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)

55 of 639 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 1 of 3

Mar 3, 2023Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemDriver assistance

The power window never works the way it is suppose to, when I row my window down it MESSES with the speakers for some reason, my wipes don't work all the time and freeze easy. When driving does nor like to shift out of 1st it's got that mk shifter, it will stay in first gear unless the gas is pressed and released fast also can smell like a burnt wire or/ candle was smell. When I try to put the air on the smell becomes worse.

NHTSA ODI 11510091

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 2, 2022Transmission & drivetrainCrash

Was driving about 25-30mph when we heard a pop sound and the car started to become very hard to control. Everytime I would press the brakes the car would become even harder to control. I tried to turn into a driveway to see what happened and the car jerked and caused us to go into a deep ditch. The front passenger tire hit a concrete water drain and the car stopped abruptly. Impact caused the rim to completely break in half and also snapped the front axel in half. The tow truck driver informed us that the drivers rear axle trailing arm was broke in half and he had never seen anything like that before. That night we learned of the recall for that exact part. Over the weekend I've had a chance to go out and look a little better under the rear of the car and it appears to have the steel inlay piece that was supposed to fix the recalled part. The welding is terrible and most of it is rusty so it's been broken for a while it seems. I pulled a car fax on the vehicle and it has went in several times for maintenance at various car dealerships but it doesn't seem that anyone put the fix in the system for it. It has definitely been repaired but nothing shows that. We are waiting on insurance to look at the car. It is available as of right now to be seen. No warning lamps were on in the car. This accident could have resulted in major injuries or even death if they wouldn't have hit the ditch. I have a ton of pictures if you need more. The police did come but didn't file a report because it was a 1 car accident.

NHTSA ODI 11487509

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

Feb 12, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER VOLKSWAGEN OF NEW PORT RICHEY LOCATED AT 4719 US-19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11395944

Jun 14, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlFuel system

AFTER DRIVING FOR 1 HOUR OR MORE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND LOSES CONTROL OF THE SPEED. AFTER DRIVING 3 HOURS OR MORE, THE CAR WILL DO THE SAME WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND BECOMES IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11328757

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

Dec 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

I HAVE A 2011 JETTA SE 2.5L AUTO PZEV AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR OUTSIDE FROM MY HOUSE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON WITH NO REASON. I PASSED THE SCANNER AND THREW THE CODE P0106. THE CAR WOULD DRIVE WELL, BUT WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE AND PRESS GAS, THE CAR WOULDN'T REACT RIGHT AWAY, IT WOULD ACCELERATE SLOWLY AND KICK-IN I SECOND GEAR. THEN THE GEARS INDICATOR (PRND123) DISAPPEARS. I CHANGED THE MAP SENSOR AND WORKS GOOD FOR 3 OR 4 DAY. AFTER THIS THE PROBLEM RETURNS. I SAW A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FROM VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY AND THIS BULLETIN SAYS THAT THE CAR NEEDS AN UPDATE PROGRAMMING. I CALLED TO MY CONCESSIONARY AND THEY SAYS THAT I MUST TO PAY, FIRST FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, AND SECOND FOR THIS UPDATE. I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING ABOUT THIS TROUBLE AND TOO MANY OWNERS OF VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES PRESENTS THIS FAULT, INCLUDING USA AND MEXICO. I GUESS THAT VOLKSWAGEN MUST CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH NO CHARGE. ATTACHED THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN 2034012 FROM VOLKSWAGEN.

NHTSA ODI 11288036

Nov 7, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

CRANK CASE IS NOT ON RECALL SO IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST IS 4200.00. AT WHAT POINT WILL IT GO ON RECALL. WITHOUT THE REPAIR THE CAR IS DEAD IN THE WATER. WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING THAT'S ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. ALSO CALLED VW VERIFIED IS ON THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND RUNS ROUGH AND JUST STOPS. JULY 7 2017 BULLETIN 15-16-02 (V151602)

NHTSA ODI 11044186

Jul 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I CANNOT TURN THE KEY OFF AND REMOVE IT OR LOCK MY CAR THE ENGINE KEEPS RUNNING

NHTSA ODI 11006155

Jul 11, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, THE CAR ACTS AS IF ITS GOING TO RUN OUT OF GAS. THE CAR WILL START TO JERK AND IDLE VERY ROUGHLY IN WHICH A FEW TIMES IT HAS CUT OFF ON ME, ONCE TRYING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY CERTIFIED VW DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT, AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY N205 VALVE. HAD THE VALVE REPLACED AND 2 DAYS LATER THE CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. TOOK IT BACK AND DEALER ONCE AGAIN SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY ADJUSTING SENSORS, BUT STILL THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11004265

Dec 6, 2016Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT ROLLED BACK DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 02/15/2017*CT UPDATED 7/16/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI 10930289

