2001 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 77about this part
- Share
- 12%of 668 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,864miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 77 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, 12% of the 668 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,864 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The ABS light came on and the brakes soft as a marshmallow not warning notice got stopped and there was a hissing noise but no brake fluid on any of the brakes...... I've also been having issues with after replacing the water pump it keeping fluid in it also using the geico discount equipment to see how my driving is the engine light and the one above that the looks like a triangle.... Did the diagnostic came up with a 1000 code and one other the deal didn't find the 1000 code but reset with no luck turning them off after service.”
NHTSA complaint #10700973, filed 2015-03, 150,000 miles“I was driving in the city. Heard a grinding noise in the rear of my vehicle. Brought car to mechanic. Was told rear caliper froze due to wearing of brake pads. The calipers had damaged the rear rotors. The car had to be towed to dealer. Rotors were replaced for a cost of $500, and I was told none of the repairs were covered under warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #10100895, filed 2004-12, 25,000 miles“Last year I took my car to the dealer becuase my brakes were grinding. They could find no issues. Today I took the car for a recall service on my ignition coil, and they tell me my rear brakes are bad and need to be fixed. So I got it done. Problem is, I only have 20,000 miles on the car. I have had it since august of 2000 and I do not drive very far in a year.”
NHTSA complaint #10051547, filed 2004-01, 20,002 miles“On a clear day, dry pavement, went to brake in city traffic and brakes failed causing me to rear end the car in front ( causing $2600 damages) and totalling my car. No injuries. Air bag did not deploy, possibly due to the low speed I was travelling.”
NHTSA complaint #10224597, filed 2008-04, 140,000 miles“I was driving my 2001 vw Jetta and I braked suddenly. Brake light and audio alarm came on. Took the car into garage for repair. Was told that it needed new ABS control unit. The garage checked for recalls and found that this same part had been recalled on other vw models.”
NHTSA complaint #10171464, filed 2006-10, 99,923 milesRelated recalls
- 07V063000Feb 20, 2007On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2001–2005, Golf 1999–2006, GTI 1999–2006 +3 more
- 06V183000May 24, 2006On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2002, Beetle 1998–2002
- 04V096000Feb 20, 2004On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2002
- 02V031000Jan 31, 2002On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (abs).Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2001–2002, Golf 2001–2002, NEW Beetle 2001–2002
Related service bulletins
- 10243015Nov 17, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10238566Jun 18, 2013If mechanical damage is found to the turbocharger (e.g. damaged compression wheel, loose or broken shaft), it is not enough to just replace the turbocharger.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 13 | 28% |
| 2023 | 11 | 26% |
| 2022 | 12 | 28% |
| 2021 | 26 | 37% |
| 2020 | 7 | 13% |
| 2019 | 30 | 5% |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 9% |
| 2016 | 23 | 14% |
| 2015 | 19 | 10% |
| 2014 | 18 | 5% |
| 2013 | 22 | 4% |
| 2012 | 37 | 7% |
| 2011 | 28 | 5% |
| 2010 | 55 | 6% |
| 2009 | 205 | 23% |
| 2008 | 23 | 12% |
| 2007 | 44 | 22% |
| 2006 | 30 | 5% |
| 2005 | 14 | 6% |
| 2004 | 12 | 5% |
| 2003 | 22 | 5% |
| 2002 | 51 | 7% |
| 2001 | 77 | 12% |
| 2000 | 45 | 10% |
| 1999 | 31 | 9% |
| 1998 | 11 | 6% |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% |
| 1996 | 2 | 6% |
| 1995 | 23 | 10% |
| 1994 | 9 | 8% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1992 | 2 | 7% |
| 1991 | 2 | 6% |
| 1990 | 2 | 9% |
| 1988 | 3 | 16% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1 | 7% |
| 1985 | 3 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
117 complaintsEngine cooling
109 complaintsAir bags
97 complaintsExterior lighting
80 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
71 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
62 complaintsBody and structure
43 complaintsFuel system
28 complaintsSeats
27 complaintsEquipment
19 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
18 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology