Page 2 of 4 · complaints 51–100 of 188

2008 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Electrical System
Filed Jun 8, 2016110,500 milesTX

I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND TRIED TO TURN OFF ENGINE TO FUEL THE CAR. AN IGNITION MALFUNCTION WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN ENGINE OFF OR REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION.

Air Bags
Filed May 11, 2016CO

TAKATA RECALL MY DASH READS, "AIRBAG FAULT".

Power Train
Filed May 9, 201698,000 milesIL

THE CAR STALL IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, THEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS THE ISSUE AS CAR DOES NOT MOVE TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE SEVERE ACCIDENT. THIS NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. I BELIEVE SIMILAR INSTANCES HAVE REPORTED: HTTP://ABCNEWS.GO.COM/GMA/STORY?ID=8378724

Air Bags
Filed Mar 13, 2016FL

THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. I CHECKED AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING THAT CAN BE CONTAMINATED BY DEBRIS, WHICH MOVES THE PART'S GUIDE LOOPS OUT OF POSITION. THIS CAN CAUSE A TEAR IN THE ELECTRICAL CABLE THAT CONTROLS THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG. IF THIS HAPPENS, A WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT THE SAFETY DEVICE WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. VW IS STILL IDENTIFYING ALL OF THE AFFECTED VINS AND DEVELOPING A FIX. I SOW THAT THE 2010 JETTA ARE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

SeatsFire
Filed Feb 16, 201670,000 milesMO

DRIVER HEATED LEATHER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AFTER CAR WAS TURNED ON AND THE HEATED SEAT BUTTON WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 12, 201645,000 milesGA

REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK INOPERABLE. LOCK MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE DOOR TO NOT LOCK MANUALLY OR WITH REMOTE. ALSO, THE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED TO "CHIRP" WHEN PRESSING REMOTE. TOOK TO DEALER AND SPENT $500 ON A LOCK MECHANISM IN THE DOOR. I HEAR THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. BUYER BEWARE.

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 10, 201685,000 milesFL

DRIVERS SAFETY BELT FRAYING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED, POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR FLAW IN THE CLIP WHERE THE BELT PASSES THROUGH, SHARP METAL IS PROTRUDING FROM PLASTIC BUCKLE CAUSING THE BELT TO FRAY. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 10, 2015105,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY AND WITH THE KEY FOB. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 7, 201555,000 milesNM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED OVER APPROXIMATELY A TWO WEEK PERIOD UNTIL IT WAS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURES RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 5, 201594,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE UP TO 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND AN OIL CHANGE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 22, 201567,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 2, 2015132,911 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED AND THE LEAK WAS A CAUSED BY FAULTY PURGE PRESSURE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,911.

Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2015106,867 milesTX

SINCE 2012, I HAVE HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS THAT NO MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHEN THEY WOULD CHECK THE KNOCK SENSOR. THEY WOULD RESET IT, AND SEE IF IT CAME ON AGAIN. HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE LONG PERIODS WHERE IT WOULDN'T COME ON. IT HAS NOT COME ON, SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2014. 4/13/2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 HOURS, I WAS TRAVELING ON A MAJOR FREEWAY, IN AFTERNOON TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON. WHEN, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO DIE. MY CONTROL PANEL WENT DEAD, AND MY ENGINE WAS GRADUALLY DYING, WITH THE RADIO AND ELECTRICITY STILL WORKING. I ENDED UP BEING STRANDED IN A MOVING LANE, AT A SPLIT, WITH VEHICLES WHIZZING FROM 60-80 MPH. I CALLED FOR A WRECKER OVER A POLICE RADIO, BUT 5 MINUTES LATER MY VEHICLE RESTARTED LIKE EVERYTHING WAS FINE, DIED AND RESTARTED AGAIN ON SHOULDER OF FREEWAY. I THEN GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND WENT PARKING LOT TO PARKING LOT GOT HOME, TOOK IT TO VW DEALERSHIP FIRST THING. DUE TO NO ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE, DEALERSHIP GUESSED IGNITION SWITCH. DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH DEALERSHIP, TOOK VEHICLE FROM THEM AND PAID FOR DIAGNOSTIC. DISCOVERED IN REPORT THEY LISTED MALFUNCTIONING CAMSHAFT, WHICH THEY WERE GOING TO TRY AND HAVE ME PAY. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, DIED ON ME AGAIN ON 4/19/15. BECAUSE SEARCHING WITH MY VIN DID NOT REVEAL DEFECTS OR INVESTIGATIONS AND MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE 1 RECALL -- I SEARCHED WITH THE ENGINE CODE "BPY", I FOUND THERE HAD BEEN AN INVESTIGATION AND VW DECIDED TO NOT DO A RECALL BUT "UPDATE", THU

