Volkswagen Jetta Complaints
10,351 consumer complaints on file.
- #10898366August 24, 2016ENGINE
MY CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS WENT BAD AND WERE REPLACED IN 2015. IT WAS JUST AROUND 100,000 MILES. THEN I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THEY WERE BAD AGAIN. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE MECHANIC IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND LOOKING AT THE VOLKSWAGEN TDI FORUM, THAT YEAR IS PARTICULARLY BAD. THIS CAMSHAFT FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER ON THE INTERSTATE DURING A HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, BOTH TIMES. FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON I-240 IN ASHEVILLE MIDDAY. SECOND TIME WAS TRAVELLING WEST ON I-40 NEAR MORGANTON, NC IN EVENING TRAFFIC. LOSS OF POWER, SMOKING. I COULD BARELY GET OFF THE EXIT. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE IMPEDED TRAFFIC, BOTH TIMES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897911August 23, 2016ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET, SEALANT, THE OIL SEPARATOR, THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, THE TIMING CHAIN, THE TIMING CHAIN CASE COVER, THE TIMING RAIL TENSIONER AND MULTIPLE OTHER UNKNOWN PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897691August 22, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HORN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA WITHOUT FILING A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897818August 22, 2016EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR I HAVE NEEDED TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS. THIS TIME EVEN THE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS. JUST THE HIGH BEAMS, PARK LIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK, BUT NOT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND MY VEHICLE IS HIGHLY MAINTAINED AND IN GREAT CONDITION. YET, I KEEP SUFFERING WITH THE SAME HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE BULBS AND MY MECHANIC HAS EVEN TOLD ME IT'S A FAULT WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897500August 21, 2016POWER TRAIN
I FIRST TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER IN LATE 2015 TO REPORT AN UNUSUAL DRIVING CHARACTERISTIC I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IN OVER 40 YEARS OF DRIVING. WHEN INCHING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS IN THIS CAR, THERE IS A "JERKY" UNEXPECTED, TEMPORARY SURGING OF THE VEHICLE. THE EXPERIENCED VW MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED THIS TO A "DRY CLUTCH" THAT OPERATES MUCH LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN SLIGHTLY RELEASING THE BRAKE TO MOVE SLOWLY EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, THE CAR HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED TO "RELEASE" THE CLUTCH AND MOVE FORWARD -- SINCE MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED THAT IS WHAT THE DRIVER INTENDS. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE JUST RELEASING THE BRAKE TO INCH FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, AS WHEN PARKING, THE SUDDEN SURGE FEELS VERY UNEXPECTED AND DANGEROUS. IN AUGUST 2016, WE NOTICED A LARGE POOL FLUID UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. AFTER DRIVING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE MECHATRONIC DRY CLUTCH UNIT HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE NEW MECHATRONICS UNIT WAS INSTALLED, UNDER WARRANTY AND WITHOUT ANY COST TO US, WE REALIZED TWO DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS NOT EXPERIENCED BEFORE: 1) THE DASHBOAD DISPLAYED THE GEAR THE CAR WAS IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I.E., D1, D2 THROUGH D7. THAT FEATURE HAD SIMPLY NEVER WORKED BEFORE, UNBEKNOWST TO US AT THE TIME; 2) THE CAR DROVE WITH MORE POWER, AND IT APPEARS BETTER GAS MILEAGE AS WELL SO FAR. THE SERVICE REP MENTIONED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD TO SEE THE PHYSICAL MECHANTRONICS UNIT FIRST, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL BY VIN # ALONE IF IT IS THE CORRECT PART. THE CONCLUSION I HAVE DRAWN IS THAT THE WRONG MECHATRONICS UNIT WAS INSTALLED ON OUR CAR ORIGINALLY, WHICH CAUSED NOT ONLY BAD DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS, BUT ALSO DID NOT REGISTER THE GEAR THE CAR WAS IN ON THE DASHBOARD READOUT. I HAVE A REMAINING QUESTION WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS CAUSED TO THE CAR, AND HOW VW INTENDS WILL HANDLE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897089August 19, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RADIO IS DEAD. SEE ALL THE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T36009_DS552583 SAFETY CONCERN WITH NO BLUETOOTH FUNCTION SINCE THE RADIO IS DEAD. