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)

15 of 639 complaints match · Electrical system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jul 10, 2023SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury

Unknowns

NHTSA ODI 11531243

Oct 17, 2019SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK OR TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE CONTACT CALLED BOZZANI VOLKSWAGEN AT 626-967-6325 (LOCATED AT 528 S CITRUS AVE, COVINA, CA 91723) AND WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2017, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND STRUCK HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NOT TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11269252

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

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, 2017Electrical systemFire

RECENTLY MY 2011 JETTA SPORTWAGEN'S EXTERIOR LIGHT DASHBOARD INDICATOR CAME ON. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THEY WOULD WORK AND THEN FAIL AGAIN WITHOUT ANY REASON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I HAD ONE BULB OUT AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER EVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE IN ANY VOLKSWAGEN. THE SAME DAY THE LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN. I INVESTIGATED THIS TIME MYSELF AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE F16 FUSE. MY F16 FUSE WAS VISIBLY BURNT AND THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED AT THE F16 SPOT. A NEW FUSE HAS TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS IS MELTING THE FUSE BOX AND MY LIGHTS COULD FAIL AT A CRITICAL TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11014968

Dec 29, 2016Electrical systemFire

ON THIS VEHICLE, FUSE (F16 PLUG-IN POSITION) OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED THE FUSE BOX, CAUSING A PARTIAL LOSS OF EXTERIOR VEHICLE LIGHTING. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. VW ISSUED 97AM ACTION ALERT FOR EARLIER YEAR SAME MODELS, BUT NOT THIS AND LATER YEAR MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 10938608

Sep 19, 2016Electrical systemLights1 injury

I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. EVERY OTHER MONTH MY HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT I HAD ONE HEADLIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. WHEN I CHANGE IT THE OTHER SIDE GOES OUT. I KNOW THATS NOT NORMAL. AND THEN ONE DAY I HAD BEEN RUNNING ARRENDS AND MADE A STOP . I WAS WEARING FLIP FLOPS THAT DAY. WELL WHEN I WENT TO TURN AROUND IN MY SEAT TO GET WHAT WAS BEING HANDED TO ME FROM MY GIRLFRIEND I BURNED MY THREE LITTLE TOES ! !!! I IMMIEATELY WENT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL <DASH> AND SEEN IT WAS A PIPE NOT COVERED.I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND I HAVE NEVER FELT ANY THING SO HOT UNDER A DASH.I HAD THREE BLISTERS.EACH TOE HAD A TINY BLISTER.THATS WHEN I SEEN ALL THE RUST EVERYWHER OR ANYWHERE THERE IS METAL IS COVERED WITH RUST.THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR END .I NOTICED AFTER I TOOK IT IN THAT THE TIRES DIIDNT LOOK EVEN IN THE BACK.DRIVER SIDE TIRE BOWS INWARD ON THE TOP SIDE AND THE OTHER SIDE DOESNT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WELL THATS ALWAYS ON . .AND WHEN I CHECKED THE AIR FILTER IT SMELLED LIKE IT WAS IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE .MY HORN SOUNDS DEFECTIVE.BARELY HEAR IT. AND THE WINDSHEILD WIPER HAS ALOUD NOISE WHEN OPERATING.

NHTSA ODI 10907988

Dec 31, 2015Electrical systemEngineCrash

IGNITION SWITCH KEY LOCK SOLENOID (N376) PROBLEM. HELLO, MY WIFE'S 2011 JETTA HAS A MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. PERHAPS THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY LOCK SOLENOID (N376)? NORMALLY THE KEY SHOULD BE LOCKED IN THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS IN D(DRIVE). HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE N376 (OR OTHER) WHICH DOES NOT ENGAGE THE LOCKING SOLENOID. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE KEY TO BE PULLED OUT WHILE IN D. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND PULL THE KEYS OUT OF THE CAR WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN D(DRIVE), GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR ROLLED BACK AND HIT A PORSCHE. THANKFULLY THE CAR DID NOT RUN OVER A CHILD OR OTHER PERSON. FROM BRIEF RESEARCH I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE RECALLS ON SIMILAR ITEMS, HERE IS AN ARTICLE ON ONE THOUGH NOT SPECIFICALLY ON THE 2011 JETTA.

NHTSA ODI 10817217

Dec 13, 2015Electrical systemCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 10809928

Jun 2, 2015Electrical systemLightsFire

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.

NHTSA ODI 10722896

Jan 6, 2015Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

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.

NHTSA ODI 10670446

Aug 20, 2014Electrical systemCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 10626873

Feb 21, 2013Electrical systemFire

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

Mar 31, 2011Electrical systemCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10393841

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 →