Owners have filed 284 complaints
about the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA between 2015 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 21 of 33 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 34
Against the median year of the Volkswagen Jetta. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 45
8.8% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 76
44% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2015 compares with every other Volkswagen Jetta
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
2111.7%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
1910.6%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
179.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
5530.6%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
3117.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
2513.9%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
126.7%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2015 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD
11.1% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2015peak 8Mar 2026
Recalls on the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
20E064000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
Risk: If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
19V679000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
15V705000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Risk: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
15V627000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured September 8, 2014, to November 28, 2014, Golf vehicles manufactured April 2, 2014, to December 3, 2014, and E-Golf vehicles manufactured July 26, 2014, to October 18, 2014. The affected vehicles are equipped a Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) that may have been manufactured improperly. As a result, the front passenger seat occupant may be improperly classified or may not be detected.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger seat occupant is incorrectly classified or non-detected, the passenger frontal air bag may deploy improperly or not at all, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
14V790000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured July 11, 2014, to November 13, 2014. Due to incorrect software within the headlight control module, the low beam headlights may turn off when high beam lights are turned on. As a result, the light output from the headlights may be insufficient. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Insufficient headlight output may increase the risk of a crash.
14V670000
SEATS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.
Risk: Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202464835,086 units in Canada
Heater And Defroster
Issue: Volkswagen Group Canada is conducting a parts recovery campaign targeting 2012-2016 Volkswagen vehicles equipped with a TDI (diesel) engine built between May 25, 2011 and June 1, 2016. The auxiliary heater elements are being recovered to aid in Volkswagen's analysis in support of Transport Canada defect investigation file no. 3280-15-10. Note: This action is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For the 2016 model year Jetta, only the Jetta Hybrid model is involved in this parts recovery program. Safety Risk: No safety defect has been identified with these auxiliary heater elements. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the auxiliary heater element at no charge.
Recall 2020353132,432 units in Canada
Label
Issue: On certain vehicles, the warning label for the engine block heater cable is written in English only. As a result, a French user may not receive important safety information about how to use the engine block heater. A label that is not provided in both official languages could create confusion. Safety Risk: User confusion could increase the risk of injury when trying to use the block heater. Corrective Actions: The company will mail each owner a new label for the block heater cable. If you would like help installing the label, you can contact a dealer for assistance.
Recall 2019423117,306 units in Canada
Powertrain
Issue: On certain vehicles, a build-up of silicate on the shift lever switch could cause the transmission to detect that it is in the Park position when it isn't. This could allow the ignition key to be removed when the transmission is not in the Park position. If the parking brake is not applied, this could allow the car to roll away. Safety Risk: If the transmission position is not displayed correctly, a user may not know that the vehicle is not in the PARK position. If the parking brake is not applied, this could create a risk of a vehicle roll-away and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have a new shift lever micro switch and control unit installed.
Recall 2017455534 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, the factory installed block heater could overheat during use, which could increase the risk of fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a new block heater.
Recall 201550417,240 units in Canada
Engine
On certain vehicles, the camshaft lobe which actuates the vacuum pump may fail, causing the pump to fail to deliver further vacuum supply to the brake booster, potentially increasing stopping distances. This would also result in a reduction in available engine power. These issues could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Note: This issue would result in the Engine Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) illuminating. Correction: Dealers will update the engine control module (ECM) software.
Recall 2015445356 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, an electro-magnetic coil inside the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module was manufactured with improper insulation between the coil layer. This could result in the failure of the PODS control module, or misclassification of the front passenger seat occupant, which could prevent proper passenger airbag deployment during a crash where deployment is warranted, potentially increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the PODS control module. Note: Should this occur, vehicle occupants would be alerted of a problem by the airbag monitoring light illuminating or by a false indication of the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator.
Recall 20145752,708 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain vehicles, a sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail to seal, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment during engine operation. Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the fuel rail.