Engine
Filed Apr 18, 201585,000 milesNY

MY PCV VALVE GOT CLOGGED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO BLOW OUT CAUSING A LOT OF DAMAGE. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ARE RECEIVING A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES BETWEEN 80K AND 100K, UNACCEPTABLE. THEY ARE NOT COVERING ANY REPAIRS. THERE HAS BEEN 3 REVISIONS BY VOLKSWAGEN TO THE PCV VALVE THATS IN MY VEHICLE BUT THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE MINE IS FAULTY..WHY DID THEY REMAKE IT 3 TIMES? ALSO MODEL YEARS BEFORE ME HAD PCV VALVE RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT REASON. THANK YOU *TR

Air Bags
Filed Mar 31, 2015116,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CRASH SENSORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 201586,300 milesCA

THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM STOPS WORKING AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN A LOT OF VW FORUMS ONLINE. THEY CALL IT THE ACTUATOR AND WHEN IT STOPS WORKING THE CHILD LOCKS DO NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE THEN HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH RELATES TO "CHILD SAFETY SEATS THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELTS, BUCKLES, OR COMPONENTS THAT CREATE A RISK OF INJURY, NOT ONLY IN A VEHICLE CRASH BUT ALSO IN NON-OPERATIONAL SAFETY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE." A DOOR THAT CAN BE OPENED BY A CHILD WHEN IN MOVEMENT OR PARKED IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. THE DOOR CAN BE EASILY PUSHED OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE LOCKS DON'T WORK. ALSO, THE ALARM ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ARM BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK SO IF SOMEONE WENT DOOR CHECKING IN A PARKING LOT, MY CAR WOULD BE BROKEN INTO - IF NOT STOLEN ALTOGETHER DUE TO THIS. IN DECEMBER I PAID $450+ TO HAVE THE REAR DOOR LOCK REPLACED AND NOW, 3 MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT TWO DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ANOTHER HAZARD FOR SAFETY HAPPENS WHEN YOU CANNOT LOCK YOUR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO CARJACK ME AT A STOP LIGHT - I AM UNABLE TO LOCK MY DOORS! I CALLED VW CARE AND THEY HAVE DECLINED TO EVEN HELP ME WITH THIS COST AND I AM SLO FILING A CLAIM WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THE FORUMS ONLINE, SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Mar 25, 201574,900 milesCO

I AM GETTING A WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH INDICATING THAT THERE IS AN AIRBAG FAULT IN MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH THEM, THE DEALER GAVE ME A NUMBER TO WHAT HE SAID WAS THE VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE OFFICE IN MICHIGAN. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALER AND BY VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE THAT MY AIRBAG WAS PAST ITS WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. AN AIRBAG IS A LIFESAVING SAFETY COMPONENT, AND IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR MANUFACTURER TO SEE THAT THE DRIVERS OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE SAFE. AN AIRBAG THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY IS IN VIOLATION OF SAFETY STANDARD 201, ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA. I HAVE READ ONLINE HOW TOYOTA, HONDA, AND CHRYSLER HAVE RECALLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO FAULTY AIRBAGS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTEES ON THEIR AIRBAGS. SO, WITH THAT, SHOULDN'T VOLKSWAGEN BE RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT MY VEHICLE IS UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS? THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, IF THERE WAS, I COULD LOSE MY LIFE, AND I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 7, 201578,000 milesTX

DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOORS DON'T LOCK. THERE IS NO OPTION TO MANUALLY LOCK IT, THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE IS NO WAY TO LOCK THESE DOORS. THERE IS RISK OF THE DOORS FLINGING OPEN IN CASE OF ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILD SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT. *TR

Power TrainCrash
Filed Mar 5, 20155,700 milesGA

WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT, PARKING SPACE, AFTER STOPPING COMPLETELY, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED, THERE WAS A 1 TO 3 SECOND DELAY, AND THEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE OPPOSING PARKED VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE FRONTS OF BOTH VEHICLES. THIS HESITATION WAS NOTED ONCE BEFORE AT ABOUT 3800 MILES WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY FROM A STOP. AGAIN, THE HESITATION WAS FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN LUNGE. SELLING VW DEALER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A DSG TRANS PROBLEM, BRING BACK FPR EVALUATION AFTER ITS REPAIRED. THIS UNEXPECTED SURGE PROBLEM IS THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. NOTE: WHILE THIS VW JETTA IS 7 YRS OLD, IT IS NOT DRIVEN OFTEN AS CAN BE SEEN BY LESS THAN 500-800 MILES PER YEAR. *TR

