2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    fuel pump

    87 stranded, 78 unsafe, 1 broken

    166
    incidents
    Typical range: 29,000–70,500 mi

    Median 47,500 mi, based on 226 reports (3% had no usable mileage)

    • "WE PURCHASED A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI IN JULY 2010. ON JULY 21, 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS GIVEN ITS FIRST SERVICE AT A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN MADISON, WI. THE NEXT DAY, JULY 22, 2011, THE CAR WAS TO BE DRIVEN FROM MADISON, WI, TO NASHVILLE, TN.…"~2,300 mi, complaint #869362
    • "2010 VW JETTA TDI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP) PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT: HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2…"~27,800 mi, complaint #872517
    • "2010 VW JETTA TDI - HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS RESULTING IN PIECES DESTROYING FUEL SYSTEM. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT $10,000. CAR SPENT ONE MONTH LAST YEAR IN THE SHOP FOR RELATED ISSUES. *TR"~47,000 mi, complaint #934306
    • "DURING A NORMAL FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT I NOTICED METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL FILTER. HAVING BEEN AWARE OF THE FAILURE RATE OF THE HP PUMP ON THE TDI'S I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL VW DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE SERVICE MANGER ASSISTED ME PERSONALLY. THE TECHNICIAN RE…"~73,455 mi, complaint #979369
    • "HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 60 MPH CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND LUCKILY I WAS IN THE SLOW LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER"~180,000 mi, complaint #1281530
  2. #2

    engine stall or no start

    23 stranded, 90 unsafe

    113
    incidents
    Typical range: 6,000–55,000 mi

    Median 30,000 mi, based on 183 reports (2% had no usable mileage)

    • "ON FRIDAY, SEPT 10, 2010, WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON THE I 605 FREEWAY (LOS ANGELES COUNTY) AT APPROXIMATELY 12 NOON AT SPEEDS OF 60 TO 65 MPH THE ENGINE, WITHOUT WARNING, DIED, STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER AND EVENTUALLY RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS…"~600 mi, complaint #814514
    • "I'VE HAD TWO EPISODES OF THE VEHICLE STALLING OUT. THE FIRST TIME, I HAD JUST PULLED OFF OF THE FREEWAY ONTO THE FRONTAGE ROAD AND SLOWED TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. THE SECOND TIME WAS A FEW MONTHS LATER, AND THE ENGINE STALLED…"~9,000 mi, complaint #841743
    • "THE CAR AFFECTED IS A 2010 VW JETTA TDI. EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR, IT HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH RUNNING RUFF OR STALLING OUT. AT 30,426 MILES I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST DRIVE WITH NO ISSUES FOUND. THIS ENOUGH FOR…"~30,426 mi, complaint #1177851
    • "I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 2010 VW JETTA SPORTSWAGEN TDI AND WAS IN A MIDDLE OF AN S TURN WHEN MY CAR SHUT OFF, AS I WAS COASTING I TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR, WHEN I DID SO MY STEERING DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE S TURN, BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN…"~56,522 mi, complaint #1142329
    • "INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. ENGINE DIED AS IF THE CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURNOVER. IT WOULD ONLY CRANK. ACTED LIKE IT RAN OUT OF FUEL BUT THERE WAS HALF A TANK OF FUEL. "~286,000 mi, complaint #1190381
  3. #3

    infotainment head unit

    22 unsafe, 9 broken, 63 annoyance

    94
    incidents
    Typical range: 58,500–89,000 mi

    Median 67,000 mi, based on 106 reports (7% had no usable mileage)

    • "BUILT IN BLUETOOTH / RADIO IS DEFECTIVE, LEAVING PASSENGERS UNABLE TO USE HANDS FREE TECHNOLOGY, AND ALSO ELIMINATES THE NATIONAL ALERT SYSTEM. THE DEAD RADIO ALSO LEADS TO A PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN, WHICH WILL KILL THE BATTERY OF THE CAR, LEAVING PEOPLE STRA…"~22,000 mi, complaint #1205012
    • "STARTED CAR THIS MORNING AND HIT THE POWER BUTTON ON FOR THE RADIO - NOTHING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PREMIUM 8 VW RADIO. FUSES THAT WERE EASILY ACCESSIBLE CHECKED OUT FINE. RADIO IS COMPLETELY…"~58,700 mi, complaint #1205848
    • "CAR RADIO SUDDENLY SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.TOUCH SCREEN DOES NOT RESPOND. CHECKED FUSES ON ENGINE COMPONENT AND LEFT SIDE PANEL, AND NO FUSES ARE BLOWN. NOW THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT AND DRIVER'S SIDE TAILLIGHT ARE ALSO OUT, BUT REPLACED…"~67,500 mi, complaint #1150239
    • "WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE SPEAKERS MADE A LOUD POP AND THE ENTIRE STEREO SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING (RADIO WAS NOT ON). THIS INCLUDED BLUETOOTH AND ALL HANDS-FREE FUNCTIONS FOR COMMUNICATION. THOUGH THE RADIO IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, THE BLUETOOTH HANDS F…"~88,000 mi, complaint #1560652
    • " OUT OF THE BLUE THE PREMIUM 8 TOUCH SCREEN RADIO STOPPED WORKING, NO WARNING OR INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE RADIO FUSES AND NOTHING WAS BLOWN OR NEEDED REPAIR. EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTI…"~156,000 mi, complaint #1343704
  4. #4

    wiring harness

    1 stranded, 35 unsafe, 1 broken, 5 annoyance

    42
    incidents
    Typical range: 53,500–104,500 mi

    Median 82,500 mi, based on 59 reports (17% had no usable mileage)

    • "I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 VW JETTA WITH MY HUSBAND AND 6 YR OLD DAUGHTER, UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, ABOUT TO TURN LEFT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WHEN MY VEHICLE JUST DIED. IT WAS TOWED INTO WHERE I PURCHASED IT SEEING AS IT WAS ON…"~7,500 mi, complaint #834251
    • "CAR HAS HAD ISSUES 4K ON. CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN FROM 70 MPH TO 75 LIKE WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. CAR WILL QUIT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 70 MPH (NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, JUST THE SERVICE ENGINE NOW AND GLOWPLUG LIGHT ARE ON FLASHING,(50K ON) THIS HAS HAPPEN…"~54,000 mi, complaint #935122
    • "THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START SO IT WAS JUMPSTARTED WITH NO PROBLEMS THEN TAKEN TO GET THE BATTERY TESTED. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER ALL TESTED OK. THEN WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THE RIGHT HEADLAMP AND RIGHT REAR TAILLAMP ILLUMINATED THEN WENT…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1020305
    • "VW 2010 TDI - RADIO DEAD. COMPLETELY WENT BLACK, UNRESPONSIVE. DISCOVERED WRONG FUSE IN LINE WITH RADIO - 15A WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 10A ACCORDING TO SPEC. THIS OVER TIME CAUSED THE RADIO TO FRY. VW OF A DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GIVES THE STANDARD R…"~104,635 mi, complaint #1189076
    • "THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, WHICH SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM. BUT IN ADDITION THE LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING FROM THAT POINT ON. 12 DIFFERENT ERROR WARNINGS APPEARED ON THE READOUT ABOUT DIFFERENT LIGHTS NOT WORKING. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL OF T…"~190,000 mi, complaint #1446989
  5. #5

    transmission automatic

    1 stranded, 30 unsafe

    31
    incidents
    Typical range: 8,000–108,000 mi

    Median 75,000 mi, based on 39 reports (0% had no usable mileage)

