NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
AFTER MY LAST VISIT WITH THE A/C, I MAYBE THOUGHT THAT THIS DEALER SHIP WOULD HELP ME OUT (VW EL CAJON) UNLIKE (VW KEARNY). I HAD TOLD THEM WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH THIS RUMBLING NOISE THAT HAD STARTED OFF FAINT BUT NOW IS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND IS AFFECTING OTHER PARTS, BECAUSE THE NOISE NOW PICKS UP WHEN TURNING. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD FIND IT, TOOK IT OUT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY ALL TRIED TO PLAY ME AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HEAR ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THE MECHANIC REP DID HEAR IT. THAN THEY DID A INSPECTION AND COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT IT SEEMED TO ME BECAUSE THEY THAN JUST CAME TO A CONCLUSION THAT MY TIRES WHERE CUPPED AND FEATHERED AS VW KEARNY TOLD ME. I ASKED THEM IF THEY DO MULTIPOINT INSPECTIONS EVERY TIME I BRING MY VEHICLE IN AND THEY SAID YES, THAN I ASKED HOW COME YOU DID NOT CATCH THIS BEFORE, THEY COULD NOT COME UP WITH A ANSWER AND JUST SAID PLEASE SIGN THE PAPER. SO WHAT I DID NEXT WAS TOOK IT TO SEVERAL TIRE DEALERSHIPS AS WELL AS A NEW VW, ALL OF WHICH TOLD ME MY TIRES IS NOT WHAT IS MAKING THAT NOISE. I REALLY FEEL LIKE VW IS AVOIDING THIS ISSUE WITH ME TELL MY WARRANTY EXPIRES TO THAN TELL ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
20K SERVICE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON MY CAR, AGAIN I NOTIFIED VW THAT THE NOISE IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND THAT I CAN NO LONGER STAND IT. I ALSO NOTIFIED THEM OF NEWER ISSUES THAT HAVE NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE STARTING TO HAPPEN, BUT THEY TOLD ME LETS FIX THIS ISSUE FIRST BEFORE MOVING ON. THIS NOISE THAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR AWHILE NOW HAS NOW PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN LOUDER AND NOW MAKING NOISES WHEN I AM TURNING, SOMETHING IT HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE. THEY DID A CHECK, AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN TOLD ME THAT MY TIRES IS THE CAUSE OF THE WHOLE THING. THEY HAD TOLD ME MY TIRES ARE CUPPED AND FEATHERED, WHICH SEEM PRETTY ODD CONSIDERING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE TIRE WHERE BRAND NEW AND PRETTY GOOD (HANKOOK). IT DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE IF IT WAS MY TIRES AND IF THEY WERE DOING PROPER MULTIPURPOSE INSPECTIONS THEY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS WHEN ROTATING MY TIRES. IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT SO THEY JUST ADVISED ME TO BUY SOME BRAND NEW TIRES, OR TRY TO CALL THE MANUFACTURE ABOUT REPLACEMENTS, WELL I DID THAT AND HANKOOK SAID FEATHERED TIRES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TIRE BUT WITH THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR. THEY HAD NOTIFIED ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TIRES GET BAD IS IF THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR. THE MANGER WORD FOR WORD TOLD ME THIS "THERE IS A REASNO WHY YOUR CAR IS SO CHEAP, MAYBE YOU SHOULD BUY $2,000.00 TIRES, MAYBE THE NOISE MIGHT GO AWAY", WHICH INFURIATED ME, BECAUSE HE IS SUPPOSE TO BE THE MANAGER, BUT YET TREATS ME WITH TOTAL DISRESPECT AND TOLD ME "WE ARE DONE WITH THIS, WE WILL NOT LOOK INTO IT ANYMORE". THIS MANAGER WAS RUDE AND DOWN RIGHT WRONG TO TREAT ME LIKE SO (KEARNY MESSA VW, DON'T EVER GO THERE). I FELT LOST AND SCARED KNOWING THAT THEY WON'T HELP ME NO MORE EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE MY WARRANTY. *TR
ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO WASTE MORE SCHOOL TIME AND GAS MONEY, AFTER MY LAST 20K VISIT ON MY CAR THE NOISE WAS DRIVING ME MORE AND MORE INSANE, I TRIED IGNORING THE ISSUE AND TURNING THE MUSIC UP, BUT THE NOISE HAD STARTED TO PROGRESSIVELY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD HERE IT EVEN WITH MUSIC ON, THAN ON TOP OF THAT I STARTED TO HEAR NEW AND UNUSUAL NOISE THAT HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE, I STARTED TO HEAR SPORADIC HIGH PITCH NOISES FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE WHEN I WAS AT HIGH RPM'S OR WHENEVER HITTING ON THE GAS, IT WOULD START OFF LOW PITCH THAN HIGH PITCH, THAN WOULD RATTLE, THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD SHOWN THE SAME TECHNICIAN A VIDEO RECORDING OF IT, AND HE WAS BAFFLED HE ALSO EVEN HEARD THE NOISE HIMSELF. I ALSO NOTIFIED THEM THAT WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS IT WOULD SOUND LIKE A DOOR WAS OPEN, EVEN MY GUEST I HAVE HAD IN IT COMPLAINED TO ME THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DOORS ARE OPEN. THE SERVICE REP TRIED TREATING ME LIKE A FOOL AND ROLLED MY BACK WINDOW DOWN A LITTLE THAN BROUGHT ME OUTSIDE AND SAID THIS IS WHY YOU ARE HEARING THE WIND NOISE, AND I HAD TOLD HER I WAS WATCHING YOU THE ENTIRE TIME YOU HAD ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN, AND THAN SHE TRIED TO TELL ME SHE DIDN'T EVEN THOUGH I WATCHED HER DO IT, THIS PLACE TREATED ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY, AND DISRESPECTED ME IN-FRONT ME , AND I ALSO NOTED THAT SOME RUBBER SEALS WERE COMING OFF THE DOOR EDGES, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, MAKING ME FEEL LIKE THIS CAR WASN'T WELL PUT TOGETHER AND COULD RUN INTO POSSIBLE FUTURE ISSUES. ONCE AGAIN VW TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR YOU ARE JUST HEARING STUFF, AND KICKED ME OUT THE DOOR WITH NO EXPLANATION AT ALL. *TR
