What 639 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON UNTIL YOU GO CRANK THE CAR. THE DEALER COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND HE SAID EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK....THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND MY CONCERN WOULD BE WILL IT EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504656

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID ANOTHER MOTORIST, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10503452

DANGEROUS AND HARROWING CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL FAILURE (NEAR-NEW 2011 JETTA WITH 39,000 MILES) WITHOUT WARNING AT 55 MPH WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR WHILE BRAKING, STALLING MY CAR IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP THAT TODAY TELLS ME THE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH WERE DAMAGED WITH REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $2,500. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NTSB SITE SHOWS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER 2011 JETTA OWNERS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET GENERALLY TURNED UP HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL OR NEAR-IDENTICAL REPORTS OF CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL FAILURES FOR 2006 TO 2013 JETTAS. MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSES HAVE BEEN, ACCORDING TO JETTA OWNERS, VARIED, WITH SOME PEOPLE REPORTING FREE REPAIRS AND OTHER REPORTING LARGE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. INTERESTINGLY, CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL FAILURES ARE, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH (AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO CARES TO LOOK FOR IT ONLINE) BEING COVERED BY TECHNICAL BULLETINS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND MAINTAINED PER MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WITH DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE CAR TOWED FOR REPAIRS ACKNOWLEDGING VERBALLY THAT THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY VW IS PAYING FOR SOME FLYWHEEL PARTS UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES BUT NOT FOR ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE CLUTCH THAT OFTEN OCCURS, PER THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE FLYWHEEL FAILS. LABOR COSTS ARE NOT COVERED, AND THEY ARE ESTIMABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501363

WE WERE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 93 APPROX 5 MILES SOUTH OF EXIT 11 IN HOOKSETT, NH NORTHBOUND. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUNSHOT. I SWERVED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND BY THE TIME I GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL MY WIFE AND I WERE COVERED IN GLASS AND OUR EARS WERE RINGING. WE LOOKED UP AND THE SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED OUT/UPWARDS FROM THE BEST WE COULD TELL. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE CAR WAS DRY AND IT WAS CLEAR OUT. THERE WAS NO ICE OR SNOW ON THE ROOF. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL CLOSED AND THE SUN SHADE WAS OPEN. THE HEAT WAS NOT ON IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ROUGHLY 40 DEGREES F OUTSIDE. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT (11) AND PULLED INTO A PARK AND RIDE LOT TO INSPECT DAMAGE. AS EXPECTED THE WINDOW BROKE OUTWARDS, WITH APPROX 33% OF THE GLASS MISSING IN A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE, THE REST SHATTERED AND FALLING OFF IF YOU TOUCHED IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501227

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

NHTSA ODI 10499591

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO GIVE A CLEAR SENSE OF THE CAR SHUDDERING OR ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. WHILE SOMETIMES THE FEELING WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT CONSISTENT LOW SPEEDS. IN ALMOST ALL CASES, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SPEED AROUND EITHER 13PMH OR 30 MPH. EVENTUALLY, I FOUND THE ROCKING MOTION VERY EASY TO REPRODUCE. I'D SET THE CAR TO 30 MPH VIA CRUISE CONTROL AND DRIVE DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH VERY SLIGHT UPWARD AND DOWNWARD SLOPES. WHILE IT HAPPENS EVEN ON FLAT GROUND, I FOUND THAT A SLIGHT DECLINE IS MOST LIKELY TO REPRODUCE THE FEELING. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM/TRANSMISSION IS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT DIESEL NEEDS TO BE SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM SEEMS TO ALMOST CUT OUT BECAUSE GIVING DIESEL WOULD PRODUCE A SPEED TOO HIGH, AND THEN IT COMES BACK ON SUDDENLY, BECAUSE GIVING IT NO DIESEL WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SLOW TOO MUCH. WHILE SOMETIMES THIS IS SIMPLY A NUISANCE, I HAVE HAD ON MANY OCCASIONS FELT THAT IT WAS A GENUINE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I COULDN'T PREDICT HOW THE ENGINE WOULD REACT. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH OVERLY STRONG ENGINE BREAK WHEN LETTING OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE PEDDLE THAT CAN CAUSE INCONSISTENCIES AND SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN MANEUVERING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR IT'S REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS A DIESEL DSG ENGINE, AND AS I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND REPRESENTATIVES, SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE STRONG ENGINE BREAKING ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR'S ROCKING MOTION CERTAINLY GOES BEYOND ANYTHING THAT COULD REALISTICALLY BE CONSIDERED NORMAL AND SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10497827

