2011 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED IN OUR CAR WHEN WE WERE ON A BUSY CITY STREET. 'ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION' LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND SUDDENLY OUR CAR WAS STALLED. WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE MANUAL IT SAID TO GET THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP ASAP. WE HAD TO HOLD UP TRAFFIC UNTIL THE CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED. NOT ONLY THAT, THIS HAPPENED DURING LATE NIGHT AROUND 10 PM AND ALL THE SERVICE CENTERS WERE CLOSED. AFTER A PAINFUL 2 DAYS WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT OUT HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A BIG STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WITH THE CAR AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OWNING OR DRIVING IT. *TR

ON THIS DATE (6-19-2013) MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AFTER THAT MY EPC LIGHT FOLLOWED. THEN I LOST SPEED ON MY CAR, I THEN PULLED OVER AT THE GAS STATION. I THEN NOTICED MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING. I SAT AT THE GAS STATION AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. TRIED TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN, THEN IT STARTED BACK UP AND I DROVE HOME, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT THAT POINT, A WEEK LATER I HAD THE OIL CHANGED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER (WHICH WAS IN AUGUST) I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SO I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND EXPLAINED TO THE CS REP MY ISSUE. THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP; WHICH I DID. THE GENTLE THAT ASSISTED ME BROUGHT OUT A LAB TOP COMPUTER AND RESET WHAT EVER IT WAS HE RESET ON THE CAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. THEN HE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A FULL TURN UP AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $700, BECAUSE MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE TURN UP ON THE CAR. IN ANY CASE, MY VW JETTA DRIVE FINE FOR ABOUT FOUR DAYS,I HORN STILL DIDN'T WORK. ABOUT TWO WEEKS INTO SEPTEMBER OF 2013, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR AN WHOLE HOUR. IN THE MIST OF MY DILEMMA, LATE FOR WORK; I HAD VV OF AMERICA ON THE PHONE TELLING THE REP, COREY WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE CAR. HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. WHICH I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED A TURN UP AS WELL. BUT THEY WERE CHARGING ME A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONE

MY 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI STARTED TO SPUTTER WHEN ACCELERATING, I BROUGHT IT THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND SHARDS OF METAL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP) HAD FAILED. THE QUOTE TO FIX WAS 6875.00 TO FIX A TWO YEAR OLD CAR. VERY UN HAPPY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH WHEN MY ENGINE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST ALL POWER IN THE CAR. ONCE I LET GO OF THE PEDAL, THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL. WHILE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY, I COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 60MPH. ONCE I GOT OFF AT AN EXIT AND HAD TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD APPARENTLY FAILED.I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO VW TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEY STATE IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. WHILE I WAS STILL AT THE VW SERVICE CENTER IN OCALA, I CALLED VW USA, WHO CLAIMS THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE PUMPS AND ASKED WHERE I GOT THIS INFORMATION. I HAD TO DEMAND TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR WHICH THEY WOULD NOT LET ME TALK TOO. THE REP PUT ME ON HOLD TO SPEAK WITH THEM. FINALLY SHE CAME BACK AND SAID SHE WAS JUST MADE AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO GO TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SPEAK WITH HIM. I DID SO AND HE SAID THAT HE IS PUTTING IN A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. I NOW HAVE BEEN WAITING 3 DAYS WITH NO RESPONSE. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND KIND IN ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, SO THE ISSUE IS NOT WITH THEM. THE ISSUE IS THAT I AM ABLE TO SEARCH THE INTERNET AND FIND IN A MULTITUDE OF SITES, WHERE THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, YET I AM STILL WAITING AFTER 3 DAYS TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. I DID NOT PUT ANY REGULAR GASOLINE IN MY VEHICLE. I AM A DIE HARD DIESEL CUSTOMER AND KNOW

BROUGHT TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P191, AND ONCE P087. I GET DIESEL AT THE SAME STATION WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THESE ERRORS STARTED OCCURRING SHORTLY AFTER GETTING A FULL TANK OF DIESEL AT A DIFFERENT STATION. DEALER CONCLUDED THAT HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. ENGINE STALLED ON THE WAY HOME AND FAILED TO RESTART. FUEL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. CAR AGAIN WORKS SATISFACTORILY. HOW MUCH LIFE (MILES) CAN I EXPECT THIS TIME AROUND? ARE THERE ANY PROVEN PREVENTIVE MEASURES? *TR

MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SENSOR CAME ON, AND IT DOES NOT TURN OFF. I DID SOME READING ONLINE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE FROM PEOPLE WHO USED RAINX WASHER FLUID. APPARENTLY IT CAUSED CORROSION TOO QUICKLY. NOW, I DON'T WANT TO USE MY WASHER FLUID AS OFTEN, SO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T RUN OUT WHEN I NEED IT. MY VISIBILITY DURING DRIVING IS AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR

THE EFFECTED CAR WAS A DIESEL MODEL 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI SEDAN WITH 48,074 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN REDUCTION IN POWER AND DISPLAYED A FLASHING GLOW PLUG LIGHT AND SOLID CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER DETERMINED THAT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD OCCURRED. THE DEALER FOUND THAT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM HAD RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE, CAUSING INTERNAL METAL DEBRIS CONTAMINATION THAT REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WERE REPORTED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO EQUAL $6,500.00. *TR

THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST RECORDED INCIDENT WAS IN MARCH OF 2013. WENT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED OR A BAD BATTERY. LET IT SIT STARTED RAN LIKE CRAP. FOUND OUT LATER THAT THE CAR WHEN DRIVEN IN COLD TEMPERATURES ACCUMULATES WATER IN THE SYSTEM. HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/0B162-SX2NN5LUZBIDG9HCVR6NUU/EDIT?PLI=1 THATS THE VW TECH BULLETIN ON THE MATTER. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. FROM READING ONLINE THIS HAS / CAN START A FIRE BECAUSE THE STARTER OVERHEATS. SINCE THE WATER GETS INTO THE CYLINDERS IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. VW DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM. SAID I MUST HAVE KILLED THE BATTERY BY LEAVING SOMETHING ON. SINCE THAN IT HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES I CAN RELATE TO THE CONDITION. IT IS IN THE DEALERSHIP NOW BECAUSE OF IT. THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO REPEAT AND MAY NOT PROVIDE A FIX (ALTHOUGH THE GIVEN FIX DOES NOT 100% FIX IT I WAS TOLD BY A TECH.) *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE 2011 VW JETTA ON 1/5/14 DURING RAIN SHOWERS I SWITCHED THE WIPERS ON (WHICH I HAD PREVIOUSLY USED APROX 5 MINS BEFORE) & NOTHING HAPPENED, THEN I REALIZED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING INCLUDING THE HAZARD FLASHERS.. UPON REACHING MY HOME AT REDUCED SPEEDS IN ORDER TO SAFELY MAKE IT HOME I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIR TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, THINKING THE ISSUE WAS A BLOWN FUSE, BUT AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION NO BLOWN FUSES ARE PRESENT & AT THE CURRENT TIME VW SERVICE DEPT. DENIES THAT ANY PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY & ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS STILL CURRENTLY NOT FIXED. ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS THE POWER WINDOWS & DOOR LOCKS NOT FUNCTIONING DUE TO THIS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK & START USING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS & OFFER A RECALL BEFORE SUCH A MALFUNCTION RESULTS IN A FATAL INCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CLEARLY SEE THE ROADWAY DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. *TR

ON APRIL 19, 2013, TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. UPON CHECKING THE TIRE A LARGE CRACK WAS NOTICE ON THE INSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $177.01 WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 27293 ON A 2011 VW JETTA TDI. ON JANUARY 4, 2014, THE OWNER NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE'S SIDEWALL. THE OWNER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND NO RECALLS WERE CURRENTLY IN PLACE. THE OWNER SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR HANKOOK TO PAY FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL TIRE REPLACEMENTS AS THE OWNER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH A POTENTIAL TIRE BLOWOUT AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT HAS STARTED UNRAVELING SIGNIFICANTLY ALONG ONE EDGE, WITH THE THREADS SEPARATING; THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 1500 HRS, WITH NO ISSUES. STOPPED AT LOCAL SUPERMARKET, STARTED ENGINE WITH SLIGHT DELAY, LEFT PARKING LOT, CAR STARTED TO BUCK, DROVE MAYBE 1/2 MI STARTED LOSING POWER, AFTER GOING ANOTHER 50 FT CAR ENGINE DIED, PUSHED CAR TO MY DRIVEWAY CALLED DEALERSHIP AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ON 11/21/13 DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT HPFP HAD EXPLODED SENDING METAL SHAVINGS INTO ENGINE, THEY ASKED ME IF I ACCIDENTALLY PUT GAS AND I RESPONDED WITH NO. THEY STATED THAT FUEL MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED. DEALERSHIP IS REPAIRING CAR SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SAID MAYBE 1 WEEK IN THE SHOP. I WAS GIVEN A RENTAL IN THE MEANTIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS OVERHEATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,100.

