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Volkswagen headlight problems

Owners have filed 1,625 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting on Volkswagen vehicles — 3% of everything reported about the brand, across 29 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the Volkswagen Jetta, worst in 2001.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

1,625

Complaints

3%

Share of all Volkswagen complaints

33

Crashes

36

Fires

Which Volkswagen models have the most headlight problems

Jetta 522 32.1%

Worst in 2001

Passat 329 20.2%

Worst in 2013

Beetle 205 12.6%

Worst in 2001

Tiguan 125 7.7%

Worst in 2011

Atlas 115 7.1%

Worst in 2021

Golf 68 4.2%

Worst in 2001

GTI 41 2.5%

Worst in 2001

ID.4 33 2.0%

Worst in 2023

NEW Beetle 29 1.8%

Worst in 1998

Touareg 29 1.8%

Worst in 2004

Atlas Cross Sport 27 1.7%

Worst in 2021

Worst Volkswagen model years for headlight problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2001 Volkswagen Jetta 90 10% 64,050 B
2002 Volkswagen Jetta 62 7% 62,000 C
2021 Volkswagen Atlas 61 8% — A
2013 Volkswagen Passat 60 6% 70,000 A
2003 Volkswagen Passat 45 6% 47,000 A
2011 Volkswagen Jetta 42 5% 63,500 B
2001 Volkswagen Passat 39 7% 59,100 A
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan 39 16% 43,800 C
2002 Volkswagen Passat 36 5% 54,950 B
2000 Volkswagen Jetta 35 6% 79,000 A
2006 Volkswagen Jetta 35 4% 51,700 A
2001 Volkswagen Beetle 32 11% 64,280 B
2003 Volkswagen Jetta 30 5% 65,000 B
1998 Volkswagen Beetle 28 10% 60,000 D
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 26 3% 100 A
2009 Volkswagen Jetta 24 2% 65,000 A
2014 Volkswagen Jetta 24 4% 55,500 A
1999 Volkswagen Jetta 22 5% 83,000 B
2005 Volkswagen Beetle 21 6% 56,243 A
2010 Volkswagen Jetta 21 2% 70,000 A

Other Volkswagen problems

Headlight problems on other brands