NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
580 reports120,350 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Electrical System
ALL ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN DRIVERS DOOR CEASED TO FUNCTION. AUTO DOOR LOCK, DRIVER'S WINDOW, GAS LATCH. COULD NOT OPEN DRIVER'S WINDOW. APPARENTLY THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF WIRE HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE IN THAT IT WAS 80 MM TOO SHORT. VW HAS ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON APRIL 20, 2011 (V97-11-04) IDENTIFYING THIS INHERE…
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ALL ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN DRIVERS DOOR CEASED TO FUNCTION. AUTO DOOR LOCK, DRIVER'S WINDOW, GAS LATCH. COULD NOT OPEN DRIVER'S WINDOW. APPARENTLY THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF WIRE HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE IN THAT IT WAS 80 MM TOO SHORT. VW HAS ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON APRIL 20, 2011 (V97-11-04) IDENTIFYING THIS INHERENT DEFECT. DEALER REPLACED DRIVER'S DOOR WIRING HARNESS AFTER DIAGNOSING MULTIPLE BROKEN WIRES. VW WILL NOT REIMBURSE CAR OWNERS FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533046
37,000 miles · Jul 13, 2013
Power Train
IN THE MORNING I WENT TO START MY CAR AND I SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. I THEN WENT TO DRIVE IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10524647
97,800 miles · Jun 28, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringCrashInjury
I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AND I HEARD A NOTIFICATION "BEEP" ON MY CAR'S DASHBOARD. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. HAVING NO CONTROL OF MY CAR, I DRIFTED INTO A CAR PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET, CAUSING MY CAR TO FLIP OVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10522270
103,000 miles · Jun 7, 2013
Air BagsCrash
I SWERVED TO MISS AN ANIMAL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD AT 55MPH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AND THE DRIVER AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO VW CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR ENGINEERS LOOKED AT THE PHOTOS NOT THE ACTUAL CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THEY FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. I SAID I THOUGHT THEY WERE SPEED RATED AND WAS TOLD THAT II COULD…
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I SWERVED TO MISS AN ANIMAL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD AT 55MPH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AND THE DRIVER AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO VW CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR ENGINEERS LOOKED AT THE PHOTOS NOT THE ACTUAL CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THEY FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. I SAID I THOUGHT THEY WERE SPEED RATED AND WAS TOLD THAT II COULD HIT A WALL AT 100MPH AND THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT GO OFF. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10515664
82,000 miles · May 29, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS ON THE HWY WHILE SNOWING OR RAINING. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND FACING AN UPHILL INCLINE. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND FACING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I…
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THE VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS ON THE HWY WHILE SNOWING OR RAINING. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND FACING AN UPHILL INCLINE. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND FACING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER ASSIST ME IN PUSHING THE CAR TO OFF THE HIGHWAY THE LAST 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AND LET THEM KNOW BECAUSE IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A FACTORY RECALL BASED ON THE DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED ON TDI FORUMS HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=239987&PAGE=6 AS A WIRE CHAFING CONDITION CAUSED BY THE VIBRATION OF THE DIESEL ENGINE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THEY WERE UNABLE TO MATCH THE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT I WAS DRIVING IN AND EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO DRY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10514076
124,000 miles · May 15, 2013
Engine
ENTIRE CAMSHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED, CAR IS INOPERABLE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE BUT VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OR HELP WITH THE REPLACEMENT COST, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10512239
115,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Seats
DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT BACK: NOTICED A DISCOLORATION & CHANGE IN THE FABRIC AT LEAST ONE YEAR AGO. MORE RECENTLY, TWO PINHOLES HAVE APPEARED IN THE AREA. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. IN RETROSPECT, WE REALIZE THAT SEVERAL ARTICLES OF CLOTHING - PRIMARILY OUTERWEAR - WERE DAMA…
