2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI 2001

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI repairs by problem area

Engine (42%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (14%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (19%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (10%)

Other (8%)

Chart based on 146 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI.

2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI repair cost distribution

$2500+ (4%)

$1000 - $2499 (13%)

$500 - $999 (20%)

$100 - $499 (35%)

< $100 (28%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 98 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2001 Volkswagen Jetta 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Jetta in Quebec, Canada
Nov 2009 - Sep 2010
Dec 2009

81220 mi
Engine seem to work on 2 cylinder intermittently. So we can feel a lost of power when accelerating. 

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI

Engine not specified

Volkswagen Golf in Quebec, Canada
Nov 2011 - Jan 2012
Dec 2011

105400 mi

C $2500
Check engine 
Volkswagen Golf in California, United States
Aug 2007 - Mar 2010
Sep 2007

103000 mi
Oil leak slowly. Didn't fix. 
Volkswagen Jetta in Illinois, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2012
Oct 2011

79300 mi

US $800
o2 sensors 
Volkswagen in Texas, United States
Aug 2009 - Mar 2010
Sep 2009

110000 mi
CEL came on reporting faulty Catalytic converter. Dealer quoting $880 to diagnose and fix the problem. Can't afford to pay $880 and planned to get OEM from alternate vendor and have it fixed at local shop. 
Volkswagen Golf in Louisiana, United States
Jan 2008 - Mar 2010
Feb 2008

21000 mi

US $105
Electrical problem that is slowly draining battery, and causing intermitten starting problems. 

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel manual 2WD

Volkswagen Jetta in Washington, United States
Nov 2008 - May 2009
Apr 2009

98000 mi
Fuel pump replaced, extended warranty. 

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI 4-door

4-cylinder diesel automatic 2WD

Volkswagen in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2008 - Jun 2011
May 2009

100000 mi

US $300
Worn Control arms ready to fail. Discovered during required State of NJ vehicle inspection. Soot removed from Air control device. Mass flow sensor? Code on computer indicated problem. common with diesels. Also needed to clean out exhaust manifold of soot as well. Stripped drain plug on aluminum oil pan leaking. Pan replaced. 
Sep 2009

105000 mi
Leaky sun roof - drain tubes closed up in door jam causing leakage in car. Fixed myself. 
Dec 2009

109000 mi

US $5
Have changed back bulbs several times. 
Jan 2010

110000 mi

US $3000
Transmission. 

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI 4-door

4-cylinder manual 2WD

Volkswagen Golf in New York, United States
Dec 2009 - Apr 2010
Jan 2010

37000 mi
Window clips fell off window in pax side, resulting in the window sliding down partially into the door frame and unable to stay up 

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI 2-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder manual 2WD

Volkswagen in Texas, United States
Oct 2006 - Mar 2010
Nov 2006

68000 mi
CD Player failed (again) - had to be sent to Germany for repair (again). License plate lights. Driver side door lock. 
Dec 2006

69000 mi
CD player replaced Driver's side door lock fixed License plate light they couldn't figure out. 
Jan 2008

83000 mi

US $1000
Air bag light on (this has been a problem for 7 years now) Light covers had yellowed and required replacement. Car fills up with water when it rains. The problem is due to faulty water draining lines from the sunroof and would be too expensive to fix even though the problem existed when the car was brand new. 
Jan 2009

96000 mi

US $250
Oil pan threads were stripped again. The metal is said to be soft so they strip when the oil pan bolt is over tightened. I've replaced this pan several times in the 9 years I've owned it - I can't remember how many times exactly. 
Feb 2009

96000 mi

US $500
The threads in the oil pan were stripped (again) so we replaced the whole pan (again). Damn VW oil pans use soft metal. 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf in Florida, United States
Sep 2010 - Dec 2012
Dec 2011

203000 mi

US $110
Check engine light on because of a glow plug failure. Glow plug harness broke when I removed it to test the plugs, so I changed it and put 4 new glow plugs at the same time. 
Volkswagen Golf in Arizona, United States
Jul 2011 - Mar 2016
Aug 2014

101600 mi

US $540
Voltage regulator. Entire alternator needed to be replaced as a result. 
Dec 2014

