COILPACK FAILURE CAUSES THE CAR TO DECELERATE AND SPUTTER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTS TO RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2001. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMMENTS ON THIS DEFECT YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR
2005 Volkswagen Jetta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Jetta years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
206 reports with mileage · 42 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.
- Power Train. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
41 reportsVW JETTA 2.5L 2005 OUT OF THE BLUE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 81,000 MILES. RANDOM MISFIRE AND VACUUM LEAK CODES. TURN OUT TO BE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED CAUSING THE PROBLEM COST $2000 TO FIX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER DECELERATING THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VALVE COVER DIAPHRAGM, COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED BUT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER DECELERATING THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VALVE COVER DIAPHRAGM, COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,236.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DECELERATING FROM ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT M…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DECELERATING FROM ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE BATTERY BLEW UP UNDER THE HOOD. TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD IT JUMPED TIMING TOOLS AND PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED THIS TOOK THREE MONTHS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING THE VOLKSWAGEN MAINTENANCE DEPAR…
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I HAVE A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE BATTERY BLEW UP UNDER THE HOOD. TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD IT JUMPED TIMING TOOLS AND PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED THIS TOOK THREE MONTHS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING THE VOLKSWAGEN MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND IS 8 MILES OVER WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NO FIX THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW JETTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW JETTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD JERKING AND IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. UPDATED 05.02.11
2005.5 NEW JETTA 60,000 MILES AND THE TIMING CHAIN HAS SLIPPED TEETH AND THROWN THE ENGINE OUT OF TIME. NEW TIMING CHAIN FROM DEALER IS BETWEEN $4700-$5600. ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. FROM INTERNET SEARCHES IT APPEARS THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM ON EARLY MODEL YEARS. THE DEALER HAS ALSO ADDED TO THEIR …
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2005.5 NEW JETTA 60,000 MILES AND THE TIMING CHAIN HAS SLIPPED TEETH AND THROWN THE ENGINE OUT OF TIME. NEW TIMING CHAIN FROM DEALER IS BETWEEN $4700-$5600. ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. FROM INTERNET SEARCHES IT APPEARS THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM ON EARLY MODEL YEARS. THE DEALER HAS ALSO ADDED TO THEIR OWNERS MANUAL THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS NOW A SERVICEABLE ITEM. HOWEVER IT WAS NEVER IN MY MANUALS. *TR
SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT CAR I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM (SOUNDED LIKE) ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED CAR NOT CHANGING GEARS SMOOTHLY. FELT AS IF IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING ESPECIALLY UP HILL, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW A VW SHIFTS AND SOUNDS. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT NOTICE IT WHEN I INITIALLY OWNED THE CAR. …
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SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT CAR I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM (SOUNDED LIKE) ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED CAR NOT CHANGING GEARS SMOOTHLY. FELT AS IF IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING ESPECIALLY UP HILL, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW A VW SHIFTS AND SOUNDS. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT NOTICE IT WHEN I INITIALLY OWNED THE CAR. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC SINCE NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT THEIR OWN WILL, THE CLOCK LOOSES TIME CONSTANTLY, AND THE NOISE HAS GOT A LOT WORSE AND SO HAS THE GEAR SHIFTING. THE DIAGNOSTIC THEY SAY SHOWED THE DUAL FANS ARE BOTH BURNED OUT. IF THEY ARE BURNED OUT WHY ARE THEY STILL MAKING A LOUD NOISE SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF? THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM EXISTS BUT ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME THEY CANNOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC WILL NOT PICK UP ON A BAD TRANSMISSION ONLY A TOTALLY FAILED ONE. WHICH THE CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY THEN. THESE CARS HAVE OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING IGNORED. AFTER HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEM I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND WAS ASTONISHED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. SLOW AND HARD SHIFTS, WIPERS, CAR ACTING AS IF IT IS STALLING, CLOCK LOSING TIME, BATTERY GOING BAD TOO QUICK. BRAKES CONSTANTLY BAD. THIS CAR IS JUST A LEMON. WHY WILL THE GOVERNMENT NOT DO A TOTAL RECALL. THERE IS TOOOOOOO MUCH WRONG WITH TOOOOO MANY OF THEM. *TR
THE ENGINE SEIZED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO ENGINE LIGHTS, NO LOSS OF OIL. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEY REMOVED STARTER, REMOVED OIL PAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I CAME TO A STOP AND STOPPED THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES AND IT WOULD NO LONGER RUN. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS D…
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THE ENGINE SEIZED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO ENGINE LIGHTS, NO LOSS OF OIL. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEY REMOVED STARTER, REMOVED OIL PAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I CAME TO A STOP AND STOPPED THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES AND IT WOULD NO LONGER RUN. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED DEAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG. I WONDER IF THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CAM, ROCKERS, AND THE DUEL MASS FLY WHEEL IN HIS ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE AT AN EXPENSE OF $6500.00. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT BECA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CAM, ROCKERS, AND THE DUEL MASS FLY WHEEL IN HIS ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE AT AN EXPENSE OF $6500.00. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT BECAUSE HIS WARRANTY EXPIRED HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Official recalls
407V442000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Sep 24, 2007
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
05V305000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L GASOLINE ENGINE, A FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY NOT BE POSITIONED PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
04V586000 · Fuel System, Diesel
Dec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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