I HAVE A VW JETTA TDI. THE DIESEL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT BAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. LOST ALL ACCELERATION, HAD TO COAST 2 LANES OVER TO GET TO SHOULDER. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED IN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. *TR
AS I ACCELERATE TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY, I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER TO SPEAK OF, WHICH WAS QUITE ALARMING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, BUT I INSTANTLY TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS REALIZING THAT I COULD NOT GAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON, AND I DROVE MY CAR 1 MILE TO THE NEAREST OFF RAMP. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I DROVE 1 MILE TO MY SCHEDULED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. I PARKED MY JETTA WITH PLANS TO ADDRESS THE MATTER AFTER MY APPOINTMENT. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START, AND I CALLED AAA TO TOW MY CAR TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. AS I MENTIONED, THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, AND I WAS IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK BECAUSE I LOVE MY CLEAN DIESEL, AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED 4 OTHER FRIENDS TO BUY THE EXACT SAME MODEL!!! AFTER LEAVING THE CAR AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, I BEGAN TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS IN THE VW CLEAN DIESELS. HONESTLY, THIS HAS DEEPLY CHANGED HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY CAR, AND WORRIES ME GREATLY! IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A CAR COMPLETELY LOSE POWER! :( FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, VW IS "SUGGESTING" THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE PUT GAS IN THEIR DIESEL ENGINES. MY HUSBAND HAS HAD A JETTA DIESEL WAGON FOR 12 YEARS AND HAS OVER 200, 000 MILES ON IT, SO WE ARE WELL VERSED IN THE USE OF DIESEL. WE HAVE NEVER PUT GASOLINE IN OUR DIESEL CARS!!! WE ARE INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY VW IS HANDLING THIS ISSUE. TO SUGGEST THAT HUNDREDS OF LOYAL, DEVOTED DIESEL FANS THAT HAVE PURCHASED THEIR CARS ARE AT FAULT IS AN ENORMOUS MISTAKE, AS IS SUGGESTING THAT CONSUMERS ARE NOT BUYING "QUALITY DIESEL." TAKE THAT UP WITH THE REFINERIES AND GAS STATIONS, VOLKSWAGEN, NOT YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. *TR
I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A NEW VW IN EL CAJON, WHERE I HAD A NEW ISSUES POP UP WITH MY A/C. MY A/C WAS NOT BLOWING AS COLD AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. WHEN DRIVING I WOULD NOTICE MY A/C GO FROM COLD TO WARM A LOT. IT WOULD RANDOMLY DO IT ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY, I WAS NEVER GETTING CONSTANT COLD AIR. I BROUGHT IT IN AND NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE ISSUE AND EVEN POINTED OUT A WIRE THAT SEEMED TO ME TO BE A ODD BECAUSE WIRE WAS SHOWING, THEY TOLD ME DON'T WORRY WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. THEY DID NOT DO SO THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL, EVEN THOUGH I KNEW IT WAS NOT BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMED TO ME ONCE AGAIN THEY DID LITTLE AS THEY COULD TO ACTUALLY HELP ME AND GET THIS THEY SUPPOSEDLY DID ANOTHER MULTIPOINT INSPECTION AND DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MY TIRES, SOMETHING VW KEARNY MESA SAID TO BE CUPPED AND FEATHERED, BUT YET THEY DID NOT CATCH THIS. *TR
AROUND NOON TIME THIS PAST SATURDAY MY SON WAS RETURNING FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD STORE AND THE CAR STALLED AT THE ROADSIDE ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM HOME. HE CALLED AND REPORTED THE CEL AND "COIL" LIGHT BLINKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, CONFIRMING THE SAME LIGHTS WERE BLINKING AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. AT HOME I CALLED THE VW SERVICE REP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT THAT SAME AFTERNOON. WE PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN A SHORT WHILE AND IT STALLED AGAIN ENROUTE - WOULD NOT RESTART & HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW. AFTER TELLING THE VW SERVICE MGR WHAT HAD HAPPENED HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR A MECHANIC TO BRING SOME TOOL AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE TOP OF THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING. AS HE SUSPECTED THERE WERE SMALL FILINGS OF METAL IN THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING. HE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SOME HPFP FAILURES AND THEY WOULD BE REPLACING IT WITH ONE FROM ANOTHER MFGR. HE ALSO SAID VW DEALT WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE READ MULTIPLE INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET OF THIS HAPPENING AND VW REPORTING THAT IN MANY CASES OWNERS HAD CONTAMINATED THE FUEL SYSTEM WITH GASOLINE. I FUEL ALL THE CARS FOR OUR FAMILY AND HAVE NEVER PUT GASOLINE IN OUR JETTA'S FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE ALL OUR FUEL RECEIPTS FROM THIS YEAR, AND UP TILL A FEW MONTHS AGO HAD ALL OUR 2012 RECEIPTS AS WELL. MY WIFE IS THE HIGH-USE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. I THINK I'M VERY FORTUNATE THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO HER ON THE FREEWAY DURING HER COMMUTE TO/FROM WORK. *TR