DURING MID MOTION, WITH FOOT ON THE GAS, THE VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. NO WARNING INDICATIONS APPEARED ON THE DASH. THE SPEED OF TRAVEL WAS APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA. SERVICE AT VW HAS YIELDED INCONCLUSIVE RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORUMS ON EDMUNDS DETAILING AND ACCOUNTING THIS SEEMINGLY UBIQUITOUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW. AS IT STANDS, VW IS PERSISTENT IN THERE STANCE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A REFUND OR EXCHANGE ON CERTIFIED CARS. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IN WHICH I WRITE ABOUT, WAS ON ITS FIRST DAY OFF OF THE LOT, AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. VW REFUSES ANY SUCH POSSIBILITY OF RETURN, EVEN ON ACCOUNT OF POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERNS, AND DESPITE THE ACCUMULATIVE REPORTS OTHERS HAVE MADE DOCUMENTING THIS EXACT FLAW, WITHOUT ANY KNOWN WAY OF REMEDYING ON VW'S PART. *TR

ALL FINE IN THE MORNING, PARKED IN A PAVED LOT AT WORK. LEAVING IN THE AFTERNOON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TOLD ME A LIGHT WAS OUT. BY THE TIME I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT THE FOLLOWING WERE NOT WORKING: LEFT: FONT SIDE, REAR TURN. RIGHT: HEADLIGHT, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT, FRONT TURN, REAR TAIL. LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. A FRIEND IS AN ASE MASTER TECH. THIS IS WHAT HE FOUND: "SO TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUSE IT APPEARS TO BE ''COOKED'' ON ONE SIDE. THIS WOULD INDICATE HEAT ON ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE FUSE. I THINK WE CAN AGREE THIS IS NOT A FUSE ISSUE, BUT A WIRING OR SUPPLY ISSUE. WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN YOU TRY AND RUN TO MANY AMPS THROUGH TOO SMALL A WIRE IT CREATES EXCESS HEAT I WOULD VENTURE THAT VW PUT TOO SMALL A WIRE ON ONE SIDE OF FUSE 16. THE FUSE BLOCK IS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN FR OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE 16 FUSE IS TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE BLOCK AND THE BURNT SIDE WAS TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I AM NOT SURE HOW WORRIED I WOULD GET ABOUT THIS, BUT SIMPLY PUT A FEW 30AMP FUSES IN THE GLOVE BOX. YA THERE IS AN ISSUE THERE, BUT THE FIRST ONE LASTED 39K." I HAVE THE FUSE. AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON HAS HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE: HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=355338&PAGE=3. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES, SIZE 205/55/R16H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHECKING THE AIR PRESSURE ON THE TIRES, HE NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES EXHIBITED SEVERAL CRACKS. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 31,000.

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AFTER WORK APPROXIMATELY 6-7 PM DOING 45 MPH. I LOOKED DOWN TO MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO CHECK MY SPEED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T SPEEDING. THEN I SAW THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BLINKING MULTIPLE TIMES THEN ABOUT LESS THAN 5-10 SECONDS LATER MY ENGINE CUT OUT. I COST OFF INTO A HARPER COLLEGE PARKING LOT CAME TO A STOP. I TRIED TO START THE CAR 2-3 TIMES, EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS CRACKIN OVER BUT WOULDN'T START IT UP. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO VW DEALER IN SCHAUMBURG, IL ( FOX VALLEY VW) DEALER SAID THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. VWOA COVER THIS UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY 5/60K WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACE HPFP,LIFT PUMP, PUMP IN GAS TANK,FUEL LINES TO ENGINE,COILS ETC... REPAIRS CAME TO ROUGHLY $5300.00. VWOA ONLY GIVE 12/12K MILES WARRANTY ON THE HPFP. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SOME VW WITH CJAA 2.0L TURBO DIESEL ENGINES AND VWOA HAS NOT FOUND THE DEFECT IN THE HPFP.VWOA SHOULD EXTEND THE HPFP TO 100K MILES DUE TO DEFT IN THE HPFP SINCE THEY HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT. *TR

