2008 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Ignition key is stuck in the vehicle with the ignition on will not come out

NHTSA complaint #11748168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Sometimes I feel as if my car is possessed I own a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta and sometimes the passenger headlight works sometimes it doesn't I've replaced the bulbs doesn't matter. My sunroof All of a sudden stopped working. My turn signals on the right side don't work when the headlight is not on. I have no sound from my stereo cuz my speakers automatically went out. It has a lot of electrical issues not sure why.

NHTSA complaint #11724289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The ignition switch gets stuck sometimes and I can't crank my car nor turn it off I'm just dating that because that's what's going on on my end. Therefore, I've had times where I can't crank my car or I can't turn it off when I need to. So you may tell me if there was a recall on ignition switch or whatever

NHTSA complaint #11631894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Passenger airbag is always off. I saw reports on youtube wiring connectors under the seat are the reason. There’s a home remedy solution. Important air bag issues should be freely be done by manufacturer or dealer. Also steering issues are more common than reported. The electrical devise fails too often rendering driving the vehicle difficult.

NHTSA complaint #11536995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed during the daytime, the speedometer failed to illuminate adequately, causing her to be unable to see the speed she was driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11496591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

car go into a safe mode take to dealer they said car is no reparable because the part they need is no longer made by VW and is no a substitution part for it. so basically they talk me to send it to a junk lot or I can buy a new car and they will gime some money for it also at the end they recommend a shop that maybe be they can fixit so I think why ???? ia safety advised for a dealer.????

NHTSA complaint #11464481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SEAT HEATER:MAT

The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated the front driver’s side seat heaters would overheat when choosing option 1 or 2 and failed to turn off. The contact stated that the heat was overwhelming for her and would feel like it was burning her back. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #11445058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUST AFTER I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING SLAMMED INTO SECOND GEAR, SENDING MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE THE CARS TRAVELLING BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID COLLISION. I PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO ASSESS THE REASON, TO NO AVAIL. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN GEAR, IT DROVE FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT. THEN IT DID A REPEAT OF THE PREVIOUS ACTION, SENDING THE TRANSMISSION INTO SAFE MADE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR PROVOCATION, AND AGAIN, WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IT DROVE PERFECTLY NORMAL WHILE I DROVE IT DIRECTLY HOME. WHEN I PERFORMED AN OBDII SCAN, IT GENERATED P0746 AS THE PROBLEM, WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS BEING REPORTED. I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY HAD SOMEONE ELSE BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, SUCH AS A MOTHER WHO MAY BE DISTRACTED BY HER CHILDREN AT THE TIME, AND I FEEL THIS MATTER SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY. PRIOR EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS SELDOM ONLY HAPPEN TO ONE VEHICLE AT A TIME, AND ALMOST ANYONE THAT EXPERIENCES THIS PROBLEM ON A HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MULTIPLE CARS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #11407606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY WAS STUCK IN N THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. COULD NOT TURN THE KEY EITHER WAY. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF THE CAR RUNNING I WAS FORCED TO HEAD TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE COST TO REPLACE THE INSIDE OF THE IGNITION PLUS LABOR WAS $1,000.

NHTSA complaint #11366592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SAFETY ANTI-LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS THEN UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE OR REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH EXTRA EFFORT SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. SUNTRUP VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 6000 S LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63123, (314) 892-8200, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA complaint #11331740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

COULD NOT START VEHICLE BUT ONCE ABLE TO START WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF VEHICLE. KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY AND PULL FUEL PUMP RELAY TO KILL POWER. DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE MANUFACTURE DEFECT FOR CERTAIN VOLKSWAGEN MODELS. DUE TO THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SPECIALIZED TOOLS NEEDED TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, VW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE BUT NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #11328740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IGNITION SWITCH WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK IN A DRIVEWAY. BUT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED INSIDE A GARAGE. THE CAR WAS SUCCESSFULLY TURNED OFF AFTER BREAKING THE PLASTIC KEY TRANSMITTER AND FORCING THE KEY WITH PLIERS. OTHERS MAY NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH OR TOOLS TO FORCE THIS TO TURN OFF. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD OCCUR AND THE ENGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TURN OFF COULD START A FIRE OR PRODUCE CO POISONING IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT. PART FAILURES SUCH AS THIS SHOULD FAIL IN A SAFE MODE. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A SAFE FAILURE MODE.