Power Train
Filed Mar 4, 2015100,000 milesCA

VEHICLE JERKS HARSHLY WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND & 2ND TO 1ST GEARS. USUALLY RIGHT AROUND 20MPH TO 15MPH. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 29, 201558,000 milesOR

WE HAVE A 2008 JETTA PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2007. IT CURRENTLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH IT. A CRASH SENSOR WENT OUT AT ABOUT 50K. THIS COST OVER $500 TO FIX AT THE LOCAL DEALER. RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SHOWS CODE 01221 WHICH IS DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALER SAID THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS PROBABLY NOT FUNCTIONING WITH THE LIGHT ON. I'D GUESS THIS IS ANOTHER EXPENSIVE FIX. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, SUBMERGED, OR HAD A SPILL IN IT. IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT THESE TYPE OF ISSUES WOULD BE OCCURRING IN A VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 14, 201558,000 milesOR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. VOLKSWAGEN INDICATES THAT AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. NO INCIDENT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 1, 201551,000 milesPA

EMMISIONS LIGHT ON- NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR VW 2008 JETTA GLI/ EMMISION LIGHT ON/IGNIATION TO START HESITATION PLEASE TELL ME ALL RECALLS ON VW 2008 JETTA GLI. CAN I TAKE MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR RECALLS? THANK YOU *JS

Electrical System
Filed Oct 6, 2014CA

SUNROOF WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE AT RANDOM, HAD THAT FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AND THE ALARM WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A THEFT ISSUE AND APPEARS ITS PRETTY COMMON DUE TO PREVIOUS VW THREADS. AT $400 REPAIR COSTS AND VW KNOWING THIS IS AN ISSUE, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL STATUS AND NOT CHARGEABLE TO OWNERS. PLEASE HELP ME/US, I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIR!!! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 2, 201460,000 milesWA

IN 2011, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO LOCK THE DOOR BOTH WITH THE INTERNAL LOCK SWITCH AND THE FOB, THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. IT ALSO WOULD NOT CHIRP TO LET ME KNOW THAT ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE ALARM WAS SET. LOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE FOB DOES SET THE ALARM, HOWEVER YOU CAN OPEN THE REAR DOOR AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 THE LEFT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING AS WELL...IT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR NOT LOCKING...HOWEVER, IT IS SO FAR SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL! *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 16, 2014150,000 milesCA

A CAR HIT ME WHEN I WAS STOP TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THEY HIT ME ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF MY CAR . TOOK OUT MY FRONT END. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

Engine
Filed Sep 8, 201489,000 milesCA

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE OIL CHANGED AND TO HAVE MY AC LOOKED AT DUE TO STRANGE SMELL COMING FROM VENTS. PER DEALERSHIP REQUEST THEY STATED I SHOULD HAVE THE AC FLUSHED. I LEFT MY CAR THERE WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DROPPING IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TO TELL ME MY CAR DIED. THEY HAD HOOKED IT UP TO FLUSH THE AC AND THE ENGINE DIED. UPON THEIR INVESTIGATION A COMPRESSION TEST WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS DETERMINED CYLINDERS 1,2,3 AND 5 SHOWED ZERO COMPRESSION WHILE 4 SHOWED 80PSI. THEY ARE STATING DUE TO IMPROPER CAM TIMING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE SECURING BOLT ON THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT WAS LOOSE. IT IS NOW RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND RETIME THE CAMSHAFT TO THE CRANKSHAFT. MY CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY ISSUES LEADING UP TO THE OIL CHANGE, NO WARNING LIGHTS NOTHING. CLEARLY I SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF WARNING SIGNS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 11, 201490,000 milesTX

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MACHINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 9, 2014MI

THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOW THE VEHICLE CANNOT SAFETY CARRY 5 PASSENGERS. I AM SURE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SINCE THE SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER FAIL FOR ANY REASON. *TR

Engine
Filed May 21, 201459,000 milesNE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE A/C WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE EVAPORATOR COIL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed May 4, 201494,500 milesGA