HIGH PITCHED WHINE, SUDDEN STALL AT HWY SPEED. THE FUEL LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE NOW LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN AND REQUIRED A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOTIFIED IT WOULD BE A $5000+ REPAIR AND THE HPFP FAILED REQUIRING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE OF MY 2011 JETTA TDI. UNDER WARRANTY I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED BY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND IT WAS POSSIBLY BE DUE TO THE DIESEL I USED, BEING DIRTY OR OTHERWISE CONTAMINATED. I HAD ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR DIESEL FILL-UPS FROM THE SAME STATION, AND IT WAS LISTED ON THE VW.COM WEBSITE AS A LOCATION FOR DIESEL. THE TANK WAS SUPPOSEDLY EMPTIED AND FILTERED DURING THE REPAIR AND I WAS NOT INFORMED OF CONTAMINATION. ON READING FURTHER I NOTE THAT MANY TDI OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM VW THAT THIS IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM, NOT A CUSTOMER MISUSE OF DIESEL FUEL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS STARTING OUT FROM A RED LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN THE SHOULDER. THE DANGER ON A BUSY ROADWAY COULD BE LETHAL. READ EDMONDS.COM AND OTHER JETTA OWNER BLOGS AND NOTE THE EXACT SAME INCIDENTS OCCURRING. WITH THE EXPLODING INTEREST IN DIESEL CARS FOR FUEL ECONOMY, THIS SITUATION NEEDS EVALUATION. *TR

NOTICED LARGE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL OF HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A DOT 1GPR DY H 0711 205/55 R16 91H - 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 45,000 MILES. HAD TIRE REPLACED AT OWN EXPENSE. 9-12-2013 53,000 NOTICED 2 OTHER TIRES NOW WITH THE SAME LARGE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT A HEADLIGHT, SIDE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND REAR LIGHT WERE OUT. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ALL LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE INDICATER HOWEVER KEPT COMING ON. UPON TAKING INTO THE SHOP TO CHECK ON THE REPAIR I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUSE BOX IN THE VEHICLE WHICH GETS "HOT" AND SHORTS THE BOX OUT. VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO WARRANT A RECALL. WHEN I ADVISED THAT THIS MAY RESULT IN A POSSIBLE FIRE OR SHORTING OUT OF THE SYSTEM - MAYBLE CAUSING A STALL I WAS TOLD "IT COULD HAPPEN.". THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED WHICH COST $785.27. FORTUNATELY, THIS BOX IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR A SECOND TIME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND I TRIED TO HONK MY HORN BECAUSE A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS MERGING IN MY LANE. MY HORN WOULD NOT SOUND AND I HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEN LATER THAT EVENING IT STARTED TO DRIZZLE AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING. *TR