MY WIFE AND I WERE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI ENGINE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD ONTO A GRASS EMBANKMENT BEFORE A SEMI TRUCK PASSED WITHIN INCHES OF DRIVER SIDE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. WE CALLED VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WERE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. UPON MECHANIC INSPECTION, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD FAILED, SPECIFICALLY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE REPAIR REQUIRED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED, AS SHARDS OF BROKEN METAL AND DEBRIS CONTAMINATED THE FUEL TANK, PUMPS, LINES, FILTERS, ETC. VW AGREED TO MAKE THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY (ESTIMATE $6K) BUT NOT WITHOUT ADVISING ME THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO "DIESEL FUEL CONTAMINATION". I WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE FUEL FROM "REPUTABLE" DIESEL FUEL STATIONS WITHOUT BEING ASKED WHERE I BOUGHT GAS (SHELL AND GULF NEAR MY HOME). VW ASKED MECHANIC TO PULL 1 LITER FUEL SAMPLE FOR TESTING AT VW. MECHANIC REPORTS THE SAMPLE PULLED APPEARED TO BE A CLEAN DIESEL FUEL SAMPLE. HE LEFT THE SAMPLE OUT OVERNIGHT TO SETTLE AND LOOK FOR PHASE SEPARATION OF WATER/FUEL. HE SAW NO SEPARATION IN THE MORNING. I HAVE LOVED MY DIESEL CAR, BUT VW HAS NOT YET SATISFIED ME WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. MY SAFETY AND RELIABILITY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH DISCOUNTED, AND I HAVE BEEN MADE TO FEEL LIKE THIS WAS MY FAULT. *TR
OUR 2012 JETTA SPORTWAGEN 2.5 SE HAS SUFFERED FROM INTERMITTENT STALLING FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS. THE STALLING OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE COLD ENGINE. THIS STALLING HAS OCCURRED WHILE IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR IT APPEARS THAT THIS ISSUE IS EXPERIENCED BY A NUMBER OF 2012 JETTA SPORTWAGEN OWNERS. HERE ARE POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THE STALLING PER OTHER OWNERS: ECU WIRING HARNESS CRANK SENSOR THROTTLE BODY ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COOLANT LEAK MIGRATION FUEL PUMP FUEL FILTER OUR VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THIS INTERMITTENT STALLING ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED WILL RESULT IN INJURIES OR FATALITIES. *TR
2013-07-19 - DRIVING AT 25MPH, ENGINE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE, ERROR LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE STOPS COMPLETELY, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE POWER, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE STREET. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. VW SERVICE TEAM MANAGER ASSERTS METAL SHAVINGS IN FUEL INJECTOR INDICATE CONTAMINATION OF FUEL SYSTEM. DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT DRIVER BEHAVIOR COULD PREVENT THIS, NOR DOES HE DISCLOSE PUBLICIZED TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. MOST RECENT FUELING 2013-07-17. FUEL RECEIPT READS: 12.99 GALLON DIESEL 2 PUMP #10 WITH TWO DAYS OF UNEVENTFUL DRIVING PRIOR TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE, SUGGESTS MISFUELING NOT RESPONSIBLE. *TR
(THIS CAR IS A JETTA TDI DIESEL, TDI OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN PULL-DOWN LIST ABOVE) AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, I SMELLED DIESEL FUEL. PARKED AT DESTINATION AND OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER HOOD AND POOLING ON GROUND. TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED & WAS TOLD TO GET FIRE DEPT THERE TO CLEAN UP SPILL. FIRE DEPT SPREAD MATERIAL ON GROUND AND OPENED CAR HOOD. WE COULD SEE SPRAY MARKS OF FUEL FROM INJECTOR OR LINES, SPRAY MARKS DOWN PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR FROM SPLASHING UP ON HIGHWAY DRIVE I WAS TOLD TO NOT START CAR AND KEEP PERSONS AWAY FROM CAR UNTIL TOW TRUCK CAME. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT ON TOW TRUCK BED, MORE FUEL GUSHED OUT FROM UNDERBODY OF CAR. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY AT VW DEALER, LAST DATE OF 4/12/13. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS APPROX 50 MILES FROM HOME ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VW DEALER IN THAT TOWN (GRAND RAPIDS, MI). UPON CHECKING FUEL GAUGE IN CAR, IT WAS DOWN 1/8 TO 1/4 OF A TANK FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. *TR
THE 2012 VW JETTA 2.5 HAS A VEHICLE DEFECT IN WHICH UPON A NEED FOR ACCELERATION, THE CAR STALLS OUT. WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN; THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS EACH TIME. VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT EVEN THOUGH OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS DEFECT IN A VARIETY OF WEBSITES REGARDING THE PRODUCT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 55 IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, (AROUND 9:15AM CT ON JUNE 26, 2013) TOWARDS RIVERSIDE DRIVE (DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS) WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BOOM/CRASH SOUND ON THE ROOF OF MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (2012, WHICH I OWNED FOR 1 WEEK!) AND GLASS SHATTERED AND FELL ALL OVER ME AND THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. I WAS NOT UNDER AN OVERPASS OR BEHIND ANY TRUCKS OR CARS, SO I WAS COMPLETELY TERRIFIED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS CRYING AND SHAKING AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO S PARKWAY AND CALLED 911 TO FILE A REPORT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE POLICE, A NEARBY WITNESS (WHO HAPPENED TO WORK FOR A CAR DEALER) MY BOSS AND MY BOYFRIEND, EVERYONE AGREED THE SUNROOF HAD SOME SORT OF DEFECT THAT CAUSED IT TO SHATTER/COMBUST/EXPLODE. THE GLASS WAS ALL STICKING STRAIGHT UP AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN OBJECT IN OR ON THE CAR. MY BF BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE INSPECTING IT AND REPAIRING IT WHILE I AM IN A RENTAL CAR. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IN A CAR WITH A SUNROOF NOW AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE. VW DRIVERS BEWARE. *TR
