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)

200 of 639 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 3 of 8

Aug 6, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FAILURE REGARDING THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP SENSORY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A WARRANTY EXTENSION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11242071

Jul 10, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

"TAKATA RECALL" IM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS ON DASH WHEN I PRESS ON BREAK THE OIL LAMP COMES ON. THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON. THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT WORKS HALF THE TIME AND THE SAME WITH BREAKS THE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE WANT TO. THESE ARE THE ONLY ISSUES IM HAVING SO FAR EXCEPT THE AC DONT WORK AND ALWAYS GOES OUT!

NHTSA ODI 11230727

Jul 10, 2019Electrical system

WHILE PARKED THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN " AS IF STEERING WHEEL LOCK WAS WELDED SOLID". I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY AT ALL. CAR COULD NOT BE STARTED AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR AVAILABLE.AS A RESULT I HAD TO CALL A NEIGHBOR TO TAKE MY WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL. PARTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED, BUT THE MECHANIC HAS NOT RECEIVED A DELIVERY CONFIRMATION DATE. STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY IMMOVABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11230831

Jun 3, 2019Electrical system

HAVING ISSUES WITH IGNITION SWITCH. I PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF STORE LOCATION AND WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SPOKE TO A MECHANIC TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT TO SEE IF THE SWITCH HAD JUST LOCKED BUT AFTER MORE THAN AN HOUR OF THIS IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN. MECHANIC WENT TO TRY TO WORK ON IT AND WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DO SO AND REFERRED ME TO AN IMPORT MECHANIC AS HE HAD RECENTLY REPLACED ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN WITH THE SAME ISSUE. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC AS KEY CANNOT BE TURNED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11217509

May 19, 2019Electrical systemEngine

DRIVING MY CAR I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. MY BATTERY LIGHT WOULD THEN APPEAR. HAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED 4X WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION. BATTERY COMES ON BUT RADIO STILL ON. I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM. SO I TOOK IT TO MY VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY STREETS AND SOMETIMES ON THE INTERSTATE. I JUST NEED MY CAR FIXED IT HAS CAUSED ME SO MUCH STRESSED I AM NOW ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION.

NHTSA ODI 11208528

Apr 24, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. BAXTER VOLKSWAGEN (7108 S 124TH CIR, LAVISTA, NE) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11203331

Apr 11, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11195667

Apr 1, 2019Electrical system

THE DIAGNOSTICS MECHANISM FOR LATE MODEL VOLKSWAGEN IS VIA THE RADIO, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE DEALER OR MECHANIC CAN DIAGNOSE ANY ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES IS VIA THE RADIO. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I COULD NOT BUY A 3RD PARTY RADIO, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK IF A DEALER OR MECHANIC CAN'T LOOK AT THE DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO BUY A RADIO FROM VOLKSWAGEN SO THEY CAN RUN SAFETY DIAGNOSTICS. WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VOLKSWAGEN WITH THIS RADIO ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK!!! THE DEALER IS SELLING RADIOS ON THE FLOOR TO FIX THIS ISSUE - SEE ATTACHED PICTURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER OF THE VW AUTO SHOP THAT ALL DIAGNOSTICS COMPUTER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR IS DONE VIA THE RADIO - WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION IT IS A HUGE SAFETY AND CARS ARE OUT ON THE ROAD WITH POTENTIALLY BIG PROBLEMS THAT COULD CAUSE A HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE VW THAT THEY MAYBE TRYING TO COVER-UP. THANK YOU HERE IS A LINK MANY OTHER FOLKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T41202_DS648928

NHTSA ODI 11192916

Mar 18, 2019Electrical system

I WAS RETURNING HOME. STOPPED AT A LOCAL STORE AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT I HAD A LOT OF LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHING. I TRIED TO BACK AWAY FROM THE PARKING SPOT AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS ON THE LOW MARK. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A LOCAL PARTS STORE, THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. I OBTAINED SOME DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID. JUST AFTER I FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE FULL MARK THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OUT AND ALL SEEMED FINE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE LIGHTS CAME BACK INDICATING THE BRAKING ANTILOCK SYSTEM HAD QUIT WORKING (THE SAME LIGHTS AS BEFORE) I TOOK IT TO A VW DEALER AND SPENT $453. TO FIND OUT IT HAD A "LOT OF CODES" AT THAT POINT I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR HOME AND PARK IT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD NO LIGHTS THE CAR PREFORMED FLAWLESSLY THE REST OF THE DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11189788

Mar 6, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,223.

NHTSA ODI 11184698

Mar 2, 2019Electrical system

MY RADIO STOPPED WORKING. MY WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT AND THEN MY RADIO GOES. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A COINCIDENCE. AFTER READING MANY ARTICLES ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE. IN TODAY'S WORLD "KNOWN ISSUE" MEANS THAT WE KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FIX. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND THE RADIO, OUT OF THE BLUE STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11183703

Feb 17, 2019Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

WHILE IN CAR WAS DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MIN AT LEAST AND NOTICED CAR WAS SMOKING. PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND POPPED THE HOOD TO CHECK WHY IT WAS SMOKING AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS UNDER FIRE. CAR WAS PARKED PRIOR FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS.

