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2005 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Jetta years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

206 reports with mileage · 42 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports14 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine complaints

27 reports
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97,350 miles · Mar 18, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY 2005 VW JETTA GLI STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING @ 35-MPH. AFTER PULLING OVER AND OPENING THE HOOD TO ASSESS DAMAGE, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY BUT ALL I HEARD WAS THE STARTER BEING ENGAGED. ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THE TIMING BELT BROKE/SNAPPED. I WAS SKEPTICAL …

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MY 2005 VW JETTA GLI STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING @ 35-MPH. AFTER PULLING OVER AND OPENING THE HOOD TO ASSESS DAMAGE, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY BUT ALL I HEARD WAS THE STARTER BEING ENGAGED. ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THE TIMING BELT BROKE/SNAPPED. I WAS SKEPTICAL BECAUSE MY OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS TIMING BELTS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 110,000 MILES ACCORDING TO VW'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. DURING REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT MY VALVES WERE BENT BECAUSE THE 1.8T IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE WHICH MEANS THAT CAMS, ROCKERS AND LIFTERS MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR THE CYLINDER HEAD TO BE SENT TO A MACHINE SHOP FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. TOTAL COSTS = $3,865.66. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST VW TIMING BELTS BUT I WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BY THE ADMINISTER/CUSTODIAN CLAIMS WERE NO LONGER ACCEPTED AFTER 2009. I SPOKE WITH [XXX] AT VW CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-822-8987 WHO SAID THERE ARE NO TIMING BELT RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CONCERN AND SEE OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS AT HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/VOLKSWAGEN/T33RHDPDVBRPO8D2P/P3 FOR MORE INFORMATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503479

68,235 miles · Jan 9, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

HI, SO MY 2005.5 2.5L VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STARTED MAKING NOISES UPON ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHIFT QUITE HEAVILY DURING IDLING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAINS OF THE ENGINE. NEVER MISSED A MAINTENANCE, AFTER ONLY 68,000 MILES IT DOESN…

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HI, SO MY 2005.5 2.5L VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STARTED MAKING NOISES UPON ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHIFT QUITE HEAVILY DURING IDLING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAINS OF THE ENGINE. NEVER MISSED A MAINTENANCE, AFTER ONLY 68,000 MILES IT DOESN'T SEEM OKAY THAT TIMING CHAINS ARE ALREADY AFFECTED. AFTER LOOKING AT A FEW FORUMS ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS FROM THAT TIME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492036

76,000 miles · Nov 26, 2012
Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. NOTICED ROUGH IDLE AND POOR ACCELERATION ON MY MORNING COMMUTE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 2 - 5. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT EVENING. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED $900 OF REPAIRS ON THE CAR AND THEN DECLARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD STRETCHED, CAUSING THE MI…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. NOTICED ROUGH IDLE AND POOR ACCELERATION ON MY MORNING COMMUTE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 2 - 5. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT EVENING. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED $900 OF REPAIRS ON THE CAR AND THEN DECLARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD STRETCHED, CAUSING THE MISFIRES). THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS HAD IT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY, INSTEAD OF SURFACE STREETS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2005/2006 JETTAS (DOCUMENTED AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5457990-CLASS-ACTION-AGAINST-VW-FOR-TIMING-CHAIN-PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FORUMS). I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 16,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. A TIMING CHAIN FAILING AT 76,000 MILES IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND IS NOT LISTED WITH A SERVICE INTERVAL PER THE OWNERS MANUAL (LATER ADDED AT 105K MILES ON NEWER CARS). VEHICLE FAILED JUST UNDER 76,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486073

202,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012
Engine

I TRIED TO PULL ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE ENGINE DIED. IT WAS BUCKING AND KEPT STALLING OUT WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR ACROSS TO GET OUT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470666

75,000 miles · Jul 25, 2012
Engine

AT ROUGHLY 7500 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT. FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED, OR STRETCHED, RESULTING IN POOR IDLE AND A $2700 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. LOOKED IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST 2-3 TIMES LONGER. SINCE I'M OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD I AM OUT …

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AT ROUGHLY 7500 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT. FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED, OR STRETCHED, RESULTING IN POOR IDLE AND A $2700 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. LOOKED IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST 2-3 TIMES LONGER. SINCE I'M OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD I AM OUT OF LUCK. TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE NOT TO FAIL AROUND 75000 AND I CHECKED THE OTHER COMPLAINT AND IT LOOKED LIKE ALOT OF OTHER 05 TO 06 OWNERS HAS THE SAME ISSUE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467593

111,500 miles · Jul 17, 2012
Engine

CAR HAS THROWN A CEL OF P0016. TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH CHAINS, GUIDES, AND POSSIBLE VALVES. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 2005.5 AND 2006 JETTA 2.5 ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466271

166,071 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Engine

2005.5 NEW JETTA TDI DIESEL.CAM SHAFT DEFECT. WORN LOBES AND CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGE. REPLACED TIMING BELT AS WELL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462252

Official recalls

4

07V442000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Sep 24, 2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.

05V305000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jul 5, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L GASOLINE ENGINE, A FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY NOT BE POSITIONED PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V586000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Dec 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.