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:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,184 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2011 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Dec 052022

Jetta

  • miles

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

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 #38

Jan 122021

Jetta

  • 130,445 miles
My lights failed abruptly. When driving my car pulls to the right.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #37

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 #36

Oct 012020

Jetta

  • 135,000 miles

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

The low beams on driver and passenger side have failed 12 times and required me buying new H7 bulbs. They have on 3 occasions went out simultaneously while driving at night on the highway. The rear tail light also randomly turns off, requiring opening and shutting the trunk to get it to come back on or shutting off the car and restarting it to get the taillight back on. This has been occurring since 30K miles, my vehicle now has 135K.

- Lava Hot Springs, ID, USA

problem #35

Jan 182020

Jetta

  • 101,000 miles
Driver side of my Jetta lighting went off, I went online to see what can be wrong with it and I see many people having the same problem, thats unsafe, should be recalled, its not a fuse or light bulbs, so its the wire in, I think this is no safe to be driving and should be check, like I say its many people having the same problem, thanks

- Henderson, NV, USA

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problem #34

Jan 012017

Jetta

  • 77,000 miles
Passenger airbag light randomly came on because of some sort wiring issue. Headlight bulbs constantly short out. I've had to change atleast 10 bulbs in less than a year. Headlights go out and tailights... these are 2 seperate issues. But if you google it, they are both common issues. It's been an issue on my car for years, but I didn't realize I could report it.

- Exton, PA, USA

problem #33

May 092019

Jetta

  • 120,000 miles

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

Premature low beam headlight bulb failure. The low beam H7 bulbs fail after just 2 to 3 months of use. I have used oem bulbs, sylvania bulbs of every level, and the bulbs still fail after a short time. Doing a quick online search will show many people have this same problem with even newer (same body style) Jettas.

- Newark, OH, USA

problem #32

Nov 292018

Jetta

  • 85,000 miles
Low-beam headlights go dark within a year at best. I have replaced headlight bulbs at least 6 times since I've owned it. I recently replaced one bulb and the next day it was out. Upon inspection, the bulb does not appear to be 'burned-out'. other lights function, including the low-beam on the other side of the car.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #31

Jul 182018

Jetta

  • 75,000 miles
My horn and front right parking light both stopped working at the same time. I noticed there is a recall for the same make/model/year as my car, but my VIN is not included. I will need to have this repaired and pay for it, however, I do hope VW and NHTSA sees this is a problem and expand the recall to include more models.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

problem #30

Mar 092016

Jetta 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
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.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #29

Aug 062017

Jetta

  • 84,000 miles

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

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

- South Gate, CA, USA

problem #28

Sep 242016

Jetta

  • 40,000 miles
Both low beam lights went out at the same time. Checked all fuses none burnt. Changed the bulbs still out.

- Thibodaux, LA, USA

problem #27

Sep 042015

Jetta

  • miles
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.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #26

Oct 012015

Jetta

  • miles
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.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #25

Jun 152015

Jetta

  • miles
My VW Jetta blows white smoke on start up. It fills my garage with white smoke.

- Wampum, PA, USA

problem #24

Feb 232016

Jetta

  • miles
Since 2012 I have had to replace all exterior lights including break and tail lights. My head lights have been replaced at least at 8 times over the past two years or so. VW claims there is nothing wrong and its my fault because I am not replacing them with their brand and buying them elsewhere.

- Middleburg Hts, OH, USA

problem #23

Jan 142012

Jetta

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle's horn and radio did not function, there was a burning odor, and the windows functioned independently. In addition, the vehicle felt as if it would lose power, the air bags were not functioning, and the exterior lights were malfunctioning. The epc and catalytic converter malfunction warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

- Jacsonville, FL, USA

problem #22

Oct 302015

Jetta

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at night, the front driver and passenger side exterior head lights and the rear driver side tail light became inoperable as the lights out error message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- West Allis, WI, USA

problem #21

Oct 262015

Jetta

  • 70,000 miles
I have owned a 2011 Jetta since it was released and this vehicle has had to hvae the headlights replaced multiple times over the last several months no matter what side or brand of bulb and there is no indication as to why.

- Smyrna, TN, USA

problem #20

Jul 302015

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 72,300 miles
Random exterior lights were non-functional with multiple dashboard notification errors. Took vehicle in for service and was told that a bad fuse had shorted out and melted the fuse box causing the problem. Fuse box must be replaced due to overheating of bad fuse. Repair place said this is a known problem with Volkswagen and certain models had already been issued a recall.

- Nashville, TN, USA

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