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2008 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Jetta years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

160 reports with mileage · 28 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 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

Power Train complaints

53 reports
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10,000 miles · Jul 27, 2009
Power Train

2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WOLFSBURG W/ DSG TRANSMISSION, 22K MILES. AFTER WARMING UP, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT LURCHING AND STUTTERING FROM A STOP WHEN IN D(RIVE), S(PORT) OR "MANUAL" MODE. WHEN IN D & S, THERE IS OFTEN TIMES A HARSH DOWNSHIFT INTO 3RD OR 2ND GEAR. ENGINE ALMOST DIES WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON OCCASION, THEN LURCHES FORWA…

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2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WOLFSBURG W/ DSG TRANSMISSION, 22K MILES. AFTER WARMING UP, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT LURCHING AND STUTTERING FROM A STOP WHEN IN D(RIVE), S(PORT) OR "MANUAL" MODE. WHEN IN D & S, THERE IS OFTEN TIMES A HARSH DOWNSHIFT INTO 3RD OR 2ND GEAR. ENGINE ALMOST DIES WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON OCCASION, THEN LURCHES FORWARD. IN REVERSE, THERE IS ALMOST NO RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FOR A SPLIT SECOND, THEN THE CAR LUNGES BACKWARDS VERY NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROX 6 MONTHS. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT MAY NEED A REGULAR SERVICING TO FIX, BUT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL ISN'T UNTIL 40K MILES. CURRENTLY WAITING ON APPT AT DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278498

21,126 miles · Jul 26, 2009
Power Train

1. THIS ISSUE IS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP, LIKE AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 OR 30 MINUTES OR SO. 2. MY CAR (VW JETTA '08 DSG) AUTOMATIC TRANNY OPERATION FAILS USUALLY WHEN IN 1ST GEAR (WHILE IN 'D' MODE) OR IN REVERSE SO THAT YOU EXPERIENCE VERY BAD "LURCHING" AND SURGING EFFECT. THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY REV AND JUMP F…

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1. THIS ISSUE IS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP, LIKE AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 OR 30 MINUTES OR SO. 2. MY CAR (VW JETTA '08 DSG) AUTOMATIC TRANNY OPERATION FAILS USUALLY WHEN IN 1ST GEAR (WHILE IN 'D' MODE) OR IN REVERSE SO THAT YOU EXPERIENCE VERY BAD "LURCHING" AND SURGING EFFECT. THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY REV AND JUMP FORWARD A FOOT OR TWO THEN FEEL LIKE IT WAS IDLING WRONG AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, THEN RUN FINE THEN DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE CAR WOULDN'T HAVE POWER TO MOVE WHEN ITS NEEDED FOR EXAMPLE IN T-JUNCTION. 3. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO GET THE CAR IN TO FIX THE BAD MECHATRONICS UNIT. THE NEW MECHATRONICS UNIT PART WAS ORDERED AND IT WILL TAKE "SOME TIME" (NO LESS THAN ONE MONTH), NO EXACT DATE WAS GIVEN WHEN THEN NEW PART IS AVAILABLE AND READY FOR REPLACING. I FEAR THAT THE DSG REPAIRING IS NOT THE FINAL SOLUTION AND IT WILL TAKE LOTS OF REPAIRS TO GET THIS THING EVENTUALLY FIXED. *NOTE* CAR VIN SITE DIDN'T ACCEPT IT FOR SOME REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278320

31,000 miles · Jul 25, 2009
Power Train

I'M GOING ON MY 3RD DSG/MECHATRONICS UNIT. I HAVE A 08 WOLFSBURG WITH 31,000 MILES. THE VERY FIRST DAY I HAD THE CAR IN BROKE DOWN WITH 101 MILES ON IT. FLASHING PRNDS AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEARS OR REVERSE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND WAITED 3 WEEKS FOR NEW MECHATRONICS UNIT. FOR A FEW DAYS IT WAS FINE THEN IT ST…

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I'M GOING ON MY 3RD DSG/MECHATRONICS UNIT. I HAVE A 08 WOLFSBURG WITH 31,000 MILES. THE VERY FIRST DAY I HAD THE CAR IN BROKE DOWN WITH 101 MILES ON IT. FLASHING PRNDS AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEARS OR REVERSE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND WAITED 3 WEEKS FOR NEW MECHATRONICS UNIT. FOR A FEW DAYS IT WAS FINE THEN IT STARTED WITH JERKING,HARD DOWN SHIFTS FROM 3 TO 1 IN DRIVE. BACKING UP WAS SCARY AT TIMES. BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR DSG. GOT TIRED OF HEARING THE SAME STORY FROM THEM AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MECHATRONICS UNIT AND ITS ON ORDER SINCE JUNE 12,2009 AND TODAY IS JULY 25, 2009 AND STILL WAITING FOR MY CAR TO BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278269

