Fuel System, Diesel. Review the 195 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 165 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports8 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

888 reports

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

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2009 JETTA TDI HAS AN ISSUE WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. USUALLY 100% REPRODUCIBLE IN WARM CLIMATE USUALLY HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF STARTING ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING AT 30MPH AT 2K RPMS WHILE HOLDING A STEADY SPEED. CAR WILL SUDDENLY JERK AND LOSE POWER ONE TIME THEN THE REMAINING TIME WILL BE WITHOUT ISSUE. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR HAS INTERMITTENTLY LOST ALL POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS ALMOST RESULTING IN CERTAIN PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENTS. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT AFTER STARTING THE CAR I TOOK A PHONE CALL BEFORE ENTERING TRAFFIC. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A TEMPERATURE/TIME RELATED PROBLEM AS THE TIME I WAS ON THE PHONE WOULD ABOUT EQUAL THE TIME THAT WHEN I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE LEFT THE LOT THE CAR WOULD HAVE HAD THE HICCUP/STUTTER. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND THIS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED THAT VWOA HAS BEEN CALLED ABOUT THIS BUT SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297655

10,000 miles · Dec 22, 2009

Power Train

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2009 VW JETTA TDI (TURBO-DIESEL) EQUIPPED WITH DSG (DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX) TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE PREMATURELY DOWNSHIFTS FROM 2ND INTO 1ST GEAR AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING IN 'TIPTRONIC' (MANUAL) SHIFT MODE AT SLOW SPEED CONDITIONS, SUCH AS RIGHT TURNS, PARKING LOTS/GARAGES, YIELD CONDITIONS, ETC., THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 1ST AFTER REACCELERATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE'S RPMS TO "SKYROCKET". IF THIS OCCURS WITHIN A TURN IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION IS STALLED DUE TO THE LOWER GEAR. PANICKING, ONE SHIFTS THE VEHICLE INTO 2ND AT THE HIGH RPMS AND THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS UNDER THE POWER AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD RAPIDLY UNDER POWER. THIS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO NEAR REAR-END CRASH SITUATIONS FOR BOTH DRIVERS FOLLOWING AT THE DOWNSHIFT/STALL CONDITION AS WELL AS VEHICLES IN FRONT AT THE UPSHIFT/ACCELERATION CONDITION. IN PARKING LOTS WHILE MODERATELY TRAVELING IN 2ND GEAR LOOKING FOR A PARKING STALL, WITHOUT WARNING, AGAIN THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST CAUSING THIS BRAKING "BUCKING' EFFECT AND THE ENGINE RPMS SKYROCKET UNTIL ONE EITHER LIFTS OFF THE ACCELERATOR OR SHIFTS BACK INTO 2ND. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AN OVERALL MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT AND UNNERVING TO DRIVE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, PARKING LOTS, AREAS WITH SPEED BUMPS, GARAGES, OR ANY OTHER SLOW SPEED ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ONE WOULD PREFER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN 'MANUAL' SHIFT MODE AS PROVIDED BY THE DSG'S DESIGN. IT SEEMS APPARENT TO ME THAT THE SOFTWARE AND/OR SENSOR COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE SHIFTING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DSG WHILE IN THESE MODES, SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT INTO THE 1ST GEAR UNLESS THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, OR AT LEAST AT AN ALMOST NON-DETECTABLE SPEED, THEREBY ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO REACCELERATE IN 2ND WHICH, IN COMBINATION WITH THE HIGH-TORQUE NATURE OF THE DIESEL ENGINE IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR THESE SCENARIOS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296675

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2009

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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2009 VW JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI INTERMITTENT HOT REAR BRAKE DISCS. EFFECTS MPG BY MINUS 10% PLUS. SOMETHING IS CAUSING REAR BRAKES TO GET HOT(REAR BRAKE BIAS). FRONT BRAKES ARE ALWAYS COOL. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN ICE AND SNOW POSSIBLE FIRE. SOMETIMES UNABLE TO BACK UP!!! LIKE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP! IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VW OF AMERICA IS NOT INTERESTED ! NOR CAN THE DEALER SOLVE THE PROBLEM. " THE VEHICLE MEETS SPECIFICATIONS" THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP IN VW FORUMS AND BLOGS. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THIS PROBLEM. HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND SOMEONE THAT CHECKS THE TEMP. OF REAR AND FRONT BRAKE DISCS? I DID BECAUSE IN JANUARY OF 2009 THE REAR BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT IT SMELLED UP MY GARAGE. COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296412