103000 mi

US $500
Alternator replaced 
Jul 2015

104200 mi

US $490
Starter replaced 
Mar 2016

108000 mi

US $700
Replaced ball joints, control arm bushings strut mounts and struts. 
Volkswagen Golf in Oklahoma, United States
Sep 2009 - Mar 2011
Aug 2010

155100 mi

US $80
Replaced glow plugs. 
Volkswagen Golf in Washington, United States
Feb 2010 - Aug 2010
Jul 2010

87000 mi

US $2000
Car died, fuel delivery problem, towed car to shop -- replaced glow plug harness front end strut assemblies door lock actuators both sides, sensor for unlocking doors leak through sunroof from drain holes plugging Car died, fuel delivery problem, towed car to shop -- replaced MAF sensor 
Volkswagen Golf in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2007 - Dec 2014
Dec 2007

243040 mi
Front strut mount and strut bearings (not unexpected at this milage) Right front bearing needed replacement; not unexpected at this mileage (used car just purchased) A couple of glow plugs (Diesel engine) were burned out. Replaced with used ones on hand. 
Feb 2008

247380 mi

C $210
Suspension bushings - front and rear needed replacing on account of age and wear. 
Jun 2008

260400 mi

C $190
Driver's window fell into the door. A well-known problem with the plastic clips installed at the factory. There's a recall but the car is too old to qualify. 
Aug 2008

263500 mi

C $230
Camshaft oil seal leaking. Replaced during routine timing belt change (this is not always done or needed). As well, the timing belt tensioner was discovered to be in precarious health, possibly due to previous mechanic's error in installation. 
Oct 2008

265360 mi

C $700
Alternator bearing has been getting worse for the past 38000 km (ever since I bought the car)  The right steering knuckle and front hub were defective, possibly on account of a badly installed wheel bearing or a collision many years ago. 
Nov 2008

270320 mi

C $100
Driver's side driveshaft disintegrated. Either a manufacturing defect or prior damage from rust. 
Apr 2010

297600 mi

C $85
One of the radiator fans (passenger side) was dead. 
Jun 2010

298220 mi

C $55
Air Mass Flow sensor was dead (possibly due to water ingestion) 
Nov 2010

304420 mi

C $120
Left Rear wheel bearing wore out. May have also caused damage to ABS sensor which needed to be replaced as well. I replaced the brake rotors and pads as long as I was in there already. Passenger Front window dropped into door. Happened previously, as it's a defective design. Original dealer repair lasted 29 months... 
Apr 2011

311860 mi

C $30
Serpentine belt idler came apart - known weakness with this model, and I keep a spare on hand. 
Dec 2014

345960 mi
Needed a new steering rack (been leaking for over a year - for a while, Lucas Stop Leak worked). Transferred engine to another car. 
Volkswagen Golf in Massachusetts, United States
Jul 2015 - Oct 2015
Jul 2015

167000 mi

US $550
Replaced front struts and springs 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 4-speed automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf in California, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2015
Apr 2014

115200 mi

US $1900
Automatic transmission failure, full replacement. 
May 2015

120000 mi

US $250
Leak in cooling line. 
Volkswagen Golf in Alabama, United States
Apr 2012 - Mar 2019
Sep 2012

159000 mi

US $1100
A/C compressor broke down 
Apr 2018

182000 mi
serpentine belt 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf in British Columbia, Canada
Nov 2014 - Jun 2015
Dec 2014

190960 mi

C $200
Car was running roughly and check engine light flashing. Mechanic replaced two ignition coils. Car was squealing on cold start. Mechanic disconnected secondary air pump. 
Volkswagen Golf in Washington, United States
Feb 2015 - Dec 2015
Apr 2015

168500 mi

US $500
Broken clutch release lever 
Volkswagen Golf in Nova Scotia, Canada
Feb 2015 - Dec 2015
Aug 2015

98860 mi
Cracked rack and pinion. Driver side interior handle broke off. Severe winter and accelerated rusting in front fenders. Will not pass safety inspection without body work. 
Nov 2015

