Home · 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Hev · Complaints

What 639 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (639)Crash / fire / injury (43)Electrical system (200)Fuel system (96)Engine (93)Fuel System, Diesel (82)Transmission & drivetrain (55)Lights (46)Airbags (38)Brakes (28)Engine & cooling (26)Speed control (26)

Newest first · 639 complaints · page 11 of 26

Jul 27, 2016Engine

CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS ACCELERATING DE-ACCELERATING WARMED UP, AND COLD FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH FILTER AND NOW POWER RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT IT STILL STALLS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 10889122

Jul 26, 2016Electrical system

I GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AND THE THE CAR STARTED FINE, BUT THE RADIO IS SUDDENLY GONE BLANK. RADIO DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE RADIO WAS WORKING JUST FINE PRIOR TO MY STOP FOR FUEL.

NHTSA ODI 10888625

Jul 21, 2016SteeringSuspension

REAR LEFT TIE ROD FRACTURED RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT 45 MPH ON A WV HWY 152.

NHTSA ODI 10887494

Jul 19, 2016Electrical systemLights

RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY (HIGH & LOW BEAM, TURN SIGNAL, DRL), RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT, THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL ALL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. DASH INFORMATION CENTER REPORTED ALL OF THESE LIGHTS NEED TO BE CHECKED. AFTER 1.5 HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING WITH A FLUKE MULTI-METER, I FOUND A POST ON TDI FORUMS REFERENCING CAMPAIGN 97AM TO CHECK THE FUSE PANEL UNDER THE HOOD, POSITION F16, 30AMP FUSE FOR MELTING. I CHECKED THIS FUSE AND THE FUSE PANEL AND FUSE IS MELTED. I CONTACTED THE VW DEALERSHIP THAT VERIFIED THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE PERTAINING TO MY VIN. I THEN CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE WHO ALSO SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT CORRECT IT BASED ON NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ISSUE ON THE 2009 - 2012 JETTA SPORTWAGENS. VW ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS BUT ADVISED I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHARGES TO FIX THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10885809

Jul 15, 2016Electrical system

MY BOYFRIEND AND I DROVE TO GET DINNER. ON THE WAY THERE MY RADIO WAS FINE WE WERE SINGING AND LAUGHING. WE GET TO THE RESTAURANT AND I TURN MY CAR OFF AND THERE WERE THESE LITTLE BUZZING SOUNDS, DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. IT WAS A HOT DAY CARS MAKE SOUNDS. AFTER DINER GETTING IN THE CAR AND GETTING READY TO START DRIVING I REALIZE I CAN'T PLAY MUSIC! I ALWAYS USE THE AUX CORD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY PHONE THEN I LOOKED UP AND SEEN THAT MY TOUCH SCREEN WAS BLACK.... THEN I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS TURNED OFF SO I TIRED PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON... NOTHING. SO ON THE WAY HOME MY BOYFRIEND LOOKED UP THE FUSES GOT THE CHART, AND WE PULLED IT OUT AND IT WAS PERFECT NO NOTHING. THEN I IMMEDIATELY GOT ON THE INTERNET AND STARTED READING. NO ONLY DID I FIND THAT SIMILAR MODELS AND PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IN A FEW MONTHS IT LEADS TO DEAD BATTERIES, AND THE POSSIBLY THAT'S YOUR CAR IS NOT RELIABLE AND IT SHOULD BE WITH AN EASY FIX. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE TYPE OF RADIO IS VERY HARD TO FIND, I COULDN'T FIND IT IN VW PARTS AND REPLACEMENTS, BUT INSTEAD FINDING EARLIER, AND MORE UPDATE VERSIONS!

NHTSA ODI 10885182

Jul 12, 2016

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER! SINGLE MOM WITH TWO KIDS THIS IS HORRIBLE. JETTA SAYS THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE AND THEY ARE SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED! THE WHEEL IS LOCKED AND YOU CANNOT MOVE THE KEY, JETTA ESTIMATES ABOUT 600.00 TO FIX! AND SHOULD TAKE 7-10 BUSINESS DAYS! PLEASE PEOPLE COMPLAIN THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!

NHTSA ODI 10884307

Jul 12, 2016

ON MY WAY TO MY LOCATION I WAS LISTENING TO MY RADIO WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND MY SCREEN IS BLACK AND RADIO IS NOT WORKING. I BOUGHT MY CAR 4 MONTHS AGO AND AM FURIOUS BECAUSE THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS AND SEE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE. WHY THE HELL HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS. FROM MY RESEARCH IT IS $800-$1000 TO FIX. IT IS NOT A BLOWN FUSE; ALREADY CHECKED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS COMMON PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO HOLD TH!M ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS MY FIRST JETTA, AND MAY VERY WELL BE MY LAST IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 10884437

Jul 11, 2016AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 10884059

Jul 7, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED OR DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 10883396

Jul 6, 2016Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY. THE WRENCH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BRAKES FAILED TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER RESET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,629.

