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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

41 reports
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58,000 miles · Apr 22, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY PROVIDED A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO RECEIVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE PROGRESSED WITHOUT W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY PROVIDED A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO RECEIVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE PROGRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO PASS AN INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10712225

118,000 miles · Mar 5, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, DieselPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO MISFIRE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO MISFIRE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE B VALVE, THE GLOW PLUG AND THE GLOW PLUG HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A RECALL FOR THE 2009-2010 MODELS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2005 MODEL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 04/02/12*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10450345

60,005 miles · Feb 29, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SPROCKETS HAD BEEN SHAVED DOWN, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE TIMING CHAIN SPROCKETS AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,005. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10449709

65,000 miles · Jan 31, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT ROUGHLY 6500 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 …

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AT ROUGHLY 6500 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. VW OFFERED $1500 CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW VW. THIS IS NOT ACPETABLE. MY LAST JETTA LASTED 180000 MILES BEFORE ANY ISSUES. IF MORE PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE COMPANY. BE WARY OF VW'S. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10446070

115,000 miles · Nov 21, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING MY DAUGHTER HOME FROM SCHOOL, HOT COOLANT STARTED SPEWING INTO WHERE HER FEET REST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436668

100,000 miles · Nov 16, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

AS EMPHASIS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5457990-CLASS-ACTION-AGAINST-VW-FOR-TIMING-CHAIN-PROBLEM), VOLKSWAGEN DESIGNED A FLAWED SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL PRE-MATURELY. IN FACT, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THIS MOTOR, A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WILL DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY LEAD …

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AS EMPHASIS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5457990-CLASS-ACTION-AGAINST-VW-FOR-TIMING-CHAIN-PROBLEM), VOLKSWAGEN DESIGNED A FLAWED SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL PRE-MATURELY. IN FACT, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THIS MOTOR, A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WILL DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY LEAD TO OTHER CATASTROPHIC ISSUES SUCH AS A BENT VALVE IN MY SITUATION. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR, I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN LESS THAN 1 MONTH LATER (11/16/11). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436027

98,590 miles · Oct 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005.5 VW JETTA, 2.5L 5 CYL ENGINE. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT STEADY, NOT FLASHING. STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN SPEED. PULLED OFF ROAD AND IDLE WAS VERY ROUGH. TURNED CAR OFF AND …

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2005.5 VW JETTA, 2.5L 5 CYL ENGINE. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT STEADY, NOT FLASHING. STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN SPEED. PULLED OFF ROAD AND IDLE WAS VERY ROUGH. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IDLE WAS WORSE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL LIT AND NOT FLASHING. VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE VEHICLE UNDER ITS OWN POWER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP FOUND TROUBLE CODE P1340 AND AFTER MORE DIAGNOSTIC THAT TIMING WAS INCORRECT. CAM TIMING WAS VERY FAR OFF AND STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN SUSPECTED. COMPRESSION TEST REVEALED BENT VALVES AS WELL. LOCAL INDY MECHANIC AND LOCAL VW DEALER HAVE BOTH SEEN THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES WITH 2005.5 AND 2006 MODEL JETTA AND RABBIT VEHICLES WITH THE 2.5L ENGINE, AND SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES ARE OUTLINED IN SEVERAL PLACES ONLINE. THE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN WAS VERY SUDDEN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428973

108,000 miles · Sep 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAMSHAFT FAILURE CAUSING ALL ASSOCIATED/CONNECTING PARTS TO ALSO FAIL. NEVER DEVIATED FROM SPECIFIED MANUFACTURES REQUIRED OIL (505.01). THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM, THAT IS COMMON ON ALL THESE DIESEL ENGINES (BRM), OF WHICH THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT CORRECT AND THE OWNER IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE AT A…

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CAMSHAFT FAILURE CAUSING ALL ASSOCIATED/CONNECTING PARTS TO ALSO FAIL. NEVER DEVIATED FROM SPECIFIED MANUFACTURES REQUIRED OIL (505.01). THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM, THAT IS COMMON ON ALL THESE DIESEL ENGINES (BRM), OF WHICH THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT CORRECT AND THE OWNER IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE AT A COST OF $2000 PLUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424367

106,543 miles · Aug 23, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

OWN A 2005 VW JETTA, BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP TODAY WITH 106K MILES ON IT AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE TIMING CHAIN HAS JUMPED. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, SO WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10421172

72,000 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE RETURNING HOME AFTER SHOPPING. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ENGINE DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN JUMP ON A 72K MILE, 2.5 LITER, 2005 VW JETTA TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410732

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.