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2017 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Jetta years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

94 reports with mileage · 65 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Horn no longer working, can't signal an impending accident to other drivers. That along with infotainment touch screen, kind of hard to use hands free when I cant select yes on the touchscreen

NHTSA ODI #11688548

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2025
StructureUnknown Or Other

Door lock actuator for all passenger doors, the only one that hasn't failed is the driver's door.

NHTSA ODI #11688547

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I drove my vehicle to Wawa to get gas before work. As I was driving up to the pump my car shut off and would not start. I have low mileage and have kept up all routine maintenance. This could have been worse as I could have been driving on a main road or highway and the vehicle shut off completely and would not start again.

NHTSA ODI #11663301

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2025
Unknown Or OtherFire

AT AROUND 5AM ON FEBRUAURY 7, 2025 I WAS AWOKE BY MY ROOMMATE SCREAMING MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE I SEEN MY NEIGHBOR AND ROOMMATE ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT A FIRE IN THE ENGINE OF MY CAR. MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AT LEAST 5 HOURS AND WAS NOT RUNNING. MY NEIGHBOR STATED THAT HE LOOKED OUT HIS WINDOW AND SAW FLAMES AND…

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AT AROUND 5AM ON FEBRUAURY 7, 2025 I WAS AWOKE BY MY ROOMMATE SCREAMING MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE I SEEN MY NEIGHBOR AND ROOMMATE ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT A FIRE IN THE ENGINE OF MY CAR. MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AT LEAST 5 HOURS AND WAS NOT RUNNING. MY NEIGHBOR STATED THAT HE LOOKED OUT HIS WINDOW AND SAW FLAMES AND RAN ACROSS THE STREET WHERE HE STARTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH MY WATER HOSE UNTIL FIRE AND POLICE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR, OR AROUND THE CAR, THE FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED. I HAD NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR CONCERN OF AN ENGINE FIRE. THE CAR BURNT TO TOTAL DESTRUCTION. IT IS LOCATED AT MY ADDRESS. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION ON REQUEST. I AM FINANCING THE CAR FROM SHAWS AUTO SINCE 08/23/2024. SHAWS AUTO HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FIREMEN STATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I AM UPLOADING PICTURES OF MY CAR. I AM STILL ACQUIRING OFFICIAL INCIDENT REPORTS. ATTEMPTED TO UPLOAD PHOTOS OF VEHICLE POST FIRE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS INCIDENT HAS TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND SPIRITUAL ENERGY IN ORDER FOR ME TO STAY INTACT. THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY AT BUYING A NEWER CAR THAT I WAS UNDER THE EXPECTATION THAT I WOULDNT BE UNDER CONSTANT WORRY THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO GO WRONG WITH MY CAR COSTING ME MONEY I DONT HAVE. I NEWER CAR SHOULDVE BROUGHT ME AT LEAST A FEW YEARS USE BEFORE CONCERN FOR ANY KIND OF WEAR AND TEAR ISSUES ARISE. THIS ENGINE FIRE WAS NOT MY FAULT OR CAUSE THEREFORE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WITH A CAR OF WHICH ICAN RELY ON. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR AND WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY UNTIL AFTER THE FIRE. HAD I KNOWN THERE WAS AN URGENT RECALL I WOULD HAVE CORRECTED IT.

NHTSA ODI #11642367

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2024
EngineUnknown Or Other

Per pep boys: Coolant housing on rear of engine has hole in it causing severe coolant leak cooling system has had stop leak added to coolant system possibly clogging heater core, radiator, possible coolant passages in engine block Dealership did a patch job prior to purchase, has been with them for 60 days.