Recall 20145629,843 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The software within the control module of the halogen headlights can allow the low beam headlights to turn off when the high beam headlights are activated, which is contrary to the requirements of the standard. Reduced lighting at the front of the vehicle can affect the driver's vision, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will update the software of the control module.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 114,000 milesNewport News, VACrash2 injured
SEATS
AS THE THIRD CAR IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT, IT WAS THE ONLY ONE WHERE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY IT WAS THE MOST DAMAGED. THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE UPON REAR IMPACT PRIOR TO THE CAR BEING FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11365846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesNewport News, VACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
AS THE THIRD CAR IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT, IT WAS THE ONLY ONE WHERE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY IT WAS THE MOST DAMAGED. THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE UPON REAR IMPACT PRIOR TO THE CAR BEING FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11365846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesSchenectady, NYCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE OWNED THIS USED VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEED (10-15MPH) THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THIS BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DURING SAID ACCIDENT, AT LOW IMPACT, THE AIRBAG WAS TRIGGERED TO DEPLOY. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE AIRBAG OR SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, AS I HAVE BEEN IN A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH AN OLDER JETTA THAT DID NOT RESULT IN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM AT RISK OF HAVING MY VEHICLE TOTALED OUT BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES WHEN IT NORMALLY WOULD BE REPAIRABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11365653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesBothell, WACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
**SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT**
NHTSA complaint #11363609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesNEW Freedom, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON A SUBURBAN STREET AND WAS BROAD SIDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE IMPACT AREA WAS DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND THE A POST. CAR WAS DECLARED TOTAL BY INSURANCE COMPANY. CONCERN IS, THE DRIVERS DOOR AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IMPACT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO RIP THE A POST IN THE MIDDLE AND BUCKLE IT INWARD. THE IMPACT WAS BEFORE THE DOOR WHICH SHOULD OF TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG. THE CAR THAT HIT MINE RIPPED THE OUTER SHELL FROM THE DOOR AND PUNCTURE A LARGE HOLE IN THE LOWER FRONT CORNER. THE ARM TO PROTECT THE DRIVER THAT IS LOCATED IN THE DOOR WAS ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED. I HAD A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN THE DOOR AND THERE IS DAMAGE ALL AROUND THE SENSOR. WHY WOULDN'T THE AIR BAG GO OFF WITH SUCH A HARD IMPACT SO CLOSE TO THE DRIVER IN A SMALL COMPACT CAR??
NHTSA complaint #11327301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesCasselberry, FLFire
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND OUT THE VEHICLE FIRE OUT BUT THE WHOLE FROM END OF THE VEHICLE TO THE INSIDE AND BACKSEAT WAS AFFECT BY THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11310392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer mileage was 77,183. Later, while attempting to sell the vehicle on Carvana, the contact was informed that the odometer mileage for the vehicle that was last reported in 2023 was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11721675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irving, TX
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle Information •Make / Model / Year: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE •VIN: [XXX] Recall Information (if known) •Camshaft recall: 23R1 (2016) •ECM software update: 24DR (2020) Description of Problem: My 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE experiences loss of power while driving, where the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate properly, especially when driving uphill. This creates an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle previously received recall repairs for the camshaft (23R1) and ECM software (24DR). Despite these recall repairs being completed, the same symptoms persist, indicating the recall may not have fully resolved the defect. I reported this issue to Volkswagen Customer CARE under case number [XXX], but the concern remains unresolved. I am filing this complaint to document that this is an ongoing safety concern, post-recall, that has not been resolved by Volkswagen. I request NHTSA to review this unresolved post-recall safety issue and ensure Volkswagen investigates whether the original recall repairs fully corrected the defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11711278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irving, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle Information •Make / Model / Year: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE •VIN: [XXX] Recall Information (if known) •Camshaft recall: 23R1 (2016) •ECM software update: 24DR (2020) Description of Problem: My 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE experiences loss of power while driving, where the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate properly, especially when driving uphill. This creates an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle previously received recall repairs for the camshaft (23R1) and ECM software (24DR). Despite these recall repairs being completed, the same symptoms persist, indicating the recall may not have fully resolved the defect. I reported this issue to Volkswagen Customer CARE under case number [XXX], but the concern remains unresolved. I am filing this complaint to document that this is an ongoing safety concern, post-recall, that has not been resolved by Volkswagen. I request NHTSA to review this unresolved post-recall safety issue and ensure Volkswagen investigates whether the original recall repairs fully corrected the defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11711278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irving, TX
ENGINE
Vehicle Information •Make / Model / Year: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE •VIN: [XXX] Recall Information (if known) •Camshaft recall: 23R1 (2016) •ECM software update: 24DR (2020) Description of Problem: My 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE experiences loss of power while driving, where the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate properly, especially when driving uphill. This creates an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle previously received recall repairs for the camshaft (23R1) and ECM software (24DR). Despite these recall repairs being completed, the same symptoms persist, indicating the recall may not have fully resolved the defect. I reported this issue to Volkswagen Customer CARE under case number [XXX], but the concern remains unresolved. I am filing this complaint to document that this is an ongoing safety concern, post-recall, that has not been resolved by Volkswagen. I request NHTSA to review this unresolved post-recall safety issue and ensure Volkswagen investigates whether the original recall repairs fully corrected the defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11711278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Enterprise, AL
AIR BAGS
A warning lamp came on that I didn’t know what it was for. It came on yesterday along with a tire warning lamp. The steering wheel buttons won’t work. I had it inspected by a local service center and it was confirmed to be the clock spring. I was informed it may fall under an active recall. It is a safety issue due to the airbag not being able to deploy if need be.
NHTSA complaint #11704592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeland, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
abs light on no communication with abs module cause speedometer not fonctionning abs light on epc light on
NHTSA complaint #11690163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeland, FL
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
abs light on no communication with abs module cause speedometer not fonctionning abs light on epc light on
NHTSA complaint #11690163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Charles, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The turbocharger is out. I've had problems with coolant leaking. Mechanic pressurized tank, its fine. While parked coolant disappears, evaporates, idk..Nothing leaking on ground. Now smoke coming out of exhaust. Car has 56,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11683134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Charles, LA
ENGINE
The turbocharger is out. I've had problems with coolant leaking. Mechanic pressurized tank, its fine. While parked coolant disappears, evaporates, idk..Nothing leaking on ground. Now smoke coming out of exhaust. Car has 56,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11683134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Charles, LA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The turbocharger is out. I've had problems with coolant leaking. Mechanic pressurized tank, its fine. While parked coolant disappears, evaporates, idk..Nothing leaking on ground. Now smoke coming out of exhaust. Car has 56,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11683134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Enterprise, AL
SERVICE BRAKES
Bottom line: brakes failed to stop car on decline slope. Situation: driver depressed brake and hit start button. With brakes still depressed the driver put the car into gear. However, the gear jolted and the car began rolling forward. Driver attempted to press the brakes without any response. The car rolled to a stop without any control over braking or accelerating. Once stopped the driver put the car back into park and pressed the start button. The car then ignited and started. After starting, pressure came back into the brake pedal and the engine revved when the accelerator was pressed. No issues were detected after the car started. Available for inspection upon request. Safety: the safety of the driver and surrounding persons was endangered due to the vehicle’s inability to stop when the brakes are depressed. Reproduction: the problem has not been reproduced by a dealer, however a second Reddit user describes a similar situation happening in their Jetta. Inspection: part has not been inspected since the incident but was regularly checked before. Warning: no warning lights were on before the event occurred. Car seemed to operate normally.