I GOT LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR ON A HOT DAY WITH MY KID! I SAT IN THE BACK TO PLAY WITH HIM AND KEEP HIM COMPANY. THE DOOR CLOSED AND IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I WOULD PULL ON THE LEVER. I WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT (I KEEP IT PULLED BACK QUITE A BIT) AND THE DOOR. I COULD BARELY MOVE. MY WIFE HAD TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DOOR LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM HAS (SINCE THIS INCIDENT) FAILED ON BOTH REAR DOORS. BOTH!!! WE CAN NO LONGER LOCK THE CAR WITHOUT SPENDING 10-15 MINUTES OPENING, CLOSING, WORKING THE REMOTE ETC, UNTIL IT FINALLY PRODUCES THE DESIRED BEEP WITH THE CAR BEING ACTUALLY LOCKED. THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE, THE ALARM WOULD BE ACTIVATED BUT THE REAR DOOR (PASSENGER SIDE) WOULD REMAIN UNLOCKED. I PULL ON THE HANDLE, THE DOOR OPENS AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE POINT WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THE CHILD OUT OF THE CAR VIA THE FRONT DOORS. I AM NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE CAR PROBABLY GETTING STOLEN OVER THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS CHILD HAZARD! THERE ARE DOZENS OF THREADS ON VW FORUMS ABOUT THESE MECHANISMS FAILING EITHER ON: 1. ELECTRICAL HARNESS BEING DAMAGED. OR 2. DOOR LOCK/LATCH NOT ACTIVATING OR DEACTIVATING. OR BOTH HOW LONG IS VW GOING TO IGNORE THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $450 IN PARTS AND LABOR FOR 1 DOOR. THAT'S ALMOST A $1000 FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS VERY COMMON. VERY. *TR

Suspension
Filed Apr 9, 2014105,000 milesPA

RECENTLY, I HEARD SOME BUMPING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET REPAIRED, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COIL SPRING IN THE RIGHT REAR HAD BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION AND THAT IT NEED TO BE FIXED OR THAT SPRING COULD POP OUT WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE VOLKSWAGEN MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL. I HAD THE SPRING REPLACED, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER SPRING MAY HAVE THE SAME FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE VEHICLE BEING ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR OTHER DRIVERS THAT DO NOT PAY AS CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SOUNDS THEIR CARS MAKE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *TR

Power Train
Filed Feb 27, 201496,007 milesCA

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, AS I REACHED 60MPH THE CAR LUNGED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING OVER 6000RPM. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. THE GEAR/DRIVE MODE DISPLAY LED BEGAN FLASHING CONSTANTLY. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT UP TO A HIGHER GEAR SO I MOVED INTO SLOWER LANES AND KEPT THE CAR AT ABOUT 5000RPM/55MPH UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO STOP. THE CAR GEARED DOWN AS I DECELERATED BUT APPEARED TO SKIP A GEAR AND LUNGED AT EACH SHIFT. I TRIED SWITCHING BETWEEN DRIVE AND SPORT MODE BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP I DISCOVERED THE REVERSE GEAR DID NOT ENGAGE. IT SIMPLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I SHUT THE CAR DOWN, WAITED A MINUTE AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT NO LONGER HAD ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS OR ERROR MESSAGES. I LATER LEARNED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE 'DSG FLASH OF DEATH'.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 26, 201468,000 milesPA

THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE ARE FAILING FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6 YEARS AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THEY FAILED, THE CAR WAS BARELY TWO YEARS OLD AND HAD 22,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY FAILED WAS TWO YEARS LATER, AT 40,000 MILES. THEY ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT VW HAD DISCOVERED A DESIGN FLAW ON THEIR 2008 JETTA BRAKES THAT WAS CAUSING THIS, BUT NO RECALL OR RESOLUTION HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED. VW NOW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE OR TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

SeatsFire1 injured
Filed Jan 28, 2014MI

WHILE MY SISTER WHICH IS CURRENTLY PREGNANT, WAS DRIVING MY JETTA THE HEATED SEAT OVERHEATED. THE HEATED SEATS BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED THE SEAT, HER JACKET AND HER SKIN. SHE RECEIVED 1ST -2ND DEGREE BURNS ON HER BACK. *TR