NHTSA ODI 11180584

Oct 26, 2018Electrical systemSeats1 injury

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. I REACHED BEHIND MY BACK AND BURNED MY FINGER. I PULLED OFF AND LOOKED AND SAW A HOLD AND MELTED SEAT. THE BACK OF MY COAT WAS MELTED AS WELL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A VW DEALER TO BE INSPECTED AND IT WAS CAUSED BY A WIRE SHORTING OUT. THERE IS A CASE NOW OPEN FOR ME WITH VW. WAITING TO HEAR IF THEY WILL PAY TO FIX THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11142922

Oct 12, 2018Electrical systemEngine

ALWAYS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES, ALWAYS CHANGING FUSE FOR HORN, HORN "NEVER" WORKS! ISSUES WITH IGNITION, DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF, NOT CANNOT TURN ON AT ALL, KEY WON'T TURN ENOUGH, CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN, ADVISED OUT OF WARRANTY, NO RECALL FOR ISSUES I AM HAVING, VW DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT-VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, VW WILL DO NOTHING,TOLD ME NOT A COMMON ISSUE (ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS READ THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND FIND LOTS OF PEOPLE W/SAME ISSUE(S) WOULD NOT RECOMMEND VW TO ANYONE!

NHTSA ODI 11139959

Sep 20, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2011 SEEMS TO HAVE MISFIRE. IT HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE CAR SHAKES WHEN SLOW DOWN AND/OR AT STOPS. VW CERTIFIED MECHANIC TRIED CHANGING THE PLUGS, AND CLEANING THE VALVES BUT NOTHING HELPED. HE ALSO TIED SHAFT CRANK SENSOR THAT DID NOT HELP EITHER. FINALLY THE DIAGNOSIS REPORT INDICATED THAT IT'S TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11130506

Sep 16, 2018Electrical system

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN ENGINE OFF, CANNOT REMOVE WITHOUT 10 MINUTES OF JIGGLING. SECOND OCCURRENCE, SECOND REPAIR. MY VEHICLE HAS 49,800 MILES. IGNITION MODULE AND ASSOCIATED PARTS WERE REPLACED IN 2015 DUE TO FAILURE AND NOW IN SEPTEMBER 2018 DUE TO FAILURE. KEY ALSO BROKE DUE TO REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE.

NHTSA ODI 11129728

Sep 6, 2018Electrical systemLightsCrash

MY HORN AND FRONT RIGHT PARKING LIGHT BOTH STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AS MY CAR, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. I WILL NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AND PAY FOR IT, HOWEVER, I DO HOPE VW AND NHTSA SEES THIS IS A PROBLEM AND EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MORE MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11124715

Aug 14, 2018Electrical systemFuel system

BESIDES THE PROBLEM I HAVE REPORTED ABOUT THE CAR SPUTTERING LOOSING POWER AND EVEN STALLING ONCE ITS ON 1/4 TANK. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR CHARGING THE BATTERY. I REPLACE THE MUTLI FUSE, AND THE ALTERNATOR. ITS STILL NOT CHARGING. I HAD THE OLD ALTERNATOR TESTED AND IT WORKS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE, MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 11119883

Aug 9, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. STONE MOUNTAIN VOLKSWAGEN (3500 STONE MOUNTAIN HWY, SNELLVILLE, GA 30078, (678) 367-4286) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11118682

Aug 1, 2018Electrical system

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON,, THE LIGHTS PROJECTING WHICH GEAR THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN DO NOT LIGHT UP, AND A WRENCH APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD IS ALSO GONE

NHTSA ODI 11115130

Jul 17, 2018Electrical system

MULTIPLE LIGHTS NOT WORKING, INCLUDING TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. DETERMINED THAT 30 AMP FUSE #F16 HAD FAILED AND THERE APPEARED TO BE HEAT DAMAGE TO THE FUSE BOX AT THE LOCATION OF THIS FUSE.

NHTSA ODI 11111875

Jul 11, 2018SteeringElectrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11110690

Jun 21, 2018Electrical systemFuel system

TAKATA RECALL. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER SEATING FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR, IT TAKES AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF CRANKING BEFORE THE ENGINE FIRES. 10 PLUS SECONDS. ONE ITS RUNNING IT USUALLY DRIVES WITHOUT ISSUES UNTIL YOU GET TO 5/16-1/4 TANK. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT STARTS TO LOOSE POWER. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO SHUT OFF. IT LOOSES POWER, GAINS AND LOOSE POWER CAUSING IT TO SPUTTER AND LOOSE CONTROL. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS IT IS BACK TO NORMAL. THEN PROCEEDS TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY USUALLY EVERY COUPLE MILES UNTIL IT GETS FILL IT UP. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY ROADS AND HIGHWAY. I FILL THE TANK UP AND I ONLY GET ON AVERAGE 10 GALLONS INTO THE TANK, SO I KNOW ITS NOT OUT OF GAS. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP TEST NUMEROUS TIMES BY DIFFERENT MECHANICS. ALL OF THEM SAID ITS NOT LOOSING PRESSURE, AND IT PRIMES WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR OPENS LIKE IT SHOULD. AFTER READING ONLINE I HAVE NOTICED MANY JETTA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND CAN NOT SEEM TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING CAUSE IT CAN CUT POWER AT ANY MOMENT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPEN SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IF IT FALLS BELOW THE 5/16 A TANK. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS EFFECTED MANY JETTA OWNERS AND PREVENTS A RISK TO THEM AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11102969

Mar 16, 2018Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

DEFECTIVE LIGHT SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT LOW BEAMS AND HIGH BEAMS. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT NO LONGER WORK, LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THEY ARE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11079881

Feb 23, 2018Electrical systemLights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE PARKED, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN PRESSED. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. LEITH VOLKSWAGEN OF RALEIGH (4005 CAPITAL HILLS DRIVE RALEIGH, NC 27616, (833) 827-4410) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER WAS BUSY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11074565

← NewerOlder →

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 →