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)

93 of 639 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 1 of 4

Aug 19, 2024Engine

EGR is getting stuck open / closed

NHTSA ODI 11609555

Jun 17, 2024SuspensionElectrical systemEngine

Car was being driven and coils snapped caused, tire to pop damaging front end. Car was being driven and randomly shut off in middle of road. Driving vehicle shifting into gear lags, check engine light is on, had reader and said that valve 2 has low pressure. As a result clanking and loose noise sounds are heard when driven from drivers side.

NHTSA ODI 11594711

May 8, 2024Engine

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine stalls intermittently while driving as listed in a recall for 2011 VW Jettas. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was at risk of an accident when the car stalls while driving on the road and on the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Ontario Volkswagen dealership has been able to see the car intermittently stalling while being serviced. I took the car to the Volkswagen dealership and asked them to contact corporate for a solution to the problem. They replaced 2 sensors and the problem still persists. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights or messages appear prior to engine stalling.

NHTSA ODI 11587738

Jan 31, 2024EngineFuel system

I recently bought a 2011 volkswagen jetta tdi last owner wasn't aware of recalls, car started throwing white smoke, my local service mecanics NORTHWEST EXPRESS AUTO CARE let me know that the problem is a recall on emission need to fix but dealer don't want to do it

NHTSA ODI 11569118

Jul 4, 2023Electrical systemEngine

At various times my car will randomly stall and it's not showing any warning lights to indicate what's wrong or when it will happen.

NHTSA ODI 11530329

Mar 12, 2023Engine

Water pump busted while driving at 20 miles an hour

NHTSA ODI 11511425

Mar 10, 2023Engine

It started singing real load and my light for my coolant started blinking red

NHTSA ODI 11511269

Nov 13, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineDriver assistance

This engine or transmission is acting odd it boggs down for no reason and I know for a fact there should be a recall from the wiring harness back in 2011. I accidentally clicked it was fixed when I pushed the wrong button and it wouldnt let me undue it. Stalls white smoke out the tail pipes in gusts. Foul smell in vents

NHTSA ODI 11493328

Oct 3, 2022Electrical systemEngine

Ignition switch. Having a hard time turning car off.

NHTSA ODI 11487725

May 9, 2022Electrical systemEngineFuel system

The car turns off while driving and it has put me in several safety problems that I feel could an accident

NHTSA ODI 11463834

Feb 1, 2022Speed controlEngineDriver assistance

Unknown , The vehicle is a slap shift and I can't put it in sport mode as well when driving I've been in just regular automatic it will shift slow but hard when it's in slap shift it it shifts Hard and when it is in sport mode it will shift fast and hard it's like a jerk it has a very rough idol and sometimes the windshield wiper's will work sometimes they won't and my cruise control does not work and I put my code reader on it and it says $7E8 and $7E9 along with not being able to complete smog test, and it acted like it wanted to die when I was in drive through it has well over half tank gas. Also it seems to be sucking more gas and my miles are going really fait's going really fast like they're not matching what I'm actually driving.

NHTSA ODI 11449759

Nov 21, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Car randomly stalls while driving and shuts off without warning in the middle of the road. Immediately is able to turn back on without issues. Took to mechanic and they couldn't find any issues and said the car had zero error codes. This has happened multiple times while driving low speeds, usually when driving stop and go with street lights

NHTSA ODI 11441173

Jun 1, 2021Electrical systemEngineFuel system

My car would randomly stall while driving, happens both when braking and not braking. When it stalls steering wheel locks up, cannot press gas pedal, and brakes stop working almost. This is incredibly dangerous because while on a road at 50mph+ and my car suddenly stops it can cause a serious accident. The dealer has been able to reproduce it multiple times, and has said it is a common problem. The only warning light that switched on was the battery light after it had stalled. Currently at the VW dealership and was told that it was the fuel filter, was not the problem and car continued to stall more. Not only was a good part replaced but created an even more dangerous situation than before.

NHTSA ODI 11419266

May 25, 2021EngineFuel system

This Jetta Sportwagen TDI is one of the "diesel gate" vehicles that was supposedly fixed. However, post fix, the vehicle has been at the dealership for repairs more than it has been on the road for various emissions related issues revolving around the exhaust gas recirculation system and diesel particulate filter. Vehicle is washed regularly, including scrubbing of the chaise pipe ends with heavy duty soot cleaning solution. vehicle takes less than a week to collect enough soot on the tailpipe to cause transference to finger when whipped. This is an indication that an excessive amount of soot is not being properly recirculated by the exhaust gas recirculating system to be rebut in the diesel particulate filter. This also indicates that the "fix" for the cheating emissions system is not doing its job and vehicle is likely emitting particulate and NOX at levels far above legal limits.