12,000 miles · Dec 11, 2009

Latches/locks/linkages

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED WITHOUT INTENTION. THE ENGINE REMAINED ON, AND A CHILD WAS POSITIONED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB AND MANUALLY. THE KEY FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. SHE HAD TO BREAK THE PASSENGER WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10295384

13,500 miles · Dec 11, 2009

Visibility

AFTER DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND PARKING MY CAR IN LIGHT RAIN FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I TINKERED AROUND WITH THE LEVERS AND THE REAR WIPER WORKED AND THE WASHER FLUID WORKED, BUT NOT THE FRONT WIPERS. I CHECKED THE FUSE INDICATED IN THE MANUAL AND IT WAS NO…

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NHTSA ODI #10295310

7,144 miles · Dec 10, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

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WE WERE TRAVELING IN BRANSON, MO. FROM OUR HOME IN EAST TEXAS WHEN THERE WAS WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SINGLE MUFFLED POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GLOW PLUG LAMP STARTED BLINKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I THINK IT WAS BLINKING ALSO. AT THE TIME I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH. AND I HAD JUST STARTED UP A STEEP GRADE. ALSO, ABOUT THE TIME THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE MFD DISPLAYED THE "MAJOR ENGINE MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE. THE ENGINE LOST POWER BUT DID NOT STOP AND I WAS ABLE TO GO ABOUT 300 YARDS TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE STREET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN SPRINGFIELD, MO. (SPRINGFIELD VOLKSWAGEN) FAULT CODE THROWN WAS P0299. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A COUPLING ON A LINE GOING INTO THE TURBOCHARGER HAD NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE AND THE HOSE HAD COME LOOSE DISABLING THE TURBOCHARGER AND THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295191

5,100 miles · Dec 1, 2009

Power Train

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VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEM AFTER RECALL SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V333000 IS FOR THE RECALL THAT WAS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE IN OCT. 2009. AT VW DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ON NOV 27, 2009 VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND HAS DONE IT ON 2 OTHER OCCASIONS. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON NOV. 29, 2009 AND AWAITING RESULTS OF THEIR DIAGNOSES. I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT GETTING FIXED WITH THE ORIGINAL RECALL, WHICH LEAVES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM OPEN TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294100

8,000 miles · Nov 20, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I OWN A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI SPORTWAGEN. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW, WHICH CREATES A VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. ON A DAILY BASIS, I EXPERIENCE A SITUATION IN WHICH I AM WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT TO TURN LEFT, AND WHEN I DEPRESS THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, THE CAR MOVES A FEW FEET (INTO TRAFFIC) AND THEN STOPS ALTOGETHER. AFTER PRESSING THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR 2-3 SECONDS, IT RELUCTANTLY STARTS MOVING AGAIN, AND I OBSERVE A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE VAPOR POURING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE AS THE CAR TAKES OFF AGAIN. MY FEAR IS THAT I, OR SOMEONE ELSE, WILL BE UNABLE TO CLEAR AN INTERSECTION IN A DANGEROUS (OR OTHERWISE NORMAL) SITUATION AND WILL BE INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON OR T-BONE ACCIDENT THAT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. THE CAR DISPLAYS NO ERROR CODES, AND OTHERWISE DRIVES PERFECTLY NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293085

2,000 miles · Nov 16, 2009

Seats

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT HEAD REST COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAD REST COULD NOT BE MOVED OR REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2000.

