NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
188 reports26,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Power Train
THE FOLLOWING RELATES TO A 2008 JETTA 2.0L WOLFSBURG EDITION SEDAN. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY LOST MOTIVE POWER, WITH THE ENGINE QUICKLY DROPPING TO 0 RPM, WITH ALL 3 INCIDENTS OCCURRING DURING BUSY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART, AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE DE…
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THE FOLLOWING RELATES TO A 2008 JETTA 2.0L WOLFSBURG EDITION SEDAN. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY LOST MOTIVE POWER, WITH THE ENGINE QUICKLY DROPPING TO 0 RPM, WITH ALL 3 INCIDENTS OCCURRING DURING BUSY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART, AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THE CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. WHILE IN THE SHOP, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON A PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS ORDER AND REPLACED. UPON RECEIVING THE CAR THE 2ND TIME, THE VEHICLE BEHAVED NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT - POOR ACCELERATION, UNUSUAL SHIFTING, SUDDEN JERKING AND LURCHING WHILE IDLING. THREE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE CAR, ONCE AGAIN A COMPLETE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. NOW WAITING FOR A SECOND TOW, AND THIRD VISIT TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THESE INCIDENTS POSE SERIOUS SAFETY THREATS, SINCE THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER SEEMS TO UNRELATED TO VEHICLE OPERATION STATUS - IE, SPEED, INCLINE, ETC DO NOT AFFECT THE VEHICLE'S SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AND THUS CAN OCCUR IN ANY TRAFFIC CONDITION. *LN
NHTSA ODI #10381073
31,010 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Service Brakes, ElectricTraction Control System
FRONT PASSENGER ABS WIRE CAME OUT OF BRACKET AND RUBBED ON THE AXLE. ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON...ABS IS INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SNOW AND ICE. WE LIVE IN ILLINOIS WHERE THERE IS SNOW AND ICE 6 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. WHY IS THIS KIND OF ENGINEERING ALLOWED IN SNOWY CLIMATES IF IT IS UNABLE …
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FRONT PASSENGER ABS WIRE CAME OUT OF BRACKET AND RUBBED ON THE AXLE. ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON...ABS IS INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SNOW AND ICE. WE LIVE IN ILLINOIS WHERE THERE IS SNOW AND ICE 6 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. WHY IS THIS KIND OF ENGINEERING ALLOWED IN SNOWY CLIMATES IF IT IS UNABLE TO PROBABLY FUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE BRAKE LINE IS ALSO FASTENED TO THIS BRACKET. WHEN CHECKING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY RECURRING ISSUE. WE WILL BE NEEDING TO GET THIS FIXED....CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY SAY THIS DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE REPAIR IS $506.00 FOR AN ENTIRE WIRE HARNESS. WE HAVE OWNED AUTOS AND VANS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF ABS. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10375495
52,539 miles · Nov 30, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other
2008 VW JETTA 2.5L ENGINE STALLS AND EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10368447
30,000 miles · Nov 22, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKE PADS ON MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ARE WORN DOWN TO NOTHING AND MY FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE JUST ABOUT PERFECT. HAVE NOTICED MANY ONLINE FORUMS HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10367145
83,950 miles · Nov 10, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE A 2008 VW JETTA AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED NOW FOR A 3RD TIME. THE FIRST 2 TIMES HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365311
41,000 miles · Oct 19, 2010
Wheels
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VW JETTA. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED SEPTEMBER 17, 2010. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR RIMS, AND THE RIGHT FRONT RIMS WERE BENT. REPORT 1003146 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT THE RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THERE WA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VW JETTA. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED SEPTEMBER 17, 2010. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR RIMS, AND THE RIGHT FRONT RIMS WERE BENT. REPORT 1003146 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT THE RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A CRASH THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RIMS TO BEND; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE RIMS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW; YET, THE TIRE SHOP DIDN'T LOCATE A FAILURE ON THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
NHTSA ODI #10361208
62,000 miles · Oct 11, 2010
Power Train
KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10360010
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2008 VW JETTA. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE SHUTDOWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT DOWNSHIFTED AND BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. HE PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE…
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2008 VW JETTA. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE SHUTDOWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT DOWNSHIFTED AND BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. HE PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RESPOND AND MOVED FORWARD. HE CONTINUED ON WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10359792
14,000 miles · Sep 22, 2010
Power Train
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DSG MECHATRONICS FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356964
32,900 miles · Sep 22, 2010
Power Train
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DSG MECHATRONICS FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356963
Official recalls
4Sep 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.
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.
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.
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
1PE09035 · 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
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