OCCASIONALLY, THE REAR DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE WONT OPEN EVEN THOUGH I UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH REMOTE KEY. I HAVE FOUND IN THE VW CONSUMER FORUM THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY MY CAR'S ISSUE, BUT MANY VW JETTA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I ALWAYS SHOULD GET INSIDE FROM OTHER DOOR AND OPEN THE APPLICABLE FROM INSIDE. THIS IS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN SO IT IS BEING COMMON FOR ME TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR MY KID WHO USUALLY SITS IN THE BACK. IF THERE IS ANY ACCIDENT AND WHETHER POLICEMAN OR FIREMAN SHOULD OPEN THE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE, THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE SEVERE DELAY ON RESCUE THE PASSENGER WHO SITS IN THE BACK, USUALLY CHILDREN BECAUSE THE DOOR IS NOT BEING OPENED BY ANYHOW FROM OUTSIDE. I THINK VW SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS PASSING A SEMI AND NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF CAR TO MY REAR...DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NO RESPONSE. TWO DAYS LATER EXPERIENCED SIMILAR EVENT AT LOW SPEED (30 MPH). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AN UNUSUAL WIRE SYMBOL WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN ADDITION TO A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. AFTER DRIVING 30 ADDITIONAL MILES, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, A DIFFERENT UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND A "SERVICE ENGINE NOW" INDICATOR LIT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR ENTERED LIMP MODE AND POWER WAS GREATLY REDUCED. I DECIDED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER TO DROP IT OFF. OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES THE CAR PRODUCED LESS AND LESS POWER (A FEELING AKIN TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS, BUT THERE WAS STILL 1/2 TANK OF DIESEL IN THE CAR) UNTIL IT DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. NO OTHER WARNINGS, NO OTHER DRIVABILITY CUES, JUST A DEAD CAR ON THE FREEWAY UNABLE TO BE STARTED OR MOVED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS/POSSIBLY FATAL HAD I NOT BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO FORCE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. SO TO SUM UP - ONE OWNER (PURCHASED NEW) DIESEL JETTA; CAR MAINTAINED BY DEALER AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS. FUELED AT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THREE STATIONS FOR MUCH OF ITS LIFE, NEVER HAD A NON-DIESEL PUMP ANYWHERE NEAR IT; DRIVING PERFECTLY ONE MINUTE, FIVE MINUTES LATER, A DEAD CAR. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER TODAY, FROM THE SYMPTOMS IT SOUNDS LIKE THE NOTORIOUS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAS CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. *TR

THE FUEL PUMP IN MY CAR'S 2.0 TDI DIESEL ENGINE BROKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE COIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND EXITED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON THE GROUND AND ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

2011 VOLKSWAGEN TDI JETTA. CAME TO A THREE WAY LIGHT, THE LIGHT CHANGED, I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR DIED. I WAS IN THE TURN LANE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART TO NO AVAIL. NO ENGINE CODES OR ERROR MESSAGES. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL FILTER. PARTS ARE BEING ORDERED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM IS BEING REPLACED. WAITING TO HEAR WHEN THE PARTS ARE IN AND THE WORK IS COMPETED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE GLOW PLUG COIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE CAR STALLED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. TRIED TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOULDER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED. TURNED THE KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER VERY REDUCED POWER. THE DEALER HAD JUST COMPLETED MY 40,000 SERVICE ONLY HOURS BEFORE. NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND ONE OF THE INJECTORS IS BAD. CLAIMING BAD FUEL BUT THAT IS NOT CORRECT. HAVE ONLY BURNED HIGH QUALITY DIESEL IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD ALL SERVICES DONE. APPEARS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND IT'S AMAZING SOMEONE HAS NOT BEEN HURT. VW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $10K AND IT'S NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT END AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE FOREHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR A CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 07/02/13*LJ

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE POWER DROPPED TO ALMOST NOTHING. BEFORE I COULD GET TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT, THE ENGINE DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP(HPFP). IF IT HAD BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY, IT WOULD HAVE COST $6000 TO REPAIR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE EXPRESSWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

VEHICLE HAS NO FUSE DIAGRAM AND LIGHTER FUSE REPEATEDLY BLOWS.UNABLE TO GET HELP ON LEASED VEHICLE WITHOUT PAYING FOR SERVICE. I UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT ACCESS SIMPLE FUSES WITHOUT HAVING A DIAGRAM. I WAS PUT IN HARMS WAY BY ACCIDENTALLY REMOVING BRAKE LIGHT FUSE. I AM NOT ABLE TO FIND A DIAGRAM ON THE INTERNET OR VW WEBSITE. *TR

UPON ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO STALL OR WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SCENARIO, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR MACHINE DOES NOT SHOW ANY DEFECTIVE PARTS. WHAT IS FRUSTRATING IS WHEN YOU WANT TO BLEND INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR MIGHT STALL, SO YOU HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE TO PUMP ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR GOING AGAIN. I AM ALSO VERY WORRIED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING, ACTUALLY THIS DID HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE WAS LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. SHE TURNED RIGHT BACK AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE MACHINE AND AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FINE. I DID TELL THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT WAS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE CAR WAS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN PIECES. *TR

WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A CLICKING SOUND, SHORTLY AFTER MY STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THEN THE ENTIRE CAR STALLED. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HAD CAR TOWED INTO THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY FUEL (DIESEL FOR JETTA TDI) WAS CONTAMINATED CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO BURST WHICH LEAD TO METAL SHARDS DESTROYING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I AM 100% POSITIVE, AND HAVE RECEIPTS FOR PROOF, THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN FILLED UP WITH DIESEL GAS ABOUT 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND WAS RUNNING COMPLETELY SMOOTHLY UP UNTIL THE SUDDEN BREAK DOWN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. BEFORE IT COULD BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY, THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY. THE PASSENGERS HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. PROPER MAINTENANCE AND FUELING OF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RIGOROUSLY FOLLOWED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE OWNER IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND DIESEL ENGINE ENTHUSIAST. *TR

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE STOPPED. I WAS TRYING TO GET MY 3 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK. BECAUSE WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE ALSO USE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS TO PREVENT THE DOOR FROM OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. THE LOCKS HARE REPEATEDLY FAILING TO EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND MY CHILD (OR CHILDREN) WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE VOLKSWAGEN DOORS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGED, THIS BECOMES MUCH LESS OF AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, THESE LOCKS COULD LEAD TO A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH A SMALL CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT, UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION AND AS A RESULT, THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHING AND IT APPEARS FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE HPFP QUITS AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE MOTOR IS A DIESEL TDI. *TR

ON A TRIP TO ST. CHARLES, MO ON 28 MAR 2013, AFTER WE PARKED, MY SON NOTICED SEVERE SIDEWALL BREAKS ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. HE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE TIRE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW. I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS JOKING, BUT LOOKED ANY WAY. WOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH SEVERE CONDITION ON ANY TIRE, NOR HAD I EVER EVEN HEARD OF SUCH A CONDITION . THERE WERE NUMEROUS SHORT BREAKS AND LONG BREAKS INCHES LONG ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL. THE BREAKS WENT ALL THE WAY IN WITH METAL BELTS SHOWING. WE HAD JUST FINISHED DRIVING 200 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE TO GET TO ST CHARLES. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE MADE IT WITHOUT A BLOWOUT AND CRASH. I WENT IMMEDIATELY, AND SLOWLY, TO THE NEAREST TIRE DEALER AND PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES. I ASKED THEM TO SAVE THE OTHER TIRE SO I MIGHT USE AS A POSSIBLE SPARE SINCE THE TIRES HAD PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. THEY PUT THE "GOOD" TIRE IN THE TRUNK FOR ME. I LATER LOOKED AT THE "GOOD" TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE INSIDE SIDEWALL WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THE "BAD" TIRE! I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THESE OE TIRES DIDN'T CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER OE TIRES LOOK OK BUT I WILL BE REPLACING QUICKLY. THESE TIRES ARE HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES. *TR

2011 VW JETTA DIESEL AT 70 MPH GOING UP A HILL AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST POWER AND SPEED DROPPED MAKING IT UNSAFE TO HAVE TIME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO ALL SLOW WAY DOWN TO LET ME GET OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT START IT AND SAID IT WAS A FUEL PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIX IT. VW REPORTED THE CAR STARTED FOR THEM AND THEY RAN OFF AND FOUND FAULT FOR LOW FUEL PRESSURE BUT NO REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON UNTIL YOU GO CRANK THE CAR. THE DEALER COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND HE SAID EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK....THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND MY CONCERN WOULD BE WILL IT EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE BATTERY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID ANOTHER MOTORIST, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

DANGEROUS AND HARROWING CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL FAILURE (NEAR-NEW 2011 JETTA WITH 39,000 MILES) WITHOUT WARNING AT 55 MPH WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR WHILE BRAKING, STALLING MY CAR IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP THAT TODAY TELLS ME THE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH WERE DAMAGED WITH REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $2,500. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NTSB SITE SHOWS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER 2011 JETTA OWNERS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET GENERALLY TURNED UP HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL OR NEAR-IDENTICAL REPORTS OF CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL FAILURES FOR 2006 TO 2013 JETTAS. MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSES HAVE BEEN, ACCORDING TO JETTA OWNERS, VARIED, WITH SOME PEOPLE REPORTING FREE REPAIRS AND OTHER REPORTING LARGE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. INTERESTINGLY, CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL FAILURES ARE, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH (AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO CARES TO LOOK FOR IT ONLINE) BEING COVERED BY TECHNICAL BULLETINS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND MAINTAINED PER MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WITH DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE CAR TOWED FOR REPAIRS ACKNOWLEDGING VERBALLY THAT THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY VW IS PAYING FOR SOME FLYWHEEL PARTS UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES BUT NOT FOR ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE CLUTCH THAT OFTEN OCCURS, PER THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE FLYWHEEL FAILS. LABOR COSTS ARE NOT COVERED, AND THEY ARE ESTIMABLE. *TR

