What Volkswagen Jetta owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Volkswagen Jetta safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 2025 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 142 |
| 2024 | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 249 |
| 2023 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 340 |
| 2022 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 446 |
| 2021 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 485 |
| 2020 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 533 |
| 2019 | 549 | 19 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 755 |
| 2018 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 656 |
| 2017 | 159 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 664 |
| 2016 | 164 | 18 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 823 |
| 2015 | 197 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1,078 |
| 2014 | 440 | 24 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 1,538 |
| 2013 | 632 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1,533 |
| 2012 | 526 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 1,481 |
| 2011 | 640 | 28 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 1,330 |
| 2010 | 875 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 1,128 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Volkswagen Jetta complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Mechatronics reprogram for prior recall does not fix failure longterm. The accumulator recall was fixed with original OEM accumulator which prolongs the need for Mechatronics rebuild. The OEM valve body housing is weak and cracks as well. The windshield spray motor just replaced. Appears it is a larger issue, many have issues with.
The panoramic sunroof glass shattered spontaneously while driving. I was accelerating onto the highway from an on-ramp at approximately 50 to 60 mph. There were no vehicles in front of me and the highway was empty, so nothing could have struck the glass. I heard a loud bang similar to a gunshot, looked up, and saw a hole covering roughly 20% of the sunroof panel with cracks spreading across the rest of the glass. I pulled over to the right shoulder and inspected it from outside. The glass at the break was bent upward and outward, indicating the failure came from inside the panel and not from an external impact. I removed the larger loose pieces for safety and taped over the roof before cont…
Im reporting a safety concern involving my car, while driving on 30 highway at 65 mph the vehicle suddenly lost throttle response and would not accelerate when I pressed the accelerator pedal, this created a potentially dangerous situation because I was traveling with surrounding 3 pm traffic and could have been involved in a collision do to the unexpected loss of power. I was force to pull over and after searching inf I turn off the car for 10 minutes and restarting the vehicle it appeared to operate normally again.However the failure occurred without warning, and Iâm concerned that it could happen again while driving. I towed the car to the closest dealership but they can look at it unti…
upon my mechanic's inspection of the vehicle for an unrelated issue, it was found that the entire subframe is rusty and corroded. He informed me that it was at a critical stage that would sooner than later lead to structural failure. Upon brining it to the VW dealer, they agreed with the assessment. VW is not willing to take responsibility for the issue. I am willing to let it be inspected upon request and the dealer supplied me with a video of the inspection. There has been no indication that this was happening, it was only found when my car was put on a rack for an unrelated issue. Here's a link to the video [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOI…
Rental Vehicle Door Malfunction (Claim # [Insert Complaint/Claim Number]) Date: XXX To: Damage Recovery Unit / Customer Relations Enterprise Rent-A-Car Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally report a serious safety defect and personal injury resulting from a rental vehicle provided by your [XXX] location, and to register a formal protest against returning this vehicle to service without a certified mechanical inspection. Rental & Vehicle Details â¢Rental Location: [XXX] â¢Pickup Date/Time: XXX at 11:15 AM â¢Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen Jetta (Black) â¢License Plate: [XXX] â¢VIN: [XXX] â¢Vehicle Unit #: XXX â¢Starting Mileage / Fuel: 18,635 / 8.2 gal â¢Damage Recovery Unit Complaint #: …
There is a known issue released by Volkswagen that certain model years of their vehicles are eligible for a limited extended warranty regarding the clock spring. In their release announcement VWP-18-11 on April 27, 2023, they specifically mentioned vehicle year model 2010 to 2022 qualifies for U37 Warranty key if the issue exists. However, my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is excluded from this because they told me there is no identified issue as of now. However, the clock spring damage can lead to a severe safety concern that the driver's airbag won't be triggered and the front alert is not working properly as well. Taking these into consideration, Volkswagen still declined my request to offer the l…
The issue with the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta is the steering wheel which appears to be a known issue. A warning light and audible warning tone activate repeatedly while the car is in motion with the alert of "Travel Assist Currently Not Available". The frequency of the alert by tone and alert light is excessive and distracting while driving the car. The issue appears to be from an internal failure in the wheel's capacitive touch hands-detection sensor mat. In my 2022 Jetta, the original wheel at purchase had the exact same issue and was replaced under warranty. The wheel that Volkswagen replaced it with had the same defect, and the problem began occurring again in 2 or less years. Currently the …
The vehicleâs Forward Collision Avoidance system (Front Assist) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) intermittently malfunction while driving. On at least three separate occasions during clear, dry weather with clean sensors, the AEB system engaged full hydraulic braking unexpectedly with no obstacles aheadâonce while utilizing Adaptive Cruise Control and twice while driving manually. This severe "phantom braking" creates an immediate, life-threatening rear-end collision hazard on public roadways. Immediately following these braking events, the digital cluster displays the warning message "Front Assist Currently Unavailable."The vehicle has a documented history of electrical instability…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Repair or Replace Information
Brake rotor resurfacing
Resurfacing Rotors during Perfect Delivery Inspection
Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Customer states MIL-on, Transmission warning light on, harsh shifting; Coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, Low coolant level, Visible coolant leak, or Coolant warning message in instrument cluster; Customer states no start condition; Customer states no start condition; Customer states wind noise and or water ingress; Customer states there is a noise when pressing the brake pedal; Customer states there is a leak from the front of the vehicle
Update Programming of the Engine/Motor Control Module -J623-
Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Customer states MIL-on, Transmission warning light on, harsh shifting; Coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, Low coolant level, Visible coolant leak, or Coolant warning message in instrument cluster; Customer states no start condition; Customer states no start condition; Customer states wind noise and or water ingress; Customer states there is a noise when pressing the brake pedal; Customer states there is a leak from the front of the vehicle
Steering wheel sensor mat (hands on detection) and software deviation in the steering wheel detection control module -1158-.
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: Part number 3Q0-959-435N software version number 1307 has incorrect coding.
Battery Checking Procedure before replacement
Warranty Alignment Worksheet
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Replacement instruction
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to te
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-spe
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a defect petition received on 14 August 2019 requesting an investigation of an alleged defect of the manual transmissions in Model Year (MY) 2019 Volkswagen (VW) GTI, Golf GTI and Jetta GLI vehicles. The stalling incidents cited occurred without warning as the vehicle slows to a stop or prepares to make a turn across traffic with the clutch pressed in and the vehicle in neutral.The hazard posed by a vehicle stalling event is m
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to te
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while allowing for the turning of the steering wheel.Complainants alleged that that the cl
By letter dated October 3, 2011, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (MY) 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Golf, and Audi A3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0L TDI Common Rail Clean Diesel engine (NHTSA Recall No. 11V-490).The recalled Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen vehicles were built from May 2008 through September 2011, the G
The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and To
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: electrical system, engine, power train. 4,500 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