NHTSA complaint #11231997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CLUSTER..IINTERAL WIRING CLOCK ALWAYS RESETS AT 12:00 WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP STOPPED WORKING AIR CONDITIONING POPS FUSES POWER SUPPLY PORTS HAVE NO POWER.

NHTSA complaint #11123281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK IN KEYLOCK AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN OFF ENGINE. WENT ONLINE AND THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS.

NHTSA complaint #11089171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I FIRST STARTED EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR ON MY VW JETTA IN DECEMBER 2015. THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK USING THE KEY REMOTE. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS BY PUSHING THE KEY INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO GET A BEEP SOUND AND FLASHING INDICATORS TO CONFIRM THAT ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP WHICH COST $480 TO FIXED ONE DOOR. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER FIXING THE DOOR, SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE CAR WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED AND WASN'T WORKING. THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME WAS, MANUALLY USING THE KEY WOULD ONLY LOCK THREE DOORS (2 FRONT DOOR AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR, WHICH I HAD FIXED PRIOR TO THE SECOND FAILURE). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $480 TO GET IT FIXED. ABOUT A MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK STOP WORKING WHICH COST ME ANOTHER $480. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK IS NOT WORKING. I ASKED THE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE ADVISOR IF VOLKSWAGEN IS GOING TO OR PLANNING ON CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS 'NO, IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.' WHY DO CAR DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING? COULD IT SOMEWHAT BE FOR SAFETY REASON? WHEN ONE OF THE DOOR LOCK FAILS, THE CAR DOORS ARE NOT LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MOST OF THE VOLKSWAGEN MODELS. DOES VOLKSWAGEN CARES? COULD THIS BE DANGEROUS FOR A CHILD OR ADULT IN THE BACK/FRONT SEAT OF A CAR DRIVING AROUND WITH UNLOCK DOORS? PLEASE, PLEASE I'M CRYING FOR HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10937294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, THE TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY. INITIALLY ONLY THE LEFT TURN SIGNALING APPEARED TO BE AFFECTED, AND WOULD FAIL TO MAKE ANY INDICATION ON THE DASH OR ILLUMINATE THE LIGHTS. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, ATTEMPTING TO SIGNAL A RIGHT TURN WOULD ACTUALLY RESULT IN THE LEFT TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATING (YES, THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WAS INTENDED). AS I AM ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS DEALING WITH THE DOOR CONTROL ISSUE, I AM UNABLE TO USE MY WINDOW. I COULD NOT USE ARM SIGNALLING TO MAKE MY INTENTIONS CLEAR TO OTHER DRIVERS. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR ISSUE, AND ASSOCIATED RECALL, WITH THE 2002 JETTA TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR/SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10905971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND TRIED TO TURN OFF ENGINE TO FUEL THE CAR. AN IGNITION MALFUNCTION WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN ENGINE OFF OR REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10873334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK INOPERABLE. LOCK MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE DOOR TO NOT LOCK MANUALLY OR WITH REMOTE. ALSO, THE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED TO "CHIRP" WHEN PRESSING REMOTE. TOOK TO DEALER AND SPENT $500 ON A LOCK MECHANISM IN THE DOOR. I HEAR THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. BUYER BEWARE.

NHTSA complaint #10825781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY AND WITH THE KEY FOB. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA complaint #10809404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #10735710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CRASH SENSORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA complaint #10702806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOORS DON'T LOCK. THERE IS NO OPTION TO MANUALLY LOCK IT, THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE IS NO WAY TO LOCK THESE DOORS. THERE IS RISK OF THE DOORS FLINGING OPEN IN CASE OF ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILD SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10692721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUNROOF WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE AT RANDOM, HAD THAT FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AND THE ALARM WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A THEFT ISSUE AND APPEARS ITS PRETTY COMMON DUE TO PREVIOUS VW THREADS. AT $400 REPAIR COSTS AND VW KNOWING THIS IS AN ISSUE, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL STATUS AND NOT CHARGEABLE TO OWNERS. PLEASE HELP ME/US, I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIR!!!

