Bumper Problems of Volkswagen Jetta

Front bumper too low, gets caught and detaches from body of car.

See all problems of the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

For some time now I've been aware that if I pull to far up to a tire bumper anywhere, my front end will catch and pull part of my front bumper off. As I live 120 miles from a vw dealership, I let my fiance fix the bumper each time it fell off. Recently, I made the mistake of pulling up to far again and my bumper pulled off partially on the front right side of car. I was on my way out of town. While driving I heard a knocking noise and pulled over to investigate. Found that front right tire was rubbing on plastic tire guard due to bumper problem. I turned around and headed slowly back home as this could cause car to loose control if tire pushed to hard. Tire has since worn through tire guard and bumper still hanging as screws are stripped! the low bumper guard is obviously a misjudgement in the manufactuers make on this particular model and should be fixed at no charge as it happens to many people with this particular vehicle.

See all problems of the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

While parked, panels located under engine and side protectant pieces, became unattached. Dealership tried to blame on driver- which isn't true, as the car was not driven in three days - all panels show fatigue, and some odd-cracking damage. Second repair shop show demonstrated weak screws, cracking along mouting points, and the bumper becoming unattached. Including damage to the screws themselves, with premature rusting, and the screw's heads completley falling off. While being towed to dealership, all panels became detached. (3 pc system) this is a certified-used vehicle - org. From IL sold in mn. Vehicle was in dealership that week for oil change, dealership reported no problems - however after the fact, the car was parked in a garage. Vw will not stand behind their product as they feel that it was not caused be the scews malfunctioning, but by "added and unknown stress increases.

See all problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

Front bumper is way too low and scraps and gets caught on curbs. This can result in the whole front bumper coming off. The first time this happened the local dealership replaced it for free. Now they just say watch how you park. The trouble is, you cant's tell when you drive over a curb, only when backing out, does the bumper catch and pull off. This is a defect the manufacturer should fix, especially since I know my car was manufactured in mexico.

Tow hook cver fell out and had too be replaced.

The front bumper is too low to the ground. When parking, the front bumper passes over standard concrete 'tire stoppers'. When reversing out of the stall (even at very slow speeds), the front bumper assembly detaches from the vehicle. I have contacted Volkswagen about this problem. Volkswagen's suggested solution is "not to pull so far into the parking space". Unfortunately, due to the design of the vehicle, it is impossible to tell if you are too "far in" until it is too late and the damage has occurred. I have personally observed this problem occur on at least four other Jettas (both here in honolulu and on the mainland). On our Jetta alone, this has occurred on three occasions. Although the dealer has been helpful in making cosmetic repairs to the bumper, complete replacement of the bumper assembly would cost approximately $1,000. I believe that this is a design defect which the manufacturer should be required to correct. I am concerned that in the event of an accident, a partially detached bumper assembly could be a safety hazard.

The bumper dislodged from it brace while backing up. The bumper was against a curb when moved, no addtional weight was added when moving into or out of parking spot, besides the weight of the driver.

Consumer states that when starting the vehicle the alarm sounds and horn goes off and lights flash on and off for about 10 minutes. This also happens when opening doors to exit the vehicle. Also the illuminated entry and the power door locks were not working. The dealer has replaced wiring and relay in the doors, the radio ignition switch, and door lock, however the problem still exists. The dealer now states that there is nothing further they can do. Nlm front bumer pulled loose. Bumper and lower facia reinstalled.

Front bumper assembly tore off vehicle when backing out of parking space. Bumper skipped on top of portable concrete curb at extremely low reverse speed (less than 1 mph).

I pulled into a parking spot with a concrete tire bumper. I just rolled into the spot waiting for my tires to hit the bumper but my bumper hit and when I tried to pull out, my whole bumper just pulled right off of the car. Umper.

Front bumper cover fiber got caught on tree and snatched it off. Consumer's concern is that bumper could catch under front wheels and cause vehicle to flip over. Volkswagen showed no concern to consumers issues.

See all problems of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

Regardless where I park, home,work, grocery stores, the concrete parking stops rip off the bumper and the assembly that holds the wheel wells together. The front grill pieces also pop out. Who is not meeting the standards here the people installing parking bumpers or the manufacturer of the car?.

Front bumper ground effects are obviously designed too low. Besides scraping in driveways, the bumper has been pulled off several times when leaving a parked space with a concrete 'tire bumper'. These were obviously meant to stop the tires of the car, and not pull the whole bumper off. The dealer charged me to replace the plastic lining, which was pulled from the bumper and had worn against the tire. The bumper is no longer securely fastened as the parts are wearing down. Corporate was of no help and would not reimburse or suggest a course of action to avoid future problems. I will not be keeping this car through the term I expected and will not recommend one to anyone shopping. Too big of a hastle to deal with. Fortunately I didn't get the sport suspension, which would have the bumper even lower to the ground. It's not a farrari, for pete's sake.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Front bumper is too low and standard. Right side/ left side contrete grill will take front bumper off completely.

On March 19, 2001, I parked the above mentioned Jetta in a parking space in front of a retail store where there was a concrete block to prevent cars from pulling too far up. As I was leaving, the bumper which was overhanging the block was pulled off. Gossett initially didn't want to fix at n/c since things like this were not covered under their normal warranty. They said the bumper was designed so if there was any impact from colliding it would collapse for safety reasons. The Volkswagen office agreed to fix it at n/c. On 4/109/01, a mr. Brannon, a gossett rep. Called to see if I was satisfied. I told him that I wasn't because it had come off a 2nd time. But I never heard from them again about this matter. On 4/09/01, the bumper had pulled off a 2nd time when parked in a normal parking space in front of my mother's assisted living facility. This time a normal curve was the culprit. On 4/10, I had an independent body shop fix it. It has come off slightly three times since when coming out of 2 different driveways, and turning left on my street. Since the damage was not to the extend of the first 2, I was able to push the bumper up and reattach the few screws holding it together. There would have been countless other incidents if not for the fact that I have driven it gingerly. I was told by an independent body shop in memphis and an authorized Honda/vw body shop in college park, MD that the low design of the Jetta, as well as many other cars, is such that the bumpers are easily pulled off. They said that they see these bumper problems. The bumpers are poorly engineered. At the time of the orginal problem, I found on the NHTSA board the follwing incidents of the same thing 10/09/00 odi id#735047, 01/28/01 odi id#741248, 09/22/00 odi id#733361 all had the same problem I reported to your agency. And there were many more reported on your site then. The Jetta gets wonderful safety scores, but a bumper that comes off so easily is a danger to me. It is ludicrous.

One week after purchasing my 2001 Jetta, my front bumper was almost entirely ripped off after backing out of a parking space. It caught on the parking curb and subsequently ripped off. Upon contacting vw I was told it was my driving and it would cost over $300 to repair. It turns out that this has happened to thousands and thousands of vehicles. Two years later, now my car is paid off and I was told by another vw dealership to bring it in and they would fix the bumper. I did and to my surprise they wanted $237. 00 to fix it. Then they asked what I did to it. I explained this is a problem with these particular vehicles. They stated they were not aware of this problem. Upon picking up my car I brought an article regarding the bumpers, they didn't even look at it, they stated, "we know, we have seen all the articles, but we have no clout with vw, only the consumer". So, I need to file a complaint. There are numerous other defects, but this is a major one that vw is not willing to repair. The others they have at least attempted to fix.

Bumper pulled loose (almost completely off) from mounting by cement parking space stopper while backing out of parking space.

Parking on a curb stone or parking cement block with front of car near the cement stop. (2) plastic front bumber clips over any block higher than 4 inches and like a lobster trap, when reversing, rips the bumper from it's fastening. Bumper could fall off and go under the moving car causing an accident. (3) remove front bumper.

Engine transmission light failed after 3 months, both windows have fallen down into door, front bumper has been torn off, antena and other plastic objects around car have fallen off,abs system light is on again, cover for gas tank will not open (I had to pry it open), cup holders and mirror covers have broken, inside of car started to bubble after 6 months, because of the plastic. All the service department in san antonio could say was that I did not know how to manage car. I didn't know I had to take a class in opening the gas cover. Oddly enough, most of these things started to break after my two year warranty expired. All they had to say was that "when it rains it pours". I would never recommend this car to anyone.

While on vacation and pulling into a parking lot the front right hand side of the bumper came off of the one screw that was holding it into place and the brackets came out making it unsecure. The bumper lay on the ground as I proceeded into the parking lot, scratching on the asphalt as I had to pull in to avoid a potential accident. Went to a local auto body shop where the man who temporarily fixed the bumper told me that vw's have unsecure front and rear bumpers, and that this happens all the time.

When parking against a concrete parking stop, if you pull the front tires all the way to the stop when you back out you just about pull the entire bumper off. This happened only a couple months after we bought the car. We pulled into the parking spot not thinking anything of it. We owned similar sized cars before. The grillwork pops out and snaps back in. We lost two of the three pieces of grillwork from not realizing that they do come out when you simply park your car. The first I mentioned the incident to the service tech he said I guess they don't have those parking stops in germany. The second time I mentioned it the service tech said you have to remember this is a compact car and you don't have to pull all the way in. I believe the newer Jetta models have more clearance than the "troubled Jettas" do. We have somewhat gotten used to not pulling in so far but not all the time. We also refuse to get it repaired at our expense.

Bumper is the same color as car. Bumpers are attached by snaps under car,right side of bumper came unhooked. Took dealer about 5 times, currently, other side is coming off.

Front bumper separates from the vehicle when it touches a parking stop at low speed. Dealership personnel acknowledge that this has happened to many people but gave us no warning when we purchased the vehicle. The body shop we took it too, carriage auto body in margate, FL, believes the bumper is not manufactured and installed correctly and that it is not the fault of the driver.

Front bumper of vehicle has been pulled off 10 times due to when you put the car in reverse the bottom of the front bumper gets stuck on any parking block which results in the bumper being pulled away from the car and having to be replaced or reattached. We have spoke to other Jetta tdi owners and have found that they have experienced the same problem. The dealers we have spoke to are also aware that this is a problem with this type of vehicle but because there has not been a recall nothing they will not do anything and we continually have to pay to have it fixed. 8jb.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Paint on rear bumper of 1999 vw Jetta's chip & peel off on most vehicles. Reduces the resale value & appearance of the vehicle.

When I parked in a parking space with a concrete tire bumper, the bumper got caught when I pulled out and caused the parking light grill covers to pop out. The serv. Dept. Replacxed them, no charge. The second time it happened they accused me of "running over the top" of something, and damaging the car, which I did not do. The manufacturers refuse to fix it saying it is an insurance issue, even though the ser. Dept. Told me they have had the same complaint with other cars, and even the manager of the serv. Dept. Said it happened to her Jetta! I believe they should fix it without charge, since it is obviously a design defect.

The front bumper assembly on my Jetta partially detaches whenever it scrapes against a curb or parking block. I have had it repaired three times and tried to repair it myself three times. I have spent over five hundred dollars in the first year of ownership and now it has happened again. This is obviously a much more wide spread problem than is being reported. Volkswagen should be made to repair the bumpers at no charge or recall all effected vehicles and strengthen the bumper assembly. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis**770127.