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. AN ISSUE MANY OTHERS HAVE POSTED ABOUT. VW CHAT SAYS THERE IS NO CAMPAIGN FOR EITHER OF THESE ISSUES AND JUST GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER. THE SEAT SHOWED EARLY DETERIATION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS POINTED OUT TO THE DEALER, STOKES VW SEVERAL TIMES. BUT THEY NEVER WROTE IT UP ON THE SERVICE ORDER. ANOTHER PROBLEM 2010 JETTA OWNERS HAVE POSTED ABOUT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897259August 19, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WON'T START, JUMPED, DROVE AND FAILED TO START NEXT DAY, OWN TEST AND HAS CURRENT DRAW WHEN OFF, TOOK TO DEALER, SAID RADIO IS CAUSING PROBLEM, WON'T (GO TO SLEEP MODE WHEN TURNED OFF), TOLD $800 TO REPLACE THE RADIO, CHECKED ON LINE AND I SEE SO MANY, THOUSANDS I HEAR, PROBLEMS WITH RADIOS ON THIS STYLE CAR, IF VOLKSWAGEN WON'T STAND BEHIND A KNOWN ISSUE AND GO BACK ON THEIR SUPPLIER FOR A RESOLUTION, I WILL NOT STAND BEHIND VOLKSWAGEN AND PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, IF THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE I'M SURE SOME LEGAL ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN, BUT IT'S ONLY A RADIO, COSTING A LOT OF PEOPLE, I'M GUESSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10896998August 18, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LIKE THE RECALL ON 2011 JETTA HORN THE 2012 JETTA HORN HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT WAS HIT BY A DRIVER BACKING UP AND VOULD NOT WARN THE DRIVER DUE TO AHORN THAT DOES NOT WORK. TODAY I WAS ALMOST SANDWICHED BETWEEN A SEMI-TRUCK AND A CAR MOVING INTO MY LANE. LUCKILY FOR ME AND THEKID THE DRIVER IN THE CAR GOT BACK IN THEIR OWN LANE. IT APPEARS THE TRUNK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK EITHER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE HORN AND TRUNK LIGHT STOPPED WORKING, LAST TIME IT FIXED IT'S SELF THIS TIME IT SEEMS TO NEED HELP TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HORN CLICKS NO SOUND, NO ALARM WARNING SOUNDS.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10897026August 18, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION IN THE IGNITION WITH THE CAR RUNNING. THE KEY WILL NOT PHYSICALLY MOVE FROM THE "ON" TO "OFF" POSITION TO TURN THE CAR OFF. AFTER LOOKING THIS UP IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VW. THE CAR IS ABLE TO SHIFT BETWEEN PARK, DRIVE, AND NEUTRAL. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF THE KEY DOESN'T BUDGE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10896877August 18, 2016POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2014 AND I'VE KEPT UP WITH ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO DATE. I DRIVE AN AVERAGE 30 MILES PER DAY DURING THE WORK WEEK AND TRAVEL UP TO 140 MILES EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO FOR CUSTODIAL EXCHANGES. THIS PAST WEEKEND (AUGUST 13, 2016), WHILE AT A ROUTINE PIT STOP FOR GAS MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I HAD PARKED AT THE GAS STATION RIGHT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I WENT TO RESTART MY VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T MOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE, BUT THE WHEELS RESPONDED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2013 WHEN THE VW JETTA WENT ON THE MARKET, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INVOLVE MY VIN. THE RECALL WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, NOR WAS I EVER NOTIFIED OF IT BEING A POTENTIAL ISSUE. I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY WHEN I WAS LEFT STRANDED 70 MILES FROM HOME AND 45 MILES FROM THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. MY RESEARCHED TURNED UP THIS STATEMENT: "AN ELECTRIC MALFUNCTION COULD OCCUR IN THE GEARBOX POWER SUPPLY BASED ON THE SYNTHETIC GEARBOX OIL IF THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE, COUPLED WITH A HIGH PROPORTION OF STOP-AND-GO DRIVING," SAID MARK GILLIES, A VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SPOKESMAN, IN A PHONE CONVERSATION. "THE CAR WORKS, BUT YOU LOSE DRIVE." MY VEHICLE HAS 51,850 MILES ON IT, SO IT WAS COVERED UNDER VW'S 5YR-60K WARRANTY. IT'S BEEN SITTING AT THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR 3 DAYS WHILE THEY COORDINATE ON REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE POWER TRAIN. THE REMAINING ESTIMATED TIME FOR REPLACEMENT IS 2-3 DAYS. I LIVE IN AUSTIN, TX WHERE HOT, HUMID, AND STOP-AND-GO ARE A ROUTINE PART OF LIFE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10896491August 17, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IGNITION KEY TUMBLER WILL NOT TURN. CANNOT START VEHICLE AND OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. ONLY BUY LUCK WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY TURN VEHICLE OFF. NO OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE ENGINE IF THIS PROBLEM EXPERIENCED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895929August 15, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN OFF AFTER STARTING CAR. HAVE TO JIGGLE AND TAP ON KEY TO EVENTUALLY GET KEY TO TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE OUT OF TEN TIMES THE KEY MAY TURN OFF NORMALLY. I HAVE TRIED MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH WHILE TURNING KEY OFF. I'VE ALSO TRIED MOVING THE GEAR SHIFTER TO SEE IF THE LOCK IS PREVENTING THE KEY FROM TURNING. NOTHING REALLY SEEMS TO WORK. THEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL I YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. SEEMS LIKE THE TUMBLERS GET OUT OF LINE OR SOMETHING. CAR IS PARKED ON FLAT LEVEL DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895785August 14, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KEY STUCK ON THE ON POSITION AND NOT ABLE TO TURN KEY, TO TURN CAR OFF.