Power Train. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

6 reports

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183,219 miles · Apr 12, 2021

Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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JUST AFTER I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING SLAMMED INTO SECOND GEAR, SENDING MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE THE CARS TRAVELLING BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID COLLISION. I PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO ASSESS THE REASON, TO NO AVAIL. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN GEAR, IT DROVE FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT. THEN IT DID A REPEAT OF THE PREVIOUS ACTION, SENDING THE TRANSMISSION INTO SAFE MADE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR PROVOCATION, AND AGAIN, WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IT DROVE PERFECTLY NORMAL WHILE I DROVE IT DIRECTLY HOME. WHEN I PERFORMED AN OBDII SCAN, IT GENERATED P0746 AS THE PROBLEM, WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS BEING REPORTED. I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY HAD SOMEONE ELSE BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, SUCH AS A MOTHER WHO MAY BE DISTRACTED BY HER CHILDREN AT THE TIME, AND I FEEL THIS MATTER SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY. PRIOR EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS SELDOM ONLY HAPPEN TO ONE VEHICLE AT A TIME, AND ALMOST ANYONE THAT EXPERIENCES THIS PROBLEM ON A HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MULTIPLE CARS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI #11407606

160,000 miles · May 10, 2018

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATOR DISPLAY ON THE DASH IS FLASHING AND THE CAR IS DOING ITS OWN THING CHANGING GEARS. IT WILL NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ANYWHERE BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS PROPERLY ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE DISPLAY STARTING FLASHING AND THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED (INTO EI…

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NHTSA ODI #11092837

147,165 miles · Nov 26, 2016

Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. UNENTENDENT ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ODI #10928049

104,346 miles · Dec 16, 2013

EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

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FUEL CUT-OFF/SURGING WHEN ACCELERATING AND TAPPING NOISE FROM ENGINE. ENGINE IS THROWING ENGINE CODES; A LOSS OF POWER IS PRESENT WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAM FOLLOWER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON ALL 2.0T FSI MOTORS FROM VW. MY CAM FOLLOWER HAS A HOLE IN IT (HAVE THE PART) AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS WORN DOWN (HAVE THE PART) BECAUSE IT HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAM LOBE, WHICH HAS BEEN SCARRED (HAVE THE PART). REPLACEMENT REQUIRES A NEW CAM, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND CAM FOLLOWER. THE DESIGN HOWEVER WILL REQUIRE CONSTANT INSPECTION OF THE CAM FOLLOWER TO AVOID MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. ALL 2.0 T FSI ENGINES WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN HAS A TSB #2015153 DATED DECEMBER 16, 2009 THAT WARNS OF THIS PROBLEM UPON CEL LIGHT BEING SHOWN. BUT BY THEN THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT HAD A HOLE IN THE CAM FOLLOWER, WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAM AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REPAIR COST WAS OVER $2,000.00. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR. SO MUCH SO THAT VOA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO TEN YEARS AND 100,000 MILES JUST FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THEY USED VIN NUMBERS AND MY VIN NUMBERS IS AFTER THE CUTOFF POINT EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE EXACT SAME MOTOR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE EARLIER VIN NUMBERED CARS. THEY NEED TO COVER THE AFFECTED MOTOR NUMBERS NOT THE VIN NUMBERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556179

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2009

Vehicle Speed Control

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I AM SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, WOLFSBURG EDITION.WE PURCHASED THIS CAR 8-08 FROM A VW DEALER, IT WAS BRAND NEW. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHEN IN DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONDITION KEPT GETTING WORSE AND BEGAN ALSO LUNGING FORWARD WHEN IDLING. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER MEMORY IN MY CAR AND IT WAS MEMORIZING HOW I DRIVE AND IF I SWITCHED OVER TO ANOTHER DRIVER IT WOULD BE CONFUSED AND LUNGE. THIS IS WRITTEN ON MY RECEIPT FOR THE WORK: "ADVISE CUSTOMER TO ONLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT IS ACTING AS IF TWO PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AND THE ADAPTIVE LEARNING IS CONFUSED. NO CODES STORED." MY CAR IS CONFUSED, THEREFORE THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE DRIVER???? SOUNDED SILLY TO ME, BUT I NEEDED MY CAR AND I ACCEPTED THAT EXPLANATION AND LEFT. THE CONDITION ONLY WORSENED. THE LUNGE OR SURGING FORWARD BECAME SO NOTICEABLE THAT IT WAS EMBARRASSING. MY HUSBAND SAID HE ALSO NOTICED IT LUNGING OR SURGING IN THE REVERSE GEAR AS WELL AS FORWARD AND IDLE. I RETURNED IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE VW DEALERSHIP JULY 13, 2009. THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. THEY CANNOT EVEN GET THE PART UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST. THEY TOLD ME THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT ARE RARE. HOWEVER, I DID MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE VW JETTAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND, THIS PART IS A BIT WEIRD...MANY OF THEM HAD TO WAIT WEEKS FOR THE PART. ONE PERSON REPORTED THAT THE "SURGING FORWARD" WAS SO BAD THAT HE HIT ANOTHER CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THIS CONDITION COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO OWN A NEW CAR THAT HAS SOMETHING SO MAJOR WRONG WITH IT. AND IT WAS VERY UPSETTING TO FIND SO MANY OTHERS (ONLINE FORUMS) WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278484