NHTSA complaint #11676784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ashland, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS BEEN A VERY HOT SUMMER AND I HAVE TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON HIGH TO COOL MY CAR WITH ALL BLACK INTERIOR FOR MY INFANT SON (THE AIR VENT POSITIONING IN THIS CAR MAKES IT VERY HARD TO COOL THE BACKSEAT). I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 8 WEEK OLD BABY IN THE BACKSEAT, AC ON HIGH, AND RADIO AT A LOW/NORMAL VOLUME. OUT OF NOWHERE I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND IT COMPLETED TERRIFIED ME AND MY BABY. I QUICKLY REALIZED THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED WITH GLASS FALLING THREW THE SUNSHADE GAPS AND I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY. THANK GOODNESS I DID NOT CRASH FROM THE SOUND OF THE EXPLOSION AND I HAD THE SHADE CLOSED OR ALL THE GLASS WOULD HAVE SHATTERED ON US BOTH!! I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING FLY AND HIT THE SUNROOF ON THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THE GLASS LOOKED LIKE IT HAD EXPLODED UPWARD WITH NO SIGN OF ANYTHING HITTING IT FROM ABOVE AND NO DAMAGE TO THE SHADE OR EXTERIOR BODY OF THE CAR. MY EARS WERE RINGING AND THUMPING FOR A WHOLE DAY AFTERWARDS - I’M CERTAIN MY BABYS EARS WERE HURTING AS WELL BUT COULDN’T CONFIRM OF COURSE BECAUSE HE WAS 8 WEEKS OLD. I’M CERTAIN IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE GLASS OR THE INSTALLATION AND NOTHING HIT THE GLASS. I AM SO SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET - SO UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS I.E. MY INFANT, AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11674833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,000 milesBuffalo, NY
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated upon activating the defroster, the defroster only engaged while the switch was turned to maximum, and there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from underneath the dashboard. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a common failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
NHTSA complaint #11665315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesAberdeen, WA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s seat air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger’s side occupant sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V627000 (AIR BAGS). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11663177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Schulenburg, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
As I’m driving the car, the gear ship suddenly won’t go into gear to downshift and grind for a second so I stopped trying to change gears and I just close to the end of the exit. Finally able to get it back into gear drive down the road and the clutch is really loose and almost like it’s not connecting to anything. I’ve heard this has been a problem with the gearshift mechanism on other Volkswagens. And there have been recalls on that I don’t know why there’s no recall showing for my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11658692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Nuys, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I’ve been experiencing intermittent start failures with my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The issue typically occurs after driving short distances, turning off the engine, and attempting to restart the vehicle within 15–45 minutes. The dashboard lights stay on, but the engine fails to crank. After extended wait times (1–3 hours or more), it will sometimes start again. A diagnostic scanner showed DTC IM 00, indicating an immobilizer system malfunction, meaning the car isn’t recognizing the key properly. I’ve tested both keys and various conditions (locked/unlocked, sun/shade, full/low gas tank), and the issue continues to be unpredictable. When the car was towed to the dealership, they were unable to replicate the problem since it started by the time they checked it, and they were unwilling to investigate the immobilizer issue without charging me for a wide range of unrelated tests. This is becoming a safety issue, especially if the vehicle stalls or won’t restart in isolated areas or during hot conditions. It is not acceptable for a known electronic security feature to randomly disable the vehicle from functioning.
NHTSA complaint #11653341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Nuys, CA
ENGINE
I’ve been experiencing intermittent start failures with my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The issue typically occurs after driving short distances, turning off the engine, and attempting to restart the vehicle within 15–45 minutes. The dashboard lights stay on, but the engine fails to crank. After extended wait times (1–3 hours or more), it will sometimes start again. A diagnostic scanner showed DTC IM 00, indicating an immobilizer system malfunction, meaning the car isn’t recognizing the key properly. I’ve tested both keys and various conditions (locked/unlocked, sun/shade, full/low gas tank), and the issue continues to be unpredictable. When the car was towed to the dealership, they were unable to replicate the problem since it started by the time they checked it, and they were unwilling to investigate the immobilizer issue without charging me for a wide range of unrelated tests. This is becoming a safety issue, especially if the vehicle stalls or won’t restart in isolated areas or during hot conditions. It is not acceptable for a known electronic security feature to randomly disable the vehicle from functioning.
