What 639 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

WHILE DRIVING I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE OF MY 2011 JETTA TDI. UNDER WARRANTY I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED BY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND IT WAS POSSIBLY BE DUE TO THE DIESEL I USED, BEING DIRTY OR OTHERWISE CONTAMINATED. I HAD ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR DIESEL FILL-UPS FROM THE SAME STATION, AND IT WAS LISTED ON THE VW.COM WEBSITE AS A LOCATION FOR DIESEL. THE TANK WAS SUPPOSEDLY EMPTIED AND FILTERED DURING THE REPAIR AND I WAS NOT INFORMED OF CONTAMINATION. ON READING FURTHER I NOTE THAT MANY TDI OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM VW THAT THIS IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM, NOT A CUSTOMER MISUSE OF DIESEL FUEL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS STARTING OUT FROM A RED LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN THE SHOULDER. THE DANGER ON A BUSY ROADWAY COULD BE LETHAL. READ EDMONDS.COM AND OTHER JETTA OWNER BLOGS AND NOTE THE EXACT SAME INCIDENTS OCCURRING. WITH THE EXPLODING INTEREST IN DIESEL CARS FOR FUEL ECONOMY, THIS SITUATION NEEDS EVALUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543611

NOTICED LARGE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL OF HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A DOT 1GPR DY H 0711 205/55 R16 91H - 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 45,000 MILES. HAD TIRE REPLACED AT OWN EXPENSE. 9-12-2013 53,000 NOTICED 2 OTHER TIRES NOW WITH THE SAME LARGE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543294

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10542141

THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT A HEADLIGHT, SIDE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND REAR LIGHT WERE OUT. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ALL LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE INDICATER HOWEVER KEPT COMING ON. UPON TAKING INTO THE SHOP TO CHECK ON THE REPAIR I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUSE BOX IN THE VEHICLE WHICH GETS "HOT" AND SHORTS THE BOX OUT. VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO WARRANT A RECALL. WHEN I ADVISED THAT THIS MAY RESULT IN A POSSIBLE FIRE OR SHORTING OUT OF THE SYSTEM - MAYBLE CAUSING A STALL I WAS TOLD "IT COULD HAPPEN.". THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED WHICH COST $785.27. FORTUNATELY, THIS BOX IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR A SECOND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10537544

I WAS DRIVING AND I TRIED TO HONK MY HORN BECAUSE A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS MERGING IN MY LANE. MY HORN WOULD NOT SOUND AND I HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEN LATER THAT EVENING IT STARTED TO DRIZZLE AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10535646

OCCASIONALLY, THE REAR DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE WONT OPEN EVEN THOUGH I UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH REMOTE KEY. I HAVE FOUND IN THE VW CONSUMER FORUM THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY MY CAR'S ISSUE, BUT MANY VW JETTA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I ALWAYS SHOULD GET INSIDE FROM OTHER DOOR AND OPEN THE APPLICABLE FROM INSIDE. THIS IS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN SO IT IS BEING COMMON FOR ME TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR MY KID WHO USUALLY SITS IN THE BACK. IF THERE IS ANY ACCIDENT AND WHETHER POLICEMAN OR FIREMAN SHOULD OPEN THE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE, THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE SEVERE DELAY ON RESCUE THE PASSENGER WHO SITS IN THE BACK, USUALLY CHILDREN BECAUSE THE DOOR IS NOT BEING OPENED BY ANYHOW FROM OUTSIDE. I THINK VW SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10532197

I WAS PASSING A SEMI AND NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF CAR TO MY REAR...DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NO RESPONSE. TWO DAYS LATER EXPERIENCED SIMILAR EVENT AT LOW SPEED (30 MPH). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10531571

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AN UNUSUAL WIRE SYMBOL WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN ADDITION TO A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. AFTER DRIVING 30 ADDITIONAL MILES, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, A DIFFERENT UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10524922

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND A "SERVICE ENGINE NOW" INDICATOR LIT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR ENTERED LIMP MODE AND POWER WAS GREATLY REDUCED. I DECIDED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER TO DROP IT OFF. OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES THE CAR PRODUCED LESS AND LESS POWER (A FEELING AKIN TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS, BUT THERE WAS STILL 1/2 TANK OF DIESEL IN THE CAR) UNTIL IT DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. NO OTHER WARNINGS, NO OTHER DRIVABILITY CUES, JUST A DEAD CAR ON THE FREEWAY UNABLE TO BE STARTED OR MOVED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS/POSSIBLY FATAL HAD I NOT BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO FORCE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. SO TO SUM UP - ONE OWNER (PURCHASED NEW) DIESEL JETTA; CAR MAINTAINED BY DEALER AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS. FUELED AT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THREE STATIONS FOR MUCH OF ITS LIFE, NEVER HAD A NON-DIESEL PUMP ANYWHERE NEAR IT; DRIVING PERFECTLY ONE MINUTE, FIVE MINUTES LATER, A DEAD CAR. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER TODAY, FROM THE SYMPTOMS IT SOUNDS LIKE THE NOTORIOUS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAS CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10523939

THE FUEL PUMP IN MY CAR'S 2.0 TDI DIESEL ENGINE BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE COIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND EXITED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON THE GROUND AND ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10520416

2011 VOLKSWAGEN TDI JETTA. CAME TO A THREE WAY LIGHT, THE LIGHT CHANGED, I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR DIED. I WAS IN THE TURN LANE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART TO NO AVAIL. NO ENGINE CODES OR ERROR MESSAGES. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL FILTER. PARTS ARE BEING ORDERED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM IS BEING REPLACED. WAITING TO HEAR WHEN THE PARTS ARE IN AND THE WORK IS COMPETED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519548

