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

Service Brakes complaints

43 reports

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129,000 miles · Jun 6, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

BRAKES WILL LOCK AT TIMES. PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR AT TIMES. RECALL ISSUED FOR OTHER JETTAS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, WHY NOT MINE?

NHTSA ODI #10993350

15,800 miles · May 31, 2017

Air BagsElectrical SystemService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE AIR BAG AND BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,800.

NHTSA ODI #10992504

73,000 miles · May 7, 2017

Service Brakes

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2010 VW JETTA WITH 73K MILES EXPERIENCEING ISSUES WITH THE HYDRAULIC PUMP AND ABS SYSTEM. WHILE IN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, ENGAGEMENT OF THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKES ARE HIT, CAR VIOLENTLY PULLS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT OUT OF LANE BEYOND THE DRIVERS CONTROL. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. SMOKE FROM TIRE BURN HAS OCCURRED FROM THE LOSE OF CONTROL. THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THAT WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY. IT IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE WITH THIS ISSUE. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #16V913000 ISSUED ON 12/20/16 COVERS THIS MODEL AND YEAR VW FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER IDENTIFIED ABOVE IS NOT COVERED BY THE CURRENT RECALL. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO COVER ADDITIONAL 2010 MODEL YEAR JETTA'S EXPERIENCING THE SAME HIGHLY DANGEROUS HYDRAULIC ABS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10983891

54,000 miles · Apr 24, 2017

Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (…

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NHTSA ODI #10980121

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK FROM THE MOTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAMS SHORTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE SKID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE TRACTION WAS POOR AND THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WERE LOOSE WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10946524

75,000 miles · May 21, 2016

Electrical SystemService BrakesVisibility/wiper

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CAR WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2015 FOR INSPECTION. NEEDED NEW STRUTS AND DRIVER DOOR PANEL, DOOR NEEDED FIXED DUE TO NO LIGHTS ON LOCKS AND DOOR ITSELF WOULD NOT LOCK. PAID $1400 FOR EVERYTHING WHEN PICKING UP THE CAR, GOT IN CAR AND RADIO DID NOT WORK WHEN PICKING UP. SAID IT WAS A FUSE, NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. SEPTEMBER 2015 WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. $45 FOR THAT REPAIR. 2-3 WEEKS LATER BATTERY DIED. REPLACED THE BATTERY FOR $111. 3-4 WEEKS LATER BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, HAD TO TOW IT TO SHOP. REPLACED BATTERY AGAIN $200+ PARTS AND LABOR. 3-4 WEEKS LATER AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY TWICE, SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. CAR IS DEAD, TOWED TO SHOP AGAIN. CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR ONE PROBLEM OF THE CAR BEING DEAD NOW THERE IS A SHIFTER PROBLEM AND THE ABS UNIT NEEDS REPLACED. THE ABS LIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE LAST SHOP BEFORE THIS DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 5-6 MONTHS IF NOT LONGER DUE TO THESE ISSUES. HOW DOES MY ABS UNIT NEED REPLACED IF IT HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN?

NHTSA ODI #10870147

41,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016

Service Brakes

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L/R CALIPER REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT AND LUBRICATION DUE TO STUCK IN POSITION. NO EMERGENCY BREAK USED. NOTICED WHEN LEAVING PARKING LOT OF STORE AND SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. GOT OUT OF AUTO AND MY WHEEL IS SMOKING AND GLOWING. REQUIRED TOW AND REPAIR 9/14/2015. I NOTICE OVER THE COURSE OF COUPLE MONTHS MY TIRES I NEED TO FILL UP MORE (EVERY TIME I NEED TO DRIVE) BUT TREAD IS GREAT AT 41K ON A 2010 AUTO. I SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT WITH VW. 12/22 I GET IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD I NEED NEW CALIPERS CAUSE OLD ONE DAMAGED. NEED TO DO BOTH SIDES FOR SAFETY. 1/5/16 COST 1200.00 TO REPLACE BOTH BACK BREAK DISKS, CALIPERS AND FLUSH BREAK FLUID AT VW AUTHORIZED DEALER. ISSUE HAPPENED FOLLOWING NORMAL DAY SHOPPING. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN STUCK BUT THANKFUL I DID NOT DRIVE BACK HOME AND CLOSE TO FRIENDS HOUSE BECAUSE THE WHEEL WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE OR FALLEN OFF ETC. NO IDEA HOW THIS HAPPENED BUT IF HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON HIGHWAY THAT CALIPER KICKS ON AND DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THEN YOU HAVE A FAULTY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10818274

37,800 miles · Sep 8, 2014

Service Brakes

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TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR 40,000 MILE MAINTENANCE/TUNE UP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO TELL ME I NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKE PADS. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE LEFT BRAKE PAD CAN BE ALMOST GONE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WHILE THE OTHER BRAKE PADS HAVE 80% OF WEAR LEFT. I ASKED ABOUT THIS AND THE MANAGER SAID THEY JUST DO THAT SOMETIMES.REALLY? ONE BRAKE PADS WEARS TO ALMOST NOTHING BUT THE OTHER THREE ARE STILL GOOD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY VOLKSWAGEN IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631700

107,188 miles · Sep 2, 2014

EngineService Brakes

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DRIVING ON 2ND LANE OF FREEWAY. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER - ALL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON DASHBOARD ACCOMPANIED BY BELLS AND DINGS. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD - FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC NOT HEAVY. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING HOWEVER NO FORWARD MOVEMENT WHEN PUSHING ACCELERATOR PEDAL - ENGINE JUST REVVED. TURNED CAR OFF THEN RESTARTED. WARNING LIGHTS STILL FLASHED BUT WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR INTO DRIVE AND START ROLLING - VEHICLE WAS IN "LIMP" MODE HOWEVER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE ECU RESET. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM. ON 8/16/14 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY ABS CONTROL UNIT FOR AN ESTIMATED 2500.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630236

120,000 miles · Aug 27, 2014

EngineService BrakesSteering

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WHEN I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS IN THE TURN LANE AND THERE WAS AN OPENING AS I STARTED MOVING FEET FROM CLUTCH TO FUEL PEDAL. THE CAR LURCH AND CAME TO A STOP. THE CAR HAD DIED WHILE I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO GET IN THE TURN LANE. I HAVE CALLED THE VW DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA ON WHY THE CAR DID AND IS STILL DOING THIS. I DON'T FEEL IT IS SAFE FOR ME OR FOR MY FAMILY, I AM A FIREFIGHTER AND I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE CAR IS GOING CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR KILL US. THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN OVER TWENTY TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME THAT THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T DO IT AT ALL. OTHER DAYS IT IS EVERY TIME OR EVERY OTHER STOP. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS THE JETTA LURCHES LIKE IT IS OUT OF FUEL EVEN THOU IT HAS A FULL TANK. ALL OF THE CARS MAINTANCE IS UP TO DATE PER THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628967

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.