NHTSA ODI #10292388

10,820 miles · Oct 31, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I HAD MY 09 TDI TOWED INTO A V.W. DEALER TODAY FOR A MAJOR OIL LEAK. THE DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS: I PARKED MY TDI IN MY DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING AFTER A LOCAL DRIVE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE OBSERVED. IN THE AFTERNOON I WENT FOR ANOTHER DRIVE. I BARELY GOT OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CARS OIL LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, AND THE MFD SAID STOP THE VEHICLE-LOW OIL. I PULLED BACK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SEVERAL LITERS OF OIL ON THE GROUND UNDER MY CAR. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER BY A FLATBED TOW TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME INTO THE SHOP AND SHOWED ME THAT THE OIL FILTERS HOUSING CAP HAD BEEN SCREWED LOOSE, AND PLACED ON-TOP OF THE HOUSING UPSIDE DOWN. THE CAP HAD A SMALL PIECE MISSING JUST BEFORE THE THREADS BEGIN. SINCE THE CAR HAD 1 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL STILL IN THE OIL PAN THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT FEEL THAT ANY ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRED. I EXPLAINED TO THE MANAGER THAT I HAD BEEN HOME ALL DAY, THAT MY CAR WAS LOCKED, ALARMED, AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE MANAGER INSISTED THAT SOMEONE DID THIS DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. HE COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW SOMEONE WAS ABLE TO GET IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE KEY, AND WITHOUT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE OR LEAVING ANY TOOL MARKS, OR SETTING OFF THE CAR ALARM. I HAD MY VEHICLES 10K SERVICE DONE AT THIS DEALERSHIP 800 MILES AGO. DURING THAT SERVICE THE WRONG OIL WAS USED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY OVERFILLED WITH OIL. THESE PROBLEMS WERE CAUGHT BY MYSELF, AND CORRECTED BEFORE LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE DEALER CAUSED A THIRD PROBLEM DURING MY 10K SERVICE, SUCH AS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENING THE OIL FILTER'S CAP, OR WAS MY VEHICLE VANDALIZED BY A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE IMPERSONATOR? IS IT PROBABLE THAT ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE? IF WHAT THE DEALER SAID IS TRUE THIS VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE SECURITY FLAW! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290446

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.

16V913000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Dec 20, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Consequence: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Consequence: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.

11V490000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Oct 3, 2011

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.

09V333000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 20, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. 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.

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

EA18003 · Air Bag Clockspring Failure

Opened Apr 18, 2018 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Clockspring/spiral Cassette

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.The loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in illumination of the air bag warning light and will prevent operation of the front driver air bag in a crash of sufficient severity requiring a commanded deployment.In November 2017, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ17-009) after the agency received 90 complaints alleging failure of the clockspring in the subject models.Several of the complaints allege failure of the clockspring after receiving the recall remedy.The majority of the complaints allege the same failure mode without being included in the original recall, 15V-483.In its March 2018 response to ODI's Information Request under the Recall Query, Volkswagen provided approximately 700 consumer complaints and field reports on the recalled vehicles.These reports allege clockspring failure similar to the NHTSA reports described above.To date, NHTSA has received approximately 154 allegations of clockspring failure since the recall has launched.The total of 852 reports shown in the table above eliminates 6 duplicative reports received by ODI and the manufacturer.An Engineering Analysis has been opened to further evaluate the scope and effectiveness of the remedy associated with 15V-483 and perform a thorough review of the design changes implemented by Volkswagen and its suppliers to address this issue.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: 11080741, 11079877, 11079805, 11079124, 11076709, 11076645, 11076297, 11076249, 11076133, 11075756, 11075726, 11075358, 11075259, 11075055, 11074920, 11074565, 11073090, 11072745, 11072457, 11072089, 11071933, 11071880, 11071630, 11071592, 11067396, 11067061, 11066738, 11066601, 11066511, 11065909, 11065871, 11065262, 11064701, 11064564, 11064544, 11064531, 11063961, 11063501, 11063095, 11062772, 11062464, 11062353, 11062344, 11061463, 11061310, 11061311, 11060735, 11058154, 11057519, 11057477, 11057341, 11056793, 11056243, 11056063, 11055639, 11054279, 11052812, 11052678, 11052384, 11052228, 11051336, 11051155, 11051074, 11048803, 11047037, 11044226, 11043653, 11039142, 11033893, 11033330, 11032548, 11025475, 11025356, 11024647, 11023423, 11020570, 11020312, 11019415, 11019067, 11015441, 11015431, 11014595, 11014016, 11013709, 11013415, 11012596, 11011753, 11006668, 11006521, 11006307, 11006181, 11005301, 11003865, 11001780, 11001783, 11001334, 10994184, 10993360, 10993524, 10992490, 10985926, 10983678, 10981220, 10980831, 10980941, 10980549, 10979418, 10971152, 10967344, 10967155, 10959968, 10958624, 10957279, 10956488, 10949129, 10947562, 10945122, 10936498, 10936543, 10933950, 10927311, 10925421, 10924034, 10915612, 10915569, 10911171, 10902066, 10898733, 10896537, 10896510, 10895526, 10893938, 10891686, 10864967, 10863742, 10861984, 10851242, 10822505, 10821562, 10818403, 10795068, 10794402, 10788738, 10787804, 10782544, 10780725, 10780145, 10779145, 10776477, 10775448, 10763492, 10763423, 10763289, 10762670, 10760644, 10758777, 10749901, 10748922