THE HORN ON THIS VEHICLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AT TIMES. WHEN IT DOES WORK, THE HORN TONE IS VERY LOW AND IS DIFFICULT TO HEAR. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IT ALSO CONCERNS ME SINCE AN OPERATIONAL HORN IS NEEDED TO PASS THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP YET FOR REPAIR, BUT A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, I HAVE CONFIRMED THIS IS FAR TOO COMMON PROBLEM ON NEWER MODEL JETTA'S. *TR
WE WERE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-95 SOUTH IN VIRGINIA ON A FAMILY VACATION WITH A THREE YEAR OLD AND A 6 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE. TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, SCREAMED THAT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER TO START PUMPING THE BRAKES AND DOWNSHIFT AND I GRABBED THE HAND BRAKE. AMAZINGLY, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO AND LIMP OFF THE NEXT EXIT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER. AT THE LOCAL VW DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FRONT LEFT FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO A MISSING HOSE ROUTING BRACKET ON THE STRUT TOWER. THE NON ROUTED HOSE ASSEMBLY AS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT RIM AND EVENTUALLY WORE THROUGH THE REINFORCEMENT. THE ABRUPT STOP WAS ENOUGH TO FINALLY BURST THE ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE MANAGER BLAMED ME FOR THE OMISSION OF THE BRACKET AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY $495.71 FOR THE REPAIR. WE HAVE SINCE TAKEN THIS UP WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REIMBURSED US FOR THE REPAIRS. UPON COMPLAINING FURTHER THEY GAVE US A $1000.00 CUSTOMER LOYALTY CERTIFICATE FOR THE LEASE OR PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE WHICH HAS EXPIRED AND IS WORTHLESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW COULD THIS DEFECT OR OMISSION OF THE BRACKET HAVE GONE THROUGH A QUALITY INSPECTION AT THE FACTORY, A PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION, AND TWO SCHEDULED DEALER SERVICES WITHOUT CATCHING AN ISSUE LIKE THIS? *TR
ON 5/31 WE FILLED OUR TDI AFTER GETTING 515 MILES ON OUR PREVIOUS TANK OF FUEL. 5/31 WAS MY LAST DIESEL FILLUP IN MY TDI BEFORE MY ISSUE CAME ABOUT. AT THAT VISIT ON 5/31 WE ADDED 14,207 GALLONS OF FUEL TO OUR 14.5 GALLON TANK. ABOUT 12 DAYS PASSED FROM OUR LAST FILLUP AND AFTER 405 MILES OR 3/4 OF A TANK OF FUEL USAGE SINCE OUR LAST FUEL UP ON 5/31 WE WENT ON SUNDAY 6/9 TO START OUR VEHICLE.IT STARTED AND THEN QUICKLY DIED. WE THEN TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OVER AGAIN AND IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT IGNITE SEEMED TO BE A FUEL ISSUE TO MY HUSBAND) BUT IN ALL EFFORTS HE TRIED TO JUMP OUR VEHICLE .... NO FIX. ON MONDAY WE CALLED FOR A TOW WE ARRIVED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP GOT OUR CAR INTO THE SHOP... DIAGNOSTICS STATED THAT WE HAD GASOLINE IN OUR DIESEL VEHICLE... AT NO TIME DID WE EVER OR HAVE EVER PUT GASOLINE IN OUR CAR WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 29K MILES AND ARE OTHER DIESEL PRODUCT OWNERS. WE WERE BLAMED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE PUT GASOLINE IN OUR CAR BUT THANKFULLY WE SAVED THE RECEIPT OF OUR LAST FILL UP THAT STATED WE DID PUT DIESEL IN OUR VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAD TO DRAIN OUR FUEL TANK AND REPLACE OUR FUEL FILTER.... THIS WOULD BE AT A COST OF ALMOST $300. WE STATED TO THEM WE WANTED A SAMPLE OF THE FUEL DRAINED AND THEY DID GIVE US THIS. OUR ARGUMENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS WHY WOULD OUR VEHICLE NOW DECIDED NOT TO START OR RUN AFTER OF A TANK OF FUEL AND ALMOST 420 MILES ON THE TANK OF FUEL. IT SEEMS VERY ODD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY QUICK TO PASS THE BUCK TO THE GAS STATION READING THE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS STATE THAT THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES OF THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THE DSG TDI AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I FEEL LIKE I MAY ALSO BE ANOTHER VICTIM OF THIS BLINDED KNOWN CORPORATE PROBLEM. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA FOR "SERVICE ACTION CAMPAIGN CODE: 20T8 SUBJECT: CERTAIN 2009-2012 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WITH TDI CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE INSTALL MISFUELING GUARD MAY 21, 2013" TO INSTALL THE MISFUELING GUARD VW PART #5K0 201 400. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH JIM ELLIS VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 1860 COBB PKWY S MARIETTA, GA 30060 PH: (770) 955-6565 TO INSTALL THE MISFUELING GUARD. AFTER THE FUEL GUARD WAS INSTALLED, DISCOVERED THAT NONE OF THE DIESEL FUEL NOZZLES AT AREA FUELING STATIONS IN ATLANTA, GA AND CHARLESTON, SC FIT THE MISFUELING GUARD BECAUSE THE NOZZLES ARE TOO SMALL TO DEACTIVATE THE LOCK-OUT MECHANISM. CAR CAN ONLY BE REFUELED WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY BY VERY SLOWING TRICKLING IN DIESEL FUEL TO AVOID TRIGGERING THE FUEL PUMP BACK-PRESSURE AUTO-SHUTOFF SAFETY FEATURE. REQUIRES 10 TO 15 MINS TO PARTIALLY FUEL THE CAR AND DIESEL FUEL WILL FOAM AND RUN OUT OF THE FUEL TANK NECK. CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA AND JIM ELLIS TO REMOVE THE MISFUELING GUARD, WHO AS OF THIS WRITING, ARE REFUSING TO DO SO PER VW AMERICA DIRECTIVES. INSTEAD, THE DEALER PROVIDED A DIESEL FUEL NOZZLE ADAPTER 000-072-709 WITH LATEX GLOVES, WHICH IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THE AVERAGE NON-MECHANICALLY ORIENTED DRIVER AND A HUGE INCONVENIENCE THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHES THE VALUE AND UTILITY OF THE VEHICLE. PART MUST NOT BE LOST AND CAREFULLY WIPED DRY AND KEPT CLEAN AFTER EACH USE. A NEW DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE OF OR UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THE NOZZLE ADAPTER. NEITHER VW AMERICA NOR JIM ELLIS ADVISED ME THE MISFUELING GUARD WOULD NOT FIT A GREAT NUMBER OF DIESEL FUEL NOZZLES COMMONLY FOUND AT AREA REFUELING STATIONS PRIOR TO HAVING IT INSTALLED. HAD I KNOWN THIS, I WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED THE MISFUELING GUARD TO BE INSTALLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT PROVIDE ANY DEFECT CODES NOR DID THE VEHICLE STALL WHILE THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,884. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OFF. WAS TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND SHEER BOLTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP ON AN INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A TWO SECOND DELAYED RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC HILL START ASSISTANCE FEATURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
JUST HAD BEEN A LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS, BEFORE I STARTED TO HEAR AND NOTICE A UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR. I STARTED TO HEAR A CONSTANT RUMBLING, GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. DIDN'T THINK OF IT MUCH AT THE MOMENT, BUT NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY JUST TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IF IT WORSENS. I TOOK MY CAR IN THIS DAY FOR MY FIRST 10K SERVICE. THEY SUPPOSEDLY DID A MULTIPURPOSE INSPECTION AND EVEN STATED EVERYTHING IS FINE AND NORMAL (REMEMBER THIS, FOR MY NEXT MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WILL FURTHER INTO THIS PROBLEM). *TR
I PURCHASED MY CAR 1 YEAR AGO HAS APPROXIMATELY 27K ON IT NOW BOUGHT IT WITH 1000 MILES ON IT AFTER A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I STARTED IN SOME WOBBLING RUMBLING NOISES COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF MY CAR I TOOK UP A DRIVE WITH THE TECHNICIAN THE TECHNICIAN HEARD THE SOUND THEY HAD MY CAR FOR FOUR DAYS DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A LOANER AND I MISSED SCHOOL BECAUSE SO. AFTER 4 DAYS THEY CAME UP WITH NO CONCLUSION HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT GETS WORSE I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER EVERYTHING LOOK FOR THE FIFTH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TIRES ARE FEATHERING I WAS WONDERING WHY THEY TELL ME THAT NOW I'M NOT AFTER THE FIRST TWO TIMES. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL OTHER SECOND PARTY DEALERSHIPS WHEN THEY TOLD ME MY TIRES ARE FINE ALONG WITH ONE OF THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS. I AM NOW HAVING PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH MY EXCELERATOR HESITATED IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GURGLING AND SEEMING TO HAVE TROUBLES ACCELERATING NOW. MY MILES PER GALLON HAS DROPPED FROM 42 TO 38. I AM HERE IN A WHOOOING NOISE WHEN I'M RETURNING THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY RIGHT AND REVERSING AND IT'S COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE LEFT FRONT SIDE WHERE THE ORIGINAL NOISE WAS, VW TOLD ME IT'S NORMAL. I'M ALSO HEARING THE SAME ISSUES MUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE'S WITH THIS CAR WITH ACCELERATING I'M HEARING WEIRD CRANKING NOISE THROUGH THE AC VENT WHICH IS A NORMAL AT HIGH RPM'S. JUST RECENTLY I HAD A PUT MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FOUR WITH MY BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. I'M ALSO HEARING THE SAME ISSUES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WITH MY WINDOWS IT'S REALLY NOT LOUD AND NOISY AFTER ABOUT 50 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP IS YET TO COME UP WITH CLEAR ANSWER TO MY ISSUES THEY JUST TOLD ME TO BUY TIRES AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN SURE IF THE NEW TIRES WOULD FIX THE ISSUE OR NOT. THEY ALSO TELL ME I WON'T BE COVERED IN THE FUTURE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. VW NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATE. *TR
I WAS ON AN APPROXIMATELY 6 HOUR ROAD TRIP. APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN FLASHING. VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", SLOWING TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, AND COME TO A STOP AT THE OFF RAMP STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS LEFT MY WIFE AND I STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP STATED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP "EXPLODED", SENDING METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY "CONTAMINATED FUEL". A SMALL AMOUNT OF ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN TDI ENGINES. *TR