101060 mi
Engine has died, reason unknown. 
Dec 2015

101060 mi
Engine finally failed. Ignition coils. Cracked rack and pinion. Driver side interior handle broke off. Severe rust in front fenders. 
Volkswagen Golf in Washington, United States
Dec 2008 - Jun 2016
Dec 2009

102000 mi

US $45
Air bag light was on. Cleaning connector under driver's seat seems to have repaired. replaced secondary air hose replaced cam chain tensioner and valve gaskets replaced air breather hose on valve cover replaced starter motor replaced mass air flow meter replaced thermostat replaced control arm bushings 
Feb 2010

103100 mi
Replaced all 4 ignition coils, after one went bad. There's not an official recall yet for the Golfs, but it was still fixed by VW. 
Sep 2011

122000 mi
The shop came back with a list of repairs that with the service will add up to about $3000 - question now is do we repair the car or sell? 
Nov 2011

123000 mi

US $1500
tie arm replaced. new valve cover gasket. slow coolant leak fixed. 
Apr 2012

126300 mi

US $450
#14 fuse kept blowing, the one that controls power locks, windows, interior lights, etc. First they replaced the dome light, but that didn't do it. Turned out to be the wires from the hatch to the trunk had deteriorated and were shorting. 
Sep 2013

143000 mi

US $998
Cooling hose flange replaced to repair a slow coolant leak. replaced drive axle 
Jun 2014

152000 mi

US $726
oooling flange leaking, and replaced Failed WA Emissions Testing. Had 5 different faults. Got a waiver to get the car license updated. Would cost a lot to get all the emissions working. Had the MAF replaced since car was running roughly. 
Sep 2014

155000 mi

US $100
Heat exchanger is slowly leaking. $1500 for dealer to fix. About $950 from an independent. Will likely sell car, with full disclosure. 
Volkswagen Golf in California, United States
Jan 2010 - Jun 2011
Apr 2010

93000 mi

US $634
Replaced leaking head gasget, leaking o-rings and damaged coolant flange. Got a $400 discount from my mechanic on repairs 'cause I was poor -- real cost of repair should have been almost $1000. Replaced damaged coolant flange.  

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf in Colorado, United States
Oct 2009 - Sep 2013
Dec 2009

76000 mi

US $350
Had to replace worn-out windshield nozzles -- because they are heated, they are an expensive replacement item. Windshield washer line to the rear windshield has a leak -- decided not to repair because it would require tearing out the entire interior to get at the line. 
Jul 2010

82000 mi
Cracked cooling hose flange caused coolant leak. 
Mar 2012

94000 mi

US $130
Sway bar bushings replaced. 
Jul 2013

113500 mi

US $200
Sunroof would not open or sometimes opened on its own. 
Aug 2013

116000 mi

US $500
Hose connector broke, lost all coolant. 
Sep 2013

116000 mi

US $2100
Mirror adjustment lever had broken off, replaced it. O2 sensor replaced. Timing chain tensioner needed to be replaced. 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 4dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf in Oregon, United States
Feb 2012 - Jan 2015
Apr 2012

190700 mi
Water intrusion into floor of car. Checked drains and seals for leak. Clean and dry carpeting. 
Jun 2012

194000 mi

US $200
ABS system triggered each time brakes applied. No code shown. 
Mar 2013

206000 mi

US $600
Replaced suspension. 
Nov 2014

215000 mi

US $1100
New water pump. New suspension. 
Volkswagen Golf in Florida, United States
Feb 2007 - Jun 2011
Nov 2009

103000 mi

US $1100
Oil leak discovered, added sleeve to oil drain plug, still leaking after returned home Thermostat replaced for indication of varying temperature indications 
Jun 2010

108000 mi

US $225
AC wasn't coming on, wire melted through was replaced 
Volkswagen Golf in Alberta, Canada
Nov 2012 - Mar 2013
Feb 2013

105400 mi

C $300
Window winder stopped working. Mechanism replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf in Sweden
Mar 2011 - Nov 2013
Dec 2012

99820 mi

$1000
Rust and corrosion on brake line (rear right side). The whole brake line was replaced. 
Nov 2013

101680 mi
Front drivers window no longer opens (doesn't go down when pressing the button). 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 4dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf in California, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2015
Sep 2013

