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.
Defective light switch that controls the headlights, daytime running light low beams and high beams. Daytime running light no longer work, low beams are so dim they are no longer effective.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving various speeds or while parked, the horn failed to operate when pressed. Also, the headlights inadvertently failed to illuminate without warning. Leith Volkswagen of raleigh (4005 capital hills drive raleigh, nc 27616, (833) 827-4410) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the diagnostic fees. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure because the customer service number was busy. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition switch would not turn and the driver was unable to start the engine. After wiggling the key inside the ignition switch, the key would turn and the engine was started. The vehicle was taken to mike haggerty Volkswagen in oaklawn, ca where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 55,000.
NHTSA campaign #11V196000 my fuses blow, my driver window rolls down, but intermittently won't roll up. My engine cuts out for no reason, while in motion and stopped. Happens when slowing down, exiting off the freeway and coming to a stop in town. My epc, check engine, and light sensors come on and off and different times. 3 years ago I had my ABS module replaced. But continue to have the same issues. Looking online I found the recall above, but when I took it to the dealer I was told this isn't an open recall. This has been going on since 2014
For about a week it has been getting harder to turn on and off my car, due to the key not wanting to turn in the ignition. Today, I went to park in a shopping area and I couldn't turn the key at all to shut the engine off. I called the dealership and left them a message and told them I'm on my way right now to bring my car in because I cannot shut my car off. My car has 83,000 miles on it and I do have an extended warranty. The service guy behind the counter said they can't even look at it for a week and a half and if anything is wrong with it it should be covered under the warranty. Obviously, something is wrong with it, the car run was still running in the parking lot and the key feels so loose in the ignition, it feels like it should be able to just fall out. He also mentioned that the part that I might need, if anything is wrong with it, with have to ship from germany which would add another week. I might see my car in 3 weeks. My daughter is taking this car with her back to college in about 3 weeks and I'm not feeling to great about her safety right now with this car.
- Portland, OR, USA
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The key gets stuck in the ignition when attempting to turn off the engine; thus preventing the engine from being able to be turned off. I was lucky enough to be close to an auto repair shop, and they had to pull off a relay from the engine compartment. Upon replacing the relay, I was able to start the car so that I could drive home. Once I got home and once again attempted to shut the engine off, the key once again would not turn. The mechanic at the shop said that this is a known issue with my model car but that Volkswagen refuses to acknowledge the problem. Upon doing a google search to see what I can do to shut the vehicle off, I found a few hundred pages describing the issue, so I'm sure this is frequently happening. Apparently, the only solution is to have the failed parts replaced which costs upwards of $600. Also, the key has been getting stuck on and off for the past year, but in each case, I was able to wiggle the key so that it would turn off. Today, I wasn't able to even turn the key to the off position from the on position.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The engine and battery warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to wray automotive Volkswagen (located at 655 broad river rd, columbia, SC 29210) where it was diagnosed, but the technician could not find a failure code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that there was no recall under the VIN. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000.
Once the car is started and engine is running, it has been difficult to turn the key off and stop the engine. On Saturday it was impossible to turn the key to the off position and remove the key when we wished to park the vehicle. We had to stall the engine to make it stop running. There are multiple reports of this online in various VW forums for multiple model years. We were only able to get the key out by using one of the tricks we found online.
Purchased 2011 VW Jetta car recently for my daughter. It drove ok for a short while but then lost power while driving. First the radio turned off, then several lights turned on on the dash and the steering became hard. Finally the car turned off. I managed to pull off the freeway. After this, it would not start. We tested the battery but it was not the problem. Replaced the alternator but that also did not work. Now I am reading about many other complaints on this same model by other owners. I respectfully request that this be investigated as a recall since there are too many complaints about electrical problems that should not be ignored. Here is the website: Https://www.carcomplaints.com/Volkswagen/Jetta/2011/electrical/electrical_system.shtml
Vehicle stationary, ignition locked/cylinder lock malfunction while car on, not able to turn car off. Wheel locked while car on. This occurred twice before.