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H725A TIRES, LINE SIZE 205/55R/16H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10490885

I HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ENGINE DIED AT 35 MPH. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AFTERWARDS. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. THIS APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER CASE OF FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WITH THE 2.0 TDI ENGINE. ONLY DIESEL FUEL HAS *EVER* BEEN USED IN THE VEHICLE. AS PER VW'S TSB, THE DEALER TESTED THE FUEL AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS OK. VW COVERED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY. OTHERWISE, THIS WOULD HAVE COST APPROXIMATELY $10K. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10490428

TDI DIESEL JETTA WITH 30,000 MILES BY ORIGINAL OWNER WAS BEING DRIVEN 35 MPH CITY SECONDARY STREETS, VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. POLICE WERE CALLED, THEY ASCERTAINED THAT LOCATION WAS SAFE ENOUGH UNTIL TOW. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER A FEW DAYS BEFORE FOR 30,000 MILE SERVICE. DIESEL FUEL ALMOST ALWAYS PURCHASED AT SAME 3 YR OLD BUSY STATION, AND CAR WAS RUNNING ON SAME TANK OF FUEL AS WHEN IT WAS SERVICED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF PROBLEMS, NO HESITATION, NO LOSS OF POWER, NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE TOTAL SHUTDOWN OF ENGINE. ON A FREEWAY, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10487981

STARTING THE END OF OCTOBER, 2012 MY HORN STARTED WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD PEOPLE PULLING INTO MY LANE WITHOUT LOOKING, AND I TRIED TO HONK TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS THERE, YET THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO BRAKE HARD, OR SWERVE ABRUPTLY TO AVOID BEING HIT. IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I AM LOCKING THE CAR WITH THE ALARM ALSO. THIS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUSE PROBLEM THE CARS WERE RECALLED FOR EARLIER. THE HORN WOULD QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER IF THE FUSE WENT BAD. SOMETIMES THE HORN WORKS, AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I HAVE LOGGED ONTO SEVERAL ON-LINE FORUMS FOR VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS, SUCH AS WWW.TDI.CLUB AND NOTICED THAT OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE IT FIXED, AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE HORN HAPPENED TO BE WORKING THAT MORNING. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART(S) PROBLEM IF MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LOSS OF THE HORN AT THE WRONG TIME HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE SOME ACCIDENTS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10487418

ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE IN OUR 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI DIESEL FROM OUR VACATION PROPERTY IN SALYER, CALIFORNIA (TRINITY COUNTY) TO OUR HOME IN ARCATA, CALIFORNIA (HUMBOLDT COUNTY), A DISTANCE OF 45 MILES ALONG ROUTE 299. 299 IS A TWO LANE HIGHWAY THAT HAS OCCASIONAL PASSING LANES AND HAS A POSTED SPEED OF 55 MPH. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES INTO THE TRIP, I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE BY MEANS ONE OF THESE PASSING LANES. AS I PULLED INTO THE PASSING LANE, THE JETTA ACCELERATED SMOOTHLY FROM 45 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY, EVENTUALLY DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS ROARING AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF RPM?S AS THIS DECELERATION OCCURRED. THIS EVENT CREATED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION: THE PASSING LANE IS OF LIMITED LENGTH AND THE PASSING MANEUVER NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE IT ENDED BECAUSE THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE JETTA WAS A PICKUP TRUCK THAT HAD ALSO PULLED INTO THE PASSING LANE. AS THE DECELERATION OCCURRED, THE PICKUP TRUCK CAME WITHIN INCHES OF COLLIDING WITH THE REAR OF THE JETTA. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO SAFETY AT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THEREAFTER THE CAR COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN IN 1ST GEAR AND AT ONLY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN AND THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TOW THE JETTA TO THE NEAREST DEALER, REDDING VOLKSWAGEN, LOCATED IN REDDING CALIFORNIA. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AN EVENT LIKE THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED THE JETTA ON JULY 10, 2011. IN APRIL 2012, AS I PULLED ONTO THE MAIN STREET IN SUSANVILLE CALIFORNIA AND BEGAN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE JETTA SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE RAPID DECELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10487101

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC; THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FUEL PUMP FILTER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL USED CONTAMINATED THE FUEL PUMP FILTER WITH DIBRIS. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED; THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,200.