Seats1 injured
Filed Jan 26, 2014106,000 milesIL

TURNED SEAT WARMER ON WHILE DRIVING. THIRTY MINUTES LATER AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION, FELT LIKE MY LOWER BACK WAS BURNED. HAD MY WIFE LOOK AT MY BACK. I HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SECOND TO THIRD DEGREE BURN. THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, THE BURN BEGAN BLISTERING. THERE IS AN IMPRINT IN THE SEAT WHICH MATCHES WHERE THE BURNT PART OF MY BACK WAS RESTING AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. A BURN MARK (HOLE), A LITTLE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF A PIN TIP, WAS LEFT IN THE SEAT AND THE FABRIC APPEARS TO BE MELTED AROUND THE HOLE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 2, 2014844,000 milesTX

THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING AND THE DOOR WON'T LOCK AT ALL. ANYBODY CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND HURT YOUR CHILD OR STILL THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER HERE IN AUSTIN, TX TODAY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTA MODEL AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF COSTUMERS. THE ELECTRIC LOCKS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 16, 2013104,346 milesFL

FUEL CUT-OFF/SURGING WHEN ACCELERATING AND TAPPING NOISE FROM ENGINE. ENGINE IS THROWING ENGINE CODES; A LOSS OF POWER IS PRESENT WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAM FOLLOWER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON ALL 2.0T FSI MOTORS FROM VW. MY CAM FOLLOWER HAS A HOLE IN IT (HAVE THE PART) AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS WORN DOWN (HAVE THE PART) BECAUSE IT HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAM LOBE, WHICH HAS BEEN SCARRED (HAVE THE PART). REPLACEMENT REQUIRES A NEW CAM, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND CAM FOLLOWER. THE DESIGN HOWEVER WILL REQUIRE CONSTANT INSPECTION OF THE CAM FOLLOWER TO AVOID MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. ALL 2.0 T FSI ENGINES WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN HAS A TSB #2015153 DATED DECEMBER 16, 2009 THAT WARNS OF THIS PROBLEM UPON CEL LIGHT BEING SHOWN. BUT BY THEN THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT HAD A HOLE IN THE CAM FOLLOWER, WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAM AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REPAIR COST WAS OVER $2,000.00. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR. SO MUCH SO THAT VOA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO TEN YEARS AND 100,000 MILES JUST FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THEY USED VIN NUMBERS AND MY VIN NUMBERS IS AFTER THE CUTOFF POINT EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE EXACT SAME MOTOR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE EARLIER VIN NUMBERED CARS. THEY NEED TO COVER THE AFFECTED MOTOR NUMBERS NOT THE VIN NUMBERS. *TR

Tires
Filed Dec 6, 2013CT

PURCHASED 4 NEW NEXEN N5000 (225/45R17) TIRES AND HAD THEM INSTALLED ON 10/21/13. APPROX. 2K MILES ON THE TIRES, AND WE NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL MEET. NO SIGNS OF SCRATCHES ON THE SIDEWALL, AND WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY IMPACT WITH POTHOLES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Nov 22, 2013735,000 milesNC

DOORS DO NOT LOCK, OR UNLOCK, RANDOM OPENING OF SUNROOF AND DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Nov 10, 201395,000 milesOH

THE LED MIRROR TURN SIGNAL AND THE FRONT BUMPER ORANGE ILLUMINATED SAFETY REFLECTOR BOTH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SIMULTANEOUSLY STOPPED WORKING. I'M UNSURE IF THIS IS DUE TO FUSE ISSUES OR COMPUTER RELATED ELECTRICAL ISSUES. A SAFETY PROBLEM IS POSED WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 26, 201370,000 milesFL

MY VEHICLE PASSENGER DOOR(S) WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE KEYLESS ENTRY LOCK OR UNLOCK COMMANDS. THEY CAN ONLY CLOSE AND OPEN MANUALLY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A STANDARD DEFAULT IN MODEL YEARS RANGING FROM 2007 AND ONWARD. THE SUNROOF WILL PERIODICALLY OPEN BY ITSELF AND THE BLINKERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (EXAMPLE IS WHEN I FLICK THE BLINKER UP TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE LEFT BLINKER COMES ON INSTEAD). WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY, AND LIFE THREATENING, ISSUES? *JS

Engine
Filed Jul 24, 201380,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 10 AND 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT, CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER, FUEL PUMP, AND A VALVE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 10, 201393,000 milesMI

