Electrical System. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Diesel. Review the 166 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 122 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Power Train complaints

111 reports

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82,000 miles · Mar 27, 2015

Power Train

TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR FLASHED WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702236

131,255 miles · Mar 25, 2015

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainCrash

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FLEW TO DALLAS TO PURCHASE THIS CAR 2/27/15. DROVE IT HOME 1500 MILES TO LOS ANGELES OVER 2 DAYS. GOT TO EL PASO ON 3/1/15 & GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED (15MPH OR LESS) GOING DOWNHILL. MY PARTICULAR ISSUE COMES IN THE WAY OF HOW THE TRANSMISSION BEHAVES GOING DOWNHILL AT HIGH OR SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN THE CARS ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT) SENSES THE CAR GOING DOWNHILL, AND YOU TRANSITION FROM THE THROTTLE PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR BEHAVES AS IF YOU WERE DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING & STAYING IN GEAR. NOW YOU MAY THINK THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM, BUT....SINCE THESE TRANSMISSIONS TECHNICALLY ARE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WITH AN AUTOMATIC CLUTCH...IF YOU WERE DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR & WANTED TO STOP QUICKLY AS I DID TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR, YOU WOULD PUSH THE CLUTCH IN TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE ENGINE...& THUS CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE IT'S LOCOMOTIVE FORCE. WELL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS CAR DID DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH DID NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, AND, THUS PROVIDED THE MASSIVE LOW END TORQUE THE DIESEL ENGINE PROVIDES EVEN AT VERY LOW ENGINE SPEEDS. SO, THAT WHEN I SAW THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME, I RESPONDED WITH HITTING THE BRAKES, TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, AND EVEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID HITTING THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR. MY BACKGROUND: I'M A 32 YR PRO-AUTOMOTIVE TECH WHO NOT ONLY WORKS ON, DIAGNOSES & REPAIRS ALL SORTS OF VEHICLES USING COMPUTER CONTROLS...BUT, I USED TO TEACH IT AS WELL. SO, AFTER DRIVING THIS CAR NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, &...HAVING RESEARCHED THIS CAR & MULTIPLE OTHER DSG OWNERS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE WAY THESE TRANSMISSIONS SHIFT...I CAN SAY FOR SURE, VW'S THAT USE THESE DSG TRANSMISSIONS IS/ARE A MAJOR ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701728

80,000 miles · Feb 18, 2015

EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SHIFT LEVER INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITER COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAI…

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NHTSA ODI #10684161

68,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO A 40 MINUTE DRIVE, DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, IN 16 DEGREE F WEATHER, MY VEHICLE, A DIESEL WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, GO TO A LOWER GEAR, RELEASE THE CLUTCH AND RE-START THE ENGINE. WITH THE ENGINE BUCKING AND HESITATING, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A VW REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND A COMPLETELY BLOCKED INTERCOOLER, FULL OF ICE. DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT VW HAS A TSB TO CORRECT INTERCOOLER ICING, WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING THE ORIGINAL FACTORY UNIT WITH A NEW INTERCOOLER DESIGN. AS I LOOKED ON VW FORUMS, I FOUND THAT MANY DRIVERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE DUE TO INTERCOOLER ICING. WHEN I REQUESTED VW CORRECT THIS DESIGN FLAW AT THEIR EXPENSE, THEY REFUSED, CLAIMING THE VEHICLE IS OFF WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS, AS I FEEL VW NEEDS TO EITHER MAKE A SAFETY RECALL, OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON ANY CAR ON WHICH IT OCCURS. THIS PROBLEM STRIKES ME AS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT GM IGNITION KEY FAILURE ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678415

70,038 miles · Dec 16, 2014

Power Train

TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFT. VW IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH VALVE BODY IN ALL THIS TRANSMISSIONS BUT ONLY EXTENDED SOME VEHICLE WARRANTIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664610

130,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI ON A TWO LANE STATE ROAD AT 45MPH. THE CAR WAS FUELED TWO DAYS PRIOR WITH DIESEL (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE NEVER MISFUELED) PURCHASED AT THE FORT KNOX ARMY AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICES STATION. THE CAR'S GLOW PLUG CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME SOUNDED AS THE RPM DROPPED TO BETWEEN 1000-1400 AND AN IMMEDIATE DECELERATION OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 METERS LATER. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE ROADWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED VIA FLATBED TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR TROUBLESHOOTING. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND SENT METALLIC SHAVINGS/MATERIAL THROUGH MY FUEL SYSTEM AND THAT THE REPAIRS WILL BE VERY COSTLY. RESEARCHING FURTHER REGARDING THE MATERIEL FAILURE REVEALED THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH HPFP FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND JETTA TDI VEHICLES. AT THIS TIME, I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS COSTLY REPAIR IS GOING TO BE COVERED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA UNDER WARRANTY FOR A FAULTY PUMP. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO ANY FAULT OF MY OWN AND I AM THANKFUL THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN WITH PASSENGERS AT HIGHER SPEED IN MORE TRAFFIC DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER TO MY DRIVETRAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659690

66,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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PURCHASED A 2010 JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI IN 2012. PRE-CERTIFIED 2 YEARS OR 24000 MILES. HAD THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE AS REQUIRED AND SUGGESTED. AUGUST 2014, I PAID $600 TO HAVE THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE. SEPTEMBER 2014, MY CAR IS DEAD. AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AT 55 MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER. WASN'T SURE I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT HOME. LUCKILY I DID. HIGH PRESSURE PUMP WENT BAD, METAL SHAVINGS FOUND, CLEARLY A DESIGN / ENGINEERING ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS ON THE INTERNET. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. FIRST ESTIMATE IS 5000-6000, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, SO THE SERVICE DEPT CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. I AM SURE THEY WILL CHARGE MORE. WORST PART IS I AM 7000 MILES OVER AND DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE PRE CERT COVERAGE ANYMORE. WORST INVESTMENT EVER! VW SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO NOT HAVE HAD DUE DILIGENCE AND RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS MAY COST SOMEONE ELSE THEIR LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640654

78,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

VEHICLE WILL STALL GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR FROM PARK TO DRIVE. ALSO FROM WHILE ACCELERATING THERE IS SPUTTERING THAT I NEED TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN APPLY AGAIN TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639192

103,000 miles · Sep 3, 2014

Power Train

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FALSE NEUTRAL SYMPTOMS DUE TO DSG MECHATRONIC. HANSEL VW DEALERSHIP IN SANTA ROSA, CA STATED THAT OUR VIN NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. WHY NOT? IT OBVIOUSLY IS OCCURRING WITH OURS JUST LIKE THE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER :PE09035 "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) ". WE HAVE A 2010 VW JETTA SPORTWAGON TDI THAT DEFINITELY HAS THIS DEFECT. WHAT WAS STATED IN THAT COMPLAINT HAPPENED TO US: IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. THEY WANT $2473.63 TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630553

60,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014

Power Train

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WHEN SHIFTING GEAR, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CLUTCH MAKES CLICK NOISE THEN SLIPS TO NEUTRAL. THEN THE PRNDS LIGHTS STARTS FLASHING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. THE ONLY WAY TO REENGAGE THE GEAR IS BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND ON, RESTARTING THE ENGINE. THEN THE GEARS START WORKING AGAIN. BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL STAY LIT, AND EVENTUALLY TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED VERY HARD, THE CLUTCH SLIP OCCURS LESS OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627942

Official recalls

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.

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.