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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports

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160,000 miles · Jan 1, 2011

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL DEPRESS BY ITSELF MAKING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (SO FAR). THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. IT'S DONE IT MAYBE 4 OR 5 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373668

109,000 miles · Oct 30, 2008

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE FAILED, WHICH PREVENTED A CRASH FROM OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000. UPDATED 11/25/08. *LJ WHEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, THE FORCE PUSHED THE DRIVER BACK INTO THE SEAT. THE SPEED WAS SO GREAT, THAT THE ENGINE REDLINE AND BLEWOUT THE MOTOR. UPDATED 11/25/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10247274

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2008

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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I OWN A 2001 VW JETTA GLS VR6. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. I AM A YOUNG WOMAN IN THE MILITARY AND AM IN FULL TIME SCHOOL, SO I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO RUN AROUND AND FIX IT AS MUCH AS I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DO. FIRST MY GAS GAUGE WENT OUT THREE MONTHS AFTER BUYING IT $600(UNDER WARRANTY) THEN A MONTH LATER O2 SENSOR $300(NON WARRANTY). THEN IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER$1500(NON WARRANTY) WIRING SYSTEM$1000(OF COURSE NON WARRANTY) WINDOWS WONT ROLL UP WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN AGAIN AND SOMETIMES GET STUCK$700(NON WARRANTY) CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT$845 (NON WARRANTY), WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR... STATIONED IN ALASKA AND COULDN'T GO WITHOUT THAT $750(NON WARRANTY) NOW MY SECONDARY AIR PUMP IS OUT AND I WAS QUOTED $1294 FROM PRIVATE MECHANIC AND $1400 FROM VW. ALSO THE CRUISE IS STILL OUT AND THE WINDOWS ARE DOING THE SAME AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME BOAT I HAVE BEEN IN WITH SO MANY REPAIRS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP VW FROM MAKING FAULTY PARTS AND CHARGING AN ARM AND A LEG? I FEEL THOUGH THAT IF IT IS BROUGHT UP TO YOU THAT MY VOICE WILL BE HEARD, BECAUSE WHEN I CALL THE VOLKWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPLAINTS I GET NOWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231433

104,000 miles · Dec 13, 2006

Vehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 5-25 MPH ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT ANY BUMP OR POTHOLE ON 50-70 OCCASIONS. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTUR…

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NHTSA ODI #10176026

109,895 miles · May 11, 2005

Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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I SIGNALED WITH MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FOR A RIGHT-HAND TURN, SUDDENLY THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED FLASHING (NOT THE QUICK FLASHING & CLICKING FOR A BURNT OUT BULB), THE LIGHT STAYED ON. TRIED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. KEPT TRYING THEM AND WOULD NOT WORK. SUDDENLY BEGAN OPERATING. THE HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK EITHER. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN WORKING. I CONTINUED DRIVING, WHEN I SIGNALED ANOTHER RIGHT-HAND TURN THE AGAIN THE SIGNAL REPEATED THE PREVIOUS FAILURE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT I USE AND SETUP AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE THREE DAYS LATER. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENLY BETWEEN THE FIRST OCCURRANCE AND THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BUT THE HEADLAMPS WOULD NOT GO TO BRIGHT. HE DID EVENTUALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. THE END RESULT WAS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH: HEADLAM DIMMER/TURN SIGNAL/CRUISE SWITCH 8L0953513J01C (PART #). THIS IS AN INTEGRATED SWITCH. I HAVE LISTED THE THREE COMPONENTS SEPARATELY ON THE COMPLAINT LIST. THIS SAME SHOP HAD CHANGED THE SAME SWITCH ON AN AUDI. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE REPLACED PART WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10120653

22,200 miles · Feb 22, 2005

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO CROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY. AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES HARDER. THIS DID NOTHING. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING TO SUCH A RATE THAT THE BACK END STARTED FISHTAILING AROUND TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE A CDL LICENSE AND REACTED BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS REACTION DEFINITELY SAVED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS DOING ITS BEST TO FORCE ME INTO MOVING TRAFFIC. THE NEXT PERSON THIS HAPPENS TO MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER KEEPING MY CAR 2 WEEKS, THEY STILL COULDN'T COME UP WITH A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY DID REMOVE THE ON/OFF BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNTION. NORMALLY THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DE-ACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED. I REMAIN WITHOUT A REASONABLE EXPLANATION OR REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10111980

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED CLEANING DUE TO INTAKE …

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NHTSA ODI #10073677

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2004

Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. A TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073474

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2004

Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

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MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. ONE SECOND IT WOULD REGISTER 25MPH THE NEXT IT WOULD REGISTER 100MPH. IT WOULD DO THAT FREQUENTLY. THE FUEL GAUGE ACTED FUNNY AS WELL. IT WOULD MOVE LEFT AND RIGHT. FINALLY THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE FUEL GAUGE WORKS OK NOW. I HAVE READ ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE COOLANT MIGRATION SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE COOLANT BOTTLE LEAKS FLUID ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH IN TURN ACTS AS A VACUUM AND THE COOLANT MAKES ITS WAY ALL THE WAY TO THE ECM. AFTER IT REACHES THE ECM IT MAKES ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ACT FUNNY. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS CONSIDERING IT MAY BE THE CAUSE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHICH I HAVE HEARD. MY WIRING HARNESS ON MY COOLANT DOES HAVE COOLANT ON IT. WHICH HAS STOPPED MY SPEEDOMETER. THANKFULLY MY AIRBAGS HAVEN'T BLOWN(YET). PLEASE CONSIDER THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ~CHAD~*AK

NHTSA ODI #10065855

74,000 miles · Apr 6, 2004

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO AN UPHILL PARKING SPOT AND PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP. INSTEAD, THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A CONCRETE BLOCK WALL, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR THEN REVERSED ITSELF AND MY WIFE HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10065654

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.