    • "ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 13, 2009, WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH, MY 2010 VW JETTA TDI (AUTO. TRANSMISSION) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING FLASHED A "TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT" WARNING LIGHT AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER TO…"~800 mi, complaint #735555
    • "THIS IS A 2010 TDI WAGON WITH THE DSG AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE START BEING VERY JUMPY STARTING OFF AND STALLING REPEATEDLY IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THE DEALER AFTER NUMEROUS REQUESTS FINALLY AGREED TO LET ME DEMONSTRATE TH…"~25,000 mi, complaint #902037
    • "THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE MY JETTA DIDN'T GO INTO GEAR. BOTH TIMES HAPPENED ON A COLD START AND DRIVING THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHILE PARKED. I PUT THE CAR IN R AND IT JUST REVS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. I SHIFTED IT TO D OR S ALL THE SAME OUTCO…"~78,883 mi, complaint #1057154
    • "2.5 L APPROX. 108,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE DOES A HARD SHIFT FROM 2 TO 3RD GEAR THEN FROM 3RD TO 4TH. ALMOST LIKE A HARD RESISTANCE THEN BUCKS. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED OR ON THE HIGHWAY."~108,000 mi, complaint #1453209
    • "I HAVE THE 2010 JETTA TDI. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT HAS FAILED AND VW WILL NOT SELL PARTS FOR THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT IS FAULTY. THEIR WORDS BUT THEY ALSO WON'T RECALL THE TRANSMISSION EITHER. TRANSMISSION SHOPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BUY PARTS FOR THIS TRANS…"~244,100 mi, complaint #1479986
  6. #6

    abs module

    28 unsafe

    28
    incidents
    Typical range: 62,000–118,500 mi

    Median 90,000 mi, based on 34 reports (40% had no usable mileage)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAULTY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE TOOK LONGER THAN USUAL TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR…"~1,193 mi, complaint #1593694
    • "TURNED ON THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH. IT LASTED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN WENT AWAY, BUT CAME BACK AGAIN A DAY LATER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO GET IT INSPECTED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE…"~62,200 mi, complaint #1605571
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE RE…"~76,000 mi, complaint #1718931
    • "THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT IS FAILING DURING ABS OR ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATION, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ESP LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. "~118,000 mi, complaint #1575343
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the brake light, ABS, and Electronic Stability Control warning lights remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manu…"~260,000 mi, complaint #1957235
  7. #7

    fuel tank and lines

    6 stranded, 22 unsafe

    28
    incidents
    Typical range: 23,500–70,000 mi

    Median 35,500 mi, based on 38 reports (3% had no usable mileage)

    • "VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY STUMBLES AS IF EXPERIENCING FUEL STARVATION. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE. IF STOPPED, ENGINE WILL QUIT WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED. *TR"~500 mi, complaint #903767
    • "OVER A WEEK AND 200 MILES AFTER FILLING UP. WITH DIESEL. THE CAR SUFFERED A FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT 45 MPH WITH NO RESTART. THIS INCLUDED A REDUCTION IN STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. VW DEALER STILL HAS THE CAR AS OF 3/27/2…"~18,436 mi, complaint #911787
    • "CAR LOST POWER BUT DID NOT DIE COMPLETELY. LIMPED TO DEALER AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THERE WAS WATER IN THE DIESEL FUEL, THREE DAYS LATER IT WAS CALLED JUST 'CONTAMINATION' (NOT FURTHER IDENTIFIED) THAT NECESSITATED A COMPLETED FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. TOTAL C…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1025287
    • "FUEL LINE #2 FAILED AFTER RECALLED REPAIR ON FUEL LINE #2 WAS PERFORMED. FUEL WAS SPILLING ONTO HOT ENGINE. I THINK THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 11V490000. LOOKS TO ME THAT CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS SAME AS COVERED IN RECALL-VIBRATION FATIGUE."~48,000 mi, complaint #1229532
    • "CAR SUDDENLY UNABLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. CAR GENTLY DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR DIED AND WAS UNABLE TO START. DEALERSHIP HAS INVESTIGATED AND FOUND METAL SHARDS FROM FUEL FILTER HAVE MIGRATED THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. COST OF REPAIR $5400. CA…"~126,000 mi, complaint #1376883
  8. #8

    key fob and immobilizer

    21 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    22
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=22, median 109,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I HAVE A 2010 JETTA WOLFSBURG 2.0 TURBO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO HELP ME. THE DOORS WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK CONSISTENTLY WITH THE KEY FOB. WHEN I LOCK IT, THE HORN BEEPS TO LET ME KNOW THE ALARM IS ON, BUT THE DOORS…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1136766
    • "ABOUT AUG 2013 (MILEAGE ~ 63,000): INTERMITTENT ISSUE THAT DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT LOCK WITH KEY FOB. DOOR WOULD BE UNLOCKED AND DOOR COULD BE PHYSICALLY OPENED USING THE DOOR HANDLE AND THEN CAR ALARM WOULD GO OFF. ABOUT AUGUST 2014 (MILEAGE ~ 78,000):…"~78,000 mi, complaint #1281225
    • "THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION WITH ENGINE RUNNING. HAD TO PULL RELAY TO STOP ENGINE. UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER CHARGES $600-$800 TO REPAIR."~122,000 mi, complaint #1453596
    • "THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WON'T TURN ON OR OFF."~140,000 mi, complaint #1443983
    • ""KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE." I GOT HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS. PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT TURN CAR OFF. KEY WAS STUCK"~610,000 mi, complaint #1394918
  9. #9

    transmission cvt

    22 unsafe

    22
    incidents
    Typical range: 2,000–113,000 mi

    Median 23,500 mi, based on 28 reports (3% had no usable mileage)

    • "INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I PURCHASED A NEW 2010 VW JETTA SE ON 1/28/10. VIN [XXX] . CURRENT MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 1300 MILES. CAR HAS A AUTOMATIC - DSG TRANSMISSION. IN MID MAY O…"~1,190 mi, complaint #790561
    • "I HAVE A 2010 US VERSION VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS AROUND 4500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH THE CAR SINCE DAY #1. THE PROBLEM IS MANIFESTED AS A LURCHING, AND ERRATIC SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN…"~4,500 mi, complaint #749900
    • "I HAVE A 2010 VW JETTA TDI WITH DSG AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 15K MILES ON IT THUS FAR. WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A STREET FROM A COMPLETE STOP THERE IS A DEFINITE AND HAZARDOUS HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD. THIS ISSUE EXISTED SINCE…"~15,000 mi, complaint #872469
    • "I HAVE A 2010 JETTA TDI WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. WHEN I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, I NOTICED THE "D" FLASHING AS I LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS. IT WAS ACTING AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I TRIED TO SHIFT IT TO "N" AND BACK TO "D" WITH NO SUCCESS. I PULLED OFF THE ROA…"~105,780 mi, complaint #1077973
    • "FLEW TO DALLAS TO PURCHASE THIS CAR 2/27/15. DROVE IT HOME 1500 MILES TO LOS ANGELES OVER 2 DAYS. GOT TO EL PASO ON 3/1/15 & GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED (15MPH OR LESS) GOING DOWNHILL. MY PARTICULAR ISSUE COMES IN THE WAY OF HOW THE TRA…"~131,255 mi, complaint #1169114
  10. #10

    power windows and locks

    19 unsafe, 1 broken, 1 annoyance

    21
    incidents
    Typical range: 44,000–82,000 mi

    Median 67,000 mi, based on 28 reports (10% had no usable mileage)

