Electrical System. Review the 117 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports12 fire reports35 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

109 reports

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31,253 miles · Feb 3, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT O2 SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056393

25,864 miles · Dec 2, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I BOUGHT A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VW JETTA GLS WITH 25,000 MI ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AS I WAS PARKING AT HOME. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND IT WAS DRY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND IT WAS TOWED AND CHECKED AND A FLUORESCENT PROBE WAS PUT IN AND I WAS TOLD THERE WERE TWO QUARTS OF OIL REMAINING. WHERE DID THE OIL GO? MY CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO IN FOR A CHECK ON THIS PROBLEM THIS WEEK. THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE GROUND AND THE SERVICE TECH SAID THEY HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONCE BEFORE. HAS THIS PROBLEM EVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY OTHER CONSUMERS? THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049036

8,880 miles · Nov 7, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE DRIVER ASSISTED LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON IN MY CAR. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, THR CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER REPAIR FACILITY RAN THE CAR ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND SAID THERE WERE MULTIPLE FAULTS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD A VACUUM LEAK AND IT WAS ALLEGEDLY FIXED.I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LIGHT MIGHT COME BACK ON BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ELSE. THIS WAS ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2003. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS FIRST "REPAIR " COST ME $133.60. ON MY WAY HOME I STOPPED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IN ESSENCE SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT BE WRONG. SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. THROUGH RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE VOLKSWAGON JEETA 2001. AS A CONSUMER AND A TAXPAYER, I DEMAND THAT SOMETHING BE DONE. THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. I AM ALSO GOING TO WRITE TO VW. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FULL INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045711

57,855 miles · Oct 28, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Other

INTERIOR CONSOLE PAINT PEELING, FABRIC FADING, ENGINE RATTLE NOISE, WINDOW ACTUATOR FAILURE AND NOISE, THERMASTAT, FUEL DOOR ACTUATOR, SEAT SPRINGS SNAP, BRAKE PAD EXCESSIVE WEAR, A/C RUNS HOT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10043776

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037699

19,000 miles · Aug 21, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

2001 VW JETTA - NUMEROUS BUILD ISSUES. EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - 1 QUART IN 1000 MILES. VEHICLE RE-RINGED AT 19K. CURRENT MILEAGE 47K - LAST OIL CHANGE DOWN 2 QUARTS IN 5OOO MILES. WINDOW REGULATORS - RECALL. SHIFTER SHAFT REPLACED FOR SERIOUS VIBRATION IN 2ND AND 5TH GEARS. BOTH FRONT SEATS FEEL LIKE THEY AREN'T LOCKED IN PLA…

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NHTSA ODI #10033257

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATED SAFETY CHIP FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032104

6,000 miles · Apr 27, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, WHEN "FLOORING" MY 2001 VW JETTA GLS 1.8T AS TO MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY, APPROX. 50% OF THE TIME I EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE AND TURBO SEEM TO STALL OUT UNTIL I LET OFF THE GAS AND REAPPLY. DUE TO THE SPORADIC NATURE OF THIS, THE DEALER CAN NOT RECREATE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN MERGING ON A FREEWAY I EXPECT MY CAR TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION, NOT TO STALL OUT. GIVEN THE NATURE OF HONOLULU'S FREEWAY, IT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO HAVE FULL POWER DUE TO THE SHORTNESS OF THE ON RAMPS. I HAVE ALWAYS USED PREMIUM GAS AS REQUIRED BY VW, AND HAD THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTO SERVICE CHAIN, TO MAKE SURE I DID NOT HAVE ANY "BAD GAS" DEPOSITS. THIS STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER IN THIS MATTER. RESPECTFULLY, JORDAN D. O'HEARN CTO1 USN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016570

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2003

Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

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MY CAR WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN JULY 2001 HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP 13 TIMES. I PURCHASED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE ONGOING PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR IS LOSING POWER WHILE ACCELERATING. VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT OF THEIR OWN PRODUCT. I WAS TOLD TWO THINGS WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. FIRST, I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL FOR THOSE OTHER VW CARS THAT ARE LOSING POWER. SECOND, A VW REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IT WAS MY EXTRA CAR MATS THAT IS PROBABLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN IS JUST IGNORING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. IF MY CAR SLOWS DOWN ON ME WHENEVER IT WANTS AND I DIE AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECT PRODUCT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE, IT IS TRULY GOING TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, AIRBAGS, MALFUNCTIONED SENSOR, CLOCK SPRING, HARNESS, AND NOW IT IS LOSING POWER. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT I WOULD LIKE O BE RECTIFIED. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHANGED THE COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THIS WILL DEFINITELY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE COMPUTER WAS CHANGED IN SEPT. 2002 THE CAR LOST POWER 3 TIMES SINCE THEN.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10014266