CPSC:I1340048A. 2012 VOLKSWAGEN. CONSUMER STATED THAT VW MADE A SOFTWARE CHANGE TO THE CAR WHICH CAUSED IT TO RACE DANGEROUSLY WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED OR PUT IN FIRST GEAR. *LN
SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO, IT HAS VERY OCCASIONALLY EXHIBITED A HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. IT IS A TDI VERSION WITH THE AUTOMATED MANUAL DSG TRANSMISSION. UP TILL NOW, IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO INDUCE ON COMMAND, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE TWO DEALERSHIPS THAT HAVE EXAMINED IT TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, IT SEEMS TO FOLLOW A VERY BRIEF ACCELERATION, AS THOUGH YOU ARE STARTING TO MOVE INTO TRAFFIC AND THEN BACK OFF THE THROTTLE FOR AN INSTANT BEFORE REAPPLYING THE THROTTLE. AS YOU STEP BACK INTO THE THROTTLE, THERE IS NO CHANGE IN ENGINE SPEED FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS, REGARDLESS OF PEDAL POSITION - IT JUST CONTINUES TO IDLE UNTIL IT FINALLY RESPONDS NORMALLY. SINCE THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR MERGING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE THREE SECONDS OF DELAY DURING WHICH YOU ROLL FORWARD CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *JS
ENGINE LIGHT AND ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION) LIGHT BOTH COME ON. HAVE TAKEN THIS NEW CAR IN 6 TIMES IN 2 YEARS, AND THE LIGHTS ARE ON, YET AGAIN. AFTER VW REPLACED SENSORS (FOUR TIMES), AND WIRING (MODULE), AND HARNESS....ALL UNDER WARRANTY, THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM. AND I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT OR NOT. I WANT TO KNOW THAT BEFORE A CRASH, FIRE, OR FATALITY HAPPENS. PLEASE....IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOUR VEHICLE, MAKE IT KNOWN TO THIS SITE. THANKS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATION EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V490000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHEN MAKING A BROKEN U-TURN IN AN ATTEMP TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO PARK OR DRIVE. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN REVERSE, ONCE THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO RE-START. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE TWO TRUCK DRIVER IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AS A FREQUENT ONE WITH 2012 OR 2013 VW JETTAS. HE SAID THAT THE SHIFT CABLE IN THESE VEHICLES IS UNSTABLE AND CAN BECOME LOOSE, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT THE CAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA. THE TECHNICIAN AT VW SPENT 5 MINUTES PUTTING THE SHIFT CABLE BACK IN PLACE, WHICH HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT WITH VW JETTAS AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE AGENCY CONTACT VW TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO RECTIFY THE DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AS WELL TO INFORM THEM OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND CENTER SEAT BELTS WERE TEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,608. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT HEADED UP HILL. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I RELEASED THE BRAKES & CLUTCH WHILE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THIS KILLED THE ENGINE. (I HAVE DRIVEN STICKS SHIFTS FOR 50 YEARS.) THE CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAVING SEEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF AND MY CAR BEGIN TO MOVE HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. HIS HONKING AND RUDE GESTURES WERE NOT NECESSARY, BUT UNDERSTANDABLE. WE WERE PROBABLY BOTH CURSING, I KNOW I WAS. COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER I WAS AMAZED TO LEARN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS! IN ADDITION, SINCE THE THEN I HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT IF ONE SETS THE HANDBRAKE TO SOON THE ELECTRONICS WILL EVENTUALLY RELEASE THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE AND THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH HAD BEEN PULLED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF ITS TRAVEL NOW HAS SEVERAL MORE CLICKS LEFT TO GO AND IS NOT FULLY SET. WE LEARNED THIS WHEN THE UNOCCUPIED CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO A TREE ACROSS THE STREET. WE WERE NOT PLEASED. (VW OF AMERICA, HOWEVER, WAS NOT CONCERNED.) TO REALLY KEEP US GUESSING THIS "FEATURE" DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY ACTIVATE - THERE IS A RANGE OF DEGREES OF SLOPE WHERE IT MAY OR MAY NOT COME INTO PLAY. HAVING IT NOT HOLD WHEN ONE EXPECTS IT TO HAS CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE AND SEVERAL MORE CLOSE CALLS. VWOA WILL NOT ALLOW DEALERS TO DEACTIVATE. TRYING TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH SOMETHING MORE DRIVABLE I HAVE LEARNED THIS HAS BECOME A WIDESPREAD CURSE ON MANY NEWER VEHICLES, EVEN THOSE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IDEA IS NOT ONLY WRONG IT IS WRONG-HEADED. HOW IN GOD'S NAME CAN A DELIBERATE BRAKE MALFUNCTION BE PALMED OFF AS A "SAFETY FEATURE". AND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE SO INCOMPETENT AS TO NEED OR WANT THIS, WHY MUST THE REST OF US BE PLAGUED WITH IT. LIKE MOST ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTION NO ONE HAS ASKED IT IS WRONG. IT IS WRONG AND DANGEROUS. AND IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED, ANNOYING. *TR