    • "OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS EVERY DOOR ONE BY ONE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE FOR VW"~20,000 mi, complaint #1197553
    • "I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THE LATEST RECALL DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER THE RADIO WENT BLANK AND BLACK. ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UNLOCK REAR PASSENGER DOOR EXCEPT MANUALLY. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1218824
    • "MY 2010 JETTA WOLFSBURG'S LOCKS DO NOT WORK WHENEVER IT RAINS - DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS LOCKED WHEN UNLOCK CAR, BUT OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED. HAVE TO USE KEY TO OPEN DOOR. FURTHERMORE, THE PASSENGER DOOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT LOCK AT ALL SO CAN BE OPENED W…"~67,000 mi, complaint #1597826
    • "I AM HAVING A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE AS IN NHTSA ID NUMBERS 10660948, 10664166, 10662515 AND 10633219. ALL FOUR OF MY VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKING MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD BE A…"~83,500 mi, complaint #1141153
    • "I AM UNABLE TO CARRY REAR PASSENGERS (ADULTS OR KIDS) AS THE REAR DOOR DO NOT OPERATE CONSISTENTLY.I CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER WANTS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE TWO REAR WIRING HARNESS AS WELL AS THE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS. THIS SE…"~156,000 mi, complaint #1343703
  11. #11

    airbag system

    20 unsafe

    20
    incidents
    Typical range: 39,000–100,000 mi

    Median 64,000 mi, based on 27 reports (13% had no usable mileage)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 40 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY AND WAS TURNED AROUND WHERE TH…"~23,000 mi, complaint #939695
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE (I77SOUTHBOUND) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STARTED SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES. INSTANTLY I HIT MY BRAKES AND STOPPED SAFELY WITHOUT HITTING THAT VEHICLE. LITERALLY 2 OR 3 SECONDS LATER, A CAR REAR ENDS ME AT SP…"~49,500 mi, complaint #992822
    • "AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30PM ON JULY 14, 2014 MY MOM WAS DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON HIGHWAY 99. SHE SLOWED DOWN DUE TO HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY 58 EAST WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A PICK UP TRUCK. SHE THEN STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER…"~67,000 mi, complaint #1087683
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INADVERTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI…"~97,500 mi, complaint #1409182
    • "WE PURCHASED THIS CAR TWO DAYS AGO FOR OUR 18 YO DAUGHTER AND I DID NOT NOTICE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. IT WAS WHEN SHE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TRIED TO HONK THE HORN THAT OUR ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THE LIGHT. IT IS AT THE DEALER TODAY HAVING THE CLOCK SPR…"~122,200 mi, complaint #1489574
  12. #12

    engine internal

    19 unsafe

    19
    incidents
    Typical range: 33,000–91,000 mi

    Median 75,500 mi, based on 28 reports (10% had no usable mileage)

    • "SUCCESSFULLY STARTING AND DRIVING THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPS AT 40MPH AVERAGE. PUT CAR IN 40DEG GARAGE OVERNIGHT. STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING IN GARAGE, IT RAN FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS THEN STOPPED. RESTART ACTED LIKE DEAD BATTERY; HALF TURN OF…"~13,252 mi, complaint #841145
    • "ICE IN THE AIR INTAKE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO VAPOR LOCK WHICH CAUSED A BENT PISTON ROD. DEALER IS GOING TO REMOVE THE FACTORY AIR INTAKE AFTER INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY AND CLAIMS THIS IS AN ENGINEERED FIX. DEALER ALSO SAID THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS WORK…"~34,034 mi, complaint #910879
    • "I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 VW JETTA TO WORK WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED RAPIDLY BLINKING. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. CALLED VW DEALERSHIP. THEY SUGGESTED TOWING MY VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWE…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1186338
    • "ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR ON A COLD DAY WITH LOW FUEL. THE ENGINE WAS JUMPY AND DIDN'T START. I WAITED AND ATTEMPTED AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED, DROVE 500 FEET TO THE GAS STATION, FILLED WITH DIESEL. THE LIGHT THEN CAME ON AFTER I STARTED IT AGAIN.…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1272713
    • "SECOND FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. VW HAS ADMITTED TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BUT ONLY EXTENDED WARRANTY. HAD THE MANIFOLD REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES ROUGHLY. UNIT FAILED AGAIN AT 150,000 MILES. I DONT BELIEVE THEY ORIGINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. VW IS PLACING…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1447385
  13. #13

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    13 unsafe

    13
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=21, median 6,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "VEHICLE HESITATES, USUALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, BUT SOMETIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND STALLED COMPLETELY IN INTERSECTIONS TWICE. INITIALLY THIS WAS MOST OFTEN ON A COLD START, WITHIN THE FIRST 5-10 MILES, BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. IT MIGHT DO IT ONCE A DAY, ONCE A WE…"~500 mi, complaint #893427
    • "WHEN YOU STOP AT A LIGHT AND THEN GO TO TAKE OFF THE CAR HAS A SEVERE LAG (NO POWER) BARELY WILL MOVE. IT SHOWED UP ABOUT 2000 MILES 2010 JETTA TDI. *TR"~3,000 mi, complaint #779624
    • "I HAVE A JETTA TDI 2010 SPORT WAGON THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT PAUSE WHEN THE THROTTLE IS HELD CONSTANT. RANDOM BUT HAPPENS EVERY DAY. BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND WILL C…"~4,000 mi, complaint #786133
    • "DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR GREATER THAN 30 MINUTES, THERE WAS ONSET OF STRONG RAIN CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING TIME -- THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WAS LOST. SYMPTOMS OF DOWNSHIFTING WERE NOTED JUST PRIOR TO ONSET O…"~50,500 mi, complaint #1396206
    • "WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IT WILL AT TIMES HESITATE AND STUMBLE SEVERELY TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODES NOTED WHEN SCANNED. PROBLEM STARTED RIGHT AFTER VW TDI EMISSIONS FIXES. VW DEALER CLAIMS NO CONNECTION."~89,000 mi, complaint #1467925
  14. #14