NHTSA ODI 11418503

Apr 12, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED EASTSIDE VOLKSWAGEN (28400 CHARDON RD, WILLOUGHBY HILLS, OH 44092) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11407576

Nov 30, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO STEVE WHITE VOLKSWAGEN (100 DUVALL DRIVE GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29607, (864) 288-8300) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE CODES RETRIEVED INDICATED FAILURES WITH THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER. THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *LN*DT CONSUMER STATED FAILURE HAS RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES.*JB *AS

NHTSA ODI 11377159

Oct 19, 2020Engine

WHEN I USED THE HORN MY ENGINE DIED AND CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11365090

Jun 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLATINUM VOLKSWAGEN - SALES (340 W OLD COUNTRY RD, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11327389

Apr 24, 2020EngineFuel system

DRIVING THIS VW JETTA TDI 2011 ON THE 605 FREEWAY SOUTH IN LONG BEACH WHEN THE YELLOW GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED LINKING. CAR LOST POWER. WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, I ROLLED OUT OF THE FREEWAY TO AN EXIT. AFTER THIS ENGINE STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START ANYMORE.I CALLED VW CARE TO START A CLAIM BECAUSE THIS CAR BELONGS TO THE DIESEL GATE SCANDAL. TO MY BAD LUCK, I FOUND OUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, 12/17/2019, THAT THEY HAD MANY REPAIRS MADE AND ALSO THAT THE FUEL PUMP WILL GO BAD AND THE REPAIR COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THE LADY OF VW CARE, (800)822-8987 TOLD ME THAT MY WARRANTY FOR THE FUEL PUMP EXPIRED AT 174,620. SHE ASKED ME WHATS THE CURRENT MILEAGE. THAT IS 174,847. SO SHE SAID MY CAR IS NOT COVERED ANY MORE. I STILL ASKED HER TO PUT IN A CLAIM. SHE GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING CLAIM NUMBER:[XXX]. I JUST FEEL VERY SUSPICIOUS AFTER THEY HID SO MUCH INFORMATION BEFORE DURING THE SCANDAL FOR MY CAR TO DIE EXACTLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES AFTER THIS WARRANTY EXPIRES. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS OUT THERE. CAN SOMEONE INVESTIGATE BECAUSE WHY WILL MY CAR DIE EXACTLY A FEW MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRE. HAVE THEY PLAYED WITH THE COMPUTERS TO DO ANOTHER SIMILAR THING? I HOPE NOT. WHAT I HOPE IS THAT IN GOOD FAITH VW REPAIRS MY CAR AT VW OF GARDEN GROVE HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THAT IS WHERE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR MONDAY APRIL 27, 2020. I HAVE JUST HAD THIS CAR FOR 4 MONTHS. :( TO LOOK UP MY CARS WARRANTY UNDER THE DIESEL GATE: HTTPS://WWW.VWDIESELINFO.COM/ INPUT MY VIN NUMBER: [XXX] NOTICE THAT THEY ADD 48,000 MILES TO THE LAST SERVICE FIX MADE TO THE CAR. IT WAS 126,618 MILES. THAT ADDS TO 174,618 NOW THE CAR IS AT 174,847 YOU CAN ALSO VISIT: HTTP://VWCOURTSETTLEMENT.COM/ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11322152

Dec 21, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel system

THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS!!! THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CODES. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. TWICE THE CAR STALLED WHEN SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET. IT WILL RESTART AFTER I LET IT SIT. IT ALSO STUTTERS/JUMPS AND DE EXCELLERATES.

NHTSA ODI 11290651

Aug 4, 2019Engine

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING ENGINE OFF

NHTSA ODI 11241613

Aug 4, 2019Engine

UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION TO TURN OFF CAR ; CAR IN "PARK"

NHTSA ODI 11241628

Jul 12, 2019Engine

IT ALL STARTED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. APPARENTLY THE CAR JUMPED TIMING AND THE CRANKSHAFT WENT BAD. THIS CAUSED COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JETTA. I BELIEVE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI 11231372

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

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

Older →

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 →