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 13 of 26

Oct 14, 2015Fuel system

CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 56,500 MILES. ABOUT 50 MILES AFTER FUELING WITH DIESEL FUEL FROM A SUNOCO STATION, GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CAR ENTERED A "LIMP MODE". WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A HIGHWAY FROM AN ON RAMP. WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GO OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR. BROUGHT TO NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD ESSENTIALLY DISINTEGRATED AND THERE ARE METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. FUEL SAMPLE SENT TO VW FOR TESTING. AWAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 10782258

Oct 8, 2015Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING WITH APPROX. 50,000 MILES, THE RADIO POPPED AND COMPLETELY DIED. THE RADIO, ALONG WITH THE HANDS FREE PHONE CAPABILITY ARE NOW INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO (2) SEPARATE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS AND EACH VERIFIED THAT THE FUSES WERE IN TACT AND IT WAS A FAULTY RADIO. THE BROKEN RADIO IS ACTUALLY STILL DRAWING POWER FROM THE BATTERY WHICH CAUSES FREQUENT DEAD BATTERIES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED TWO (2) BATTERIES IN THE LAST YEAR. THIS POSES A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE BATTERY COULD DIE AT ANYTIME AND LEAVE THE DRIVER STRANDED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH WARRANTS A RECALL BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS HURT.

NHTSA ODI 10780847

Oct 8, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DPF FILTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10780880

Oct 3, 2015Fuel system

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10779458

Oct 2, 2015Electrical system

CAR STEREO WENT BLANK IN MY 2011 SPORTWAGEN TDI. IT WILL NOT POWER UP AT ALL. CHECKED THE FUSES AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD.

NHTSA ODI 10779275

Oct 2, 2015Electrical system

AT APPROX. 48,800 MILES WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A POP AND THE RADIO DIED. RADIO & HANDS FREE PHONE NO LONGER WORK. VW DEALER CHARGED $125 TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS DEAD, SUGGESTED PURCHASING A NEW RADIO ($1500) OR AN AFTER MARKET ONE. TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS POSTED ON NUMEROUS SITES. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE LOSS OF THE HANDS FREE TELEPHONE.

NHTSA ODI 10779349

Oct 2, 2015Electrical system

THE HORN CHANGED SOUNDS FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN OTHER AREAS WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE A HORN. I'VE SEEN ON THIS SITE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI 10779354

Oct 1, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

2011 VW JETTA NOT COMPLETING DOWNSHIFTING THE CAR WILL LURCH WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPLETE SHIFT. SITTING AT A STOP SIGN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 4 INCHES. THIS TOOK PLACE SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER LOOKING ON COUNTLESS FORUMS AND LOOKING AT SERVICE BULLETINS ITS HAPPEN TO MANY PEOPLE. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THIS IS A CARRYOVER TRANSMISSION FROM OTHER MODEL YEARS AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. COULD PROVE TO BE FATAL IF YOU WERE TO BE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND A CHILD WAS TO WALK OUT IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!

NHTSA ODI 10778986

Oct 1, 2015Airbags

AIRBAG ICON COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, DIAGNOSIS SHOWS DRIVERS AIRBAG HIGH RESISTANCE, RESETTABLE. FIX IS CLOCK SPRING REPLACEMENT. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SAYS VIN ISN'T IN CURRENT RECALL BUT IS PROBLEM IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME ERROR AS OTHER SPORTWAGENS RECALLS AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT TO MENTION THE COST.

NHTSA ODI 10779145

Sep 24, 2015Fuel system

THE CAR , 2011 VW JETTA TDI, STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS IS THIRD REPAIR TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM. METAL DEBRIS WERE FOUND PER DEALER. THE SECOND TIME WAS APPROX 1 1/2 YRS AGO WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH 2 KIDS. THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROX 3 YRS AGO.

