Jetta :: 2001 - Radio Won't Working?

, I own a 2011 Jetta which has been very good for us. It has 50,000 miles on it. We have had no issues, and have been careful to take it in for all scheduled maintenance to a certified VW mechanic (never the dealer). Last week we took it in for its check up and when I picked it up, the radio was dead. I told the mechanic and he brought out his computer and plugged it in. No signal from the car to the computer; it was as if the radio didn't even exist. Mind you I was listening to it all the way to the shop (it's an hour away). It sat on his lot for about 5 hours while being checked out for the routine stuff. Mechanic says that these cars are notorious for having P.O.S. radios installed. Expensive to replace from the dealer. Question: is this a rampant problem, and what does VW say about this defect?