    control module

    1 stranded, 8 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    11
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=16, median 51,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "2010 VW JETTA WOLFSBURG SHUT DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION ON A HIGHWAY WHILE UNABLE TO GET SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE SHUT OF AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY. WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IN PARK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I…"~4,746 mi, complaint #811538
    • "VW JETTA TDI 2010. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY DIED WHILE MOVING SLOWLY. (5 TO 20 MPH) EVERYTHING IN THE CAR STAYED ON. I HAD TO TURN THE KEY OFF. PLACE THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE OR AFTER T…"~41,200 mi, complaint #826395
    • "CAR WON'T START, JUMPED, DROVE AND FAILED TO START NEXT DAY, OWN TEST AND HAS CURRENT DRAW WHEN OFF, TOOK TO DEALER, SAID RADIO IS CAUSING PROBLEM, WON'T (GO TO SLEEP MODE WHEN TURNED OFF), TOLD $800 TO REPLACE THE RADIO, CHECKED ON LINE AND I SEE SO MANY, THO…"~58,000 mi, complaint #1309961
    • "I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR ONE HOUR. I MADE A QUICK STOP AT MY HOUSE TO PICK SOMETHING UP. I PULLED BACK INTO THE STREET AND STARTED TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO PUSH MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.…"~119,940 mi, complaint #1257028
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE NEUTRAL AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGN…"~126,000 mi, complaint #1197567
  15. #15

    brake hydraulics

    9 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    10
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 71,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I HAVE A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND I NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST FORMING ON THE REAR WHEELS AND OCCASIONAL SQUEAKING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AT MY FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE OF 10,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. AT THE NEXT SERVICE INT…"~10,000 mi, complaint #878462
    • "UPON EXITING THE FREEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES,SPEED35MPH, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND BLEW THE TIRE. SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON VEHICLE, THEN DRIVEN APP. 2MILES TO HOUSE. DURING TRIP TO HOUSE BRAKES LOST FLUID AND IT BECAME HARD TO STOP CAR. THIS IS THE…"~26,201 mi, complaint #842836
    • "I REPLACED MY BRAKES WITH BRAND NEW BRAKES LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO AND STILL HAVE ALL OF THE SAME ISSUES. MY BRAKES CONSTANTLY LOCK, I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO A HARDSTOP WITH THIS CAR FOR THE 4 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. I'VE AVOIDED ACCIDENTS BY MOVING MY STEERING…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1554529
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. TH…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1529341
    • "I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 9 OR 10AM IT WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE I WAS GOING ABOUT 45MPH. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THERE BRAKES AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS AT LEAST 3 OR 4 MAYBE MORE CAR LENGTHS BEHIND T…"~156,000 mi, complaint #1469445
  16. #16

    transmission manual clutch

    1 stranded, 8 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "2010 VW JETTA 2.0 TDI CUP EDITION: ENTERING TRAFFIC IN FIRST GEAR, AT ABOUT 4000-4200 RPM, CAR HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE DID NOT DIE. I PUSHED IN CLUTCH AND POWER RETURNED. THIS HAS OCCURRED MONTHLY WITH NO CONSISTENCY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR I…"~500 mi, complaint #967699
    • "I'VE HAD 3 AUTOMOBILES SINCE 1986 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND DON'T RECALL A STALLING PROBLEM LIKE I'M HAVING NOW WITH MY VW 2010 JETTA TDI. IT STARTED WITH A TEST DRIVE AND A NUMBER OF TIMES AFTER PURCHASE. I ASSUMED MY MOTOR SKILLS WOULD ADAPT AND THE PR…"~4,100 mi, complaint #782956
    • "VIBRATION/ DRAGGING FELT WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2010 VW JETTA TDI SPORT WAGON. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO LOCAL VW DEALER FOR SERVICE. CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, FLYWHEEL, CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND RELEASE BEARING REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN FLYWHEEL AND…"~20,833 mi, complaint #993761
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1208376
    • "WHEN SHIFTING GEAR, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CLUTCH MAKES CLICK NOISE THEN SLIPS TO NEUTRAL. THEN THE PRNDS LIGHTS STARTS FLASHING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. THE ONLY WAY TO REENGAGE THE GEAR IS BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND ON, REST…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1101774
  17. #17

    fuel injector

    2 stranded, 5 unsafe, 1 broken

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=14, median 68,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V490000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIES…"~28,000 mi, complaint #897254
    • "I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I ACCELERATED HARD AND I PREDNDIO LIGHT OF "GLOW PLUG" ON THE PANEL, THE CAR LOST POWER AND WAS LIMITED TO SPEND TWO THOUSAND RPM'S COMING HOME THAT WAS CLOSE. I DID NOTHING THAT NIGHT, I FOLLOWED TURNING ON THE LIGHT IN THE PA…"~68,000 mi, complaint #1069413
    • "NHTSA ACTION NUMBER :EA11003 AUX FUEL INJECTION PUMP AND LINES LEAKING. *TR"~68,000 mi, complaint #1162262
    • "2010 VW TDI JETTA : I OWN A 2010 VW TDI JETTA I SMELLED DIESEL FUEL COMING INTO MY CAR (THE CAR AT THE TIME HAD 117,000 MILES). ALSO, I NOTICED DIESEL FUEL DRIPPING ON MY DRIVEWAY ALSO ON THE BACK OF MY CAR . THE CAR HAD FUEL RUNNING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM I…"~117,000 mi, complaint #1003595
    • "AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO RESTART. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING: INJECTORS 3 & 4 WERE MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. H…"~123,687 mi, complaint #1021297
  18. #18

    horn

    4 unsafe, 1 broken, 3 annoyance

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "I BOUGHT THE 2010 JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI MANUAL RECENTLY, AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE HORN HAS A ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECOND DELAY. THIS IS SOMETHING UNUSUAL ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU WANT TO WARN SOME OTHER DRIVERS. THIS UNUSUAL SITUATION LEA…"~530 mi, complaint #819395
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN A CAR ON THE SHOULDER PULLED OUT WITHOUT SEEING ME. I WENT TO HONK MY HORN AND IT DIDN'T WORK. I LUCKILY SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE. I FOUND OUT IT'S NOT JUST MY HORN BUT THE COCK SP…"~105,000 mi, complaint #1515741
  19. #19

    suspension struts shocks

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear passenger’s…"~68,000 mi, complaint #1757606
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. COMPASS MOTORS ([REDACTED ADDRESS], MIDDLETOWN, NY 10940, [REDACTED PHONE]) INFORMED THE CONTACT…"~85,000 mi, complaint #1523160
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSE…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1278279
    • "COIL SPRINGS IN REAR BOTH BROKE NOW FRONT SPRING IS BROKEN. VERY DANGEROUS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING STRIAT DOWN HIGHWAY"~130,000 mi, complaint #1571892
    • "FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, FRONT OF VEHICLE DROPPED, DAMAGED TIRE,....SAFETY ISSUE, IMMEDIATELY HAD DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED"~150,000 mi, complaint #1459239
  20. #20

