2005 Volkswagen Jetta Body & Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND EXITING A HIGHWAY RAMP, A VERY A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO AN AUTO SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE TWO ALUMINUM BOLTS USED FOR THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE MOTOR TO FALL ONTO THE SUB-FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,362.

FOR CLARIFICATION, MY CAR IS A MARK 5 2005.5 NEW JETTA, NOT A MARK 4 2005 JETTA. WHEN YOU SHUT THE TRUNK, IT SEEMS TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. IT STAYS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND CANNOT BE PULLED OPEN. HOWEVER, ONCE YOU DRIVE OFF, THE TRUNK MAY OPEN SUDDENLY AND YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING BEHIND YOURSELF BECAUSE THE TRUNK HOOD OBSTRUCT YOUR REAR WINDOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES TO ME, AND MANY OTHER JETTA OWNERS CAN BE SEEN SAYING THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON ONLINE FORUMS. SOMETIMES, THE TRUNK CANNOT BE CLOSED AT ALL. YOU CAN STAND THERE AND SHUT THE TRUNK OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND IT WILL NOT LATCH. *TR

THE TRUNK LATCH IS EASILY DEFECTIVE CAUSING INABILITY TO SHUT TRUNK OR OPENING OF TRUNK WHILE DRIVING. SEARCH FORUMS ONLINE AND YOU WILL SEE PLENTY OF HITS AS A RECURRING PROBLEM. OURS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND HAS OPENED WHILE ON THE ROAD. THANKFULLY THE TRUNK WAS EMPTY AND NOTHING FLEW OUT AND THE ROAD WAS EMPTY. *TR

THE CAR INTERIOR HAS A CRAYON SMELL MOST NOTICEABLE ON HOT DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM BREATHING IN POSSIBLY TOXIC FUMES FROM THE EVAPORATION OF CHEMICALS THAT WERE USED WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. AFTER TYPING INTO GOOGLE ONLY THE 2 WORDS "CRAYON SMELL" I GET MANY MANY HITS FOR VW CARS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME SMELL AS MINE, SO THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS A LARGE GROUP OF VW VEHICLES. *TR

THE OUTSIDE HANDLES OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR & DRIVER'S SIDE BACK PASSENGER DOOR DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IT APPEARS THAT THE CYLINDER INSIDE THE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK THE HANDLE IN PLACE SO THE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. I HAVE TO ROTATE THE CYLINDER WITH MY FINGERS ALONG WITH PUSHING THE DOOR HANDLE INTO PLACE FROM THE OUTSIDE TO RESET THE DEVICE. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT CORRELATES WITH THIS FAILURE. THIS OCCURS DURING EACH USE OF THE DOOR. IN RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT SOME 2005 VW JETTA MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, HE SAID MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. *TR