There are 39 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2005 Volkswagen Jettain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM - ONGOING ISSUE.. NO READING FOR SMOG CHECK
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.
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!!!!
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.
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. *TR
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: HTTP://WWW.WIRINGHARNESSSETTLEMENT.COM/ *TR
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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE COMPRESSOR AND THE FUSE BOX OVERHEATED CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO STOP WORKING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUSE BOX CATCHING ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,480.
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.
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!!!! *TR
THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING FOR PASSENGER DOOR BEHIND DRIVER. THERE IS NOT WAY TO MANUALLY LOCK. *TR
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. *TR
THE WINDOWS AND DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN, AND THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITH THE DOOR SECURELY SHUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED SAID THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER DOOR WIRING HARNESS. THIS OCCURRED AT 80,000 MILES. FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AT 93,330 MILES, AND REPAIRED BY A DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANIC. *TR
LEFT TURN SIGNAL, DRIVERS DOOR/ALL REMOTE WINDOW SWITCHES, TRUNK/FUEL DOOR RELEASE, DRIVERS DOOR LOCK KEY FOB LOCKING OF DRIVERS DOOR/DRIVERS DOOR INTERNAL LOCK ARE ALL INOPERATIVE. OCCASIONALLY, THE CABIN INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WITH A DRIVERS "DOOR OPEN" INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR IS CLOSED AND SECURE (BUT UNABLE TO BE LOCKED FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK SWITCH IN THE PASSENGER CABIN). THE PRIMARY SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DISPLAYS ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND DRIVERS WINDOW (ALONG WITH ALL OTHER WINDOWS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ON DRIVERS DOOR) ARE INOPERATIVE IF NEEDED TO MAKE A HAND TURN SIGNAL OR EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT (OR SUBMERGED UNDER WATER FOR AN EGRESS). DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH REFUSED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE FAULTY PART. I HAVE PERFORMED EVERY MANUFACTURE REQUIRED SERVICE REQUIRED (ALL DOCUMENTED) SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. IT HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE ON MY PURCHASE IN EARLY 2007. PER VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, GROUP 97: 09-01 (201-7600), FEBRUARY 26, 2009, STATES THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MANUFACTURED 80 MM TOO SHORT. THIS RESULTS IN PUTTING STRAIN ON THE NUMEROUS WIRES IN THIS HARNESS NEAR THE DOOR BOOT AND CONNECTOR PLUG CAUSING WIRES TO BREAK AND/OR ELECTRICALLY SHORT. MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE VIN RANGE OF THIS MANUFACTURES SERVICE BULLETIN. THE NEW REPLACEMENT DRIVERS DOOR ELECTRICAL HARNESS ARE NOW 80 MM LONGER THAN THE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED (INSTALLED) FAULTY PART THAT THE MANUFACTURE IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST (PARTS OR LABOR). I WILL PAY FOR MY REPAIR PERSONALLY, BUT BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS FAULTY PART COULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS IN ADDITION TO OTHER MOTORIST. *TR
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. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 39 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026