    battery and charging

    2 stranded, 5 unsafe

    7
    incidents
    Typical range: 20,000–76,500 mi

    Median 41,000 mi, based on 28 reports (0% had no usable mileage)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAIL…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1060395
    • "RADIO ON 2010 VW JETTA TDI DIED DURRING THE SUMMER. NOW, IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS JUMPED WITH ANOTHER CAR OR BATTERY CHARGER. FUSES IN CAR ARE INTACT."~52,000 mi, complaint #1241672
    • "CAR WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2015 FOR INSPECTION. NEEDED NEW STRUTS AND DRIVER DOOR PANEL, DOOR NEEDED FIXED DUE TO NO LIGHTS ON LOCKS AND DOOR ITSELF WOULD NOT LOCK. PAID $1400 FOR EVERYTHING WHEN PICKING UP THE CAR, GOT IN CAR AND RADIO DID NOT WOR…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1284262
    • "THE RADIO WITH BLUETOOTH DIED AT 90507 MILES AND NOW THE BATTERY AND NEW BATTERY LOOSE CHARGE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THE SAME ISSUE WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER OWNERS SAME MODEL CARS HERE HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T36009_DS552583 HTT…"~90,507 mi, complaint #1178365
    • "POP SOUND, BATTERY IS DEAD, RADIO AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. THIS ISSUES IS WITH HUNDREDS OF 2010 JETTAS. *TR"~142,000 mi, complaint #1175316
  21. #21

    emissions aftertreatment

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "EGR VALVE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CODE P0401 FOR EGR VALVE. DEALER SAID THEY TESTED IT AND IT WAS "STICKING". NOT COVERED UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. FAILED AT 45K MILES. VW PART NUMBER IS 03L-131-501-K. $700 REPAIR. *TR"~45,000 mi, complaint #931951
    • "AT 60,000 MILES WE NOTICED A DECREASE IN ACCELERATION AND GAS MILEAGE IN 2010, VW JETTA TDI. THE DEALER SAID THEY FIXED THE ISSUES, BUT WE ONLY SAW A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE. IN BETWEEN THE 60,000 MILES AND NOW 113,000 THE CAR HAS BEEN D…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1222428
    • "I AM A 51 YEAR OLD DISABLED MAN WITH FULL TIME CUSTODY OF MY [REDACTED ADDRESS] A 2010 VW JETTA TDI CLEAN DIESEL BOUGHT SLIGHTLY USED WITH 38000 MILES ON IT AND JUST AFTER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY OF 80000 MILES RAN OUT THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER FAILED ON TH…"~87,300 mi, complaint #997444
    • "I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE DPF (DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER) FAILED. THE FILTER WAS PLUGGED WITH CARBON. THE DEALER ADMITTED TO ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT…"~89,433 mi, complaint #1221881
    • "I TOOK MY 2010 JETTA TDI IN TO HAVE THE ECM REPROGRAMMED PER THE NOTICE I RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGON THAT SAID THE EGR MIGHT NOT BE READ PROPERLY. THE NEXT DAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TODAY I HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY ARE AD…"~123,600 mi, complaint #1205998
  22. #22

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00PM ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2010, MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED HEADING WESTBOUND ON GOLF ROAD IN THE SOUTH OR INNER LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET BEFORE THE STOPLIGHT OF WASHINGTON ST AND GOLF RD (IL-58). THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SE…"~2,100 mi, complaint #815327
    • "VEHICLE SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RELEASE THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED AND WILL NOT RELEASE TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO WEAR THEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE, APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING AS THEY WILL RETRACT PAST THE NORMAL STO…"~46,000 mi, complaint #958705
    • "REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE REAR MIDDLE AS WELL AS REAR DOOR SEAT. THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOOSEN UP IE IT WAS TAUT AND THE DOOR SIDE SEAT WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAD TO…"~51,000 mi, complaint #954923
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. AFTER CONNECTING THE SEAT BELT, THE FASTENER DETACHED FROM THE SEAT FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TWO W…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1287296
    • "AFTER FOLDING DOWN THE BACKSEAT THE CENTER SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE AND DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, YET VW HAS FAILED TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR"~70,000 mi, complaint #1039803
  23. #23

    sunroof

    6 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "THE FRONT PANEL OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT. THERE WAS NO OVERNIGHT PRECIPITATION AND THE OVERNIGHT LOW WAS COLD--ABOUT 0--BUT NOT EXTREMELY SO. THERE WERE NO REMAINING PIECES OF GLASS LARGER THAN A DIME, AND SMALL SPLI…"~18,200 mi, complaint #838143
    • "THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND LEAKS INSIDE THE CAR. DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $350 TO FIX (NOT TO MENTION THAT NOW THE CAR SMELLS MUSTY) AND SUGGESTED THAT OTHER VW OWNERS WITH MY MODEL OF CAR HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT VW DID NOT D…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1143782
    • "SUNROOF DRAINS COME APART ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER AUTOMOBILE. WET INTERIOR ALLOWS MOLD TO GROW INSIDE CAR CAUSING A POSSIBLE HEALTH HAZARD. WINDOWS STEAM UP BLOCKING VIEW OUT OF CAR CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. WATER DRIPS ONTO ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS A…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1166567
    • "ONGOING OCCURRENCE: WHEN I START MY CAR THE SUNROOF TILTS OPEN. I START TO DRIVE AND THE SUNROOF WOULD START RANDOMLY OPEN AND CLOSE WITHOUT ME TOUCHING KNOB TO OPEN SUNROOF. I COULD PUSH ON KNOB AND SUNROOF CLOSES FROM TILT POSITION AND AT TIMES IT WOULD JUST…"~104,000 mi, complaint #1743963
    • "SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING [REDACTED ADDRESS]. NO NEARBY VEHICLES, NO OBVIOUS SOURCE OF IMPACT. SUNROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION. GLASS MOSTLY CONTAINED ABOVE SUNSHADE (WHICH WAS CLOSED) BUT SOME FELL THROUGH AIR SLOTS AT THE FRONT. VERY LOUD BANG…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1573848
  24. #24

    tire failure

    6 unsafe, 1 broken

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "I HAVE 2 CONTINENTAL CONTI PROCONTACT TIRES THAT HAD BUBBLES IN THEM, AND FAILED WHEN I WENT OVER A POTHOLE AND BUMPED A CURB. VW IS ACTING LIKE IT IS A CONTINENTAL TIRE PROBLEM, AND WHILE IT IS, IT IS VW ALSO BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE THOSE TIRES FOR THEIR VEHICLE…"~6,000 mi, complaint #820423
    • "TIRE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE WITH 7000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE MAKE IS CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 225/45 R17 91H, DOT AFTY PXH6. *TR"~7,000 mi, complaint #798110
    • "LARGE SPLIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT OUTSIDE SIDEWALL DISCOVERED. UPON INSPECTION, GAP WAS VERY NOTICABLE. CHECK THE REMAINING THREE TIRES AND NO EVIDENCE OF THE SAME. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. WE DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE "B…"~15,000 mi, complaint #1106570
    • "I HAVE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES ON MY 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS (THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 23,000 MILES ON THEM). THE FIRST WAS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE; I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AND THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY WENT FLAT. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS ROAD FOR OVER 2 YR…"~23,000 mi, complaint #839142
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DTI WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES, LINE SIZE P205/55R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A TIRE ROTATION WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE COMING APART AT THE SIDE WALL. TWO OF THE T…"~42,125 mi, complaint #851222
  25. #25