14,155 miles · Jul 24, 2009
Power Train

PURCHASED A 2008 VW JETTA WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING FOR SAME PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS "CLUNKS" HARD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC PRIMARILY 2ND TO 1ST TO NEUTRAL. THIS IS WORSE THE LONGER AND HOTTER TRANSMISSION GETS. ALSO TRANSMISSION JUMPS OR SURGES FORWARD OR BACK AFTER PUTT…

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PURCHASED A 2008 VW JETTA WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING FOR SAME PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS "CLUNKS" HARD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC PRIMARILY 2ND TO 1ST TO NEUTRAL. THIS IS WORSE THE LONGER AND HOTTER TRANSMISSION GETS. ALSO TRANSMISSION JUMPS OR SURGES FORWARD OR BACK AFTER PUTTING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS PRIMARILY HAPPENS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE AND SLIGHTLY PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE JUMPS SEVERAL FEET FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED FROM A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT IS OPERATED BY SOFTWARE. I LIKE THE CAR AND HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO"SOFTEN" THE STOP AND GO JERKINESS OF THIS SUPPOSEDLY CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278253

10,000 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Power Train

MY JETTA WOLFSBURG IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP DUE TO A DSG MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILURE. PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN THE CAR WAS 'JERKY' AND 'JUMPY' AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH TOO FAST. THIS HAPPENED IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ~ 12000 MILES ON IT AND THE ISSUE BEGAN AROUND 10…

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MY JETTA WOLFSBURG IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP DUE TO A DSG MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILURE. PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN THE CAR WAS 'JERKY' AND 'JUMPY' AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH TOO FAST. THIS HAPPENED IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ~ 12000 MILES ON IT AND THE ISSUE BEGAN AROUND 10000 MILES. THE JUMPINESS OF THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT I BACKED INTO A WALL (LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED) EVEN WITH SLIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE (THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS SUDDENLY). THE DEALER BELIEVES THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MECHATRONIC UNIT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN FOR 2 WEEKS NOW AND AM DRIVING A LOANER IN THE MEAN TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278108

10,000 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GLI SEDAN EQUIPPED WITH A DSG TRANSMISSION I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS EITHER WHILE ACCELERATING OR SLOWING HAD SUDDEN, ROUGH SHIFTS, AND AT TIMES HAVE BEEN LITERALLY BUCKED AROUND IN THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE FEBRUAR…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GLI SEDAN EQUIPPED WITH A DSG TRANSMISSION I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS EITHER WHILE ACCELERATING OR SLOWING HAD SUDDEN, ROUGH SHIFTS, AND AT TIMES HAVE BEEN LITERALLY BUCKED AROUND IN THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE FEBRUARY 2009...POSSIBLY BEFORE, AND HAS BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. I HAVE ALSO HAD ROUGH SHIFTS DOWNSHIFTING AT TIMES CAUSING THE ESP TO BECOME ACTIVATED IN MY VEHICLE MAKING IT FEEL LIKE I AM LOSING TRACTION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION IN TO THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY STORIES ADDED TO THE INVESTIGATION. PE09-035. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON THIS BEFORE AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278070

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2.0T WOLFSBURG EDITION WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. AROUND 5,000 MILES, I STARTED EXPERIENCING BANGING OF GEARS WHEN I WAS START UP AT A LIGHT, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE TO THE POINT MY NECK WAS HURTING AND THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR HAS BECOME LOOSE DUE TO THE CONSTANT FORCE OF THE BANGING. …

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I HAVE A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2.0T WOLFSBURG EDITION WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. AROUND 5,000 MILES, I STARTED EXPERIENCING BANGING OF GEARS WHEN I WAS START UP AT A LIGHT, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE TO THE POINT MY NECK WAS HURTING AND THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR HAS BECOME LOOSE DUE TO THE CONSTANT FORCE OF THE BANGING. MOST RECENTLY ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER, THE CAR BANGED INTO GEAR AND STARTED TO ROLL BACK (NOT LIKE IT DOES NORMALLY ON A HILL, THIS WAS AFTER THAT SHOULD OF HAPPENED) BEFORE IT MOVED FORWARD. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCE THE CAR REVVING AND NOT GOING INTO GEAR THEN IN BANGS INTO GEAR AND SURGES FORWARD AT A HIGHER SPEED THEN WHICH YOU HIT THE GAS. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT. BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ARE POSTED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS, AS THE SYMPTOMS GET WORSE THE CAR BECOMES A DANGER TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278029