LH REAR SEAT BELT AND REAR CENTER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES CAN BE DAMAGED BY FOLDING REAR SEAT INTO THE FULLY FLAT POSITION AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. WHEN FOLDED TO FULLY FLAT POSITION THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN FLOOR AND FOLDED SEAT BACKS. BELT RECEPTACLES CAN RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER AND BE BROKEN FROM HAVING SEATS IN THIS POSITION. VW REPRESENTATIVES HAVE INFORMED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTER COOLER FAILED AND WAS CLOGGED WITH ICE ON BOTH THE INLET AND OUTLET SIDES. WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,050. UPDATED 03/15/13*LJ UPDATED 04/22/2013 *JS
2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE IN COLD WEATHER. *SMD THE DEALER INSTALLED A MODIFICATION TO THE TURBO CHARGER INTERCOOLER. *JB
DRIVING AT 45 MPH CITY HIGHWAY SPEED, IN TRAFFIC, & STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, ACCELERATED, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER & WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET, TURNED OFF ENGINE & LOOKED UP THE WARNING LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. "ENGINE PRE-HEAT" WARNING, SOLID, NOT FLASHING. RESTARTED CAR, LIGHT WAS OUT, RESUMED NORMAL TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY, BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. BOTH SOLID. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS TOLD TO BRING IN THE CAR. DURING TRIP TO DEALER GLOW PLUG LIGHT RESUMED FLASHING & CAR LOST POWER ON HILLS. TECH REMOVED FUEL FILTER, FOUND METAL FILINGS, SAID HPFP HAD FAILED & FILLED FUEL SYSTEM WITH METAL PARTICLES. REPAIRS ESTIMATED @ >$7,000. DEALER ORIGINALLY SAID REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN 2 DAYS LATER SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NO POSSIBILITY OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION. PURCHASED CAR EXPRESSLY TO FUEL IT WITH 100% VEGETABLE OIL BASED BIODIESEL. DEALER KNEW INTENT & SOLD THE CAR FOR THIS EXPRESS PURPOSE. STILL WORKING WITH DEALER & VW TO RESOLVE WARRANTY ISSUES. *TR
CAR LOST POWER AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD . TOWED TO VW DEALER . NO FUEL PRESSURE . REMOVED FUEL FILTER , FULL OF METAL . FUEL PUMPS , FILTER , LINES AND INJECTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOT A MISS FUELING ISSUE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL POWER. WITHOUT POWER STEERING IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP WHO EVALUATED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE MAIN FUSE HAD MELTED AND BLOWN OUT THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX AND THE ALTERNATOR CABLE HAD MELTED. THE REPAIR INVOICE INDICATES: "FOUND ALTERNATOR CABLE AT FUSE BOX MELTED, REPLACED FUSE PANEL, ALTERNATOR CABLE AND FUSE ON FRONT OF FUSE PANEL. REPLACED WIRING HARNESS. TESTED BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM AND ROAD TESTED CAR. " I BELIEVE THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF A ROCK STRIKING THE GLASS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THEY WOULD NEED A DEALER TO VERIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
DRIVING BACK FROM THE BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT ON 20/59 WEST TO TUSCALOOSA DRIVING 68 MPH IN A LEASED 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES, LINE SIZE 205/55R16 91H, DOT# 1GRP DY H2 THE VEHICLE STARTING PULLING HARD LEFT. I DECELERATED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I NOTICED IN REAR VIEW AND THEN SIDE MIRROR BLACK DEBRIS COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR AS I PULLED OFF ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER TIRES SIDE WALL BLEW OUT. THEN TOOK PICTURES OF WHAT WAS LEFT HANGING FROM THE TIRE. THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. BOTH THE DEALER QUALITY MAZDA VOLKSWAGEN AND THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7522. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURE OFFERED ANY REASON FOR THE FAILURE OR TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THE TIRE. SUGGESTED BUYING ANOTHER TIRE. *TR
I WAS TRYING ALONG AT 50 MPH AND THE GLOBE DIESEL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME AN. I KEPT TRYING TO DRIVE IT TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE TO GET IT TOWED. VW COULD NOT DETERMINE IF WAS FUEL CONTAMINATION OR FAULTY FUEL PUMP. I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR WHEN I GOT TO A STOP. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO THE VW COMPANY WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO BLAME THE CONSUMERS THAT I PUT THE WRONG FUEL IN MY VEHICLE. VW INSTALLED THE FUEL GUARD WHICH WAS A RECALL, AND COVERED THE REST OF THE PARTS BUT NOW I AM LEFT WITH A YEAR OLD CAR THAT I HOPE HAS NO LONGER FURTHER ISSUES DUE TO VW NOT RECALLING AND FIXING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES, LINE SIZE 205/55R16, DOT#R1GRPDYH2411. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35MPH THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE AND THE TIRE STARTED LOOSING AIR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDERS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER TIRE'S SIDE WALL BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIRE WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS THAT HAD THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,865.
PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER ON 10/03/12 AT 11:00 A.M. IT WAS NEW---HAD 47 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. DROVE IT TO WORK AND THEN ARRIVED HOME AT 6:45 THAT EVENING WITH ODOMETER READING 81 MILES. AS I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN THE GARAGE I PUT IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK IT INTO THE SPOT AND THEN SWITCHED THE GEAR(THIS IS A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) TO DRIVE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE BACKWARDS IN REVERSE AND IF I HAD NOT HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL OF THE GARAGE. TRIED TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE--THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND OF COURSE, COULD NOT START IT AGAIN BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL ON THE DASHBOARD CONTINUED TO READ THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AND HE HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE CABLE WIRE IN THE ENGINE WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING TO CHANGE GEARS AND GET THE CAR TO START. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM---THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN CLAIM IT HAS BEEN FIXED BY SIMPLY TIGHTENING A CLASP ON THE TRANSMISSION CABLE. WHY WAS THE CLASP LOOSE? I MAINTAIN THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. IF I HAD BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A U TURN IN TRAFFIC OR PARK ON THE STREET THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC. . I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN WANT TO SWEEP THIS INCIDENT UNDER THE RUG. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. THANK YOU *TR
VOLKS 2012 JETTA TDI. AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROX 55-60 MPH, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO COME OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE REVVED AND TACHOMETER RED-LINED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT LOOSE POWER AS EVIDENCED BY TACHOMETER AND HIGH RPM'S ON ENGINE. AFTER TACHOMETER RED-LINED, TACHOMETER THEN BEGAN TO DROP AND AT ABOUT 5,000 RPM, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN OPERATION OF VEHICLE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. ODDLY, CRUISE DID NOT HAVE TO BE RESET AND SEEMED UNAWARE OF THE EVENT THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. ENTIRE EVENT OCCURRED IN THE SPAN OF ABOUT 5 SECONDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. SERVICE DOCUMENTATION SAYS "WE SCANNED FOR FAULTS AND HAD A SPORADIC FAULT FOR GEAR SHIFT CONTROL MODULE. PERFORMED TEST PLAN AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. WE CLEARED FAULTS." ANOTHER SERVICE SHOWED THE ERROR CODE WITH VERBIAGE SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "LOST COMMUNICATION WITH GEAR SHIFT CONTROL MODULE." DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE GEAR SHIFT CONTROL MODULE AND STATED THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, RETURN AND THEY WILL REPLACE. CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT OCCURS ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CONGESTED HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND CLEARLY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MPG, ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND ENGINE LIGHT BOTH CAME ON AT ONCE AND VEHICLE LOST POWER ALL OF THE SUDDEN. AT THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE IT COULD HAVE ENDED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
HELLO, PURCHASED A VW JETTA SE ON 7/20/12 AND ALMOST 1 MONTH AFTER THE PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT APX. 50 MPH AROUND 5:30PM WHEN CAR HEADLIGHTS BLINKED AND CAR DIED (STALLED). ATTEMPTED TO RE-START A CAR WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. SINCE VW DEALER WAS CLOSED ALREADY - CALLED A LOCAL AUTO SHOP AND THEY TOWED A CAR TO A SHOP TO FIND AN ISSUE. MECHANIC COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS SO HE RE-SET A COMPUTER IN MY CAR AND HE WAS ABLE TO START IT. DROVE HOME. LATER IN THE EVENING - DROVE TO PICK-UP SOME FOOD AND ON THE WAY HOME (INSIDE A DEVELOPMENT) - WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APX. 15-18 MPH - PRESSED BRAKES AND REALIZED I HAD NONE AND AT THE SAME TIME CAR STALLED AND SINCE IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS ALREADY SLIGHTLY TURNING LEFT - CAR SLID IN THE DIRECTION ON MY TURN AND RIGHT REAR TIRE HIT THE CURB, TIRE FALL OFF, CAR HIT A STREET SIGN AND AN ELECTRIC POOL (BOTH FELL TO THE GROUND) AND BROUGHT ME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE GRASS. POLICE WAS CONTACTED AND A CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEAREST BODY SHOP. FILING A COMPLAINT WITH VW - WILL SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON MODERATE TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES GOT REALLY HARD. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. MY JETTA HAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS SET ON "MANUAL WITH NO CLUTCH" WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE THING IS I WASN'T EVEN TOUCHING THAT WHEN THE CAR STALLED. THAT FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER I'D GOTTEN THE CAR FRESH OFF THE DEALERSHIP. I DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW CAR. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW AND IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 OTHER TIMES. NOW I REALIZE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR STALLS THE STEERING WHEELS GETS VERY HARD AND IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OR USE THE BRAKES. I'M NOT HAPPY. *TR
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DIED. *TR *JS
VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION OVER 50 MPH. IT IS FELT THROUGH OUT CAR. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE, DEALER STATES THAT ITS CHARACTERISTIC. I HAVE TESTED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME LINEAGE AND DISAGREE. IT IS EITHER DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL OR OUTER AXLE FAILURE, HOWEVER DEALER STATES UNLESS VW AUTHORIZES, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. VEHICLE IS WITHIN WARRANTY. *TR
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED AND SAID THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM. *TR
RECENTLY, I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH ON MY WAY HOME. I DEPRESSED MY BRAKE PEDALS TO STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 3-4 CAR LENGTHS FROM ME HAD COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THIS RESULTED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT AND THE JETTA SE REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE THAT HAD STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE DAMAGE WAS TO MY FRONT BUMPER AND THE OTHER VEHICLES BUMPER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND A VEHICLE CUT ME OFF AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE BRAKE WENT DOWN TO THE ROAD. THANKFULLY, I WAS NEXT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS IS HOW I AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS LEAVING WORK AND SOMEONE TURNED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND I HAD TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE LEFT TURN LANE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. TWO TIMES I WAS LUCKY, UNFORTUNATELY THE 3RD TIME I WAS NOT AND THE ISSUE RESULTED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A 3 YEAR LEASE. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE SHOP TOMORROW BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST WHAT THE VW DEALER WOULD SAY TO PROTECT VW THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. I SEE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE TDI. THIS IS A JETTA SE. *TR
AFTER LESS THAN 3 MINUTES OF OPERATION, THE VEHICLE CAN STALL UNDER A SPECIFIC SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THE INCIDENCES (13 AND COUNTING IN 2 MONTHS) ALWAYS OCCUR WHEN IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR AT ~30-35 MPG. THE DRIVER IS SLOWING DOWN (AS TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT) AND THEN ACCELERATES (LIGHT CHANGES TO GREEN). ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION BEGINS THE ENGINE STALLS AND MUST BE RESTARTED. THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OUT DURING ACCELERATION. *TR