    exhaust system

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "2009-2013 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN TDI VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES CONTAIN AN EXHAUST RESTRICTOR VALVE THAT CONTROLS THE REGENERATIVE FEATURE OF THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF). THIS FLAP IS EXPERIENCING ABNORMAL FAILURE RATE BETWEEN 25000 AND 70000 MI…"~52,800 mi, complaint #934522
    • "THE CAR ABRUPTLY DECELERATED FROM 65 TO 35 MPH ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE AS THE ENGINE WENT INTO 'LIMP MODE'. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION CAUSED SWERVING AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE COIL/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND CAR HE…"~55,000 mi, complaint #954163
    • "LAST YEAR, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND SAID PROBLEM WAS DUE TO DEFECT IN EXHAUST FLAP. HE ASKED ME TO PAY $770.00. LUCKILY, THERE WAS RECALL ON THE SAME A MONTH LATER. DEALER FIXED IT, BUT ENGINE LIGHT STI…"~77,000 mi, complaint #981168
    • "MY CAR KEEPS THROWING A P0401 CODE EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW. THE DEALER TOLD ME ITS MIGHT BE A CRACKED DPF FILTER. AFTER LOOKING ON VW FORUMS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ITS GOING TO BE AROUND A $3000 FIX. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT A "CLEAN DIESEL" AS ADVERTISED THE SYSTEM IS G…"~89,000 mi, complaint #1236363
    • "VW TDI ENGINE: A POORLY DESIGNED DIESEL ENGINE PARTICULATE FILTER (PF). VW IS IRRESPONSIBLE IN DESIGNING, SELLING AND SUPPORTING REPAIRS TO THIS ITEM. COST FOR 100K SCHEDULED MAINT. FOR TIMING BELT AND OTHER PM WORK @ $3,127, PF IS EXPECTED TO FAIL BETWEEN…"~113,516 mi, complaint #1183825
  26. #26

    lighting exterior

    5 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    6
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 53,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "THE LEFT TURNING SIGNAL BLINKS WHEN USING THE RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL. SOMETIMES NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN USING THE RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL. SOMETIMES THE LEFT TURNING SIGNAL BLINKS A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL BLINKS. THIS IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO INDI…"~6,200 mi, complaint #1192259
    • "ON MONDAY, 11-19, AFTER WORK I NOTICED THAT THE BULB INDICATOR LIGHT WAS IN ON THE DASHBOARD. I GOT OUT AND WALKED AROUND THE CAR TO SEE WHAT WENT OUT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. AFTER GETTING BACK IN I SAW THAT THE LIGHT WAS OFF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN MY HUSBAND…"~49,800 mi, complaint #950648
    • "THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. DISCOVERED DURING ANNUAL STATE REQUIRED INSPECTION IN SEPTEMBER 2015. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE REGULARLY ON RURAL, CITY AND HIGHWAY ROADS WITHOUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS AND WAS UNAWARE. A REPAIR TO THE ELECTRI…"~53,000 mi, complaint #1252935
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVE…"~88,000 mi, complaint #1284458
    • "PASSAGE SIDE HIGH AND LOW BEAM , DRIVERSIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT, DRIVERSIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALL STOPPED WORKING CHANGED ALL BULBS STILL DIDN'T WORK PULLED F16 FUSE FUSE IS BURNT AND MELTED THE FUSE PORT. VW STATED IT WOULD NOT…"~97,000 mi, complaint #1373197
  27. #27

    throttle and pedal

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "DEAD PEDAL - HESITATION - STALLING. ABSOLUTELY NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. YOU PRESS THE PEDAL AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION THE CAR STALLS. ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED…"~9,500 mi, complaint #872682
    • "THIS VEHICLE IS A DIESEL. AS I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE MY SPEED FROM A CONSTRUCTION ZONE SPEED TO 55 MPH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND ACTED AS IF NO FUEL WAS BEING INJECTED TO THE ENGINE, AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE…"~33,300 mi, complaint #934832
    • "DEALERSHIP PERFORMED 90K MILE CHECKUP. ALSO ASKED THEM TO DETERMINE IF CEL P0472 WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. THEY CONFIRMED CODE, AND SAID NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE ALSO ADVISED THE CAR IS SHOWING INTERMITTENT CODE OF P0638 FOR THROTTLE ACTUATOR CON…"~89,494 mi, complaint #1251003
    • "LATERAL SPACING BETWEEN ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL TOO NARROW. THIS SITUATION CAUSES THE DRIVER TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN REQUIRING BRAKING. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION THIS CAUSED ME TO IMPACT A STATIONARY VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS A D…"~95,000 mi, complaint #1396475
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE TOO CLOSE AND THAT THE WRONG PEDAL MAY BE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED RALPH THAYER VOLKSWAGEN ([REDACTED ADDRESS], LIVONIA, MI 48…"~180,000 mi, complaint #1690915
  28. #28

    brake pads and rotors

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "BRAKES ON 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGON TDI WEARING UNEVENLY. 90 % FRONT BRAKE PAD LEFT AND 15% PAD LEFT ON THE REAR. VOLKSWAGEN SHOP REPORTS TO ME THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS NORMAL. VOLKSWAGEN SHOP MANAGER STATES IT IS DUE TO UNDERSIZED REAR BRAKE…"~30,000 mi, complaint #867323
    • "TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR 40,000 MILE MAINTENANCE/TUNE UP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO TELL ME I NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKE PADS. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE LEFT BRAKE PAD CAN BE ALMOST GONE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WHILE THE OTHER BRAKE PADS HAVE 80% OF WEAR…"~37,800 mi, complaint #1107286
    • "L/R CALIPER REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT AND LUBRICATION DUE TO STUCK IN POSITION. NO EMERGENCY BREAK USED. NOTICED WHEN LEAVING PARKING LOT OF STORE AND SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. GOT OUT OF AUTO AND MY WHEEL IS SMOKING AND GLOWING. REQUIRED TOW AND REPAIR 9/14/2015. I N…"~41,000 mi, complaint #1250277
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1031461
    • "AFTER FAILING INSPECTION LAST WEEK FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS, I PRECEDED TO CHANGE THE REAR BRAKES (WHICH WERE THE REASON FOR THE INSPECTION FAILURE). THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE PAD WAS WORE COMPLETELY TO THE METAL. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE LOOKED AS TH…"~80,808 mi, complaint #1050896
  29. #29

