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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.

About this comparison →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR WHILE PARKED AND THE ENGINE GOING WILL STOP. ALSO WHEN I'M ON THE FREEWAY THE EPC LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LOSS OF POWER AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING. MY MECHANIC HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11406795

115,000 miles · Oct 16, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO VW SHOPS AND HIGHLY RATED TOP VW SHOPS IN LA . MY CAR WAS DYING IF I DIDN'T DRIVE IT EVER DAY. I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH AND AFTER DOING ELECTRICAL CHECKS, GIVING ME AN ALTERNATOR, REPLACING COUNTLESS BATTERIES THE PROBLEM IS STILL TO THIS DAY UNSOLVED.IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS…

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FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO VW SHOPS AND HIGHLY RATED TOP VW SHOPS IN LA . MY CAR WAS DYING IF I DIDN'T DRIVE IT EVER DAY. I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH AND AFTER DOING ELECTRICAL CHECKS, GIVING ME AN ALTERNATOR, REPLACING COUNTLESS BATTERIES THE PROBLEM IS STILL TO THIS DAY UNSOLVED.IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS THINGS HAVE BECOME WORSE AND CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF NOT FIXED. MY CAR HAS BEEN DECELERATING WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD, IT HAPPENS AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND IS RANDOM. THE CAR WILL LOCK UP SO THAT I CAN NOT MAKE IT PICK UP SPEED WHEN IT STARTS DECELERATING AND THEN OUT OF NO WHERE IT WILL WORK AGAIN BUT INSTEAD OF LETTING ME GRADUALLY INCREASE THE SPEED IT BLASTS OFF IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE MANNER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET THIS FIXED AND DIAGNOSED BUT NO ONE NOT EVEN VW HAS ANY IDEA WHAT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP IT SOMEHOW DOESN'T HAPPEN. NOW IN THE PAST WEEK MY CAR IS TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THE DECELERATION AND ACCELERATION BUT ON TOP OF THAT NOW IT IS JUST DYING WHILE I AM DRIVING IT AFTER DOING THE JERKY THING. I LITERALLY WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY AND IT JERKED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT STARTED UP LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN TRIED TO DRIVE TO SAFETY BUT IT WOULD DIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE AND I DECIDED TO READ SOME REPORTS. TURNS OUT THERE ARE 100S OF OTHER CASES JUST LIKE MINE. WHY THEN DOES VW ACT LIKE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHATS WRONG WITH MY CAR. APPARENTLY THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IS TO HAVE A TRAGEDY! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. PLEASE HELP!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10783012

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2012
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

AS I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE GEARS JUMP ERRADICALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10443877

118,000 miles · Nov 14, 2011
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE CAR INTERIOR HAS A CRAYON SMELL MOST NOTICEABLE ON HOT DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM BREATHING IN POSSIBLY TOXIC FUMES FROM THE EVAPORATION OF CHEMICALS THAT WERE USED WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. AFTER TYPING INTO GOOGLE ONLY THE 2 WORDS "CRAYON SMELL" I GET MANY MANY HITS FOR VW CARS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME SMELL AS MINE, SO …

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THE CAR INTERIOR HAS A CRAYON SMELL MOST NOTICEABLE ON HOT DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM BREATHING IN POSSIBLY TOXIC FUMES FROM THE EVAPORATION OF CHEMICALS THAT WERE USED WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. AFTER TYPING INTO GOOGLE ONLY THE 2 WORDS "CRAYON SMELL" I GET MANY MANY HITS FOR VW CARS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME SMELL AS MINE, SO THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS A LARGE GROUP OF VW VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435503

70,000 miles · May 3, 2011
Unknown Or Other

NOXIOUS ODOR FROM CARPET UNDERLAYMENT. CAUSES HEADACHES AND ODOR TO BE ABSORBED INTO CLOTHING, SKIN, SEATS, ETC. VW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, NOR DISCLOSE THE MATERIAL USED AND IF IT IS OFF-GASSING ANY HAZARDOUS FUMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398834

92,000 miles · Apr 7, 2011
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

JETTA 2005.5 SEDAN (AUTOMATIC) HARD SHIFTED BETWEEN 2ND & 3TH GEARS, DISPLAYING SHUDDERING AND HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC. SINCE OCTOBER 2010 HARD SHIFTING HAS CONTINUED DAILY AND FREQUENCY OF SHIFTING HESITATION ISSUE HAS WORSENED. HARD SHIFTING WITH HESITATION UP BETWEEN 3TH AND 4TH, AND ALSO HARD SHUDDERING DO…