NHTSA ODI 10484090

JETTA TDI HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP & FUEL LINE BLOW-OUT; STALLING OF ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10483623

PALISADES VW IN NY STRIPED MY CAR OF ALL ORIGINAL PART AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE CAR COMES WITH OLD WINTER TIRES. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS WITH THEM AND THEY LAUGHED IN MY FACE AND TOLD ME TO GO AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT SOLD ME CAR. MY NEPHEW CHANGED MY TIRE HE SAID THAT I STILL AM GOING TO NEED A NEW ONE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT I A DONUT BUT I TOLD HIM I HAVE A FULL TIRE THAT IT WAS NOT A DONUT AND WHEN HE WAS DONE HE TOLD IT WASN'T. IT WAS A FULL TIRE BUT AGAIN I FIGURED MAYBE I WAS DID NOT PAY ATTENTION OR I REALLY DID NOT SEE A FULL TIRE. WHEN I GOT A FLAT ON OCTOBER 7TH I DID NOT WANT TO BRING MY CAR BACK TO PALISADE VW BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB SO I WENT BACK TO WHERE I GOT MY CAR AND THEY CALLED AND ASKED IF I HAD MY TIRES CHANGED BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE NOT THE ONE THE CAR CAME WITH. I HAVE NEVER CHANGED MY TIRES AND I DID NOTICE THAT THEY WHERE DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I GOT THE CAR. NOT ONLY THAT BUT PALISADE MECHANIC STOLE MY GAS HAD A FULL TANK BOTH TIMES AND I GOT MY CAR BACK WITH LESS THEN A1/4. PLEASE PLEASE I AM BEGGING FOR HELP I AM A WAITRESS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO GET APT PLEASE HELP ME I AM BEGGING YOU. I NEED THIS CAR TO BE SAFE BECAUSE I LIVE WITH MY NIECE AND I BABY SIT HER KID IN EXCHANGE FOR ROOM AND BOARD. THESE PEOPLE SAW THE CAR SEAT AND DID NOT CARE IF I CRASHED MY CAR AND KILLED THE BABY OR ANY ONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER. AGAIN I AM BEGGING FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10482405

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR IT WOULD NOT LATCH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR HAD TO BE TIED SO THAT IT WOULD NOT OPEN DURING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,800. RETURNED BY USPS. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 1/14/2013 FIALED. *KB

NHTSA ODI 10482266

NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR LEAKY FUEL LINES BY MY LOCAL DEALER. MY CAR DEVELOPED A LEAK AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH AS IT SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.I AM FURIOUS AS I NOW ALSO LEARNED THERE IS FUEL PUMP FAILURES BEING INVESTIGATED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT RIGHT NOW WHILE THEY ARE DOING THE FUEL LINES? THIS CAR IS 14 MONTHS OLD THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULDN'T ALL BE REPLACED AND WARRANTIED FOR MUCH LONGER I DON'T BELIEVE THESE CARS ARE SAFE OR DEPENDABLE TO DRIVE AND IT'S BRAND NEW! I THINK VW HAS DONE A HORRIBLE JOB AND I DON'T WANT TO EVER BUY A VW AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10481004

CAR ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. DRIFTED TO SIDE OF ROAD; CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO PAY $250 FOR TOW TO DEALER. SERVICE PERSON CALLED TO SAY THERE WAS METAL IN MY FUEL SYSTEM/TANK, BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. HE ALSO ACCUSED ME OF PUTTING THE WRONG GAS IN MY CAR. I INFORMED SERVICE PERSON THAT IT TOOK 5 SECONDS ON THE INTERNET TO LEARN ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE MANY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT CAUSE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. INTERESTINGLY, HE CALLED BACK 2 HOURS LATER AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FUEL SYSTEM AND POWERTRAIN AND OTHER STUFF NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING 65 ON THE FREEWAY WITH A SMALL CHILD OR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR, ALL OF WHOM COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES ALL POWER AND MOMENTUM. MANY ONLINE COMPLAINT REPORTS ARE FOR SECOND FAILURES, AFTER REPAIR. I DO NOT TRUST THE SERVICE DEPT. OF ANY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROBLEM IS ELIMINATED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10480735

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.