75000 mi

US $800
Rear interior panel pulled off when pulling down the hatch. 
Jul 2014

92200 mi

US $188
Hatchback interior panel pulled off and needed reattaching. Filled gaps where water is leaking into door and sunroof 
Mar 2015

97000 mi

US $170
Windshield fluid pump needed replacement 
Volkswagen Golf in California, United States
- Nov 2016
Nov 2016

98235 mi

US $338
All inner and outer tie rods have been replaced. There was considerable play in the wheels and I deemed it not safe to drive. Drives a hundred times better now. 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf in Saskatchewan, Canada
Jul 2010 - Jun 2018
Sep 2010

221960 mi

C $800
put in shocks. rotors repaired  rear wiper had quit trunk latch  
Dec 2015

280240 mi

C $750
replace timing belt and water pump  replace rubber mounts for suspension 
Jan 2016

268460 mi

C $1270
check engine code p0234 boost waste gate replace waste gate actuator and control solenoid. set injection pump timing. free up drivers seat slide and lock. 
Volkswagen Golf in Texas, United States
Jul 2009 - Apr 2013
Aug 2009

153000 mi
New ac compressor and drier needed. $1,200 estimate to repair. Decided not to repair yet. 
Jun 2010

170000 mi

US $700
AC compressor diagnosed as bad. replaced AC and drier. 
Oct 2010

174200 mi

US $2050
bad fuel injection pump. replaced fuel injection pump. 
Jun 2011

175000 mi

US $250
very poor acceleration, turbo not functioning. hissing sound when trying to accelerate. leaking turbo exhaust hose. replaced hose. 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf in New York, United States
Dec 2010 - Feb 2011
Jan 2011

71000 mi

US $255
Bad MAF sensor. 
Feb 2011

71000 mi

US $250
Electric windows and dome light inoperative. Replaced fuse, then sold vehicle. Many problems when sold, including bad right rear brake caliper,  transmission shift forks,  odd noises from the turbo,  interior had fallen apart in many places,  a leaky and balky sunroof. 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf in Indiana, United States
Jul 2007 - Mar 2015
Aug 2007

50000 mi

US $3800
complete failure of automatic transmission, requiring replacement. though under the milage limit for VW warranty, VW declined coverage due to age of car. 
Jun 2010

95000 mi

US $1100
Also replaced damaged breather hose. 
Oct 2012

114000 mi

US $84
engine dies at idle. rough running. 
Jun 2013

115000 mi

US $95
Rough idle. Sometimes stalls after starting. 

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2001 Volkswagen Golf 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf in Florida, United States
May 2008 - Sep 2008
Aug 2008

85000 mi
Engine light went on. Catalytic converter went bad. Was covered under special extended warranty. 
Sep 2008

85000 mi
The check engine light was on again in the car (which is why I got rid of it). 

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2001 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatch

174-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen GTI VR6 in Minnesota, United States
May 2008 - Jan 2015
Jun 2008

78000 mi

US $580
Alternator was replaced. 
Sep 2011

115000 mi

US $600
Replacement of upper and lower timing chain guides, along with upper and lower timing chains. Clutch, flywheel, pressure plate and rear main seal. 
Jul 2012

122200 mi

US $250
Replaced alternator. 
Volkswagen GTI VR6 in Washington, United States
Jun 2011 - Dec 2015
Aug 2011

126000 mi

US $401
Window regulator issue. Manufacturer extended waranty to 7 years. After 10 years it went out. parts and labor are expensive. It cost me $401.00. 
Oct 2012

143000 mi

US $1473
problem: engine light came on. repair: 1. replaced water pump, hose, coolant adative 2. replaced 02 sensor 3. replaced thermostat 
Oct 2015

191700 mi

US $608
Check engine light on. Misfired but it turn out to be a spark plugs issue. Replaced spark plugs and wires. 
Volkswagen GTI VR6 in West Virginia, United States
Jan 2013 - Feb 2013
Feb 2013

101000 mi

US $3000
Repaired Timing Chains, was a completely miserable thing to try to go 

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2001 Volkswagen Jetta / Golf / GTI Repair Histories

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