23,000 miles · Apr 5, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

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BACK BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 JETTA GLX V6 WHICH WAS PURCHASED 08/01. I ONLY HAD 23,000 MILES ON THE CAR! AT MY 20,000 MILE SERVICE NO PROBLEMS WERE MENTIONED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOO. I HAD TO HAVE MY O2 SENSOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE BRAKES. I DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES. 1 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT WHEN I START IT IN THE MORNING IT MAKES A SOUND LIKE AND OLD JUNKY CAR WOULD. I HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS AND THEY SAID ITS NOTHING AND THAT'S THE WAY A V6 SOUNDS! IT ONLY DOES IT ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY. I AM AFRAID IT WILL END UP BEING SOME VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. 9 MONTHS AFTER I HAD THE CAR THE ARM REST CAME APART AND HAD TO BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM TO MY FRIENDS WHO ARE MD'S AND RN'S AND CAN AFFORD NICE CARS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10013992

Official recalls

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

06V183000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

May 24, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V584000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Dec 16, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V096000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

Remedy: THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V244000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Sep 12, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V031000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jan 31, 2002

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ06004 · Brake Light Switch Failure

Opened Feb 28, 2006 · Closed Aug 7, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

DP05004 · Engine Stalling

Opened Aug 11, 2005 · Closed Dec 8, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition:module

BY LETTER RECEIVED ON JUNE 24, 2005, MR. RONALD M. STRICKLAND OF RALEIGH, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF AND PASSAT SEDANS.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON HIS 2002 VW JETTA SEDAN.AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING, THE PETITIONER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORTS WHEN HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED ON THE SHOULDER HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT REDUCED POWER.VW ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) ON JANUARY 31, 2003 TO INSTRUCT THEIR DEALERSHIPS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS AND TO REPLACE THEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.CONSUMERS WERE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS VIA OWNER LETTERS MAILED OUT ON JUNE 6, 2003.WHILE VW INITIALLY INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIPS TO ONLY REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS, A REVISED CSC WAS ISSUED TO DEALERSHIPS IN DECEMBER 2003 AND JANUARY 2004, INSTRUCTING DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PACKS REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE.A REMINDER TO THE DEALERSHIPS WAS SENT BY VW ON APRIL OF 2004.ALTHOUGH THE CONCERNS OF THE PETITIONER COULD THEORETICALLY CREATE A SAFETY PROBLEM, THE RISK IS VERY SMALL, DUE TO THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING ON EITHER 3, 5, OR 7 CYLINDERS.THERE ARE NO REPORTED CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ONCE DRIVERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (LOSS OF POWER DUE TO ONE OF THE IGNITION COIL PACKS MALFUNCTIONING), DRIVERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY AND COMPENSATORY MEASURES AND STILL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, FOUR FIRES WERE REPORTED TO ODI.THESE WERE IGNITION COIL BURNOUTS WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND WERE LOCALIZED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DURING THE LAST 24 MONTHS THE NUMBER OF STALL AND DRIVABILITY COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO ODI HAS GREATLY DIMINISHED FROM A PEAK OF 195 IN JANUARY OF 2003 TO ONLY 3 IN AUGUST OF 2005.THIS COINCIDES WITH THE CSC RELEASED BY VW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04081 · Inadvertent SIDE-AIRBAG Deployment

Opened Dec 16, 2004 · Closed Apr 1, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE MINOR IN NATURE AND CONSIST OF ABRASIONS, BRUISES, EAR RINGING AND HEADACHES.THERE WAS NO ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASH AS A RESULT OF SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.ODI ALSO OBTAINED COUNTS OF ALLEGED INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS FROM PEER MANUFACTURERS.THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT UNIQUE IN BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR NON-SUBJECT INDIVIDUAL MODEL VEHICLES VARIES WIDELY.THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS COMPARABLE TO THREE PEER MODELS, EACH WITH COMPACT CHASSIS/WHEELBASES.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY COMPONENT FAILURE OR MANUFACTURING TREND THAT MAY RELATE TO A COMPONENT OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04073 · Turn Signal/hazard Flasher Failure

Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Dec 16, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights; Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

RQ03010 · Brake Light Switch

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Mar 1, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND MANUFACTURER FAILURE REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING AND OR INACCURATE INFORMATION.THE INJURY NOTED ABOVE WAS MINOR.ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. (VW) SUBMITTED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION (PER 49CFR573) TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACUTURED WITH THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AS RECALLED UNDER 03V-265 (MY 1998-2002 NEW BEETLE) ARE AFFECTED BY A SAFETY DEFECT.SPECIFICALLY, IF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD STAY ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION AND OCCUPANT INJURY.ACCORDINGLY, VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1998 TO NOVEMBER 2001 TO INSPECT AND REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE ANY AFFECTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES.THE RECALL PROGRAM, VW CODE WX, WILL COMMENCE IN APRIL 2004.