I WAS DRIVING ALONG YESTERDAY AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR "AIR BAG" CAME ON. I RESEARCHED THIS AND ACCORDING TO OTHER CONSUMER BLOGS, A LOT OF CAR OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE A JETTA RECALL - BUT THERE SHOULD BE ONE!!!
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.
What owners actually said
248 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 279,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED INCIDENT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN.*JB
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEVER GOES OFF WHEN I FIRST START IT IT HAS A WARNING NOISE AND SAYS AIRBAG FAULT THEN THE LIGHT STAYS ON THE CAR ALSO WHEN DRIVING IT SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE RPM WINDOW BETWEEN THE 2 AND THE 3 AND IT WONT WANT TO GET UNSTUCK YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THEN PLACE BACK ON THE PEDAL…
Read full complaint
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEVER GOES OFF WHEN I FIRST START IT IT HAS A WARNING NOISE AND SAYS AIRBAG FAULT THEN THE LIGHT STAYS ON THE CAR ALSO WHEN DRIVING IT SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE RPM WINDOW BETWEEN THE 2 AND THE 3 AND IT WONT WANT TO GET UNSTUCK YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THEN PLACE BACK ON THE PEDAL AND THEN IT JERKS AWAY
I AM REPORTING A SAFETY CONCERN FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2005.5. MY JETTA RECENTLY STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS DUE TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ON 8/4/2017 I HAD TO FORCE MY CAR OFF THE ROAD FROM HITTING MULTIPLE VEHICLES DUE TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILING. VOLKSWAGEN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE I HAVE DONE RESEARCH IN F…
Read full complaint
I AM REPORTING A SAFETY CONCERN FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2005.5. MY JETTA RECENTLY STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS DUE TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ON 8/4/2017 I HAD TO FORCE MY CAR OFF THE ROAD FROM HITTING MULTIPLE VEHICLES DUE TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILING. VOLKSWAGEN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE I HAVE DONE RESEARCH IN FOUND COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS RECALLS BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP ME THE FUEL LINE HAS ALSO FAILED AFTER REPLACING IT CAUSING A GAS SMELL THROUGH OUT THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTING AFTER PUMPING GAS. I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVE BODY DAMAGED THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY SELF IN OTHERS WHO OWN THE SAME VEHICLE THE VALVE BODY DAMAGED CAUSES THE CAR TO SLIP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC LEADING UP TO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH COMPLAINTS THEY DID ADD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO END 100,000 MILES. BACK IN 2005 LEADING UP TO 2014 THERE ARE MULTIPLE 2005.5 JETTAS AROUND NASHVILLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. BUT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT HELP FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE SAFETY OF THERE CUSTOMERS
TAKATA RECALL. MY VOLKSWAGON JETTA GLS ENGINE KEEPS ON MISFIRING FOR SOME REASON NO MATTER WHAT WORK I PUT INTO IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO WHEELER AUTO PARTS (LOCATED AT 8391 E MONROE RD, WHEELER, MI 48662; (989) 842-3158) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO WHEELER AUTO PARTS (LOCATED AT 8391 E MONROE RD, WHEELER, MI 48662; (989) 842-3158) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE SHOP'S PARKING LOT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LAFONTAINE VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 2200 S TELEGRAPH RD, DEARBORN, MI 48124; (313) 996-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-822-8987 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CASE NUMBER: 170791374 WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH MY 2005 JETTA SINCE PURCHASING IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS. CAUSE: THE FUSE BOX ONTOP OF BATTERY MELTED, ALONG WITH THE FUSES AND GROUND WIRE. THEN THE COOLANT RESEV…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH MY 2005 JETTA SINCE PURCHASING IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS. CAUSE: THE FUSE BOX ONTOP OF BATTERY MELTED, ALONG WITH THE FUSES AND GROUND WIRE. THEN THE COOLANT RESEVOIR HAD TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THE FANS NOT TURNING ON BECAUSE OF THOSE FUSES MELTING. THEN, THEN RADIATOR. THEN THE BREAK PUMP, EXAUST MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW. THE THING RECENTLY WASNI HAD NO BREAK LIGHTS. WENT TO CHANGE BULBS. KEPT BREAKING THE FUSES. THEN STUCK IN PARK. SAW A RECALL LISTED FOR FAULTY BREAK SWITCH. CALLED VW THEY STATED MY RECAL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. SO SORRY IT WAS UP TO ME TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. TOLD THEM OF EVERY OTHER ISSUE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. BASICALLY I BOUGHT A VERY UNREALIABLE, UNSAFE, PIECE OF GARBAGE. THAT I ASSUMED WAS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE FOR MYSELF SND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN TO BE DEPENDANT UPON GETTING US SAFELY PLACE TONPLACE.
AXLE BOLTS WORKED LOOSE AND AXLE PUNCTURED TRANSMISSION HOUSING ON DRIVERS SIDE WITH OUT WARNING.
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR, ENGINE WILL SPORADICALLY SHUT OFF AND THE CAR WILL NEED TO BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED. NO ERROR CODES COME FROM THE COMPUTER AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPLICABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP OR AT AUTO SHOPS. THE VEHICLE IS EITHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THE DECIDING FACTOR IS TH…
Read full complaint
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR, ENGINE WILL SPORADICALLY SHUT OFF AND THE CAR WILL NEED TO BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED. NO ERROR CODES COME FROM THE COMPUTER AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPLICABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP OR AT AUTO SHOPS. THE VEHICLE IS EITHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THE DECIDING FACTOR IS THE ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH HAS BEEN ON SINCE LAST FALL 2015. DEALER SAYS CAR WILL STILL PASS INSPECTION WITH LIGHT ON. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS.
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.
Illustration