WE WERE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 93 APPROX 5 MILES SOUTH OF EXIT 11 IN HOOKSETT, NH NORTHBOUND. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUNSHOT. I SWERVED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND BY THE TIME I GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL MY WIFE AND I WERE COVERED IN GLASS AND OUR EARS WERE RINGING. WE LOOKED UP AND THE SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED OUT/UPWARDS FROM THE BEST WE COULD TELL. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE CAR WAS DRY AND IT WAS CLEAR OUT. THERE WAS NO ICE OR SNOW ON THE ROOF. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL CLOSED AND THE SUN SHADE WAS OPEN. THE HEAT WAS NOT ON IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ROUGHLY 40 DEGREES F OUTSIDE. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT (11) AND PULLED INTO A PARK AND RIDE LOT TO INSPECT DAMAGE. AS EXPECTED THE WINDOW BROKE OUTWARDS, WITH APPROX 33% OF THE GLASS MISSING IN A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE, THE REST SHATTERED AND FALLING OFF IF YOU TOUCHED IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO AN EARLY MORNING APPOINTMENT, I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. I SOON SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE DASHBOARD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. AT THAT POINT I SAW A FLAME APPEARING AT THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROCKER PANEL. PLASTIC AT THE BASE OF THE ROCKER PANEL HAD MELTED AND I COULD SEE ELECTRICAL WIRES. I TRIED TO STAMP OUT THE FIRE, BUT IT WAS GROWING RAPIDLY AND I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN SECONDS, THE FLAMES WERE SEVERAL FEET HIGH. I CLOSED THE DOOR AND CALLED 911. THE FLAMES EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE CLOSED CABIN. THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AND OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR. MOST OF THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND THE HEADLINER WERE MELTED. THERE WAS A LOT OF EXPOSED BARE WIRE VISIBLE. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS 34 DEGREES F, AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DAY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON HIGH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON, AND THE RADIO WAS ON. NO OTHER OPERATOR CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE ON. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR, NOR WERE THERE ANY AFTERMARKET ELECTRICAL ITEMS INSTALLED ON THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS DRY. THIS JETTA IS A TDI MODEL (DIESEL). *TR

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO GIVE A CLEAR SENSE OF THE CAR SHUDDERING OR ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. WHILE SOMETIMES THE FEELING WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT CONSISTENT LOW SPEEDS. IN ALMOST ALL CASES, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SPEED AROUND EITHER 13PMH OR 30 MPH. EVENTUALLY, I FOUND THE ROCKING MOTION VERY EASY TO REPRODUCE. I'D SET THE CAR TO 30 MPH VIA CRUISE CONTROL AND DRIVE DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH VERY SLIGHT UPWARD AND DOWNWARD SLOPES. WHILE IT HAPPENS EVEN ON FLAT GROUND, I FOUND THAT A SLIGHT DECLINE IS MOST LIKELY TO REPRODUCE THE FEELING. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM/TRANSMISSION IS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT DIESEL NEEDS TO BE SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM SEEMS TO ALMOST CUT OUT BECAUSE GIVING DIESEL WOULD PRODUCE A SPEED TOO HIGH, AND THEN IT COMES BACK ON SUDDENLY, BECAUSE GIVING IT NO DIESEL WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SLOW TOO MUCH. WHILE SOMETIMES THIS IS SIMPLY A NUISANCE, I HAVE HAD ON MANY OCCASIONS FELT THAT IT WAS A GENUINE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I COULDN'T PREDICT HOW THE ENGINE WOULD REACT. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH OVERLY STRONG ENGINE BREAK WHEN LETTING OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE PEDDLE THAT CAN CAUSE INCONSISTENCIES AND SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN MANEUVERING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM EVERY SINGLE TIME I

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES, LINE SIZE 205/55R/16H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.