10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,199 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #41

Mar 172021

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car while parked and the engine going will stop. Also when I'm on the freeway the epc light will turn on and feel like I have a loss of power and it feels like it is accelerating. My mechanic has no idea what is going on with my car.

- Stone-Mountain, GA, USA

problem #40

Feb 242021

Jetta

  • 94,300 miles
Started having electrical problems (random dashboard lights, doors, locks, windows wouldn't work, key fob battery died, etc) then I had to replace the battery. Continued electrical issues with new battery, passenger side window/door wouldn't operate or work at all. Needed master key fob to lock driver's side door but all other doors wouldn't lock with fob. Next, I am having issues with the car not starting, put another battery in it. From there random dashboard lights, dinging with drl and first few minutes of operating vehicle, and airbags lights are on. My mechanic sends me to a mechanic shop that specializes in VW. Mechanic replaces window manager and driver side door harness. Still find issues with airbags so I take my car to the dealership in St peters mo during a snow storm. Hand them all my paperwork, they go in and find that my car is being worked on and see that their are splices, connections butted, so they "fix" the airbags and send me on my way. However, I have a toddler in the backseat and she was able to open the doors while the vehicle was in motion, the windows stopped working, etc. Dealership cannot speak to other mechanic shop's work so they did the recalls needed (airbags) and replaced the harness, apparently again. I have all the receipts from the work, all the parts are in my trunk of my car, another appointment to see what the issue is. Car appears to be stuck in security mode but doesn't properly lock, not able to use child lock, and unable to protect vehicle safely with proper locking mechanism. I don't feel safe if there is an intruder or if my toddler were to try this stunt again, also concerned of the fuel issues I've been having. Replaced my gas cap in hopes I wouldn't see loss of fuel, and the car has a slight oil leak that no mechanic can seem to find. Unable to attach paperwork as the dealership has it at this time.

- O'fallon, MO, USA

problem #39

Mar 032020

Jetta

  • 153,341 miles
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly. When turning on the car, the air bag default button comes on. The interior lights do not come on. While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast. While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast. The vehicle suddenly caught fire, while idled in a drive thru line at a fast food restaurant. The fire started under the hood.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #38

Dec 212019

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When turning on the car, the air bag default button comes on. The interior lights do not come on.

- Clifton, NJ, USA

problem #37

Nov 072019

Jetta

  • miles
While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #36

Jan 232019

Jetta

  • miles
The transmission is terribly made. There is also an issue with the fuel injection that does not allow the car to receive the correct fuel as well as the gas tank. The car jerks because of the gas tank and the codes read ad if the cap needs to be replaced but the whole gas tank needs to be replaced.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #35

Jan 312019

Jetta

  • 155,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Secondary air injection system - ongoing issue.. no reading for smog check

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #34

May 292017

Jetta

  • miles
I have had nothing but issues with my 2005 Jetta since purchasing it a little over a year ago. The first issue was loss of power while driving, causing me to almost be struck by other vehicles while turning at intersections. Cause: The fuse box ontop of battery melted, along with the fuses and ground wire. Then the coolant resevoir had to be replaced. Due to the fans not turning on because of those fuses melting. Then, then radiator. Then the break pump, exaust manifold gasket blew. The thing recently wasni had no break lights. Went to change bulbs. Kept breaking the fuses. Then stuck in park. Saw a recall listed for faulty break switch. Called VW they stated my recal had already been serviced. So sorry it was up to me to repair the issue. Told them of every other issue. They said there was nothing they could do for me. Basically I bought a very unrealiable, unsafe, piece of garbage. That I assumed was completely opposite for myself snd my two small children to be dependant upon getting us safely place tonplace.

- Ringgold, GA, USA

problem #33

Oct 012015

Jetta

  • 115,000 miles
For the past year I have taken my car to VW shops and highly rated top VW shops in la. My car was dying if I didn't drive it ever day. I had my car in the shop for over a month and after doing electrical checks, giving me an alternator, replacing countless batteries the problem is still to this day unsolved.in the past 6 months things have become worse and can lead to an accident if not fixed. My car has been decelerating while I am driving on the road, it happens at all different speeds and is random. The car will lock up so that I can not make it pick up speed when it starts decelerating and then out of no where it will work again but instead of letting me gradually increase the speed it blasts off in an uncontrollable manner. This is very dangerous and I have tried to get this fixed and diagnosed but no one not even VW has any idea what is happening because every time I take it to the shop it somehow doesn't happen. Now in the past week my car is taking it to the next level with the deceleration and acceleration but on top of that now it is just dying while I am driving it after doing the jerky thing. I literally was driving on the hwy and it jerked a couple of times and then the car just died while driving and the brakes and steering wheel locked up. I was able to get to the shoulder but it was absolutely terrifying and I could have been killed! the battery light came on and I turned off the car. When I tried to turn it back on it started up like nothing happened. I then tried to drive to safety but it would die over and over again. I just found out about this site and I decided to read some reports. Turns out there are 100S of other cases just like mine. Why then does VW act like they have no idea whats wrong with my car. Apparently the only way you can get them to do something about it is to have a tragedy! something needs to be done. Please help!!!!

