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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
35,000 miles · Jul 24, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

2005 JETTA SOMEWHERE UNDER HOOD SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WITH CAR PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND ENGINE TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. FIRE CONSUMED ENTIRE ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO INSURANCE ADJUSTER. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FIRE START…

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2005 JETTA SOMEWHERE UNDER HOOD SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WITH CAR PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND ENGINE TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. FIRE CONSUMED ENTIRE ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO INSURANCE ADJUSTER. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. CITY OF PLANTATION (FL) POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED AND WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE AFTER 15 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235693

60,000 miles · Jul 2, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

SMALL RADIATOR COOLING FAN STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233000

55,000 miles · Jun 18, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE GEAR WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR, AND THE CLUTCH JAMMED INTO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ARE CHARGING $360 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE GEAR WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR, AND THE CLUTCH JAMMED INTO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ARE CHARGING $360 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR OR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT ONLY COVERS THE REPAIR IF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE CONTACT WILL LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER UNTIL THEY REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10231453

49,210 miles · May 1, 2008
Power TrainFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON APRIL 25, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE CLUTCH INTO THIRD GEAR, BUT THE CLUTCH NEVER SHIFTED BACK INTO POSITION. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PIN FOR THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY CHAFFERED AND FAILED. PRIOR …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON APRIL 25, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE CLUTCH INTO THIRD GEAR, BUT THE CLUTCH NEVER SHIFTED BACK INTO POSITION. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PIN FOR THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY CHAFFERED AND FAILED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WONDERS IF THE TWO FAILURES ARE RELATED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,210.

NHTSA ODI #10226414

22,898 miles · Apr 26, 2008
Tires

FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AT HIGH SPEED IN THE EVENING OF MARCH 4 2007. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL FROM PURCHASE OF VW JETTA ON 8/27/05. TIRES WERE PART OF AN UPGRADE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE. THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ARE ON OUTER RIM; 225/45 R17 91H CONTIPROCONTRACT. NUMBERS ON INNER RIM; DOT AFTY PXH6 1105 AND 225/45 R17 M-S E4 0224686 G4 0224…

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FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AT HIGH SPEED IN THE EVENING OF MARCH 4 2007. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL FROM PURCHASE OF VW JETTA ON 8/27/05. TIRES WERE PART OF AN UPGRADE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE. THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ARE ON OUTER RIM; 225/45 R17 91H CONTIPROCONTRACT. NUMBERS ON INNER RIM; DOT AFTY PXH6 1105 AND 225/45 R17 M-S E4 0224686 G4 0224002. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE TIRE. CAR HAD LESS THAN 28, 898 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. *TR UPDATED 05/05/08 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10225800

82,200 miles · Apr 15, 2008
Air Bags

I PURCHASED MY VW JETTA NEW IN 2005. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A RECURRING ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE CAN CAUSE DEATH TO THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS IF THEY ARE IN A N ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS (AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON) ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES.. THE MOST RECENT ONE BEING THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. THE TIMES THE LIGHT HAS COM…

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I PURCHASED MY VW JETTA NEW IN 2005. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A RECURRING ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE CAN CAUSE DEATH TO THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS IF THEY ARE IN A N ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS (AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON) ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES.. THE MOST RECENT ONE BEING THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. THE TIMES THE LIGHT HAS COME ON I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.. BUT IT SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE THE SAME THING.. SOME SORT OF DAMAGED/SHORTING WIRES FROM WHAT THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AND FEEL THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO/RECTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I CALLED TODAY TO VW'S CUSTOMER SERVICE.. AND WAS BRUSHED OFF.. AND TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE PAID MANY TIMES TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED.. I WAS NOT TRYING TO GET WARRANTY WORK DONE. I WAS TRYING TO BRING TO LIGHT A RE OCCURRING ISSUE THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224639

108,000 miles · Apr 5, 2008
Power Train

CAR DEVELOPED PRONOUNCED ENGINE VIBRATION AT 100,000 MILES. VIBRATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNIFICANT NOISE AT IDLE WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED. CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAD FAILED AND WAS THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL WERE REP…

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CAR DEVELOPED PRONOUNCED ENGINE VIBRATION AT 100,000 MILES. VIBRATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNIFICANT NOISE AT IDLE WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED. CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAD FAILED AND WAS THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET SINGLE MASS FLYWHEEL AND MATCHING CLUTCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223454

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA BUCKS AND SHAKES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT JUST WANTS TO SHUT OFF AND NOT RUN. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP THE LOANER GOT HIT AND DEALER WOULD NOT RETURN HER CAR UNTIL PAYMENT WAS MADE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENED, SHE HAD COME TO A FU…

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2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA BUCKS AND SHAKES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT JUST WANTS TO SHUT OFF AND NOT RUN. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP THE LOANER GOT HIT AND DEALER WOULD NOT RETURN HER CAR UNTIL PAYMENT WAS MADE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENED, SHE HAD COME TO A FULL STOP. WHEN SHE WENT TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED, STARTING BUCKING AND WAS SLUGGISH. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE RESET A COMPONENT, HOWEVER 1 MONTH LATER THE PROBLEM RE-SURFACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT EACH TIME THE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, THE PROBLEM WOULD COME BACK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10223912

31,000 miles · Feb 1, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

THE TRUNK DOES NOT LATCH IN COLD WEATHER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. HAVE SEARCHED AROUND THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM IN THESE CARS NATIONWIDE. WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE TRUNKS CANNOT BE CLOSED. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLE…

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THE TRUNK DOES NOT LATCH IN COLD WEATHER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. HAVE SEARCHED AROUND THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM IN THESE CARS NATIONWIDE. WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE TRUNKS CANNOT BE CLOSED. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT OUR CAR'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THEY WANT US TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED ($190). IF IT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE SO MANY ORDERS THAT IT IS ON BACKORDER, SHOULDN'T THE TRUNKS BE RECALLED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216651

40,180 miles · Jan 26, 2008
Power Train

PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AT 40,000 MILES. CAR AT DEALER FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216140

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.