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DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT BACK: NOTICED A DISCOLORATION & CHANGE IN THE FABRIC AT LEAST ONE YEAR AGO. MORE RECENTLY, TWO PINHOLES HAVE APPEARED IN THE AREA. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. IN RETROSPECT, WE REALIZE THAT SEVERAL ARTICLES OF CLOTHING - PRIMARILY OUTERWEAR - WERE DAMAGED BY THE EXCESS HEAT FROM THAT AREA OF THE SEAT. BECAUSE IT WAS OUTERWEAR, THAT PROBABLY ACCOUNTS FOR WHY WE NEVER FELT THE INTENSE, LOCALIZED HEAT. NO INJURIES RESULTED. BUT AFTER READING ABOUT ALMOST 200 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE JETTAS BUILT AROUND THAT TIME, SOME RESULTING IN INJURIES AND / OR FIRES, I'M SURPRISED THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10509354
82,753 miles · Apr 17, 2013
Power Train
THE DSG CLUTCH ON THE 2006 VW JETTA TDI LOST STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND CAME APART COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, DESTROYING THE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH AND POTENTIALLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE SPRINGS ARE SO DAMAGED THAT THEY WERE EJECTED FROM THE CASING ONTO THE ENGINE PROTECTION MATT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE…
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THE DSG CLUTCH ON THE 2006 VW JETTA TDI LOST STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND CAME APART COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, DESTROYING THE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH AND POTENTIALLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE SPRINGS ARE SO DAMAGED THAT THEY WERE EJECTED FROM THE CASING ONTO THE ENGINE PROTECTION MATT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CLUTCH WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY AND POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10508557
129,000 miles · Mar 17, 2013
Electrical System
THIS IS SECOND TIME THE WIRE HARNESS SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAVE BROKEN. THIS BREAKAGE CAUSES THE CRASH SENSOR TO BECOME INACTIVATING ALONG WITH OTHER CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE DOOR, IE WINDOW, LOCK, FUEL DOOR. THIS ALSO HAS A POTENTIAL FOR STARTING A FIRE. WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN FOR A I…
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THIS IS SECOND TIME THE WIRE HARNESS SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAVE BROKEN. THIS BREAKAGE CAUSES THE CRASH SENSOR TO BECOME INACTIVATING ALONG WITH OTHER CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE DOOR, IE WINDOW, LOCK, FUEL DOOR. THIS ALSO HAS A POTENTIAL FOR STARTING A FIRE. WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN FOR A IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE THERE WAS A COMMENT TYPED ON THE SERVICE REPORT INDICATING THAT THE HARNESS APPEAR IN GOOD REPAIR. THIS ENTRY REVEALS THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS VERY AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO RESOLVE IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503351
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE OIL PAN IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED VECHILE THAT I OWN HAD TO BE CHANGED DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD PUT A ALUMINUM PAN WITH A STEEL BOLT. THE STEEL BOLT OVER THE YEARS CORRODED THE PAN NECESSIATING A REPLACEMENT OF THE PAN. FITZGERALD AUTOMALL (410-224-3480) IN ANNAPOLIS MD REPLACED THE PAN FREE OF LABOR BUT C…
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THE OIL PAN IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED VECHILE THAT I OWN HAD TO BE CHANGED DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD PUT A ALUMINUM PAN WITH A STEEL BOLT. THE STEEL BOLT OVER THE YEARS CORRODED THE PAN NECESSIATING A REPLACEMENT OF THE PAN. FITZGERALD AUTOMALL (410-224-3480) IN ANNAPOLIS MD REPLACED THE PAN FREE OF LABOR BUT CHARGED ME FOR THE OIL PAN. THEY DID INFORM ME THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT VW HAS SINCE RECTIFIED IN THE NEWER MODELS AND THAT I HAD TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. WHEN I CONTACTED VW, THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED IT WAS UNDER THEIR DISCRETION TO RECTIFY THE DEFECT IN NEWER MODELS AND WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OLDER MODELS. IN MY OPINION VW SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AND ALSO RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS OR NOT.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10502604
Official recalls
4Dec 10, 2010
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
May 19, 2009
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
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.
Jun 25, 2007
CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L GASOLINE ENGINES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CHAFING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FUEL LEAK OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR AND WILL ALSO INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-893-5298.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