NHTSA ODI 10883092

Jul 6, 2016Electrical system

THE RADIO IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAVE CHECKED ALL APPLICABLE FUSES, NONE OF THEM ARE BLOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10883163

Jun 28, 2016Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

FUSE BOX WITH BLOWN FUSES . UNABLE TO REPLACE FUSES WITHOUT DIAGRAM. VW DEALER STATES I NEED TO BRING CAR IN AND PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH TOTALS OVER $100.00 THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. I AM ABLE TO CHANGE FUSES MYSELF THAT ARE BLOWN BUT NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE FUSE IS FOR AND THIS IS WHAT VW DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE TO DO, GET TEST FROM VW DEALER OR PAY FOR A DIAGRAM. I FEEL THIS IS WRONG, AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING, ALL FUSE BOXES WILL HAVE A DIAGRAM OF FUSES SO INDIVIDUAL CAN CHANGE FUSE THEMSELVES. HOW CAN I RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR DIAGRAM WITHOUT COSTING ME OVER $100.00. I WILL AWAIT YOUR REPLY. NOTICED MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND PHONE CHARGE WAS NOT WORKING. DID NOT NOTICE WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. CHANGED A 20 AMP FUSE THAT WAS BLOWN, THAT TOOK CARE OF CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND CHARGER, BUT NOW MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING ON ADVISE ON HOW TO RESOLVE SITUATION. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10881233

Jun 27, 2016Electrical system

VEHICLE DRIVEN EARLIER IN THE DAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. LATER IN THE DAY, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY WHILE IN IGNITION TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE. TOWED IT TO NEARBY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND DIAGNOSIS PROVED THAT IGNITION LOCK AND CYLINDER HAVE FAILED WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION OF WHAT COULD OF CAUSED IT. SEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OWNERS OF 2011 AND UP EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. CURRENTLY, MY VEHICLE HAS 76,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10876919

Jun 27, 2016Electrical system

HORN QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY AS WELL AS HONK WHEN ALARM IS ACTIVATED. ALSO WHEN ALARM GOES OFF THERE'S NO SOUND. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY CASES ONLINE WHERE OWNERS EXPERIENCE SAME SAFETY CONCERN. I CALLED VW AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX NOR DO THEY CONFESS A SAFETY CONCERN EVEN WITH OBVIOUS MULTIPLE JETT'S OF SAME YEAR HAVING THE EXACT SAFETY ISSUE. WILL IT TAKE A FEW DOZEN ROAD SIDE DEATHS FOR VW TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THESE SAFETY ISSUES? HORN FAILS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. NO BLOWN FUSES, AND THE RELAY CLICKS WHEN THE HORN IS DEPRESSED ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE'VE CALLED 2 VW DEALERS WHO REFUSED TO FIX BUT THEY OFFERED TO CHARGE US TO TELL US WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW BEING ITS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. WE ALSO CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE TO DRIVE UNSAFE VEHICLES BEFORE VW ACTS. SOME OWNERS HAD THEIR JETT'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FIXED UNDER NTHSA 11V19600 BUT WE WERE REFUSED ASSISTANCE SO THIS SEEMS TO BE SELECTIVE SAFETY CORRECTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 10877029

Jun 21, 2016Airbags

THE CLOCK SPRING GOT DEBRIS IN IT, PUSHING THE RIBBON OFF THE GUIDE WIRES AND CAUSING A KINK. THIS CAUSES A FAULT IN THE AIRBAG CONTROLS AS THERE IS UNRELIABLE CONNECTIVITY WITH THE COMPUTER. THUS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN TURNS ITSELF OFF. VW VOLUNTARILY RECALLED 420,000 CARS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, INCLUDING SOME VEHICLES WITHIN OUR SAME YEAR AND MODEL. FROM VW'S RECALL NOTICE: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH LONG HAIR OR LONG FIBERS WHICH MAY CAUSE A DISPLACEMENT OF THE INTERNAL GUIDE LOOPS. WHEN THE GUIDE LOOPS ARE DRAGGED OUT OF POSITION, THEY MAY APPLY TENSION TO THE INTERNAL FLAT CABLE AND CAUSE IT TO TEAR. SHOULD THE CABLE TEAR, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG MAY BE LOST, CAUSING THE AIRBAG MONITORING INDICATOR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. IN A CRASH THAT WARRANTS A DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY, LEADING TO A RISK OF DRIVER INJURY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE, VERBATIM. OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE AFFECTED RECALL. I WAS TOLD BY A VW TECH THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THE PART INCLUDES A COMPUTER MODULE FOR THE HIGHLINE DISPLAY. THIS CONTROLS ALL STEERING COLUMN-MOUNTED BUTTONS (RADIO, ETC), AND MUST BE MANUALLY REPROGRAMMED FOR EACH MODEL IT'S INSTALLED IN. THE PART COST INCREASES FROM $115 TO $375 AND THE LABOR FOR INSTALLATION INCREASES FROM $100 TO OVER $400. SO BY NOT REPLACING THE HIGHLINE MODULES, VW WILL SAVE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS. MEANWHILE, PEOPLE ARE RIDING AROUND WITHOUT FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS BECAUSE VW CAN'T DESIGN A STEERING COLUMN THAT KEEPS LONG HAIR FROM GETTING TANGLED IN THEIR CLOCK SPRINGS. THE DESIGN FLAW ISN'T IN THE CLOCK SPRING ITSELF BUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY THAT CAN'T BLOCK DEBRIS FROM GETTING DOWN INTO THE CLOCK SPRINGS TO BEGIN WITH.