Oct 3, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash2 injuries

2011 VW JETTA TDI FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AS CAR SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC, THE COIL (GLOW PLUG?) LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE WAS NO TIME FOR ME TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION SO I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. WAITING FOR CA HIGHWAY PATROL FOR HELP, TRAFFIC CLEARED AND I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HIT BY A CAR MOVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND SUSTAINED INJURIES (RIBS, BACK AND NECK INJURIES, AND CONCUSSION) ONLINE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER VW CARS THAT EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE (COIL/GLOW PLUG LIGHT, THEN ENGINE FAILURE). THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON A FREEWAY AND THE REAR-END COLLISION I WAS SUBJECTED TO DUE TO CAR FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. SINCE THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER VW CARS, I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO PREVENT FATALITIES. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10911258

Jul 30, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AS VEHICLE IS SHIFTING DOWN, IT LUNGES FORWARD AND YOU FEEL A HARD KNOCK COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. INTERMITTENT ISSUE. SAFETY CONCERN AS IT OCCURS AS YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE NOTICED OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUE. I TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10891857

Apr 5, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WOULD STILL START BUT ONLY IN NEUTRAL. IF I WERE TO TRY AND START VEHICLE IN A GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH PRESSED IN THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE CRUSHED IF THEY WERE STANDING IN FRONT OR BEHIND WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING STARTED. ALSO IF THIS FAILURE WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR AND COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. LUCKILY MINE FAILED IN MY GARAGE OVER NIGHT. BROWSING AROUND ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD FAILURES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS AIR GETTING INTO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS BLEED AND IT WORKED FINE AGAIN. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACING THE SLAVE AND MASTER CYLINDER SINCE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE BAD. NO VISIBLE FLUID COMING FROM EITHER PART THOUGH.

NHTSA ODI 10853648

Mar 9, 2016Transmission & drivetrainCrash

I PARKED ON A DRIVEWAY WITH A 15 DEGREE PITCH. I FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCEDURE EACH TIME I PARK, WAITING 1 MINUTE IN IDLE, TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, WITH MY FOOT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER SHUTDOWN I ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN 1ST GEAR. I EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES PREPARING THE CAR FOR WAXING. I LEFT THE AREA FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND RETURNED TO FIND THE CAR HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE, DOWN A HILL, AND INTO TREES. (THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED BUT TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL) I PERFORMED TESTS AND DETERMINED THAT RANDOMLY, GEAR SHIFTER APPEARED TO BE IN 1ST GEAR BUT WHEN I RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE THE SHIFTER RETURNED TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THIS. A VW SERVICE MANAGER ASKED ME TO REPLICATE CONDITIONS OF INCIDENT. I PARKED THE VEHICLE ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE, ALLOWED ONE MINUTE IN IDLE, SET THE PARKING BRAKE, AND PLACED THE SHIFTER IN 1ST GEAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION SYNCHRONIZERS CAN RANDOMLY CATCH WHILE STATIONARY PREVENTING PROPER ENGAGEMENT INTO 1ST GEAR. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I HAD NOT FULLY ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. HE PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE UP SLOWLY (APPROXIMATELY 6-7 CLICKS). THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TESTED OK AND NO REPAIRS REQUIRED. QUESTIONS FOR NTSB: 1 SHOULD ORDER OF OPERATIONS OUTLINED IN VW OWNER'S MANUAL FOR PARKING CAR WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION BE REVISED TO FIRST PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN 1ST GEAR, RELEASE THE MAIN BRAKE SLOWLY, AND DETERMINE IF CAR REMAINS STATIONARY BEFORE ENGAGING PARKING BRAKE? THIS WOULD PREVENT FULL LOAD ON TRANSMISSION WHILE INSURING THAT THE CAR REMAINS STATIONARY REGARDLESS OF A PARKING BRAKE FAILURE. 2: SHOULD THE VW MANUAL STATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE NEEDS TO BE FULLY EXTENDED (6-7 CLICKS)?

NHTSA ODI 10845825

Oct 29, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

EMISSION ISSUES, NEEDS TO REPLACE EGR FILTER ASSEMBLY AND DPF ASSEMBLY FOR A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES.

NHTSA ODI 10787113

Oct 1, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

2011 VW JETTA NOT COMPLETING DOWNSHIFTING THE CAR WILL LURCH WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPLETE SHIFT. SITTING AT A STOP SIGN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 4 INCHES. THIS TOOK PLACE SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER LOOKING ON COUNTLESS FORUMS AND LOOKING AT SERVICE BULLETINS ITS HAPPEN TO MANY PEOPLE. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THIS IS A CARRYOVER TRANSMISSION FROM OTHER MODEL YEARS AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. COULD PROVE TO BE FATAL IF YOU WERE TO BE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND A CHILD WAS TO WALK OUT IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!

