IllustrationALL WINDOWS BUT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAIL TO OPERATE. THEY DID WORK WHEN PURCHASED AND THEN FAILED ONE BY ONE.
1995 Volkswagen Jetta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Jetta years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 20 of 220 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports11 fire reports17 injury reports
What owners actually said
220 reportsWENT TO LOCK THE DOORS AND THE LOCK CAME OUT WITH THE KEY.
THERE WERE PROBABLY MANY 1995 LEMONS FOR JETTAS, BEING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW DESIGN. MANY OF THESE FLAWS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. PARTS FOR THIS CAR ARE RARELY FOUND ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALER, INCLUDING BRAKES.
THE ENGINE HAS AN OIL LEAK DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE THE MASS AIRFLOW CENTER. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET.
NO SUMMARY
EGR VALVE FAILED. OIL ACCUMULATED IN AIR INTAKE SYSTEM, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL COMPONENTS AND FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT CLIMB HILLS. OIL CONTAMINATION MAY HAVE LED TO PREMATURE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE (COVERED UNDER WARRANTY).
BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH. THE FIRST (LEFT) FAILURE HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED WITH PLENTY OF WARNING SOUNDS. THE SECOND (RIGHT) FAILURE WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, RESULTING IN WHEEL SEPARATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE OFFERED AN EXPLANATION OR APOLOGY FOR NOT INSPECTING ALL …
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BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH. THE FIRST (LEFT) FAILURE HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED WITH PLENTY OF WARNING SOUNDS. THE SECOND (RIGHT) FAILURE WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, RESULTING IN WHEEL SEPARATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE OFFERED AN EXPLANATION OR APOLOGY FOR NOT INSPECTING ALL WHEEL BEARINGS AFTER THE FIRST PREMATURE FAILURE.
FOLLOWING APPROXIMATELY TWO DOZEN VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CORRECTION, NOTHING WAS FOUND. AT ONE POINT AN AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OFTEN TIMES A HESITATION WILL OCCUR WHEN I'M ACCCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC OR ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB A HILL OR MOUNTAIN. IN ADDITION, WHEN SHIFTING INT…
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FOLLOWING APPROXIMATELY TWO DOZEN VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CORRECTION, NOTHING WAS FOUND. AT ONE POINT AN AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OFTEN TIMES A HESITATION WILL OCCUR WHEN I'M ACCCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC OR ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB A HILL OR MOUNTAIN. IN ADDITION, WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK AND SHIFTING INTO GEAR VERY ROUGHLY WHILE CLIMBING A HILL/MOUNTAIN.
STEERING RACK LOOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. NLM
TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK
Official recalls
498V195000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 17, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
98V160000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Jul 16, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
95V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Sep 20, 1995
IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
95V054000 · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift; Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer
Mar 13, 1995
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.
Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.
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
4EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
PE98037 · Hood Latch Failure
Opened Jul 1, 1998 · Closed Jul 20, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
ODI HAS RECEIVED THREE REPORTS, INCLUDING THE PETITIONERS, REGARDING ALLEGED HOOD LATCH FAILURES.ALL OF THE ODI REPORTS INDICATE THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING.FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE INQUIRY, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED ODI WITH SOME LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING SIX ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF HOOD FLY-UP FOR MODEL YEARS 1995 AND 1996.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.DEFECT DESCRIPTION:IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ON SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH MAY LOSE THEIR SPECIFIED FASTENING TORQUE OVER TIME.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE LATCH COULD MOVE OUT OF ITS DESIGN POSITION AND CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.IN SOME VEHICLES THE LATCH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ALIGNED DURING PRODUCTION.REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HOOD WITH AN IMPROPERLY ALIGNED LATCH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE LATCH.EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD AND COULD OBSTRUCT A PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.REMEDY: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. WILL INITIATE A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INSTRUCTING ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO CHECK THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
DP98006 · Hood FLY-UP
Opened Jun 11, 1998 · Closed Jul 1, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available