NHTSA ODI 10776494

Sep 21, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2011, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 10766318

Sep 21, 2015EngineFuel system

38,875 MILES - TOTAL COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL LINE DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE TANK FUEL PUMP (HPFP). VW DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND METAL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW DEALER TESTED THE FUEL IN MY TANK AND IT SHOWED CLEAN DIESEL FUEL WITH NO CONTAMINANTS. VW PAID DEALER TO REPLACED FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS & CLEANED TANK, UNIT IN TANK & HARD LINES. ADAPTED INJECTORS,BLEED FUEL BY STEM AND TESTED. I'VE RETAINED RECORDS, COMMUNICATION, AND SAMPLE OF GAS IN TANK AT TIME OF COLLAPSE. ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER WITH VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10766523

Sep 18, 2015Fuel system

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE DIESEL COIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND OUR VEHICLE LOST POWER. WE PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE STALLED, SO WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE(METAL IN THE SYSTEM) AND SENT THE FUEL TO BE TESTED. TEST RESULT SAID INSUFFICIENT LUBRICANT IN FUEL, THEREFORE REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT WE NEEDED TO BE USING "TOPTIER" DIESEL. WE RESEARCHED THIS (HAVING NEVER BEEN TOLD THIS BEFORE) AND REALIZED WE HAD PURCHASED DIESEL FROM A "TOPTIER" LISTED STATION (SHELL). DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO MAKE A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY SINCE IT WAS AN "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE" THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A VALID CLAIM.

NHTSA ODI 10765242

Sep 10, 2015Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE DRAINED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10762836

Aug 29, 2015SuspensionCrash

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WETE CARE VERIED HARD LEFT AND HAD ACCIDENT. INSURANCE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES BLAMED ME FOR INCIDENT. CAR FRONT END WAD COMPLETELY REBUILT AND WITHIN ONE YEAR I HAVE A LOWER CONTROL ARM THAT HAS BROKEN DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT. MOLD OF STEEL TO BALL JOINT- RUBBER. IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN AND VW WILL NOT STAND BEHIND STATING WARRANTY ON CHASSIS COMPONENTS ARE ONE YEAR. HOW DOES A MOJOR CHASSIS COMPONENT FAIL AND AND A HIGH SAFETY ISSUE, NOT STANT BEHIND THIS TYPE ITEM. IT HAS NOW TORN UP A NEW FRONT STRUT AND TOP STRUT TOWER. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS AS I JUST HAD RECALL COMPLETED FOR FAILURE OF REAR TRAILING ARMS AND VW INSERTED PLATES TO STRENGTHEN. WHAT AREY OPTIONS AS THIS IS A GRAVE SAFETY ISSUE AND IM BEING ASKED TO SPEND 3K TO REPLACE AFTER WE JUST SPENT 14K TO REBUILD FRONT SUSPENSION AFTER ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10760190

Aug 28, 2015Fuel system

VEHICLE BEGAN STUTTERING AND LOST POWER. AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 20 SECONDS SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DIESEL FUEL PUMP AS METAL DEBRIS WERE FOUND. DEALER CLAIMS VW MUST TEST FUEL HOWEVER I KNOW THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY FUELED AND HAS THE FUELING SAFEGUARD DEVICE INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI 10760057

Aug 20, 2015EngineFuel system

MANUAL TRANSMISSION TDI SPORTWAGEN. DRIVING 30 MPH IN 4TH GEAR. FLASHING GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SPEED. ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND RPM WENT IMMEDIATELY TO 0. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO BRING VEHICLE TO CURB. VEHICLE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS HPFP FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10749946

Aug 15, 2015Electrical system

RADIO POPPED AND WENT DEAD CAUSING A AMPERAGE DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. FUSES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AS GOOD BUT THE RADIO WILL NOT TURN BACK ON EVEN AFTER RESETS.

