organization that overcharges for its services or products and provides poor service?

 

[South Coast Guy]

Im at the mercy of the dealer tonight since -
A : I dont know how to replace the part
B: No time this weekend to work on the car and figure it out.
C : I dont have a 2nd car.

If what they told me is right, its a 50 dollar part thats 400 bucks to install. And 110 diag fee if I dont have them install it. so id still be out almost 200 bucks. Im gonna have to buy a rosstech cable and if I have the tools I'll be doing my own work from here on. Just an example of how bad they over charge. Thank god its not the actual turbo gone bad.

I had a $5 part on my dryer that costs $120 to install.

 

[milesstandish]

Ouch. I'd have done similar.

The new Fords look great, especially the Escape. Happy trails.

 

[thebigarniedog]

I have a good toolbox. I am an experienced mechanic. My main hobby is Harleys. I have always done my own maintenance & overhaul on them. I have done complete engine overhauls on previous vehicles I've owned. I could've continued to pay for repairs on the Jetta. I chose not to throw my time & money down a black hole any longer.

I am appalled that the qaulity of this particular car was so poor. The repairs were way to expensive & needed way to often. I also didn't like the idea of my wife & grand daughters having to wonder if the car was make it home when they went shopping or to a movie.

The bottom line is that the Tdi is a jealous mistress. If you have the tools, the experience and the time, I am at a loss as to why you spent so much on this car at the fealership .

 

[halocline]

Do you work for an organization that overcharges for its services or products and provides poor service?

You mean do I work for a VW dealer?

Dealers rely on return business for repairs and sales. Why would they knowingly try to screw their customers?

Well, in their defense, they don't view what they do as screwing the customer, but I think it takes great self discipline on their part to maintain that level of delusion. And, also in their defense, they're very nice while they're ramming it home.

My experience with the VW dealer was nothing short of a total disaster in all regards, and it was ENTIRELY their fault, from start to finish. It was the one time in my life that I actually had to call a lawyer to threaten action against a business.

I am certain that the specific dealership I went to is not the norm, (there's no way the company could survive if it were) but the stories of dealer service hi-jinks you read on this forum all the time are pretty impressive.

 

[tditom]

... After in excess of $14000 (maintenance & repairs) to keep the Jetta on the road for 121,000 miles we are done...

I have a good toolbox. I am an experienced mechanic. My main hobby is Harleys. I have always done my own maintenance & overhaul on them. I have done complete engine overhauls on previous vehicles I've owned.....

This makes absolutely no sense to me. If you have these capabilities why in the world would you pay a dealer to do all that work on your car?

Where are you in Texas? Have you ever used one of the highly regarded tdiclub member independent mechanics?

 

[tdiatlast]

Yet another thread that serves no purpose. He gave us ZERO details, just a $14k figure. I agree with tditom^^^, but hey, the OP is done here. Let him go. No need for yet another pi##ing contest.

 

[bl00tdi]

Natural selection at work here.

 

[oilhammer]

My experience has shown the 2006 Jetta TDI to be a pretty good, long lasting car overall. Not perfect, but certainly not bad.

 

[James & Son]

I am finally understanding the ASV, the EGR and the vacuum actuated exh. gas cooler. I am now almost familar with the vacuum actuator and adjustment rod on the turbocharger. I have almost memorized the coolant system and the hoses that go bad. I now know why the hoses go bad and which green o-ring to replace. I am starting to know the sensors and actuators for the above and fuel system. I know the symptoms of electrical wire insulation abrasion and poor grounds. I know how to diagnose most of the fuel issues and were to start.

The only thing I have dealt with the above items was Lift pump and fuel temp. sensor connector wire break. I have already preempted the heater hoses and thermostat and I have prepared( by learning) in the last year to hopefully preempt the above( but i still do not have vac com).

But I have the major things like cam and dmf and 3 rusted panels fixed under warrantee( about 7500.00 worth at dealer) and the drivers side wiring harness paid for under Canadian class action law suit. The trunk latch I fixed myself and my local garage did the rad. front wheel bearing. Everything has been spread out so I have had the time to understand the warnings. I actually feel lucky and not to bad after writing this. Some are not though.

 

[jjblbi]

I have owned seven VWs and do all my own work. I have not been to the dealer in about twenty years. My warranty period experience with the VW dealer mechanics is that they aren't overly good mechanics in general and lack some skill sets. Most who elevate themselves to a more proficient level end up moving to Audi, Porsche or start their own shop.

I'm sure their are some great VW dealer mechanics somewhere, I just didn't encounter them twnety years ago nw of Phila, PA and thus do all my own work. My $.02, John

 

[CARTMATT]

One thing is certain, if you own a Tdi for many miles. You will either pay thousands in repairs or become a guru! Gave up on mine at 200k. Every typical brm fail happened to my 06. When tranny started to shimmy I dumped it ASAP. Wasn't putting another 3 k in a tranny and flywheel job. Cam, turbo, egr, pulleys, cvs, wheel bearings, AC, door wiring, rust, and other thing I'm forgetting on a car 6 years old with mostly highway miles. I was severely mislead on reliability when I bought the car. Performed all maintenance myself with best info here on forum. The dsg services alone were more than all total repairs of the corolla I had before it with 250k. Tdi was still fun, but as a daily work car when it was down driving my F250 drained the bank. I still enjoy great site, and like to help folks when I can. My car just wasn't right for me.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

One thing that constantly surprises me is the variation of ownership experiences people have with VWs. Some have many expensive repairs, others nearly nothing but routine maintenance.