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JETTA 2005.5 SEDAN (AUTOMATIC) HARD SHIFTED BETWEEN 2ND & 3TH GEARS, DISPLAYING SHUDDERING AND HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC. SINCE OCTOBER 2010 HARD SHIFTING HAS CONTINUED DAILY AND FREQUENCY OF SHIFTING HESITATION ISSUE HAS WORSENED. HARD SHIFTING WITH HESITATION UP BETWEEN 3TH AND 4TH, AND ALSO HARD SHUDDERING DOWNSHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 2ND. DEALER HOOKED VEHICLE TO COMPUTER ON FEB 14, 2011 AND STATED TRANSMISSION HAS NO ERRORS. DEALER WOULD NOT TEST DRIVE FOR LONGER THAN 4 MILES, DEALER STATED HARD SHIFT DID NOT OCCUR IN THAT 4 MILE PERIOD, TEST WAS NOT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, OWNER WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATES VEHICLE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VALVE FIX. VEHICLE SHIFTING FAILURE IS HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS HIGHWAY CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI #10396153

76,000 miles · Jan 15, 2011
Unknown Or Other

HELLO, I AM WRITING IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL HELP REGARDING A DEFECT IN THIS 2005/2006 JETTA VW MODEL. I HAVE COMPLETED MUCH MY RESEARCH ON LINE AND IT MADE ME ANXIOUS TO SEE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION. I AM ASKING THAT YOU HELP IN THIS MATTER. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CONTACT YOU FIRST. I HAVE ALREADY LO…

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HELLO, I AM WRITING IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL HELP REGARDING A DEFECT IN THIS 2005/2006 JETTA VW MODEL. I HAVE COMPLETED MUCH MY RESEARCH ON LINE AND IT MADE ME ANXIOUS TO SEE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION. I AM ASKING THAT YOU HELP IN THIS MATTER. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CONTACT YOU FIRST. I HAVE ALREADY LOST $200 IN TOWING COST, WHEN MY CAR ABANDONED ME. BASICALLY, I FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO IN. I TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS , BUT NO LUCK AFTER AN HOUR IN A DARK GARAGE. THE KEY JUST WOULDN'T GO IN. I HAD IT TOWED. I STRUGGLED TO GET THE KEY IN ONCE I WAS HOME AND IN A SAFE PLACE. I MANAGED TO PUSH THE KEY IN AFTER 30 MINUTES. A WEEK HAS GONE BY AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THE KEY CAN'T GO IN. I HAD TO ABANDON MY CAR AGAIN. I DON'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE, THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT FROM Y RESEARCH. I FEEL I AM TRAPPED WITH THIS DEFECT THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG OTHERS. WARRANTY OR NO WARRANTY, THIS IS A PROBLEM. SEE : HTTP://WWW.CARS-GUIDE.COM/VOLKSWAGEN-FORUM/STEERING-WHEEL-LOCK-AND-IGNITION-SWITCH-PROBLEM-T4673.HTML. I CALLED VW IN AUBURN AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE CLOSE TO $180 TO LOOK AT IT AND ALMOST $500 TO FIX IT. UNACCEPTABLE. IF THIS WAS ISOLATED HERE AND THERE, THEN O.K. BUT THIS IS RAMPANT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376749

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT CAR I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM (SOUNDED LIKE) ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED CAR NOT CHANGING GEARS SMOOTHLY. FELT AS IF IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING ESPECIALLY UP HILL, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW A VW SHIFTS AND SOUNDS. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT NOTICE IT WHEN I INITIALLY OWNED THE CAR. …

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SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT CAR I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM (SOUNDED LIKE) ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED CAR NOT CHANGING GEARS SMOOTHLY. FELT AS IF IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING ESPECIALLY UP HILL, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW A VW SHIFTS AND SOUNDS. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT NOTICE IT WHEN I INITIALLY OWNED THE CAR. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC SINCE NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT THEIR OWN WILL, THE CLOCK LOOSES TIME CONSTANTLY, AND THE NOISE HAS GOT A LOT WORSE AND SO HAS THE GEAR SHIFTING. THE DIAGNOSTIC THEY SAY SHOWED THE DUAL FANS ARE BOTH BURNED OUT. IF THEY ARE BURNED OUT WHY ARE THEY STILL MAKING A LOUD NOISE SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF? THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM EXISTS BUT ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME THEY CANNOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC WILL NOT PICK UP ON A BAD TRANSMISSION ONLY A TOTALLY FAILED ONE. WHICH THE CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY THEN. THESE CARS HAVE OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING IGNORED. AFTER HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEM I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND WAS ASTONISHED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. SLOW AND HARD SHIFTS, WIPERS, CAR ACTING AS IF IT IS STALLING, CLOCK LOSING TIME, BATTERY GOING BAD TOO QUICK. BRAKES CONSTANTLY BAD. THIS CAR IS JUST A LEMON. WHY WILL THE GOVERNMENT NOT DO A TOTAL RECALL. THERE IS TOOOOOOO MUCH WRONG WITH TOOOOO MANY OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341888

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.