NHTSA ODI 10875558

Jun 7, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 10873110

Jun 4, 2016Electrical system

RADIO (INCLUDING BLUETOOTH) SUDDENLY WENT OUT AT 39K MILES. DEALER DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT RADIO FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 10872532

May 27, 2016LightsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS, AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUSE PANEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS MELTED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,351.

NHTSA ODI 10871199

May 3, 2016Fuel system

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE GLOW PLUG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTS FLASHING WITH A LOSE OF POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLS BUT LUCKILY WHILE EXITING FREEWAY. THE JETTA WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED HPFP FAILURE AND THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS NOT FIXED ($6000) AS IT WAS PAST THE WARRANTY BY 1000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10862697

Apr 28, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

IN A ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS STOPPED AND HIT IN THE REAR AND PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. HEAVY FRONT AND REAR DMG AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, JUST SOME SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE

NHTSA ODI 10862069

Apr 5, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WOULD STILL START BUT ONLY IN NEUTRAL. IF I WERE TO TRY AND START VEHICLE IN A GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH PRESSED IN THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE CRUSHED IF THEY WERE STANDING IN FRONT OR BEHIND WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING STARTED. ALSO IF THIS FAILURE WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR AND COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. LUCKILY MINE FAILED IN MY GARAGE OVER NIGHT. BROWSING AROUND ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD FAILURES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS AIR GETTING INTO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS BLEED AND IT WORKED FINE AGAIN. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACING THE SLAVE AND MASTER CYLINDER SINCE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE BAD. NO VISIBLE FLUID COMING FROM EITHER PART THOUGH.

NHTSA ODI 10853648

Apr 4, 2016Electrical system

THE RADIO LOUD POPPING WENT DEAD . TURNS ON BY ITSELF SOMETIMES ABOUT 1 TIME EVERY 2 WEEKS OR SO. LOUD POPPING STATLED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10853203

Mar 28, 2016Engine

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP BREAKDOWN LITTERED THE DIESEL INJECTION SYSTEM WITH METAL PARTICLES. AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING WERE DAMAGED, ACCORDING TO VOLKSWAGEN FUEL PUMP HAS METAL IN IT INTAKE FUEL PUMP HIGH PRESSURE PUMP AUXILLARY FUEL PUMP FUEL LINES 4 INJECTORS FUEL RAIL W/SENSORS THIS IS A $6,500 FIX AND THERE IS AN ASTRONOMICAL FAILURE RATE THAT IS GREATER THAN 1%. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE REVISITED.

NHTSA ODI 10852034

Mar 25, 2016Seat belts

MY 3 YEAR OLD SON'S SEATBELT LOCKED AROUND HIM WHEN HE THRUST HIMSELF FORWARD IN HIS CAR SEAT. I ATTEMPTED TO GET HIM OUT, BUT HE HAD APPARENTLY PUT THE TOP PORTION OF THE SEATBELT BEHIND HIS NECK. ANY ATTEMPT I MADE TO GET HIM OUT ONLY RESULTED IN THE SEATBELT TIGHTENING MORE AND MORE. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAD TO CALL 911 AND MEDICS CAME TO CUT HIM OUT OF THE SEATBELT.

NHTSA ODI 10851576

Mar 22, 2016Electrical systemLights

MY LIGHTS BEGAN FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. FRONT HEADLIGHT, REAR TAIL LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS, BACK UP LIGHTS. IN TOTAL, 7 LIGHTS FAILED WITHIN MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND MOVING ON A CITY STREET. WARNING LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE TOLD ME THAT LIGHTS FAILED WHEN I USED THEM (SIGNALS, BRAKES, HEADLIGHTS, ETC). DROVE DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR/REPORT PROBLEM. RESEARCH TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND A NHTSA RECALL ON 2009 AND 2010 MODELS. OUR 2011 DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT, BUT ISSUE WAS IDENTICAL. CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE. CASE #160222423. THEY AGREED TO PAY 75%.

NHTSA ODI 10850968

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Working with the data? Download all 639 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Hev verdict →