NHTSA ODI 10748938

Aug 14, 2015SteeringBrakesEngine

I PURCHASED THE JETTA USED FROM CARMAX IN NASHVILLE, TN IN 2014. IT BEGAN HAVING SAFETY ISSUES ON MARCH 2014. RANDOMLY, MY CAR WILL JUST STOP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, OR AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN MOVING ON FROM A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. I CAN BE DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 15 MPH TO 50 MPH, AND ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN. THE BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON, THE STEERING LOCKS, AND THE BRAKES LOCK. I ALWAYS PANIC, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HAVE LUCKILY MANAGED TO VEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF A ROAD AND STOP, SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN. EUROFIX TRIED TO MANAGE THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE CRANK SENSOR AND CAM SHAFT. BUT HE PROBLEM CAME BACK, MUCH WORSE. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS NOW I CANNOT UNLOCK MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WITH MY MAGNETIC KEY OR BY STICKING THE ACTUAL KEY IN THE LOCK. I SEE THAT ANOTHER RECALL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2011 JETTA THAT IS NOT PULLING UP VIA MY VIN NUMBER, BUT I BELIEVE IT MIGHT BE MY CAR'S ISSUE: ONLINE, ATE THAT IN MARCH 29, 2011 (PUBLISHED BY NHTSA) IN WHICH AN ISSUE WITH "AN ELECTRICAL WIRING AND FUSE LAYOUT WHERE THE CONVERTER BOX IS PROTECTED BY THE SAME FUSE USED BY THE SIGNAL HORN AND THE ANTI-THEY ALARM SYSTEM. SHOULD THAT FUSE BE BLOWN,, THE CONVERTER WILL BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE POWER SUPPLY WHICH IN TURN WILL SHUT OFF APPLICATIONS SUCH AS THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, LIGHTING SYSTEM, AND WIPERS"......"SHOULD THIS HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE ENGINE COULD STALL OR THE HEADLIGHTS OR WIPERS COULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING." PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!! WHAT DO I DO. WHAT WILL REMEDY THIS SITUATION SO I DON'T GET KILLED OR KILL OTHERS. I'T GONNA HAPPEN....THEN MY FAMILY WILL FILE A LAWSUIT. I NEED GUIDANCE AND FOR THIS CAR TO BE FIXED/TRADED OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10748809

Aug 14, 2015Electrical system

HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE CAR IN MOTION AND WOULD NOT GO BACK ON. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT HAPPENING IF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IS DISTURBING TO THINK ABOUT.

NHTSA ODI 10748826

Aug 13, 2015Electrical system

THE IGNITION SWITCH WONT ALLOW THE KEY TO, TURN TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10748589

Aug 7, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE SEPARATE TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 10747010

Aug 1, 2015Electrical systemLights

RANDOM EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL WITH MULTIPLE DASHBOARD NOTIFICATION ERRORS. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT A BAD FUSE HAD SHORTED OUT AND MELTED THE FUSE BOX CAUSING THE PROBLEM. FUSE BOX MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING OF BAD FUSE. REPAIR PLACE SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND CERTAIN MODELS HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10745555

Jul 15, 2015EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUMBER TWO AND THREE FUEL INJECTORS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 10734299

Jul 10, 2015Speed controlEngineFuel system

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, WHICH INCLUDES CROSSING A TOLL BRIDGE DAILY. I WAS ON THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS ONLY A 2 LANE BRIDGE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DIESEL ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. I LOST ACCELERATION AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND TURN OFF THE CAR. I SAT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES CONTEMPLATING IF I SHOULD CALL AAA TO GET A TOW TO THE DEALER. SEEING AS I WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES FROM THE VW DEALER, I DECIDED TO SEE IF MY CAR WILL MAKE IT THERE. IT STARTED BACK UP NO PROBLEM AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND MAKE IT TO THE DEALER WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE REP. AND THEY CHECKED IN MY CAR AND I WAITED FOR THEM TO CALL ME WITH THE ISSUE. LATER IN THE DAY, I RECEIVED THE CALL FROM THE SERVICE REP., AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO REBUILD THE FUEL SYSTEM, AS THERE WERE METAL PARTICLES FOUND IN THE GAS AND GAS LINES. HE SAID THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN A CUSTOMER MAY USE BIODIESEL FUEL OR A LOWER GRADE OF DIESEL. HE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEND THE GAS SAMPLES OFF TO VW LAB TO REVIEW IN ORDER FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE APPROVED SINCE I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS OCCURED, SEEING AS MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT AND NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA ODI 10733330

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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 →