NHTSA complaint #10641765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IN 2011, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO LOCK THE DOOR BOTH WITH THE INTERNAL LOCK SWITCH AND THE FOB, THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. IT ALSO WOULD NOT CHIRP TO LET ME KNOW THAT ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE ALARM WAS SET. LOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE FOB DOES SET THE ALARM, HOWEVER YOU CAN OPEN THE REAR DOOR AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 THE LEFT REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING AS WELL...IT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR NOT LOCKING...HOWEVER, IT IS SO FAR SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL!

NHTSA complaint #10640806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MACHINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10597685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I GOT LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR ON A HOT DAY WITH MY KID! I SAT IN THE BACK TO PLAY WITH HIM AND KEEP HIM COMPANY. THE DOOR CLOSED AND IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I WOULD PULL ON THE LEVER. I WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT (I KEEP IT PULLED BACK QUITE A BIT) AND THE DOOR. I COULD BARELY MOVE. MY WIFE HAD TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DOOR LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM HAS (SINCE THIS INCIDENT) FAILED ON BOTH REAR DOORS. BOTH!!! WE CAN NO LONGER LOCK THE CAR WITHOUT SPENDING 10-15 MINUTES OPENING, CLOSING, WORKING THE REMOTE ETC, UNTIL IT FINALLY PRODUCES THE DESIRED BEEP WITH THE CAR BEING ACTUALLY LOCKED. THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE, THE ALARM WOULD BE ACTIVATED BUT THE REAR DOOR (PASSENGER SIDE) WOULD REMAIN UNLOCKED. I PULL ON THE HANDLE, THE DOOR OPENS AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE POINT WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THE CHILD OUT OF THE CAR VIA THE FRONT DOORS. I AM NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE CAR PROBABLY GETTING STOLEN OVER THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS CHILD HAZARD! THERE ARE DOZENS OF THREADS ON VW FORUMS ABOUT THESE MECHANISMS FAILING EITHER ON: 1. ELECTRICAL HARNESS BEING DAMAGED. OR 2. DOOR LOCK/LATCH NOT ACTIVATING OR DEACTIVATING. OR BOTH HOW LONG IS VW GOING TO IGNORE THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $450 IN PARTS AND LABOR FOR 1 DOOR. THAT'S ALMOST A $1000 FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS VERY COMMON. VERY.

NHTSA complaint #10586454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING AND THE DOOR WON'T LOCK AT ALL. ANYBODY CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND HURT YOUR CHILD OR STILL THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER HERE IN AUSTIN, TX TODAY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTA MODEL AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF COSTUMERS. THE ELECTRIC LOCKS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10558275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE LED MIRROR TURN SIGNAL AND THE FRONT BUMPER ORANGE ILLUMINATED SAFETY REFLECTOR BOTH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SIMULTANEOUSLY STOPPED WORKING. I'M UNSURE IF THIS IS DUE TO FUSE ISSUES OR COMPUTER RELATED ELECTRICAL ISSUES. A SAFETY PROBLEM IS POSED WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10551660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE PASSENGER DOOR(S) WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE KEYLESS ENTRY LOCK OR UNLOCK COMMANDS. THEY CAN ONLY CLOSE AND OPEN MANUALLY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A STANDARD DEFAULT IN MODEL YEARS RANGING FROM 2007 AND ONWARD. THE SUNROOF WILL PERIODICALLY OPEN BY ITSELF AND THE BLINKERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (EXAMPLE IS WHEN I FLICK THE BLINKER UP TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE LEFT BLINKER COMES ON INSTEAD). WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY, AND LIFE THREATENING, ISSUES?

NHTSA complaint #10545599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.