Power Train. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Parking Brake complaints

2 reports

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22,900 miles · Feb 18, 2010

Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

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I HAVE A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. I PURCHASED IT NEW IN AUGUST 2008. THE REAR BRAKES WORE INTO THE ROTORS AT 12,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP HAD JUST INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE AT 10,000 MILES. THE ROTORS AND BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST AS IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM BUT A WEAR ITEM. AT MY 20,000 MILE CHECKUP, I WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT MY BRAKES WERE FINE AND HAD 50% REMAINING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MEINEKE TO HAVE THE BRAKES DOUBLE CHECKED. I WAS SHOWN THAT THE REAR CALIPERS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY DO NOT ALLOW THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO DISENGAGE. AS SUCH, MY EMERGENCY BRAKE IS CONSTANTLY ON, CAUSING MY BRAKES TO LOCK ON TO THE ROTOR. THE MECHANIC HAD TO USE A CROW BAR TO PRY LOOSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THAT I CANNOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UNTIL IT IS FIXED. I HAVE A 5 SPEED AND THIS IS CONCERNING THAT I CANNOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE WARRANTY WILL ONLY ALLOW THEM TO REPLACE ONE CALIPER AT A TIME. IF THE OTHER ONE IS BROKEN, THEN I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I DRIVE IT A WHILE AFTER ONE IS REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DATA ONLINE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. INTERESTINGLY, MY DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF THE CALIPERS AND HAD TO REORDER MORE. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED THAT MY SAFETY HAS BEEN IN JEOPARDY AS MY BRAKES COULD HAVE ONCE AGAIN FAILED. I AM UPSET THAT THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC TO FINALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED. INCIDENTALLY, PART OF MY ENGINE WENT OUT WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT END REPAINTED AS IT BEGAN CHIPPING IMMEDIATELY. NOW THE DOOR EDGES AND THE TOP EDGE OF THE HOOD ARE CHIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311684

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2008

Parking Brake

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I BOUGHT A 2008 JETTA FROM ROD EAST VW IN LATE JUNE, IN LATE JULY MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, I THEN CALLED ROD EAST VW TO INFORM THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THEIR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THEM TOW MY CAR OVER TO THEM. ONE WEEK HAD PASSED AND THEY HAD STILL NOT LOOKED AT MY CAR SO I INFORMED THEM THAT I WOULD NEED A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE I AM A STUDENT AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT HAS NUMEROUS THERAPY AND DR APPT EVERY WEEK. THEY SAID FINE AND THE MAN THAT I WAS TALKING TO SAID LET ME GO GET YOUR CHILD SEAT OUT OF THE CAR FOR YOU, HE THEN CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID HOW ABOUT YOU COME TO THE BACK AND GET IT FROM YOUR CAR, I DID AND THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CAR HAD A BIG DENT AND DEEP SCRATCH FROM THE REAR RIGHT FENDER TO THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR...I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THAT'S HOW THE CAR WAS WHEN THEY GOT IT AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. HE THEN SAID THAT HE COULD TALK TO THE MANAGER AND SEE WHAT HE WOULD SAY. I CALLED THE MANAGER, ON MY WAY HOME AND HE SAID WE WILL FIX IT, I SEE THAT ITS A NEW DENT AND SCRATCH AND WE WILL SEND IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET FIXED. I THEN DEMANDED THAT I GET ALL OEM PARTS AND I WAS IT BRAND NEW AGAIN AND THE SERVICE MAN SAID THAT'S GOING TO BE TOO EXPENSIVE AND IT DIDN'T NEED NEW PARTS HE ALSO WANTED ME TO RETURN THE RENTAL WHEN I LEFT ON VACATION TO SAN FRANCISCO, THAT'S WHEN I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AGAIN AND HE GUARANTEED THAT THEY WOULD BE OEM PARTS AND I WOULDN'T NEED TO RETURN THE RENTAL. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR AFTER 3 AND A HALF WEEKS THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND THE LIGHT WAS OUT. I NOTICED THE NEXT DAY THAT MY 12 VOLT LIGHTERS WERE NOT WORKING AND I CALLED THE MANGER AND HE TOLD ME TO COME IN. I NEVER DID BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO WORK ON MY CAR AGAIN. TODAY I TOOK IT TO ANCIRA VW AND THEY SAID I HAD SOME WIRES MIXED UP, I STARTED TO DRIVE OFF THE LOT AND MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON! THAT CAN NOT BE A COINCIDENCE AND IT TELLS ME THAT SOME WIRES WERE CHANGED TO HIDE THE FACT THAT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE BY ROD EAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252313

Official recalls

19V679000 · Unknown Or Other

Sep 25, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

10V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 10, 2010

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

09V164000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

May 19, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.

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

PE09035 · Vehicle Stall/loss Motive Power

Opened Jul 17, 2009 · Closed Nov 19, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PREVENT SYSTEM/COMPONENT DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF COMPONENT FAILURES OR HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE BASIC HIERARCHY OF FAULT MODES INCLUDES SOME THAT ONLY RESULT IN THE STORAGE OF A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) AND CAUSE NO LOSS OF FUNCTION, SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATION TO A LIMP HOME MODE, AND SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER (I.E., OPEN CLUTCH).THE DRIVER IS ALERTED TO THE LATTER TWO MODES BY THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS) FLASHING. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT RESULTS IN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER IS EXCESS GEARBOX TEMPERATURE.THE SYSTEM INITIALLY RESPONDS TO INCREASED GEARBOX TEMPERATURE BY RAMPING DOWN ENGINE TORQUE.IF THE TEMPERATURE KEEPS RISING THE MECHATRONIC UNIT RESPONDS BY OPENING THE CLUTCH.IN A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT SUBMITTED TO NHTSA ON AUGUST 20, 2009, VOLKSWAGEN DESCRIBED A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESSES OF THE DSG GEARBOX TEMPERATURE SENSORS USED IN APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2009 AND 2010 VOLKSWAGEN (EOS, JETTA AND GTI) AND AUDI (A3 AND TT/TT ROADSTER) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 2009 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 09V-333, VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 37E3/S7 AND AUDI RECALL NO 37E4/J7). VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT, THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DSG MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED BY THE CONNECTOR SUPPLIER DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD.WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH.IN ADDITION, THE DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.VOLKSWAGEN ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN THE DEFECT CONDITION. ODI IDENTIFIED 40 COMPLAINTS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DEFECT CONDITION DESCRIBED BY VOLKSWAGEN.VOLKSWAGEN RECEIVED 139 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE CONDITION, WITH 7 INVOLVING VEHICLES REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING A 172 TOTAL COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLKSWAGEN.ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVE THE MY 2009 AN 2010 VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL 09V-333. ODI ALSO IDENTIFIED COMPLAINTS OF HARSH/JERKY SHIFTING IN SOME VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH DSG.VOLKSWAGEN ATTRIBUTED THIS CONDITION, WHICH TYPICALLY OCCURS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, TO EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE BUSHINGS OF THE TWO SOLENOID VALVES IN THE MECHATRONIC UNIT THAT CONTROL CLUTCH OPERATION.VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE THIS CONDITION IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THE CHANGES IN SHIFT QUALITY DEVELOP GRADUALLY OVER TIME, DO NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES, INJURIES OR SERIOUS CRASHES (THERE WERE THREE REPORTED PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN MINOR BODY DAMAGE IN VERY LOW SPEED, PARKING MANEUVERS).VOLKSWAGEN ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIELD WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OF POTENTIALLY AFFECTED MECHATRONIC UNITS AS WELL