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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 →

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.

8 crash reports14 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

248 reports
60,000 miles · Aug 12, 2011
EquipmentFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BURNING WAX ODOR EMITTING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE CARPET. THE ODOR RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BURNING WAX ODOR EMITTING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE CARPET. THE ODOR RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR DURING SUMMER MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED $1500 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10419236

196,000 miles · Jul 17, 2011
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

FRONT END CRASH INTO A STOPPED VEHICLE ON COUNTY HIGHWAY. APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH TO 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE PROVIDER. SEAT BELT STRAINING UPON BODY, THAT TOOK FULL FORCE OF STOP NO OTHER ABSORPTION OF IMPACT ENERGY. VEHICLE KEPT ENERGIZED EVEN AT THE SALVAGE STORAGE AREA WHEN KEYS WE…

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FRONT END CRASH INTO A STOPPED VEHICLE ON COUNTY HIGHWAY. APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH TO 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE PROVIDER. SEAT BELT STRAINING UPON BODY, THAT TOOK FULL FORCE OF STOP NO OTHER ABSORPTION OF IMPACT ENERGY. VEHICLE KEPT ENERGIZED EVEN AT THE SALVAGE STORAGE AREA WHEN KEYS WERE INSERTED NO ELECTRICALLY SAFETY RELAYS DISENGAGED THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10414231

65,500 miles · Jul 10, 2011
Electrical System

WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE DOORS FLEXES DURING OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DOOR. THE WIRE COATING BECOMES BRITTLE WITH AGE AND CRACKS CAUSING STRESS POINTS IN THE WIRE LEADING TO BREAKAGE OF 1 OR MORE WIRES IN THE HARNESS LEADING TO INOPERABLE CONTROLS AND ELECTRONICS IN THE DOOR, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT, AND POTEN…

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WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE DOORS FLEXES DURING OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DOOR. THE WIRE COATING BECOMES BRITTLE WITH AGE AND CRACKS CAUSING STRESS POINTS IN THE WIRE LEADING TO BREAKAGE OF 1 OR MORE WIRES IN THE HARNESS LEADING TO INOPERABLE CONTROLS AND ELECTRONICS IN THE DOOR, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT, AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THIS FAILURE TENDS TO OCCUR AFTER A COUPLE YEARS OF USAGE. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE FAILED AT 65,000 MILES. USUALLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR FAILS FIRST AS IT IS USED MOST FREQUENTLY. THIS EQUIPMENT INCLUDES BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO WINDOW CONTROLS, DOOR LOCKS, DOOR OPEN SENSOR, AIR BAG SYSTEM CRASH SENSOR, TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH, FUEL DOOR RELEASE SWITCH, DOOR MIRROR ADJUSTMENT, MIRROR TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR, MIRROR HEATING ELEMENT. WIRING HARNESS MUST BE REPLACED WHICH COSTS APPROXIMATELY $150-$200. HARNESS SHOULD BE REDESIGNED WITH LONGER WIRES TO AVOID STRETCHING OF THE WIRE AND WIRE COATING MATERIAL CHANGED TO AVOID BRITTLENESS WITH AGE AND WORK HARDENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10411667

72,000 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE RETURNING HOME AFTER SHOPPING. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ENGINE DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN JUMP ON A 72K MILE, 2.5 LITER, 2005 VW JETTA TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410732

201,000 miles · Jun 29, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE VEHICLE BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE VEHICLE BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

NHTSA ODI #10409340

60,000 miles · Jun 16, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NEW JETTA AND AT AROUND 60,000 MILES IT SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. IT ALSO DOWNSHIFTS ABRUPTLY. THE HARD JERKING SCARES ME WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT SOME POINT VW HAS TO REALIZE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I GOT THE RECALL LETTER ABOUT THE VALVE BODY AND WHEN …

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I HAVE A 2005 NEW JETTA AND AT AROUND 60,000 MILES IT SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. IT ALSO DOWNSHIFTS ABRUPTLY. THE HARD JERKING SCARES ME WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT SOME POINT VW HAS TO REALIZE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I GOT THE RECALL LETTER ABOUT THE VALVE BODY AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO A VW DEALER FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE A VALVE BODY ISSUE. THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. COST $6,000. I CONTACTED VW BY PHONE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NOW AT CLOSE TO 70,000 MILES THE JERKING HAS WORSEN AND I HAVE BECOME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407154

71,000 miles · Jun 7, 2011
Exterior LightingPower Train

I PURCHASED A 2005 NEW JETTA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN JULY OF 2010. IT CURRENTLY HAS 72,000 MILES. 3 ISSUES. ONE, WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP, A CLANGING NOISE OCCURS AND LASTS FOR APPROX 30 SECONDS, THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE A VENT CLOSES AND THE SOUND GOES AWAY. TWO, THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF SOMETIMES WH…

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I PURCHASED A 2005 NEW JETTA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN JULY OF 2010. IT CURRENTLY HAS 72,000 MILES. 3 ISSUES. ONE, WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP, A CLANGING NOISE OCCURS AND LASTS FOR APPROX 30 SECONDS, THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE A VENT CLOSES AND THE SOUND GOES AWAY. TWO, THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF SOMETIMES WHEN I PULL ALONG SIDE A CURB. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR, BACK THE CAR UP, THEN PULL THE CAR FORWARD TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. THE THIRD ITEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY NOT ALWAYS AND INVOLVES SHIFTING OF GEARS. WHEN THE CAR IS GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, IT SEEMS TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR A LITTLE ROUGH BUT NOT JERKY AND SOMETIMES WHEN COASTING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE CAR SEEMS TO HESITATE WHEN I AM READY TO PUSH ON THE GAS. BUT THEN, AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS, ENGAGES INTO GEAR WITH A LUNGE. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MAN SAID HE COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY CODES. I TOLD HIM I HAD RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION'S VALVE BODY WARRANTY EXTENSION. HE DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THE CAR DEFINITELY LUNGES AND TOLD ME TO GET IT TO A VW DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK UP AS HE WAS NOT AN AUTHORIZED VW TECH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH IS 2 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOME. THEY DROVE THE CAR 3 SEPARATE TIMES TRYING TO PRODUCE THE SCENARIO I DESCRIBED BUT COULD NOT. THE TECH TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DESCRIBING THE VALVE BODY ISSUE AND HE WOULD TELL THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT HE HAD FELT THE PROB AND THAT MY CAR NEEDED A NEW VALVE BODY. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE ABOVE 20 MPH WITHOUT THE ENGINE ROARING AND THE SHIFTING HARD INTO GEAR EVERYTIME. ME AND MY DAUGHTER HAD PULLED OUT INTO A VERY BUSY 40 MPH TRAFFIC. IT WAS SCARY. AT ONE POINT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR! I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG. NEXT DAY, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT MY COST OF $5000. WHAT HAPPEN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405449

39,000 miles · Jun 1, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10404065

102,000 miles · May 19, 2011
Power Train

HARD SHIFTING, IT HARD SHIFTS AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE VALVE BODY BUT VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS A FEW MILES OVER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN I HAVE READ MANY THINGS SAYING THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402113

70,000 miles · May 3, 2011
Unknown Or Other

NOXIOUS ODOR FROM CARPET UNDERLAYMENT. CAUSES HEADACHES AND ODOR TO BE ABSORBED INTO CLOTHING, SKIN, SEATS, ETC. VW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, NOR DISCLOSE THE MATERIAL USED AND IF IT IS OFF-GASSING ANY HAZARDOUS FUMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398834

Official recalls

4

07V442000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.