    door latch and hinge

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "WE HAVE OWNED THIS 2010 JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI SINCE BRAND NEW. TODAY 1/28/14 IS THE FOURTH TIME WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOCK MECHANISM ON ONE OF THE DOORS. PART NUMBERS 3B4-839-016-AP (LEFT REAR), 3B1-837-016-CG (RIGHT FRONT) AND 3B4-839-015-AP (RIGHT REAR)…"~18,458 mi, complaint #1035203
    • "THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LATCH STOPPED LOCKING WHEN THE MASTER DOOR LOCK IS PUSHED OR THE KEYLESS IS PRESSED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE MY CHILDREN SIT IN THE BACK AND THERE IS NOT AN ACCESSIBLE MANUAL BUTTON TO LOCK THE DOOR WITH. MY CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS…"~41,000 mi, complaint #947311
    • "THE JETTA TDI SPORTSWAGON 2010'S HATCHBACK LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT STAY LOCKED. AFTER CLOSING THE HATCH, THE LATCH ENGAGES INTO CLOSED POSITION. BUT ON SLIGHT PUSH, THE LATCH DISENGAGES INTO OPEN POSITION. ON A ROAD BUMP, THE LATCH OPENS, LIFTING THE HAT…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1101775
    • "RIGHT REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. NOW THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WONT OPEN OR CLOSE FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AND DEALER INDICATES THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED AND WILL NEED REPLACED AT $475/DOOR. THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR HAS NOW STARTED TO NOT OP…"~84,135 mi, complaint #1138960
    • "THE DOOR LOCKS/LATCHES FOR VW JETTA WOLFSBURG EDITION 2010 ARE NOT WORKING (CURRENTLY, THREE OUT OF FOUR DOORS/LATCHES ARE NOT WORKING). THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS $595 PER DOOR LATCH (TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $1,785). WHILE IT MAY POSE A SAFETY RISK…"~85,855 mi, complaint #1530945
  30. #30

    engine turbo supercharger

    1 stranded, 4 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 72,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON 12/15/13 AND AS I ACCELERATED, I LOST POWER AND "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. CAR FELL TO 50MPH AND I EXITED HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY, STOPPED THE CAR, RE-STARTED AND THE CAR AND LIGHT WAS STILL ON. SHOWED ERROR CODE G450 AND THE "EXHAUST PRES…"~48,000 mi, complaint #1050288
    • "VEHICLE LOST POWER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, 50 MPH SPEED ZONE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LOSS OF TURBO BOOST WITH RESULTANT LACK OF ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED. INTERNET SEARCH SUGGESTS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM INVOLVING ICING AND WATER INGESTION THROUGH THE INTERCOO…"~58,500 mi, complaint #1135969
    • "MY 2010 VW JETTA SPORTWAGEN GOT THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT INTERMITTENT FLASH STARTING ON 72K MILES. IN THE COLD MORNING I COULD DRIVE 10-15 MINUTES WITHOUT ISSUE. HOWEVER, ONCE THE GLOW PLUG IS ON, IT COULD NOT EXCEED 40MPH. HERE'S THE DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE DEALERSHI…"~72,010 mi, complaint #949669
    • "WENT TO START AND LOUD CLUNK NOISE & ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. SEVERAL PIECES IF ICE WERE FOUND IN TURBO INTERCOOLER AREA. IN SHOP NOW. KNOWN DESIGN DEFICIENCY THAT VW NEVER INFORMED US ABOUT. $1800 TO IMPLEMENT TECH BULLETIN WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM VW, T…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1147326
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (AT SPEED) ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN MY 2010 JETTA TDI SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT LOCK UP AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. HOWEVER, I CONTINUED TO COAST AT SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER.…"~143,207 mi, complaint #1032819
  31. #31

    engine cooling

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "INTERCOOLER PIPING ACCUMULATES AN OIL/WATER SLUDGE MIXTURE DURING COLD WEATHER DRIVING. WHILE PARKED AFTER DRIVING THE SLUDGE COLLECTS AT THE LOWEST POINT IN THE PIPING. IF TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING, THE SLUDGE FORMS A PLUG WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM ST…"~15,000 mi, complaint #841158
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION IN COLD WEATHER BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE FROZE…"~26,195 mi, complaint #966417
    • "I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE PAST MONTH WITH MY VEHICLE EITHER STALLING IMMEDIATELY AFTER START (WHILE CLUTCH STILL DEPRESSED) OR SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING. VOLKSWAGEN HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN ISSUE WITH THE INTERCOOLER; THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN THAT IS…"~29,000 mi, complaint #900520
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 55 MILES AN HOUR WITH FULL TRAFFIC AND MY JETTA SPUTTERED AND BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED-QUICKLY, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BY PRESSING GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AND I LUCKILY COASTED INTO STORE PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO RESTAR…"~60,000 mi, complaint #953630
  32. #32

    starter

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "NOT ABLE TO TURN KEY IN THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO START CAR. SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF."~80,000 mi, complaint #1416384
    • "IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. COST $800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE."~85,000 mi, complaint #1677555
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated he was unable to start the vehicle temporarily. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to start the vehicle within 30 minutes and drove to his destination. The con…"~255,000 mi, complaint #1896979
  33. #33

    timing belt or chain

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "MY WIFE'S 2010 JETTA 2.0T TSI EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE STALL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF CITY STREET. THIS WAS A ROUTINE TRIP UNDER CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS. WITH NO TRAFFIC BEHIND HER, SHE SAFELY COAS…"~84,000 mi, complaint #1321209
    • "THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM IN MY 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WOLFSBURG EDITION FAILED, RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AS FAILURE IN A ROAD COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BASED ON READINGS, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE CARS W…"~96,000 mi, complaint #1578532
    • "I HAVE A 2010 VW JETTA WITH 118K ON IT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY ENGINE DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I EVETUALLY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND THEY ESTIMATED REPAIR COST TO BE BETWEEN 4-5K RANGE TO…"~118,400 mi, complaint #1685796
  34. #34

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "7/6/13 AC NOT WORKING AT ALL. ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE AC-COMPRESSOR AND DRIER- WERE REPLACED 7/18/2013 BY VW. AC WORKED FINE FOR REST OF 2013 SEASON. MAY 2014 DELAYED/INTERMITTENT COOLING IN LAS VEGAS, NV. 6/18/14 TOOK TO VW IN HENDERSON, NV AND TOLD TH…"~72,262 mi, complaint #1095942
  35. #35

    other

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WATER INFILTRATION: THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT WON AGAINST VW FOR WATER INFILTRATION FOR MODEL YEARS THROUGH 2009, WHICH FILED BEFORE THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. MINE IS A 2010, BUT MANUFACTURED IN 2009. I NOW HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT HAVEN'…"~51,000 mi, complaint #1346738
  36. #36

    seat mechanism

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "SEATBELT ON DRIVERS SIDE, BACK SEAT, BROKE (LOCKED IN SLIGHTLY EXTENDED POSITION). VW QUOTED 380 TO FIX. SEATBELT USED TO BUCKLE A TODDLER IN TODDLER SEAT (FRONT FACING, BELT GOES OVER THE TODDLER WHILE LATCH SYSTEM HOLDS SEAT IN PLACE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN I…"~82,000 mi, complaint #1056056
  37. #37

    software or update

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, CAR STALLED OUT. BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED, RADIO ETC STAYED ON, BUT CAR HAD NO POWER AT ALL. ROLLED TO NEXT INTERSECTION, TURNED CAR OFF, AND RESTARTED IT. TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE, WHICH THEY THEN PERFORMED…"~17,500 mi, complaint #879412
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. LITHIA AUTO STORE ([REDACTED ADDRESS], RENO, NV 89511) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE…"~57,000 mi, complaint #1434580
  38. #38