My vehicle is keyless entry and most of the time the back passenger side door is faulty and does not unlock. The mechanism that unlocks the door only unlocks if the car is parked on a hill. This is a safety issue because the car automatically locks all doors when driving and if I were in an accident, I could not open the back passenger door from the outside. I have an infant daughter and I always have to load her in the car from the back drivers side, also a safety hazard. I see many other Volkswagen owners complain about this same issue in online forums. I've asked the VW dealership to fix the problem, but they don't acknowledge it is a faulty part that was installed in manufacturing. The car has had this problem since I purchased it used in 2013. The car is no longer under warranty.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving, the horn was depressed but failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the horn alarm failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V196000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 48,000. Updated 04/28/17 updated 10/11/2017
Map sensore (manifold absolute pressure sensor) has repeatedly went bad even a day after changing it. I had replaced the sensor in February then again in March and again in March a day or 2 then again in July after just replacing it. It has no hose leaks or anything wrong with it that Volkswagen couldn't find anything that would make the map sensor continue to fail.
I have issues with the headlights. Every other month my headlight goes out. When I drove off the lot I had one headlight. This has been ongoing for almost 2 years. When I change it the other side goes out. I know thats not normal. And then one day I had been running arrends and made a stop. I was wearing flip flops that day. Well when I went to turn around in my seat to get what was being handed to me from my girlfriend I burned my three little toes ! !!! I immieately went under the steering wheel and seen it was a pipe not covered.I have had many cars and I have never felt any thing so hot under a dash.I had three blisters.each toe had a tiny blister.thats when I seen all the rust everywher or anywhere there is metal is covered with rust.there was a recall on the rear end.I noticed after I took it in that the tires diidnt look even in the back.driver side tire bows inward on the top side and the other side doesnt. The air bag light well thats always on..and when I checked the air filter it smelled like it was in an electrical fire.my horn sounds defective.barely hear it. And the windsheild wiper has aloud noise when operating.
My cars low beam headlights unexpectedly stopped working after bringing it into the West broad Volkswagen of richmond, va for a safety recall. I thought there may have been a chance that they both burned out simultaneously and had the light bulbs changed, but still no luck. I also purchased a new light switch for my dash and it still does not work. I am a college student and do not have a lot of money to spend on blind diagnoses. My daytime running lights work and my high beams, just not my low beams. I have done research online and have found that this is an issue with many Volkswagen Jetta drivers from their standard models, through SE-sel, and up into the tdi trims. I believe there should be a recall on this, because it is unsafe for me to drive during dusk and if I ever need to drive at night I am forced to use my high beams.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving in the rain at approximately 30 mph, the windshield wipers and horn failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V196000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA without filing a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
At 22,591 miles, I discovered the driver airbag, audio controls, horn, other electronics on steering wheel failed because of faulty clock spring. There is a recall notice for multiple VW models including my model and year, but the dealer and VW corporate told me my vehicle's VIN doesn't qualify for the recall. Here is the link to VW recall information regarding this issue: media.VW.com/release/1042/ this is dangerous, someone could get killed. How can this fail at only 22K miles and be normal wear and tear? it is obvious my VIN number should be included in this recall. I have contacted mark gillies 703-364-7104 mark.gillies@VW.com who is listed on the VW site. They still refuse to issue a recall for this VIN.
My vehicle will cut off at random times while driving and steering locks up, also my alarm will make the sound to disarm the vehicle when driving I have to pull over shut down car and disarm it and start again. While at a stop light the vehicles RPM will raise and go down raise and go down until car just shuts off. I was pulling into my parking stall and car shut off and locked up I had to hit the brake and re start the car to pull in safely or it would have ran into the carport. On this date the car shut itself off in motion 2 times and it cut off with brake on at a light 3 times
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Scranton, PA, USA