And I don't think VW dealers are unique in charging high prices for less than perfect service. I just had to coach my mother to not take her Subaru in for a 4K oil change because it has an 8K interval. She called the dealer and they said "oops" for recommending the service. And I've had abysmal service experiences with Toyota and Honda dealers.

These cars are complex, still not often seen by many VW techs, and we're an exacting bunch. And most of us are pretty frugal. This isn't a good combination when it comes to any dealer service department. I think you'd hear similar stories if you talk to BMW owners, for example. We recently spoke to a 335 diesel customer who said his dealer has basically given up on trying to repair his car.

 

[psd1]

Sorry about your experience.

My experience with my 2006 Jetta (5 spd man) was exactly the opposite!

I purchased it in August of 2011 with 78K miles for $9500 and sold it last Saturday with 116500 miles for $8000.

At 82K I put a TB/Water pump on it.

I replaced the tires once in 17 months.

I changed the oil/filter 4 times in 17 months.

I changed the Fuel Filter twice in 17 months.

I changed the air filter once in 17 months.

I replace one headlight bulb in 17 months.

I replaced one brake light in 17 months.

I replaced the windshield once in 17 months.

I put more than 2250 miles on the Jetta every month I owned it. Other than the time in the shop for the TB change it NEVER sat for more than two days without being on the road. It NEVER failed to start. It NEVER needed a jump start. It NEVER gave me even a shadow of a doubt that it wouldnt do exactly what I wanted it to do...EVER! It did ALL this and was a blast to drive in the twisties and returned excellent FE. Over the last year (Post GDE Tune it returned 50.7 MPG). with a best of 62.9 MPG! At 8c per mile, it is one of the most economical vehicles I have ever encountered.

Why did I sell it you ask? I have a growing teenage daughter that is involved in alot of sports that require alot of highway time. I am 6'9, and when I drove the Jetta it was essentially a 3 person vehicle and that doesnt work when you need to take two or three teenage girls on a road trip for a Volleyball tourney.

Once again, I am sorry that your experience wasn't great like mine. I guess you win some and you lose some. I sold the Jetta to a friend and neighbor, which is something that generally makes me nervous, but my 06 Jetta was a rock! IF anything bad happens, it's not because of a history of bad Ju Ju!

 

[WeLikeBananas]

Congrats on the Escape - sharp looking CUV that I'd consider myself if a manual were available stateside.

 

[strommer]

My experience

Here is a summary of my experience with my 06 Jetta TDI. Does not take a rocket scientist to figure out how their cost could be that high. Maybe if I was retired and a mechanic, then it makes sense to own one. Hard to disprove when figures are presented, right?
Remember that these are costs after the warranty period at 100k except for routine oil changes.

2006 JETTA TDI MAINTENANCE COSTS 300,00 KM's (186,000mi)
Fixed or maintained to date

timing belt, pulleys, water pumproutine maintenance 3 @ $1,300.00 =$3,900.00,
wheel bearings failed one at a time 5 @ $450.00 = $2,250.00,
cab fan cage exploded 2 @ $120.00 = $240.00
rad fans stopped working 2 @ $400.00 =$800.00,
rad hose assemblies blew and dumped fluid (before fans)2 @ $400.00 =$800.00,
oil changes routine maintenance 19 @ $90.00 = $1,710.00,
clutch plates OK, bearing failure 1 @ $1,615.00 = $1,615.00,
MAF sensorstopped working 1 @$245.00 = $245.00
glow plugstopped working 1@ $50.00 = $50.00
Total to date $ 11,610.00
NOT Fixed yet
Sunroof switchlight switch works sometimes
Hood lock sensorfailure causing wipers not to work
Door harnesscausing all kinds of electrical issues

 

[mkvme]

Here is a summary of my experience with my 06 Jetta TDI. Does not take a rocket scientist to figure out how their cost could be that high. Maybe if I was retired and a mechanic, then it makes sense to own one. Hard to disprove when figures are presented, right?
Remember that these are costs after the warranty period at 100k except for routine oil changes.

2006 JETTA TDI MAINTENANCE COSTS 300,00 KM's (186,000mi)
Fixed or maintained to date

timing belt, pulleys, water pumproutine maintenance 3 @ $1,300.00 =$3,900.00,
wheel bearings failed one at a time 5 @ $450.00 = $2,250.00,
cab fan cage exploded 2 @ $120.00 = $240.00
rad fans stopped working 2 @ $400.00 =$800.00,
rad hose assemblies blew and dumped fluid (before fans)2 @ $400.00 =$800.00,
oil changes routine maintenance 19 @ $90.00 = $1,710.00,
clutch plates OK, bearing failure 1 @ $1,615.00 = $1,615.00,
MAF sensorstopped working 1 @$245.00 = $245.00
glow plugstopped working 1@ $50.00 = $50.00
Total to date $ 11,610.00
NOT Fixed yet
Sunroof switchlight switch works sometimes
Hood lock sensorfailure causing wipers not to work
Door harnesscausing all kinds of electrical issues

Obviously some of these expenses are not the normal things that go wrong. But why so many Timing Belt changes? if you change your own oil you would have to pay so much either.

 

[strommer]

I just did the third timing belt as I was told that they should be done at 100k intervals. As for changing oil, I don't have a heated garage and who in their right mind wants to be under a car at -10c or colder. I did not add other typical costs such as brakes, wipers, tires, etc. as they are normal wear items. These would push cost up another $2k but they wear on all vehicles.
I just wanted to show what it costs for a normal non mechanical person to own one of these. This is my second TDI (04 was last model) and it was a horror story to say the least.
I don't drive hard as I have only replaced one set of brakes and one clutch.