Volkswagen Jetta 1999 - 2005 review

Volkswagen Jetta 1999-2005 Volkswagen Jetta The fourth-generation Volkswagen Jetta was introduced to the North-American market in late 1998. Classy look, stylish interior, excellent ride quality, good safety records and variety of engine choices contributed to its popularity. The Jetta comes as a four-door sedan or a wagon. Front-wheel drive, transversely mounted engine, front independent suspension with MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar, torsion beam rear suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar. Front driver's and passenger's airbags, front side airbags, four-wheel ABS system, disk brakes on all four wheels are standard - rare to find in compact class. Optional Traction Control and Stability Control systems are available. Inside, the Jetta is comfortable and relatively quiet. The driver's seat is very supportive, dashboard has a distinctive European style. Handling and ride quality are excellent for a small car. IIHS Best Pick for Offset Frontal Crash, five stars for both, the driver and the front passenger in NHTSA frontal crash test.

The engine

Volkswagen Jetta four-cylinder 2.0 engine

Volkswagen Jetta comes with four engine choices:

- The base 4-cylinder SOHC 2.0L engine with 115 horsepowers.

- The high-performance DOHC 4-cylinder 1.8L turbo engine with 150 horsepowers (increased to 180 h.p. from 2002).

- The 1.9L turbo Diesel engine with 90 horsepowers (models from 2004 come with more quiet 1.9L Pumpe Düse diesel engine with 100 h.p.)
Both diesel engines have very impressive fuel economy.
And the best choice, in my opinion:

- The powerful and smooth DOHC VR6 2.8-liter engine with 174 horsepowers (increased to 201 h.p. from 2002).
All engines except 2.8-liter VR6 have a timing belt that must be replaced regularly.

Strengths

- Interior comfort
- Good safety records
- Good handling
- Standard 4 wheel ABS system
- Standard 4 wheel disk brakes
- Variety of available engines
- Variety of optional equipment

Weaknesses

- Not the best reliability
- Service and parts are quite expensive
- Price
- Certain models might be costly to insure. Check the insurance quote first.

Overall

Looking for a classy-looking compact sedan with a sophisticated interior, standard ABS and good safety records? - Volkswagen Jetta is one of the possible choices.
Enjoy being pushed into the seat? - look for 1.8L turbo or 2.8L VR6 model. Want to save on fuel? - there is a TDI Diesel model with excellent fuel economy.
However, the reliability is far from being excellent. Expect visiting your Volkswagen dealer once in a while. Parts and service are quite expensive and not all independent garages can perform the repair. I'd definitely recommend buying an extended warranty with good coverage along with your Jetta. If the reliability is your primary concern, consider Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic

What to look for buying a used VW Jetta

Definitely check used car history records - there are so many cars out there after accidents, flooded, with rolled back odometers, returns from rental companies, etc. Follow this link: How to check car history records by VIN number
Test carefully all electrical accessories.
Test all power windows, locks, alarm, heated seats, wipers, remote operation, even dome lights.
Check the glove box lid, the cup-holder, the ashtray and armrest support, some plastic parts may be broken. Check the radio reception in FM and AM.
If it's possible, check service records, it's important to verify if the oil changes were done regularly.
Noise from the suspension on bumpy road may indicate bad suspension components (e.g stabilizer bushings).
Check if the timing belt has been replaced.
Look for the coolant leaks.
Check our general illustrated used car checklist
As a last step prior purchase, have the car properly inspected by a trusted mechanic.
If you are buying from an independent dealer or a private owner, bring the car to Volkswagen dealer for an inspection. I'd definitely recommend to get an extended warranty with good coverage.
Check our step-by-step Used car buying guide

Maintenance tips

- I'd recommend servicing your Jetta at Volkswagen dealer or VW-specialized shop - they are tricky to work on.
- Change the engine oil regularly.
- Check all the fluid levels periodically and top up when needed.
- When changing a timing belt, it's very good idea to replace the water pump as well.
- If you have diesel engine, replace the fuel filter regularly.
- If you service your car at independent garage, bring it to a dealer once in a while to see if any updates/recalls needs to be done.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in the garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips

Volkswagen Jetta short specs. (2003 model)

Links

If you are looking for Service Manual

If you want to find more technical information about your Volkswagen such as repair manual, check engine codes description, electrical diagram, diagnostic procedures, vacuum line diagram, fluid type, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, etc. follow this link: Where to find repair manual

by Vlad Samarin