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Clockspring/spiral Cassette

Air Bags:frontal

Air Bags

PE11023 · Diesel Fuel Injector Line Leakage

Opened Aug 2, 2011 · Closed Dec 2, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel

By letter dated October 3, 2011, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (MY) 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Golf, and Audi A3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0L TDI Common Rail Clean Diesel engine (NHTSA Recall No. 11V-490).The recalled Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen vehicles were built from May 2008 through September 2011, the Golf vehicles were built from May 2009 through September 2011, and the Audi A3 vehicles were built from September 2009 through September 2011.According to Volkswagen, in U.S. applications of the above cited TDI vehicles including engine codes CJAA and CBEA, the fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line #2 in specific load and RPM conditions.This resonance creates additional stress on the fuel line which a small number of parts (based on the statistic spread of line strength) cannot withstand over its lifetime.As a contributing factor, VW indicated that a supplier used tube material with scratch marks from a grinding process during certain production periods.Lines manufactured in these periods were installed in vehicles produced in the following 10 months:December 2008, January-February 2009, October 2009, March-April 2010 and September-December 2010.Injector lines using this material exhibit a significantly higher failure rate.Dealers will replace injector line #2 in all vehicles built in these months.In addition, as a precautionary measure, all recalled vehicles will have vibration dampers installed on all four fuel injector lines.Analysis of NHTSA complaints, VW complaints, VW field reports and warranty claims found allegations of injector line leakage in 443 subject vehicles.The leaking line was not identified in 62 of the vehicles.For the 381 that did provide information about which injector lines were leaking and/or replaced, 358 (94%) involved an injector line #2 leak/repair.Almost three-quarters of the injector line #2 leak/repair incident vehicles were built in the 10 months identified by VW, which accounted for approximately one-quarter of the recalled vehicles.The failure rate for injector line #2 in vehicles built in the 10 months affected by the supplier line scratching issue is 6.0 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV).The failure rate for injector line #2 in other production months of recalled vehicles is 0.8 IPTV.The leak/repair rates for the other injector lines are all well under 1 IPTV.The action taken by Volkswagen is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation. The agency will continue to monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

EA11003 · High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Feb 7, 2011 · Closed Mar 27, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

PE10034 · High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (hpfp)

Opened Aug 26, 2010 · Closed Feb 8, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and Volkswagen (VW) have received a total of 160 complaints and field reports alleging incidents of engine stall and/or loss of power that appear to be related to high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in certain model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and MY 2010 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 vehicles equipped with TDI clean diesel engines.Approximately half of the reports indicate that the failure resulted in an engine stall incident, with many of these alleging stall incidents at highway speeds in traffic with no restart.There has been one minor crash alleged to have resulted from HPFP failure in the subject vehicles.In response to ODI's information request for PE10-034, VW indicated that it had found no defect related to motor vehicle safety with relation to the TDI Clean Diesel fuel system at issue in this investigation and attributed problems with HPFP failure to operation with gasoline contaminated diesel fuel.Volkswagen stated that even a small amount of gasoline in the diesel fuel may disrupt the necessary lubrication required and may cause the HPFP to fail.In response to concerns that fuel contamination was the major cause of HPFP and related fuel system failures, VW issued a Technical Service Bulletin in May 2010 (VW TB V011011 2023624 and Audi TB A011008 2023360-1), with instructions to inspect the diesel fuel for vehicles requiring fuel system service that have symptoms associated with HPFP failure.The bulletin states that fuel system damage incurred by use of fuel not complying to ASTM-D-975 Grade 2 S15 (B5 or less biodiesel content) standards will not be covered under warranty. Volkswagen also provided information about 121 mis-fueling incidents reportedly acknowledged by consumers or dealers and test results for about 50 diesel fuel samples taken from complaint vehicles in late-August through early-October 2010.The mis-fueling incidents include about 20 reports involving incorrect fueling by dealer sales or service personnel and generally report symptoms such as rough running, stalling and/or no start within a few miles of refueling the vehicle with gasoline.Volkswagen indicated that the testing of fuel samples from complaint vehicles found that nearly 90 percent contained high amounts of gasoline.Volkswagen implemented design changes for the HPFP in May 2008, September 2009 and November 2010 to improve the robustness of the pump when used with poor quality fuel.ODI analysis of HPFP failures identified from all sources shows failure rates of 0.53% for MY 2009 vehicles and 0.11% for MY 2010 vehicles.This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-003) to continue to investigate the issues with mis-fueling and HPFP design identified during the Preliminary Evaluation.

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