NHTSA ODI #11572578

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND PUSHED ON GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF THE CAR LITERALLY HAD LOST ALL POWER TO IT I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE EPC LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I HAD MY BABY WITH ME THAT JUST HAD SURGERY DAY BEFORE AND I WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE I HAD …

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WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND PUSHED ON GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF THE CAR LITERALLY HAD LOST ALL POWER TO IT I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE EPC LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I HAD MY BABY WITH ME THAT JUST HAD SURGERY DAY BEFORE AND I WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I GAVE IT A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR OF WHICH AT FIRST SOUNDED AS IF IT WASN'T GOING TO START. I WAS ONLY A COUPLE MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE AND HAD NO RESOURCES TO HELP AND COULDNT WALK WITH MY SON. GOT THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE BUT IT AGAIN DID THE SAME THING AND CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME WITH SOUNDING LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO START. I HAD TALKED WITH A MECHANIC THAT SAID TO GET IT INTO A VW DEALER ASAP AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH THIS NEW OF A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES. FINDING THIS SITE IT LOOKS AS IF THERE HAS BEEN A FEW ISSUES THAT SOUND SIMILIAR AND RECALLS. I JUST NEED A CAR THAT I CAN DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11540379

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2023
Back Over PreventionUnknown Or Other

Unknown

NHTSA ODI #11524371

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2022
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

Many fault lamps lite up on panel. List: Brake light, Adaptive cruise control, ASC, Power steering lamp, Seat belt lamp and sometimes the seat belt alarm goes off when seat belt is clicked IN!,ABS,Air bag lamp is intermittent,EPC lamp is intermittent. Problems have been confirmed by: Independent auto repair center and Vista VW o…

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Many fault lamps lite up on panel. List: Brake light, Adaptive cruise control, ASC, Power steering lamp, Seat belt lamp and sometimes the seat belt alarm goes off when seat belt is clicked IN!,ABS,Air bag lamp is intermittent,EPC lamp is intermittent. Problems have been confirmed by: Independent auto repair center and Vista VW of Pompano Beach, FL. As far as safety sometimes the engine goes into limp mode during driving a few minutes after starting. Having to pull over quickly to get out of the flow of traffic. To stop the engine after a few minutes it does restart.

NHTSA ODI #11489249

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2022
Unknown Or Other

My check engine line came on; code P05A0. A scan showed that it is my active radiator shutter assembly that is causing the error. My car only has 26K miles, and it seems strange that it would be having an issue. When I took my car to the dealership, the service rep told me it is a very common issue. It is also going to cost arou…

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My check engine line came on; code P05A0. A scan showed that it is my active radiator shutter assembly that is causing the error. My car only has 26K miles, and it seems strange that it would be having an issue. When I took my car to the dealership, the service rep told me it is a very common issue. It is also going to cost around $900 to repair. My car is perfectly drivable (the service rep confirmed it), but I won't be able to pass emissions in AZ with my check engine light being on. The shutters remain open at all times. I can hear it open and close and reopen sometimes when I start my car or while I'm driving, but it will always remain open. My dealership is so backed up that I'd have to leave my car for several days before they could even get to it. I do not have the time or money to do the work, so I didn't leave it for it to be repaired. I have found others on VW forums that have gotten the same error message at about the same mileage I am at. Your organization released a technical bulletin for this issue for 15-16 Jettas, and I appreciate it if you could look to see if the issue continued through the 17 models.

NHTSA ODI #11469271

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2022
Unknown Or Other

Car won't start. I have had to call AAA every other day because my car is not starting. It won't start unless I drive it every day. One month after buying the car I was having trouble with it starting. Purchased a new battery,in2020.Drivetime should be investigated for taking advantage of a senior citizen.having had cars in the …

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Car won't start. I have had to call AAA every other day because my car is not starting. It won't start unless I drive it every day. One month after buying the car I was having trouble with it starting. Purchased a new battery,in2020.Drivetime should be investigated for taking advantage of a senior citizen.having had cars in the past I have never had anything like this VW Jetta.It was not because of the weather either.

NHTSA ODI #11457134

Official recalls

6

20V648000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Oct 21, 2020

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.

19V615000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Aug 22, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

17V352000 · Equipment:other:labels

May 31, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles. The affected vehicles have Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) markings on the body that do not match the VIN plate near the windshield. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The mismatched VINs make the vehicle noncompliant with regulatory requirements.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners and has replaced the vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 06A8.

17V136000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 2, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Beetle and Jetta GLI vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B9.

17V137000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 2, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B8

17V070000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Feb 3, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles equipped with a 1.4L engine. These vehicles have an engine that may seize due to an improper casting of the block.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the engine seizes, the wheels may suddenly lock up, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will either buy back the vehicle or replace the engine block, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F4.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.