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895824August 14, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND A COMMUNITY OF OTHER VW OWNERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE VW MODELS (MANY JETTAS LIKE MINE). THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY PARKED, ETC, AND THE KEY MUST BE TURNED SO HARD THAT IT FEELS LIKE ONE COULD BREAK/DAMAGE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE IT RELEASES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895508August 13, 2016WHEELS
WE HAVE HAD TWO RIMS BEND OUT OF SHAPE RESULTING IN FLATS IN THE SPACE OF THREE WEEKS. THE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN STRIKING A MINOR POTHOLE (<1" DEEP) AT LOW SPEED, AND THE OTHER HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO APPARENT POTHOLE OR DEBRIS. THE EXTREME FRAGILITY OF THE RIM MAKES IT APPEAR DEFECTIVE. WE ARE CAREFUL DRIVERS AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895526August 13, 2016AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT 22,591 MILES, I DISCOVERED THE DRIVER AIRBAG, AUDIO CONTROLS, HORN, OTHER ELECTRONICS ON STEERING WHEEL FAILED BECAUSE OF FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE FOR MULTIPLE VW MODELS INCLUDING MY MODEL AND YEAR, BUT THE DEALER AND VW CORPORATE TOLD ME MY VEHICLE'S VIN DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. HERE IS THE LINK TO VW RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE: HTTP://MEDIA.VW.COM/RELEASE/1042/ THIS IS DANGEROUS, SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED. HOW CAN THIS FAIL AT ONLY 22K MILES AND BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR? IT IS OBVIOUS MY VIN NUMBER SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED MARK GILLIES 703-364-7104 [email protected] WHO IS LISTED ON THE VW SITE. THEY STILL REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS VIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895343August 12, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED THE FUSE BLOCK AND WIRES ABOVE THE BATTERY. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS, THE FUSES, AND POSSIBLY THE BATTERY. MY CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND THIS IS DANGEROUS NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR OTHERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. TOO MANY VW OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. VW PLEASE TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SAME ISSUE IS BEING ADDRESSED IN A CLASS ACTION FOR BEETLES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895083August 11, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE KEY CONSTANTLY GETS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10894753August 10, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
MY VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING LOCKS UP, ALSO MY ALARM WILL MAKE THE SOUND TO DISARM THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING I HAVE TO PULL OVER SHUT DOWN CAR AND DISARM IT AND START AGAIN. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLES RPM WILL RAISE AND GO DOWN RAISE AND GO DOWN UNTIL CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING STALL AND CAR SHUT OFF AND LOCKED UP I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKE AND RE START THE CAR TO PULL IN SAFELY OR IT WOULD HAVE RAN INTO THE CARPORT. ON THIS DATE THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF IN MOTION 2 TIMES AND IT CUT OFF WITH BRAKE ON AT A LIGHT 3 TIMES
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10894427August 9, 2016SERVICE BRAKES
MY VEHICLE HAD A SAFETY RECALL (23R1/CAMSHAFT) WHICH ONLY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE CAMSHAFT FAILING AND LOOSING POWER BRAKES. WE HAD THIS DONE IN MARCH OF 2016. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO TURN AND THEY WERE HARD. FORTUNATELY I WASN'T GOING TOO FAST AND BECAUSE I WAS GETTING READY TO TURN AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO STOP IN FRONT OF MY HOME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED A CAMSHAFT FAILURE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE VEHICLE IS FIXED WITH THE SAME PART. OBVIOUSLY A SOFTWARE UPDATE IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF VOLKSWAGEN IN USING THE SAME CAMSHAFT TO REPAIR. VOLKSWAGEN IS PUTTING MANY LIVES AT RISK WITHOUT A FIX TO THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY IN A VEHICLE THAT WE FEEL IS A TICKING TIME BOMB. WE COULD BE KILLED OR INJURED NOT TO MENTION OTHER PEOPLE IF WE ARE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO VOLKSWAGEN AND TOLD THEM I WANT THEM TO BUYBACK THE VEHICLE, NO ONE WOULD FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0