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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

14 reports
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44,500 miles · Oct 7, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSuspension

I HAVE A 2005 VW 2.5 JETTA. MY FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 32,000 MILES WHEN THE BACK BRAKES WENT OUT. FOLLOWING THAT, MY BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME FAULTY. AFTER REPLACING MY BRAKE LIGHTS, THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $38 TO CHANGE THEM AGAIN. THEY WENT OUT ONCE AGAIN BEFORE THE DEALER DECIDED TO INFORM ME THE…

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I HAVE A 2005 VW 2.5 JETTA. MY FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 32,000 MILES WHEN THE BACK BRAKES WENT OUT. FOLLOWING THAT, MY BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME FAULTY. AFTER REPLACING MY BRAKE LIGHTS, THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $38 TO CHANGE THEM AGAIN. THEY WENT OUT ONCE AGAIN BEFORE THE DEALER DECIDED TO INFORM ME THERE WAS A DEFECT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME MY SPARK PLUGS WERE WET FROM THE RAIN. THEY SUGGESTED THE 40K MILE MAINTENANCE AT $500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AGREED TO DO THIS ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME ON AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 MORE TIMES UNTIL THE DEALER FINALLY REVEALED THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS. THEY WERE DYING ELECTRONICALLY ONE BY ONE AND THEY HAD TO ORDER 5 NEW UPDATED COILS FROM MICHIGAN FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN. 6 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 50 MILES. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THE A/C FAN MOTOR HAS DIED. THERE IS NO SENSOR FOR THIS SO THE FAN MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED AT $780.00. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE LARGER FAN IS WORKING, BUT IT IS WEAK AND MIGHT NEED REPLACED AS WELL. THE CAR JERKS AND RUNS VERY ROUGH. MY CAR ALSO MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN I START IT. WHEN I AM SITTING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT FOR A CAR THAT HAS 56K MILES CURRENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244593

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

2005 JETTA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THAT A LOT OF VEHICLES WERE HAVING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILLIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174329

500 miles · Oct 12, 2006
Exterior Lighting

AUTO HEADLAMPS MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE AUTO ENGINE IS STARTED. ALL INCIDENCES HAVE OCCURRED AFTER AUTO WAS IN CONTACT WITH WATER, SUCH AS DURING A RAIN STORM OR A CAR WASH. THE AUTO INDICATOR LIGHT FOR HEADLAMP MALFUNCTION IS LIT AND DIFFERENT HEADLAMP BULBS ARE OUT, INCLUDING THE DAY RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS. …

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AUTO HEADLAMPS MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE AUTO ENGINE IS STARTED. ALL INCIDENCES HAVE OCCURRED AFTER AUTO WAS IN CONTACT WITH WATER, SUCH AS DURING A RAIN STORM OR A CAR WASH. THE AUTO INDICATOR LIGHT FOR HEADLAMP MALFUNCTION IS LIT AND DIFFERENT HEADLAMP BULBS ARE OUT, INCLUDING THE DAY RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS. ON ONE OCCASION, ALL HEADLAMPS MALFUNCTIONED AT ONCE. AUTO WAS PURCHASED ON 4/26/05. FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPORTED ON 5/20/05. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 5/26/05, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAS NOT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 5/26/05. THE DEALER REQUESTED THE AUTO BE RETURNED WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS VISIBLE TO THEM. I RETURNED THE AUTO TO THE DEALER ON 9/25/06 TO SHOW THE SERVICE ADVISOR THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED. THEY DID NOT ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM ON THIS DAY AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS LATER. ON 10/10/06 THE AUTO WAS RETURNED FOR REPAIR, HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED ON 10/12/06 THAT BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TO MAKE A COMPLAINT (REFERENCE NUMBER 60370228) AND WAS ASKED TO TAKE THE AUTO TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE RECOMMENDED VW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TECHNICIAN WOULD NEED TO SEE THE PROBLEM AS IT WAS OCCURRING, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170651

19,000 miles · Oct 1, 2006
Exterior Lighting

FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH LEADING TO UNSAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BRAKE SWITCH FAILED AT 19,000 MILES CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169678

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.