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #32

Sep 012015

Jetta

  • 119,000 miles
Fuse box on the top of the battery caught fire and melted the fusible link from the alternator to the battery connect. Going at 40 miles per hour and car shuts off, no brakes no power all electrical systems off dash lit up like christmas tree. Thank god for the ditch and that we weren't on interstate otherwise someone could have been killed or injured such as my pregnant wife.

- La Vista, NE, USA

problem #31

Sep 012005

Jetta

  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine continually would not start with numerous documented car electrical the problem is a Volkswagen faulty electrical design caused my wiring to burn up as a result when they placed the wiring fuse box on top of the battery causing both heat and chemical corrosion stress on the vehicles's electrical systems. Currently, no pun intended, the vehicle is unsafe to repair or drive what should I do? I cannot safely repair the car and sell it to an unsuspecting would-be owner nor does the local VW want to help me out thanks

- Las Vegas , NV, USA

problem #30

Apr 182015

Jetta

  • 104,250 miles
Drivers side windows and door locks won't work. Warning indicator saying door/S are open and warning beep will not stop until key removed from ignition. Continues to do this even while driving will all doors properly closed and seat belts fastened. Online research shows there is a known defect in the door wiring harness, they were manufactured too short and eventually break.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #29

Sep 222014

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 66,521 miles
The wiring harness of the driver's door failed, which prevents the left turn signal, windows, door locks and gas fill door from functioning. The car becomes unsafe since the left signal will not work and the window will not operate so the driver can do a manual signal. VW has issued a service bulletin on the issue stating that the original wiring harness is too short and breaks causing this issue, but they refuse to recall the car and fix the problem. A class action lawsuit has been filed on this issue, and is close to settlement, but will only cover cars less than 8.5 years old. Most of the cars effected by this issue, 2005 and 2006 model years, are older than 8.5 years so VW will not fix them. The following youtube video demonstrates all of these issues, please view it for full details: www.youtube.com/watch?V=P1eq5xl-zpm the following web site has information on the class action law suit: www.wiringharnesssettlement.com/

- Solana Beach, CA, USA

problem #28

Sep 012014

Jetta

  • 94,000 miles
Driver's side rear door wiring harness has broken, resulting in no operation of power window or door lock. Door will not lock. Service technician has advised replacement of the wiring harness.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #27

Jan 012013

Jetta 5-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
Sometime in early to mid 2013, I received a notice from Volkswagen that I needed to bring my 2005 Jetta in to have the driver's seat wiring harness repaired due to a recall. I had no prior problems with the air bags or warning lights. I took the vehicle in and they did the work. Within a few days, I got an error message in the display that there was a failure with the air bags. I took the vehicle back to Volkswagen. I was told that the technician failed to clear something in the computer memory so the failure message had come on. They indicated they cleared the message and the air bag light on the display did go off. A few months later, the air bag error message came on again. I tool the car back to Volkswagen. This time they said it was not related to the wiring harness and I would have to pay to have a new driver's seat side airbag installed, at a cost of about $700. In November 2013 I corresponded with Volkswagen and complained about the issue because I had no problems until they replaced the wiring harness. Volkswagen's response was that, even though I had brought the vehicle in for recalls on "a campaign related to airbag connectors and wiring", it was now the airbag itself that was bad not the connectors or wiring, so they would not repair it. The airbag light on the display is still there.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #26

May 152014

Jetta

  • 122,000 miles
TL * the contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the electric power controls on the driver's side door failed. The window, lighting, fuel door latch, trunk latch, and side mirror failed to function as designed due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the defect, but the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #25

Feb 282014

Jetta 5-cyl

  • 102,242 miles
Wire harness in both front doors are broken due to short wires and the purge valve is also broken and the over head light is faulty and I feel like the 2005 -2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 should be recalled due to faulty wiring in the vehicle and Volkswagen is aware of the problem but will not resolve the issue and I think they should at least fix the problem for the consumer. I hope someone investigate this issue asap!!!!

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #24

Jan 172014

Jetta 5-cyl

  • miles
The automatic door lock stopped working for passenger door behind driver. There is not way to manually lock.

- St Joseph, MO, USA

problem #23

Dec 282013

Jetta 5-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
I went to press the button on the remote to unlock the. Car, but all doors unlocked except the driver side door. I manually had to unlock car door. When I was inside I shut the door but the car kept indicating that it was opened. The window would not roll down, side mirror cannot be adjusted, cannot open trunk or pop the gas tank. Doors are sup post to auto lock at a certain speed which they no longer lock while driving. The switches on every other door are still operating properly except for speed locks. It is a safety issue because children may attempt to open car door while it is in motion. I searched online for same vehicles that have the same issue. There are several that indicate what the issue is, the wires are to short for the doors to open and close which pulls on them and will cause the connection to break leaving the door powerless.

- Olive Branch, MS, USA

problem #22

Aug 252012

Jetta

  • 118,000 miles
2005.5 Jetta--vehicle has rough shifting between 2nd and 3rd gears. As well as downshifting. While driving on a mountainside, going 65 mph, the car suddenly downshifted to 3rd gear and would not accelerate. I had to pull over on the side of a mountain, with cars flying by me. The car would not shift gears until turned off and on again. This is now happening during regular acceleration at low speeds. This is a huge safety concern, as I could have been rear ended by another vehicle due to loss of power/speed.

- Prescott Valley, AZ, USA

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