What 639 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

AUTOMATIC CAR WAS "PARKED", TURNED OFF. KEY REMOVED, THOUGH IT WAS NOT IN P. EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKS AND APPLIED, BUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN APPLIED ALL THE WAY. ROLLED BACK ACROSS THE LOW LOW GRADE PARKING LOT AND OUR WHITE CAR BUMPED A ... BLACK PORSCHE! DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY DAMAGE OTHER THAN PAINT SMUDGE/TRANSFER FROM THE BUMPER. NORMAL SAFETY FEATURE WHERE THE CAR NEEDS TO BE IN PARK BEFORE THE KEY COMES OUT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO FIX THIS? IF POSSIBLE MYSELF? IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN GET THE MFG TO PAY FOR? IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S UNDER A 3 YR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT PRETTY SURE AT BEST THIS IS A ONLY RELATED TO A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, NOT DIRECTLY A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. NO RECALLS AS OF NOW FOR THIS ON MY VEHICLE. ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED.

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BULB FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY INDICATING THAT THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE PANEL HAD THERMALLY OVERHEATED, MELTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT AND WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

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I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY (ABOUT 40 MILES) WITH NO PROBLEMS. I GOT HOME AT ABOUT 7:30PM AND PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE. AT ABOUT 2AM, I HEARD A BEEPING CAR HORN. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL 2011 JETTA SPORTWAGEN. I DIALED 911, THE CAR CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I'M ONLY HAPPY IT WASN'T PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE WHERE THE FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED OUR HOUSE AS WELL. NO WORK HAD BEEN DONE ON THE CAR RECENTLY AND NO AFTERMARKET OPTIONS WERE INSTALLED. I HAVE ONLY ONE QUESTION - WHAT COULD CAUSE A COMPLETELY COLD CAR (NOT DRIVEN IN OVER 6 HOURS) TO SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAME?? THANK YOU.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HORN FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER OF THE PROXIMITY TO HIS VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE OTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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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

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WHILE DRIVING TO AN EARLY MORNING APPOINTMENT, I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. I SOON SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE DASHBOARD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. AT THAT POINT I SAW A FLAME APPEARING AT THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROCKER PANEL. PLASTIC AT THE BASE OF THE ROCKER PANEL HAD MELTED AND I COULD SEE ELECTRICAL WIRES. I TRIED TO STAMP OUT THE FIRE, BUT IT WAS GROWING RAPIDLY AND I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN SECONDS, THE FLAMES WERE SEVERAL FEET HIGH. I CLOSED THE DOOR AND CALLED 911. THE FLAMES EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE CLOSED CABIN. THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AND OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR. MOST OF THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND THE HEADLINER WERE MELTED. THERE WAS A LOT OF EXPOSED BARE WIRE VISIBLE. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS 34 DEGREES F, AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DAY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON HIGH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON, AND THE RADIO WAS ON. NO OTHER OPERATOR CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE ON. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR, NOR WERE THERE ANY AFTERMARKET ELECTRICAL ITEMS INSTALLED ON THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS DRY. THIS JETTA IS A TDI MODEL (DIESEL). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXHAUST TIP WAS EXTENDED BEYOND THE ORIGINAL LENGTH OF THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXHAUST PIPES. AS A RESULT, THE EXHAUST PIPES BURNED A CHILD'S LEGS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON ONE OCCASION BUT THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11E036000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM) AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE EXHAUST PIPE BY CAPPING THE TIPS OF THE PIPES PER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

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WE HAD JUST ARRIVED TO OUR NEPHEW'S POP WARNER FOOTBALL GAME. WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WE TOLD OUR 8 YEAR OLD SON TO STAND BY THE CAR WHILE WE PULLED OUT OUR OTHER SON'S STROLLER OUR OF THE TRUCK. OUR 8 YEAR OLD LEANED AGAINST THE DRIVER SIDE REAR END WHEN SUDDENLY WE HEARD HIM SCREECH IN PAIN. WE ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED HE SAID THAT HE FELT SOMETHING HOT HIT HIS LEG. WHEN WE LOOKED WE NOTICED THAT HE HAD BURNED HIS RIGHT CALF AND IT WAS BECAUSE THE EXHAUST PIPES STUCK OUT TOO FAR. WE TRIED TO TREAT THE BURN OURSELF WITH BURN OINTMENT BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK HIM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO HAVE A DOCTOR LOOK AT IT AND SHE SAID THAT HE HAD 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND THAT IT WAS INFECTED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH, ONLY IF THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE SIDE OR THE REAR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH BUT THE AIRS BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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STEERING PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, COULD NOT GET THE CAR STRAIGHT AND WENT INTO THE CURB. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP DURING THE INCIDENT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO REVERSE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO A SMALL PATIO BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT THEN JUMPED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND SUSTAINED INJURY. A RELATIVE THEN JUMPED INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL IN MOTION TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE RELATIVE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE ON A RESIDENTIAL PATIO. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE CONTACT REGARDING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT WAS REMOVING AN ITEM FROM THE TRUNK WHEN SHE WAS BURNED ON THE CALF OF HER LEFT LEG BY THE MUFFLER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MUFFLER WAS EXTENDED OUTWARD TOO FAR CAUSING HER TO COME IN CONTACT WITH IT. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR THE BURN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND WAS NOT SURE OF THE MILEAGE.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END BUMPER OF THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE FRONT HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN ENGULFED INTO MASSIVE FLAMES. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER AND INSURANCE COMPANY PLANNED TO PERFORM AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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I OWN A 2011 VW JETTA WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW INTELLIGENT CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEM (ICRS) WHICH WAS PUT INTO PLACE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY DURING A FRONT END COLLISION BY TURNING CAR OFF, UNLOCKING DOORS, SHUTTING OFF FUEL SUPPLY, AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FROM THE ALTERNATOR. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE SALES MANAGER AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT THE SENSORS FOR THIS TO ENGAGE ARE LOCATED IN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRONT DOORS. I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR AT A SPEED OF 60MPH ON AN INTERSTATE AND THIS SYSTEM ENGAGED. THE RESULT OF THIS ENGAGEMENT ALSO POWERED DOWN MY STEERING AND BRAKES PROVIDING ME NO WAY TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE FROM THE REAR IMPACT. MY VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY EXCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED AT WHICH TIME I WAS LUNGED PASSED APPROX 10 CARS OR 25 YARDS WHEN MY TIE ROD BROKEN AND LUNGED ME BACK INTO TRAFFIC AT WHICH TIME A FRONT SIDE COLLISION FINALLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO REST. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SYSTEM, IT APPEARS ITS INTENTIONS ARE FOR FRONT END IMPACTS AND IS NOT SET TO ENGAGE FROM A REAR IMPACT. HAD I BEEN ABLE TO STEER OR BRAKE MY VEHICLE, THIS LOSS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO DRAMATIC AND SERIOUS IN NATURE. *TR

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