23,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train

2008 VW JETTA WOLFSBURG WITH 2.0T & DSG TRANSMISSION 21K MILES. TRANSMISSION CONSISTENTLY LURCHES FORWARD AT A STOP ESPECIALLY AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS MAGNIFIED WHEN THE A/C IS ON. RPM'S WILL FLUCTUATE +/- 200 AS YOU FEEL THE GEAR ENGAGE. SYMPTOMS ARE WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE. HAS THE SAME FEELING AS…

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2008 VW JETTA WOLFSBURG WITH 2.0T & DSG TRANSMISSION 21K MILES. TRANSMISSION CONSISTENTLY LURCHES FORWARD AT A STOP ESPECIALLY AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS MAGNIFIED WHEN THE A/C IS ON. RPM'S WILL FLUCTUATE +/- 200 AS YOU FEEL THE GEAR ENGAGE. SYMPTOMS ARE WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE. HAS THE SAME FEELING AS SOMEONE NOT KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE "JERKINESS" CONTINUES FROM A STOP UNTIL UNDER ACCELERATION INTO 3RD GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DOWNSHIFTS UNUSUALLY HARD INTO 2ND & ESPECIALLY 1ST GEAR. ALL THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE SLOWLY BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED OVER THE LAST MONTH. THE WORST & POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM WAS WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE CAR. I WAS AT A STOP & SHIFTED THE CAR INTO "SPORT" MODE WHICH GIVES THE CAR MUCH QUICKER SHORT TERM ACCELERATION, WHICH WOULD HELP IN THE BUSY SITUATION. AS TRAFFIC CLEARED ENOUGH I PRESSED THE GAS & THE CAR SIMPLY ROLLED WITHOUT POWER INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO SHIFT QUICKLY INTO REVERSE TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I ATTEMPTED THIS A 2ND TIME & THE SAME THING HAPPENED...NO POWER, JUST ROLLED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE NOT RUSTED THIS CAR IN THESE SITUATIONS SINCE. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER IN 1 WEEK TO ADDRESS THIS & A RECALL ON THE DRIVESHAFT BOLTS. I AM FILING THIS BECAUSE AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES, IT IS APPARENT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR THE DSG TRANSMISSIONS & THE CONSUMER IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND. I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS/FATAL ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY & IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN UP AT THE SCENE THAT I PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN IN REALITY THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE (TWICE) AND JEOPARDIZED OUR LIVES. I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE GAINS THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES AND VW STEPS UP AND MAKES A PERMANENT FIX. THE PARTS THE ARE REPLACING (MECHATRONIC) IS FAILING AGAIN AFTER TIME. I EXPECT A DEALER RUN-A-ROUND. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277986

21,000 miles · Jul 21, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SURGES/BUCKS DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION SUCH AS PARKING. REVERSE IS WORSE THAN FORWARD. REVERSE OPERATION CAN BE DANGEROUS AS EXTRA THROTTLE MUST BE APPLIED TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE BUT THEN THERE IS A RAPID ACCELERATION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. TRANSMISSION ALSO DOWN SHIFTS VERY HARD WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP, 2N…

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TRANSMISSION SURGES/BUCKS DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION SUCH AS PARKING. REVERSE IS WORSE THAN FORWARD. REVERSE OPERATION CAN BE DANGEROUS AS EXTRA THROTTLE MUST BE APPLIED TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE BUT THEN THERE IS A RAPID ACCELERATION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. TRANSMISSION ALSO DOWN SHIFTS VERY HARD WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP, 2ND TO 1ST DOWNSHIFT. CAR IS INOP. SINCE 6/26/09 AWAITING REPAIR PART. PART ETA IS LATE AUGUST 2009. TRANSMISSION IS DSG MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277676

19,000 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Power Train

MY VW 2008 2.0T, SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN DRIVING WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. IT ALSO LURCHES FORWARD FROM A STOP; AT TIMES IT ALSO LOSES POWER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS STEPPED ON. THE VEHICLE JERKS VERY HARD AND HAS ALSO WHEN REVERSING ALMOST HIT THE GARAGE. THE CAR CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO GO FROM PARK TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY, AT TIMES VIOLE…

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MY VW 2008 2.0T, SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN DRIVING WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. IT ALSO LURCHES FORWARD FROM A STOP; AT TIMES IT ALSO LOSES POWER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS STEPPED ON. THE VEHICLE JERKS VERY HARD AND HAS ALSO WHEN REVERSING ALMOST HIT THE GARAGE. THE CAR CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO GO FROM PARK TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY, AT TIMES VIOLENTLY JERKING FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277034

Official recalls

4

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

1

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