NHTSA complaint #11653341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Nuys, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I’ve been experiencing intermittent start failures with my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The issue typically occurs after driving short distances, turning off the engine, and attempting to restart the vehicle within 15–45 minutes. The dashboard lights stay on, but the engine fails to crank. After extended wait times (1–3 hours or more), it will sometimes start again. A diagnostic scanner showed DTC IM 00, indicating an immobilizer system malfunction, meaning the car isn’t recognizing the key properly. I’ve tested both keys and various conditions (locked/unlocked, sun/shade, full/low gas tank), and the issue continues to be unpredictable. When the car was towed to the dealership, they were unable to replicate the problem since it started by the time they checked it, and they were unwilling to investigate the immobilizer issue without charging me for a wide range of unrelated tests. This is becoming a safety issue, especially if the vehicle stalls or won’t restart in isolated areas or during hot conditions. It is not acceptable for a known electronic security feature to randomly disable the vehicle from functioning.
NHTSA complaint #11653341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Nuys, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR:INTEGRATED STARTER(OTHER THAN PROPULSION)
I hardly used this car and had it diagnosed and new battery but the car intermittently won’t start some times but there is no reason known
NHTSA complaint #11644963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Collins, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving along the I-25 highway south. I was no where near any bridges and was in the right lane with a safe following distance from the car in front of me. Suddenly out of no where with no warning lights, and nothing that could have possibly been flung towards my car, my sunroof exploded. Thankfully the inside cover was closed, and I was not using the sunroof or the glass would have been blown into the car on me and my passenger. I pulled onto the shoulder and got out to look at it. It looked like it had been imploded from the inside, and there was no damage to the inside cover, giving me reason to believe the glass just exploded with no impact from anything else. There was also no thumping noise of another object when it happened. Luckily no other cars were involved and I was able to get off the highway safely. Still waiting to get my sunroof fixed.
NHTSA complaint #11623005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbury, MN
ENGINE
My Volkswagen vehicle (Jetta Model 2015, MOdel 4DJSA, VIN [XXX] ) had a first event on [XXX] where the car suddenly stop in the middle of [XXX]. The car was taken to Volkswagen at Inver Grove and the cause was related to failure in a piston. The car was fixed without cost as it was covered by the guarantee of the vehicle. Again, around [XXX], the car again suddenly stopped working and needed to be thawed to Volkswagen at Inver Grove, the diagnosis done was extreme misfires on all cylinders that cause the car to die while in operation. The root cause was due to excessive oil inside the cylinder. In this occasion, the repair would not be covered under the guarantee and thus the option provided was to replace the motor at an estimated cost of $11,000 USD which is above the cost of the vehicle. It is important to notice that the car was routinely checked and serviced by Volkswagen at Inver Grove during the time we have owned the vehicle. There were not diagnostic tools that we could have to address this issue, to our knowledge there is nothing we did to cause this catastrophic failure. This recurrent incident could be likely a manufacturing issue and thus it is not caused by the user. The damage of the cylinder was not isolated to just one, all four have the same issue. Our car is currently parked (we are paying storage insurance on it) and we cannot use it. Our ask is for Volkswagen to repair the vehicle at no cost to us as we were not at fault for this issue. We kindly ask you for your support on this matter. Respectfully. [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11619688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
POWER TRAIN
I drove over a commercial-grade water hose unraveled in the middle of the lane. It had metal couplings on it and my oil pan was damaged due to the low riding body of the VW to the road. The vehicle was drivable for 5 minutes afterward & the low engine pressure light turned on, but I was in a dangerous area with traffic during rush hour in the evening. It was congested with multiple avenues of transportation via buses, scooters, and pedestrian crosswalks. I started to lose power steering and the gas pedal would not accelerate the car, but the brakes still worked. I was able to coast the car to a stop & nearby a Midas car shop. Midas replaced the damaged oil pan and did not have any other damage reported. Midas informed me that my vehicle would not start, but failed to mention that the safety of my vehicle was compromised with rolled down windows. I inspected my car on 8.20.24, the battery was still working & powered the lights but the window power and engine would not operate. On 8.22.24 I paid for the work & noticed the windows were now rolled up & Midas said an employee used the power from the battery to override the window system but the car still would not start and needed to go to a dealership to access the engine codes for this hybrid vehicle. Towed the vehicle to VW, who said that Midas was not accurate in their description, as there were no access codes needed for the vehicle & it should have started once the oil pan was replaced. The VW diagnostic results showed a “bad” battery and the transmission failed/ stopped engaging and needed a replacement of the transmission along with the battery which would total $11K! The VW agent recommended that I contact other car repair companies to rebuild it for a more affordable solution. Midas and VW were the only car repair companies to evaluate my car and it is currently at VW where it can be inspected if needed. The safety recall code: 34J6, of 2015 VW Jetta Hybrids somehow exclude some VINs until owners had issues.