    unintended acceleration

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT , TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO COAST IN AND APPLIED THE BRAKE (APPROX 3 TO 4 MPH). THE ENGINE REVVED AND ACCELERATED. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR MOVED APPROX 6 FEET AND OV…"~3,900 mi, complaint #853930
    • "WHILE PARKING A JETTA 2010, THE CAR WAS ALMOST STOPPED THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. BRAKE WAS ON, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED EXTREMELY FAST, COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR"~7,000 mi, complaint #821824
  39. #39

    wiper and washer

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER BLADE ON THIS JETTA IS SCRATCHING THE GLASS LEAVING A STREAK IN THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT. THE BLADES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE NEW WINDSHIELD SCRATCHED IN THE DRIVERS VIEW. THIS HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY…"~500 mi, complaint #844432
  40. #40

    cruise control conventional

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 78 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE C…"~4,850 mi, complaint #782588
    • "UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION ON CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET, PRESSING THE 'COAST/DECELERATE' BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT TO JUMP BY SEVERAL MPH, I.E. ACCELERATE. EXAMPLE: CRUISE IS SET AT 55 MPH. PRESS THE COAST BUTTON…"~15,000 mi, complaint #867598
  41. #41

    engine oil consumption

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "CAR KEPT STALLING AFTER TAKE OFF WHEN YOU ACCELERATED. WHEN TAKING IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP IT WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED THERE. WHEN THEY GOT IT THEY DISCOVERED ALL BUT 1 QUART OF THE OIL IN THE ENGINE WAS GONE. THEY DETERMINED THAT THIS MALFUNCTION…"~109,000 mi, complaint #1284729
    • "OIL LEAK ON BRAKES VACUUM PUMP. USUALLY A CHEAP DEFECTIVE O-RING RESULTING IN BIG OIL LEAK"~150,000 mi, complaint #1523204
  42. #42

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "AFTER I CLOSED THE PASSENGER DOOR OF MY 2010 VW JETTA SPORTSWAGEN, THE FORWARD GLASS OF THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR"~2,047 mi, complaint #748172
  43. #43

    hv system fault reduced power

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "HI, WE PURCHASED A 2010 VW JETTA TDI SPORTWAGEN IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND WITHIN THE FIRST 300 MILES IT WENT INTO A LIMP MODE WITH REDUCED POWER AND THE GLOWPLUG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I LIMPED HOME AT HALF POWER AND PARKED IT. WHEN I WENT TO START IT TO…"~700 mi, complaint #811700
    • "DRIVING ON 2ND LANE OF FREEWAY. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER - ALL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON DASHBOARD ACCOMPANIED BY BELLS AND DINGS. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD - FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC NOT HEAVY. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING HOWEVER NO FORWARD MOVEMENT WHEN PUSHING ACCELERAT…"~107,188 mi, complaint #1105158
  44. #44

    instrument cluster

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED AN ERROR MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE MAIN COMPUTER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE W…"~30,000 mi, complaint #986738
  45. #45

    interior trim

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THE HEADLINER WAS SEPARATING FROM THE INSIDE ROOF OF THE CAR. IT WAS STARTING TO HANG DOWN. ALSO THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL WAS COMING APART AND STARTING TO DISINTEGRATE. BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. VOLKSWAGON SAID OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY CAN DO,NOTHING DESPITE…"~67,000 mi, complaint #1404842
  46. #46

    stability and traction control

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "WHILE DRIVING HOME TO PANAMA CITY BEACH FL VIA THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE CAR THE ENGINE REVVED UP, I HAD NO POWER AND THE ESP LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I PUT IT IN PARK. I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR BACK IN GEAR. I THEN T…"~50,126 mi, complaint #1042787
    • "MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND I SEE CERTAIN LIGHTS SHOW UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE I LOSE THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT POWERS BACK ON. I'VE ALREADY RULED OUT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IN THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THOUGH THERE IS NOT O…"~111,000 mi, complaint #1663116
  47. #47

    wheel or rim

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WE HAVE HIT POT HOLES IN THE ROAD AT MODERATE SPEED RESULTING IN AN ALUMINUM, WHEEL INCURRING SUBSTANTIAL BENDING AND GOING OUT OF ROUND. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE WHEEL GOES OUT OF BALANCE AND THE CAR LOOSES STABILITY ON THE HIGHWAY. BO…"~60,000 mi, complaint #973577
    • "WE HAVE HAD TWO RIMS BEND OUT OF SHAPE RESULTING IN FLATS IN THE SPACE OF THREE WEEKS. THE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN STRIKING A MINOR POTHOLE (<1" DEEP) AT LOW SPEED, AND THE OTHER HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO APPARENT POTHOLE OR DEBRIS. THE EXTREME FRAGILITY OF…"~107,000 mi, complaint #1307931
  48. #48

    alignment and pull

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "MY 2010 VW TDI SPORTWAGON EATS UP THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES, VERY QUICKLY. I JUST PURCHASED MY FIFTH SET OF TIRES FOR A CAR WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED THREE TIMES, AND IT CONTINUALLY SHOWS TO BE WITHIN SPECS. THE FIRST T…"complaint #950787
  49. #49

    evap system

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "DURING SECOND VW DEALER SERVICE AT APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES , CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON DURING THE PROCESS, TECH READ CODE AS A FAILURE IN A SECONDARY AIR-FLOW SENSOR, PART WAS REPLACE AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. AT THIRD VW DEALER SERVICE AT 17,000 MILES, APPRO…"~9,000 mi, complaint #876754
  50. #50

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "I AM TRULY NOT SURE. IT IS GOING INTO THE SHOP TOMORROW. ALTHOUGH, I JUST PURCHASED IT USED, AND WHEN I PARK IT ON A HILL. IT MAKES THIS ODD SOUND AS IF THE BODY IS GOING TO FALL APART? I SMELL A BURNING METAL SMELL AS WELL. IT WAS PARKED ON A HILL SO IT WAS S…"~123,000 mi, complaint #1594373
  51. #51

    parking brake

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "RE: PARKING BRAKE. IN DEC 2013, MY 2010 VW JETTA TDI ROLLED BACKWARDS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED. IT HIT ANOTHER STATIONARY VEHICLE; THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO INJURIES EXCEPT TO THE TWO CARS. I HAD BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN FEB 2…"~41,000 mi, complaint #1025254
  52. #52

    phone connectivity

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "PREMIUM 8 TOUCHSCREEN RADIO WITH BLUETOOTH MOBILE PHONE CONNECTIVITY, ENTIRE UNIT NO LONGER WORKING. NORMALLY A RADIO IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, HOWEVER, OPERATION OF THIS UNIT ALLOWS AUTO OPERATOR TO HAVE "HANDS FREE CELL PHONE USE", WHICH MOST DEFINITELY IS A…"~45,500 mi, complaint #1094031
  53. #53

    steering column

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • ""Key gets stuck in ignition and I cannot turn off the engine." "complaint #1859240
  54. #54

    steering electric assist

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING 5 MPH FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE EPS AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND RE-…"~4,500 mi, complaint #807963
  55. #55

    suspension arms and bushings

    1 broken

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "VW HAS REPLACED CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND THE NEW BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. *TR"~42,000 mi, complaint #906354

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for VOLKSWAGEN JETTA directly.