NHTSA ODI 10480177

I HAVE A 2011 VW JETTA WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES AND NOTICED TODAY AFTER FILLING UP THE TIRES WITH AIR THAT THE SIDEWALLS ON THE TIRES WERE COMING APART. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10480601

MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN NEW ORLEANS (CENTER LANE) WHEN GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND NO POWER TO CHANGE LANES. AT THIS TIME, TRYING NOT TO GET RUN OVER, I MANAGED TO GET OVER AND COAST TO AN OFF RAMP INTO THE LOWER 9TH WARD(SCARY). CAR WAS DEAD AND WOULD NOT START. BROUGHT TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 1 WEEK BEFORE IT COULD BE LOOKED AT IT. NOT KNOWING IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NO RENTAL WAS GIVEN AND HAD TO BE PICKED UP BY WIFE, 100 MILES AWAY. ONE WEEK LATER WAS NOTIFIED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE COST FOR $109 BUCKS. IT'S AMAZING HOW I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A MAJOR PART GOES OUT AND I GOT NO RENTAL AND IT'S GOING TO COST ME MONEY. VW DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.END RESULT FROM OWNING A VW TDI, GETTING RUN OVER AT 5 A.M IN THE MORNING, BEING STRANDED IN THE LOWER NINTH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS FOR 3 HOURS SCARED TO GET OUT OF CAR, RIDE WITH WRECKER FOR 1 HOUR TO DEALERSHIP, NO RENTAL CAR TO GET BACK TO WORK, WAIT FOR 1.5 HOURS FOR FAMILY MEMBER TO COME GET ME, WAIT FOR 1 WEEK TO BE TOLD THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE @7K AND A REMANUFACTURED PART WOULD BE PUT BACK, COST OF $109 FOR WARRANTY, ANOTHER WEEKS WAIT FOR REPAIR AND BEST OFF BEING STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS NO TRADE IN AFTER ANYONE CHECKS CARFAX. WHILE BEING STRANDED AND CHECKING INTERNET FIND OUT VW IS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10478839

A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN PERFORMING POORLY AT 75MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. SLOWING TO EXIT ABOUT A MILE FURTHER, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STALLED AND QUIT ON THE OFF RAMP. THE REPAIR REPORT INDICATED THAT IT WAS AN INTERNAL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. IT CAUSED METAL PIECES TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE TOTAL FOR PARTS ONLY WAS $4445. PROBLEM IS BEING BLAMED ON FUEL QUALITY IN THE US. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10478847

2011 JETTA TDI DIESEL - SECOND OCCURRENCE OF ENGINE STALL DUE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 40 PLUS MILES PER HOUR. CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOWED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN WHICH RESULTS IN THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FAILING SENDING DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. NHTSA SAYS IN CONCLUDING STATEMENTS DATED 12/21/12 THAT (NHTSA RECALL NO. 11V-490) 'THE ACTION TAKEN BY VOLKSWAGEN IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE DEFECT REMAINS AND IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AS THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLS WHILE IN MOTION. AS THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM THE DEFECT REMAINS A PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER IS EXPOSED TO NOT ONLY SAFETY ISSUES BUT HIGH COSTS IN REPAIR AT $10,000+ IF THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE TREND IS CONTINUING WITH 2012 TDIS AS WELL. PLEASE FORCE VW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS I NOW HAVE AN UNSAFE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10478879

THE CAR TURNED OVER AND THEN TURNED ITSELF OFF. THE IMMOBILIZER ACTIVATED AND THE CAR REFUSED TO START. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT WAS DONE TO FIX IT. THE YESTERDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012, WE WERE 5 MILES FROM THE HOUSE AT A PARK AND THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, BECAUSE WE WERE WITHOUT A PHONE, WE WALKED HOME AND GOT IT TOWED. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO BODILY INJURIES, THIS IS AS MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE AS ANYTHING ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10478007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP TO MAKE A TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATES TO 70 MPH. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITH A LOUD CHIME SOUNDING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED BEFORE RESUMING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 10477103

I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT NIGHT DURING TRAFFIC HOURS WHEN MY ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I WAS DOING 50MPH WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND TRAFFIC WAS FLYING BY ME ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR SO I WAS AFRAID TO GET OUT THE VEHICLE. LUCKY FOR ME A TOW TRUCK SEEN ME IN DISTRESS AND HELPED GET ME AND MY CAR OFF THE EXPRESSWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP DISINTEGRATED AND SENT METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. VW TRIED TO ACCUSE ME OF PUTTING REGULAR GAS IN A LOW DIESEL FUEL ENGINE. BUT I HAD MY RECEIPTS FOR PROOF. VW NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. SINCE A VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF DURING TRAFFIC HOURS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE TOW TRUCK HADN'T SEEN ME WHEN HE DID THE RESULTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN FATAL. *TR

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