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE GLOW PLUG COIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE CAR STALLED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. TRIED TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOULDER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED. TURNED THE KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER VERY REDUCED POWER. THE DEALER HAD JUST COMPLETED MY 40,000 SERVICE ONLY HOURS BEFORE. NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND ONE OF THE INJECTORS IS BAD. CLAIMING BAD FUEL BUT THAT IS NOT CORRECT. HAVE ONLY BURNED HIGH QUALITY DIESEL IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD ALL SERVICES DONE. APPEARS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND IT'S AMAZING SOMEONE HAS NOT BEEN HURT. VW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $10K AND IT'S NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519365

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT END AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE FOREHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR A CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 07/02/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10515339

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE POWER DROPPED TO ALMOST NOTHING. BEFORE I COULD GET TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT, THE ENGINE DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP(HPFP). IF IT HAD BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY, IT WOULD HAVE COST $6000 TO REPAIR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE EXPRESSWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10514639

VEHICLE HAS NO FUSE DIAGRAM AND LIGHTER FUSE REPEATEDLY BLOWS.UNABLE TO GET HELP ON LEASED VEHICLE WITHOUT PAYING FOR SERVICE. I UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT ACCESS SIMPLE FUSES WITHOUT HAVING A DIAGRAM. I WAS PUT IN HARMS WAY BY ACCIDENTALLY REMOVING BRAKE LIGHT FUSE. I AM NOT ABLE TO FIND A DIAGRAM ON THE INTERNET OR VW WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10511624

UPON ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO STALL OR WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SCENARIO, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR MACHINE DOES NOT SHOW ANY DEFECTIVE PARTS. WHAT IS FRUSTRATING IS WHEN YOU WANT TO BLEND INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR MIGHT STALL, SO YOU HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE TO PUMP ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR GOING AGAIN. I AM ALSO VERY WORRIED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING, ACTUALLY THIS DID HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE WAS LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. SHE TURNED RIGHT BACK AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE MACHINE AND AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FINE. I DID TELL THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT WAS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE CAR WAS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN PIECES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509843

WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A CLICKING SOUND, SHORTLY AFTER MY STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THEN THE ENTIRE CAR STALLED. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HAD CAR TOWED INTO THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY FUEL (DIESEL FOR JETTA TDI) WAS CONTAMINATED CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO BURST WHICH LEAD TO METAL SHARDS DESTROYING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I AM 100% POSITIVE, AND HAVE RECEIPTS FOR PROOF, THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN FILLED UP WITH DIESEL GAS ABOUT 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND WAS RUNNING COMPLETELY SMOOTHLY UP UNTIL THE SUDDEN BREAK DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509782

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. BEFORE IT COULD BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY, THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY. THE PASSENGERS HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. PROPER MAINTENANCE AND FUELING OF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RIGOROUSLY FOLLOWED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE OWNER IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND DIESEL ENGINE ENTHUSIAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509518

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE STOPPED. I WAS TRYING TO GET MY 3 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK. BECAUSE WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE ALSO USE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS TO PREVENT THE DOOR FROM OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. THE LOCKS HARE REPEATEDLY FAILING TO EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND MY CHILD (OR CHILDREN) WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE VOLKSWAGEN DOORS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGED, THIS BECOMES MUCH LESS OF AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, THESE LOCKS COULD LEAD TO A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH A SMALL CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT, UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509363

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10507213

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION AND AS A RESULT, THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504994

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHING AND IT APPEARS FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE HPFP QUITS AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE MOTOR IS A DIESEL TDI. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10505000

ON A TRIP TO ST. CHARLES, MO ON 28 MAR 2013, AFTER WE PARKED, MY SON NOTICED SEVERE SIDEWALL BREAKS ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. HE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE TIRE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW. I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS JOKING, BUT LOOKED ANY WAY. WOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH SEVERE CONDITION ON ANY TIRE, NOR HAD I EVER EVEN HEARD OF SUCH A CONDITION . THERE WERE NUMEROUS SHORT BREAKS AND LONG BREAKS INCHES LONG ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL. THE BREAKS WENT ALL THE WAY IN WITH METAL BELTS SHOWING. WE HAD JUST FINISHED DRIVING 200 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE TO GET TO ST CHARLES. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE MADE IT WITHOUT A BLOWOUT AND CRASH. I WENT IMMEDIATELY, AND SLOWLY, TO THE NEAREST TIRE DEALER AND PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES. I ASKED THEM TO SAVE THE OTHER TIRE SO I MIGHT USE AS A POSSIBLE SPARE SINCE THE TIRES HAD PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. THEY PUT THE "GOOD" TIRE IN THE TRUNK FOR ME. I LATER LOOKED AT THE "GOOD" TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE INSIDE SIDEWALL WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THE "BAD" TIRE! I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THESE OE TIRES DIDN'T CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER OE TIRES LOOK OK BUT I WILL BE REPLACING QUICKLY. THESE TIRES ARE HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10505006

2011 VW JETTA DIESEL AT 70 MPH GOING UP A HILL AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST POWER AND SPEED DROPPED MAKING IT UNSAFE TO HAVE TIME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO ALL SLOW WAY DOWN TO LET ME GET OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT START IT AND SAID IT WAS A FUEL PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIX IT. VW REPORTED THE CAR STARTED FOR THEM AND THEY RAN OFF AND FOUND FAULT FOR LOW FUEL PRESSURE BUT NO REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

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