THE CAM FOLLOWER FAILED RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE METAL THE PART IT IS MADE FROM IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH. THIS CAUSES IT TO WEAR THROUGH AND BREAK, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AND FUEL PUMP. AS A RESULT, ALL THREE PARTS MUST BE REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS CHOSEN TO COVER THIS REPAIR ON SOME BUT NOT ALL VEHICLES WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THEY STATE THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING WHICH VEHICLES TO COVER BASED ON VIN # ALONE AND NOT ALL VEHICLES WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILED PART EXTENDS BEYOND THEIR VIN # METRIC. THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE CHOSEN TO COVER THE REPAIR ON SOME, BUT NOT ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. THIS IS UNFAIR TO THOSE CONSUMERS STUCK WITH A BILL, WHILE OTHERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAVE IT COVERED. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jun 19, 201371,293 milesAL

WE HAD THE CAR IN THE BODY SHOP FOR A REPAIR! DENT IN THE REAR CORNER PANEL THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE DAYS LATER WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE BODY SHOP THEY TOOK IT THE COLUMBUS GA VW DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD AND THEY WERE GETTING QUITE A FEW CARS BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.WELL IT TURNS OUT ALL YOUR ELECTRONICS HORN, RADIO,CRUISE CONTROL, AIR BAGS,DASH LIGHTS,ALL THE WIRES FOR THESE ANY MANY MORE ITEMS TRAVEL THRU THE CLOCK SPRING! THERE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ITEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? THEY HAD A RECALL ON THERE 2011 JETTA HONK YOUR HORN AND YOUR MOTOR MIGHT TURN OFF! THE CAUSE CLOCK SPRING! (SO THE BODY SHOP WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY DID CAUSED IT TO GO BAD THAT THEY JUST GO BAD). THE CAR IS FIVE YEARS OLD THEY DON'T JUST GO BAD!!!! BAD DESIGN MAYBE? MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY???? SAFETY FIRST!! OH YA AND THE HORN IS NOT WORKING! I GUESS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE NEXT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME........[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Engine
Filed May 21, 201396,000 milesNJ

THE PROBLEM IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE INTAKE VALVES STUCK FROM EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP. IT WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2011 AND NOW NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. PROBLEM IS, NOW I'M OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE DEALER IS SAYING I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS MYSELF. THEY ALSO ADDED THAT THERE WAS ONLY A 1 YEAR WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2011. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND NO RECALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN. IF THE DECARBONIZATION HAD BEEN DONE WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed May 16, 2013IL

APPARENTLY THIS CAR WAS IN A SERIOUS FRONT END ACCIDENT THAT WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM CARMAX. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WAS ONLY UNTIL I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER TAKING A STONE TO IT THAT MANY PROBLEMS WERE SHOWN TO ME INCLUDING PARTS MISSING, BENT RIM, FRAUDULENT REPRESENTATION BY CAR MAX. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Mar 15, 201393,000 milesTX

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR, ALARM HORN FAILS TO SOUND WHEN ALARM IS ACTIVATED. REAR DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR DOESN'T HAVE AN EXTERNAL KEY HOLE TO UNLOCK DOOR AND THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS FROM THE INSIDE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WITH A CHILD IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A DELAY OF REMOVING THE CHILD FROM A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP CHARGES BETWEEN $450 TO $550 PER ACTUATOR. AFTER AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET AND NUMEROUS FORUMS, THIS ACTUATOR REPAIR IS MORE COMMON THAN VOLKSWAGEN WOULD LIKE ANYONE TO BELIEVE. THIS PART IS KEPT IN STOCK AT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY ARE VAGUE WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF REPAIR. THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE A PROBLEM WITH NEWER MODELS. I'VE OWNED A USED 2003 VW JETTA FOR OVER 5 YEARS NOW AND HAVEN'T NEEDED AN ACTUATOR YET. *TR

Engine
Filed Mar 6, 201385,000 milesCT

I WAS TOLD BY THE VW DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE MOTOR THAT IS PART OF THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSES THE VALVES TO STICK AND NOT ALLOW THE PROPER MIXTURE OF AIR/GAS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE....AT TIMES, THE MISFIRE CAN BE INTENSE AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE ("BUCKING SENSATION"). I FOUND MANY THREADS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE VW JETTA (2.0T ENGINE) AND A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT YET, VW HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Feb 27, 2013112,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST A WEIRD SMELL IN MY VENTS BUT WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING A CLOUD OF SMOKE FILED THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY YET AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. NOT KNOWING WHERE THE SMOKE CAME FROM I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE CAR. IT WHEN THEN THAT I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE, THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN MY DRIVER SEAT. I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVER THE ISSUE HOWEVER I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR EVENTS AND YET NO RECALL. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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