NHTSA complaint #11612065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
STEERING
I drove over a commercial-grade water hose unraveled in the middle of the lane. It had metal couplings on it and my oil pan was damaged due to the low riding body of the VW to the road. The vehicle was drivable for 5 minutes afterward & the low engine pressure light turned on, but I was in a dangerous area with traffic during rush hour in the evening. It was congested with multiple avenues of transportation via buses, scooters, and pedestrian crosswalks. I started to lose power steering and the gas pedal would not accelerate the car, but the brakes still worked. I was able to coast the car to a stop & nearby a Midas car shop. Midas replaced the damaged oil pan and did not have any other damage reported. Midas informed me that my vehicle would not start, but failed to mention that the safety of my vehicle was compromised with rolled down windows. I inspected my car on 8.20.24, the battery was still working & powered the lights but the window power and engine would not operate. On 8.22.24 I paid for the work & noticed the windows were now rolled up & Midas said an employee used the power from the battery to override the window system but the car still would not start and needed to go to a dealership to access the engine codes for this hybrid vehicle. Towed the vehicle to VW, who said that Midas was not accurate in their description, as there were no access codes needed for the vehicle & it should have started once the oil pan was replaced. The VW diagnostic results showed a “bad” battery and the transmission failed/ stopped engaging and needed a replacement of the transmission along with the battery which would total $11K! The VW agent recommended that I contact other car repair companies to rebuild it for a more affordable solution. Midas and VW were the only car repair companies to evaluate my car and it is currently at VW where it can be inspected if needed. The safety recall code: 34J6, of 2015 VW Jetta Hybrids somehow exclude some VINs until owners had issues.
NHTSA complaint #11612065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I drove over a commercial-grade water hose unraveled in the middle of the lane. It had metal couplings on it and my oil pan was damaged due to the low riding body of the VW to the road. The vehicle was drivable for 5 minutes afterward & the low engine pressure light turned on, but I was in a dangerous area with traffic during rush hour in the evening. It was congested with multiple avenues of transportation via buses, scooters, and pedestrian crosswalks. I started to lose power steering and the gas pedal would not accelerate the car, but the brakes still worked. I was able to coast the car to a stop & nearby a Midas car shop. Midas replaced the damaged oil pan and did not have any other damage reported. Midas informed me that my vehicle would not start, but failed to mention that the safety of my vehicle was compromised with rolled down windows. I inspected my car on 8.20.24, the battery was still working & powered the lights but the window power and engine would not operate. On 8.22.24 I paid for the work & noticed the windows were now rolled up & Midas said an employee used the power from the battery to override the window system but the car still would not start and needed to go to a dealership to access the engine codes for this hybrid vehicle. Towed the vehicle to VW, who said that Midas was not accurate in their description, as there were no access codes needed for the vehicle & it should have started once the oil pan was replaced. The VW diagnostic results showed a “bad” battery and the transmission failed/ stopped engaging and needed a replacement of the transmission along with the battery which would total $11K! The VW agent recommended that I contact other car repair companies to rebuild it for a more affordable solution. Midas and VW were the only car repair companies to evaluate my car and it is currently at VW where it can be inspected if needed. The safety recall code: 34J6, of 2015 VW Jetta Hybrids somehow exclude some VINs until owners had issues.
NHTSA complaint #11612065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irving, TX
ENGINE
My car has been recalled twice for a camshaft which is making a ticking noise inside still. I reached out to dealership and they said they can only handle the situation once they get approval from NHTSA. Please help me out with this issue. Below are the recall codes 23R1 - Camshaft 24DR - ECM Thankyou.
NHTSA complaint #11607248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