2,100 miles · Sep 22, 2008

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

EXCESSIVE DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE DELAY. THROTTLE RESPONSE DELAYED APROX. 1-2 OR MORE SECONDS AFTER DEPRESSING THROTTLE PEDAL. THROTTLE DELAY CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ETC. THIS "DELAY" IS PROGRAMMED INTO THE CAR'S SOFTWARE BY DESIGN. UNSAFE, CAUSED NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243132

Official recalls

19V679000 · Unknown Or Other

Sep 25, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

10V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 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.

09V164000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

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.

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.

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

PE09035 · Vehicle Stall/loss Motive Power

Opened Jul 17, 2009 · Closed Nov 19, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PREVENT SYSTEM/COMPONENT DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF COMPONENT FAILURES OR HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE BASIC HIERARCHY OF FAULT MODES INCLUDES SOME THAT ONLY RESULT IN THE STORAGE OF A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) AND CAUSE NO LOSS OF FUNCTION, SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATION TO A LIMP HOME MODE, AND SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER (I.E., OPEN CLUTCH).THE DRIVER IS ALERTED TO THE LATTER TWO MODES BY THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS) FLASHING. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT RESULTS IN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER IS EXCESS GEARBOX TEMPERATURE.THE SYSTEM INITIALLY RESPONDS TO INCREASED GEARBOX TEMPERATURE BY RAMPING DOWN ENGINE TORQUE.IF THE TEMPERATURE KEEPS RISING THE MECHATRONIC UNIT RESPONDS BY OPENING THE CLUTCH.IN A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT SUBMITTED TO NHTSA ON AUGUST 20, 2009, VOLKSWAGEN DESCRIBED A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESSES OF THE DSG GEARBOX TEMPERATURE SENSORS USED IN APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2009 AND 2010 VOLKSWAGEN (EOS, JETTA AND GTI) AND AUDI (A3 AND TT/TT ROADSTER) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 2009 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 09V-333, VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 37E3/S7 AND AUDI RECALL NO 37E4/J7). VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT, THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DSG MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED BY THE CONNECTOR SUPPLIER DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD.WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH.IN ADDITION, THE DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.VOLKSWAGEN ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN THE DEFECT CONDITION. ODI IDENTIFIED 40 COMPLAINTS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DEFECT CONDITION DESCRIBED BY VOLKSWAGEN.VOLKSWAGEN RECEIVED 139 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE CONDITION, WITH 7 INVOLVING VEHICLES REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING A 172 TOTAL COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLKSWAGEN.ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVE THE MY 2009 AN 2010 VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL 09V-333. ODI ALSO IDENTIFIED COMPLAINTS OF HARSH/JERKY SHIFTING IN SOME VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH DSG.VOLKSWAGEN ATTRIBUTED THIS CONDITION, WHICH TYPICALLY OCCURS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, TO EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE BUSHINGS OF THE TWO SOLENOID VALVES IN THE MECHATRONIC UNIT THAT CONTROL CLUTCH OPERATION.VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE THIS CONDITION IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THE CHANGES IN SHIFT QUALITY DEVELOP GRADUALLY OVER TIME, DO NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES, INJURIES OR SERIOUS CRASHES (THERE WERE THREE REPORTED PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN MINOR BODY DAMAGE IN VERY LOW SPEED, PARKING MANEUVERS).VOLKSWAGEN ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIELD WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OF POTENTIALLY AFFECTED MECHATRONIC UNITS AS WELL