CarComplaints.com Notes: Digging through the long list of NHTSA complaints about a sudden loss of engine power and the high pressure fuel pump failing, it's never good to come across the "my car (with a cold engine) set itself on fire in the middle of the night" complaint.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,765 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.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #172

Aug 172022

Jetta

  • miles

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

Car was being driven and coils snapped caused, tire to pop damaging front end. Car was being driven and randomly shut off in middle of road. Driving vehicle shifting into gear lags, check engine light is on, had reader and said that valve 2 has low pressure. As a result clanking and loose noise sounds are heard when driven from drivers side.

- Mascoutah, IL, USA

problem #171

Apr 172024

Jetta

  • miles
Air bag light came on showing both driver and passenger airbags off without having any collision then pulled into gas station, car was fine pumped gas and tried to start vehicle and couldn't turn key further than interior lights. Was locked in ignition. Also had all brake pads and rotors replaced 1.5 years ago, now service center says they need replaced again already. Diagnostics from VW shoe ignition switch lock cylinder malfunction needs replaced.there are recalls for the airbags and ignition switch cylinder and brakes for my exact year, month, make and model(11 recalls) but shows 0 recalls under vin. Vw wants to charge me $1,200 to fix what should be free under recalls.

- Glade Spring, VA, USA

problem #170

Jun 012023

Jetta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact initially linked the failure to a defective battery and the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V196000 (Electrical System) which was then linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it remained. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #169

Jul 122023

Jetta

  • miles

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

Door unexpectedly does not close and latch correctly. Had to hold the car door the whole time driving. The driver door and passenger door has done it so far. This needs to look into.

- Marietta , OH, USA

problem #168

Feb 072023

Jetta

  • miles
Unknowns

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #167

Jul 032023

Jetta

  • miles
At various times my car will randomly stall and it's not showing any warning lights to indicate what's wrong or when it will happen.

- Fayetteville, TN, USA

problem #166

Mar 032023

Jetta

  • miles

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

The power window never works the way it is suppose to, when I row my window down it MESSES with the speakers for some reason, my wipes don't work all the time and freeze easy. When driving does nor like to shift out of 1st it's got that mk shifter, it will stay in first gear unless the gas is pressed and released fast also can smell like a burnt wire or/ candle was smell. When I try to put the air on the smell becomes worse.

- Ashland, KY, USA

problem #165

Dec 052022

Jetta

  • miles
Lights coming on by themselves while in park position and draining the battery. Replaced battery 3 times in the last 7 months.

- Cuyahoga Falls , OH, USA

problem #164

Sep 292022

Jetta

  • miles
Ignition switch. Having a hard time turning car off.

- Fort Lauderdale , FL, USA

problem #163

May 052022

Jetta

  • miles
The car turns off while driving and it has put me in several safety problems that I feel could an accident

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #162

Mar 032019

Jetta

  • miles

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

The ABS module in this vehicle has failed as the ABS, Traction Control, Airbag, and Brake lights are all on with the brake light flashing. The dealership stated a new module would be needed to have functioning anti lock brakes. In reference to case - NHTSA: 16V913, I believe the same components are the same as the power train did not change between the two vehicles. I am having the same symptoms as stated in this document but there is no recall as of yet.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #161

Sep 302021

Jetta

  • miles
Car horn stopped working followed by an airbag sensor light that won't turn off. Seems like the clock spring failed prematurely?

- San Diego , CA, USA

problem #160

May 132021

Jetta

  • miles
My car would randomly stall while driving, happens both when braking and not braking. When it stalls steering wheel locks up, cannot press gas pedal, and brakes stop working almost. This is incredibly dangerous because while on a road at 50mph+ and my car suddenly stops it can cause a serious accident. The dealer has been able to reproduce it multiple times, and has said it is a common problem. The only warning light that switched on was the battery light after it had stalled. Currently at the VW dealership and was told that it was the fuel filter, was not the problem and car continued to stall more. Not only was a good part replaced but created an even more dangerous situation than before.

- Camarillo , CA, USA

problem #159

Feb 172020

Jetta

  • 142,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the battery and the fusible link were replaced and the failure ceased. Once the battery and fusible link were replaced, the doors became difficult to lock. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

- Santa Fe, CA, USA

problem #158

Nov 302020

Jetta

  • miles
I bot w/ only 40,000 miles approx. I drive alot. Its about 70,000 now. One tire sensor is out and the person at frirestone said theyll go out again and its hard to know which tire it is. The ele trical is a mess. I finally took it to my mechanic. It is defnitely electrical. This car is not a good value as everything breaks on it and I dont speed and add additives and B\'baby" it. I'm 62. It has to last. But it is not. I see theres recalls for it concerning eleectrical, yet the dealer says no never ha da recall. The night half my lights went out was after thanksgiving as I was traveling the grapevine in cal. I was lucky not to be in an accident

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #157

Dec 062020

Jetta

  • 75,000 miles
My tired was punctured and the tire pressure indicator light did not come on at all. The seatbelts never retract after taking them off they just hang there. Sometimes when I lock the doors the alarm does not sound off indicating the alarm is set, also my horn works when it wants to but never when it should, for instance there was a car coming up the street the wrong way and my car failed to create sound from the horn for me to alert the other driver. My car could be in motion or stationary none of the above works, my brakes have went out a few times while I was in motion in the middle of the highway as well. These issues have been happening way before the date I listed below but I just thought these were normal issues I need to get fixed on my own but who knew it was a recall issue all along.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #156

Sep 282020

Jetta

  • 22,000 miles
While driving on a city street my check engine light came on and started blinking then stopped blinking and is now on along with the epc code. This is the 3rd time in 2 years my vehicle has done this so I know its the ignition coils causing a misfire. My vehicle now shakes when im stopped and has a ticking sound at red lights, this is very unsafe and needs to be corrected 3 times in 2 years is way to many times for my ignition coils to be replaced.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #155

Jul 292020

Jetta

  • 130,000 miles
2 months ago key got stuck in ignition would not turn off. The key will not T urn to off position and car keeps running. It happened 2 more times then yesterday it happened 5 times. Car had to be stalled manually in order for it to stop running. The key would then come out of ignition. This is becoming a major safety issue. Am taking to dealer to get fixed hopefully

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #154

Jun 012020

Jetta

  • 90,000 miles
Horn doesn't work on the steering wheel. Air bag light frequently fails to initially illuminate when first starting the car. Cruise control does not work. One would believe there is a clock spring issue. How my specific Jetta was not included in the original recall of clock springs is concerning.

- Fairport, NY, USA

problem #153

May 012020

Jetta 5-cyl

  • miles
Ignition/key will not turn backwards to turn the car off. It acts as if it is jammed or stuck. I've had to leave the vehicle running for 15-30 mins with several attempts to turn it off. This has happened at least 5 times in the last 2 months.

- Denham Springs, LA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?