Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
480–25K
2325–50K
2150–75K
2375–100K
32100–150K
13150K+
160 reports with mileage · 28 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 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 →
Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
188 reports
58,000 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Air Bags
WE HAVE A 2008 JETTA PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2007. IT CURRENTLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH IT. A CRASH SENSOR WENT OUT AT ABOUT 50K. THIS COST OVER $500 TO FIX AT THE LOCAL DEALER. RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SHOWS CODE 01221 WHICH IS DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALER SAID THE AI…
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WE HAVE A 2008 JETTA PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2007. IT CURRENTLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH IT. A CRASH SENSOR WENT OUT AT ABOUT 50K. THIS COST OVER $500 TO FIX AT THE LOCAL DEALER. RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SHOWS CODE 01221 WHICH IS DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALER SAID THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS PROBABLY NOT FUNCTIONING WITH THE LIGHT ON. I'D GUESS THIS IS ANOTHER EXPENSIVE FIX. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, SUBMERGED, OR HAD A SPILL IN IT. IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT THESE TYPE OF ISSUES WOULD BE OCCURRING IN A VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679854
58,000 miles · Jan 14, 2015
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. VOLKSWAGEN INDICATES THAT AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. NO INCIDENT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10672472
51,000 miles · Jan 1, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
EMMISIONS LIGHT ON- NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR VW 2008 JETTA GLI/ EMMISION LIGHT ON/IGNIATION TO START HESITATION PLEASE TELL ME ALL RECALLS ON VW 2008 JETTA GLI. CAN I TAKE MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR RECALLS? THANK YOU *JS
NHTSA ODI #10669507
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure
SUNROOF WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE AT RANDOM, HAD THAT FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AND THE ALARM WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A THEFT ISSUE AND APPEARS ITS PRETTY COMMON DUE TO PREVIOUS VW THREADS. AT $400 REPAIR COSTS AND VW KNOWING THIS IS AN ISSUE, I FEEL THIS SHOU…
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SUNROOF WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE AT RANDOM, HAD THAT FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AND THE ALARM WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A THEFT ISSUE AND APPEARS ITS PRETTY COMMON DUE TO PREVIOUS VW THREADS. AT $400 REPAIR COSTS AND VW KNOWING THIS IS AN ISSUE, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL STATUS AND NOT CHARGEABLE TO OWNERS. PLEASE HELP ME/US, I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIR!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10641765
60,000 miles · Oct 2, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
IN 2011, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO LOCK THE DOOR BOTH WITH THE INTERNAL LOCK SWITCH AND THE FOB, THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. IT ALSO WOULD NOT CHIRP TO LET ME KNOW THAT ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE ALARM WAS SET. LOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE FOB DOES SET THE ALARM, HOWEVER YOU CAN OPEN THE REAR D…
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IN 2011, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO LOCK THE DOOR BOTH WITH THE INTERNAL LOCK SWITCH AND THE FOB, THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. IT ALSO WOULD NOT CHIRP TO LET ME KNOW THAT ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE ALARM WAS SET. LOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE FOB DOES SET THE ALARM, HOWEVER YOU CAN OPEN THE REAR DOOR AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 THE LEFT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING AS WELL...IT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR NOT LOCKING...HOWEVER, IT IS SO FAR SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640806
150,000 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
A CAR HIT ME WHEN I WAS STOP TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THEY HIT ME ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF MY CAR . TOOK OUT MY FRONT END. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10633531
89,000 miles · Sep 8, 2014
Engine
I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE OIL CHANGED AND TO HAVE MY AC LOOKED AT DUE TO STRANGE SMELL COMING FROM VENTS. PER DEALERSHIP REQUEST THEY STATED I SHOULD HAVE THE AC FLUSHED. I LEFT MY CAR THERE WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DROPPING IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TO TELL ME MY CAR DIED. THEY HAD HOOKED IT UP TO FLUSH THE AC AND THE ENGIN…
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I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE OIL CHANGED AND TO HAVE MY AC LOOKED AT DUE TO STRANGE SMELL COMING FROM VENTS. PER DEALERSHIP REQUEST THEY STATED I SHOULD HAVE THE AC FLUSHED. I LEFT MY CAR THERE WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DROPPING IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TO TELL ME MY CAR DIED. THEY HAD HOOKED IT UP TO FLUSH THE AC AND THE ENGINE DIED. UPON THEIR INVESTIGATION A COMPRESSION TEST WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS DETERMINED CYLINDERS 1,2,3 AND 5 SHOWED ZERO COMPRESSION WHILE 4 SHOWED 80PSI. THEY ARE STATING DUE TO IMPROPER CAM TIMING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE SECURING BOLT ON THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT WAS LOOSE. IT IS NOW RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND RETIME THE CAMSHAFT TO THE CRANKSHAFT. MY CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY ISSUES LEADING UP TO THE OIL CHANGE, NO WARNING LIGHTS NOTHING. CLEARLY I SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF WARNING SIGNS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10631686
90,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Electrical System
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MACHINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …
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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MACHINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10597685
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2014
Seat Belts
THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOW THE VEHICLE CANNOT SAFETY CARRY 5 PASSENGERS. I AM SURE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SINCE THE SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER FAIL FOR ANY REASON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597230
59,000 miles · May 21, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE A/C WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE EVAPORATOR COIL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE A/C WAS OPERATED, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE EVAPORATOR COIL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
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.
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.
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.
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
1
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
2008 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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