NHTSA ODI 10778986

Jan 23, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION INDEPENDENTLY AS THE DRIVE POSITION LIGHT FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MECH TRONIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10678518

Jan 8, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR A DPF LIGHT. DEALER DIAGNOSED WITH A CLOGGED PARTICULATE FILTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PICKED UP CAR DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK TO DEALER CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE (ON I93 RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC) SHUT CAR OFF IN VW PARKING LOT AND TECH COULD NOT GET IT TO START AGAIN. RECEIVED A CALL NEXT DAY WITH THE HPFP FAILURE NEWS AND THE FRAGMENT WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. DEALER TESTED FUEL AND CONFIRMED NO GAS IN THE 3/4 OF A TANK THAT IS IN THE CAR CURRENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10670911

Nov 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THIS CAR STALLS OUT AS IT SLOWS DOWN. IT DOES NOT CHANGE TO A LOWER GEAR IN TIME WHEN DECELERATING AND STALLS OUT. IT WILL NOT STALL OUT EVERY TIME I SLOW DOWN. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL STALL. IT'S VERY RANDOM AND I HAVE STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND ANY SITUATION SLOWING DOWN. I BROUGHT THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEAL TWICE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I PLEADED WITH THEM THAT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS BUT THEY SENT ME PACKING. I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THEM TO RESELL THIS CAR TO SOMEONE, THE CAR STALLS OUT AND THEY GET INJURED. FOR FOUR YEAR, I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THIS CAR USING EITHER THE MANUAL SHIFT, OR PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN SLOWING DOWN. I AM RETURNING THE CAR TODAY. PLEASE DON'T LET THEM RESELL THIS CAR. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP. I WILL ROLL IT UP AND IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY ROOM DOWN LIKE SOMETHING IS OBSTRUCTING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661181

Nov 28, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TRANSMISSION KICKED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE CRUISING ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND RESTART THE CAR BEFORE IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE FAULT RECURRED A FEW MILES LATER AND HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. THE CAR IS NOW TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661212

Sep 26, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THIS 2011 VW SPORTWAGEN TDI (DIESEL)WOULD EASILY STALL IN FIRST GEAR. SINCE THE FIRST TEST DRIVE WE WERE TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP, THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION TAKES GETTING USED TO. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2011 GOLF TDI WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH I BECAME MORE ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING IT, I WOULD STILL STALL IN FIRST GEAR...SOMETIMES IN INTERSECTIONS. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, DURING SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE WAY THESE CARS ARE. EVERY TIME A SERVICE ADVISOR WOULD TEST DRIVE MY CAR THEY'D STALL IT. THEY NEVER LOOKED INTO IT. AT 89,000 THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WENT TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (THAT I TRUSTED)AND ASKED HIM TO NOT ONLY REPLACE THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL, BUT THE CLUTCH PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING AS WELL. HE SAID THE CLUTCH PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING LOOKED FINE. I SAID SINCE WE HAVE THIS APART I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. SINCE REPLACING THE PARTS WITH ORIGINAL VW PARTS IT DRIVES LIKE A NORMAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR SHOULD...I NO LONGER STALL THIS CAR IN 1ST GEAR. ONE CAN CHECK ON LINE AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. BESIDES THE EXPENSE IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS. I'M SURPRISED THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. ON SEPTEMBER 19TH I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FLYNN VW, AND ASKED HIS ADVICE ABOUT DEALING WITH VW AND HE REITERATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ON THE DIESELS (TDI) WERE LIKE THAT. HE STATED HE STILL STALLS WHEN DRIVING THE DIESEL VWS. HOWEVER HE SAID THE GAS ENGINES DIDN'T SEEM TO STALL LIKE THE DIESELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639294

Sep 25, 2014Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

DRIVING ON I-5 SOUTHBOUND IN OUR 2011 VW JETTA TDI; MY CAR DROPPED HORSE POWER AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. THE CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT THE HORSE POWER WAS CUT SIGNIFICANTLY. WE STOPPED AT THE NEXT INTERCHANGE 6 MILES AWAY AND CALLED VW. THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT MONDAY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. IT RESTARTED AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT WAS NOT ON. CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY ON THE DRIVE HOME (35 MILES). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY AND THEY RAN SOME TESTS. THE HPFP ON THE ENGINE WAS OUT. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. IT IS COVERED BY MY 60 POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. BUT MY CAR ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ISSUES ON THIS TYPE OF TDI WITH THE HPFP. IS THIS SOMETHING THE NTSB WILL BE INVESTIGATING? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638893

Jun 30, 2014Fuel System, DieselTransmission & drivetrain

GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC. PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION, AND ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULDN'T RESTART. AFTER BASIC CHECKS, THE FUEL PUMP WAS PULLED FOR INSPECTION AND METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND. IN RESEARCHING THE REPAIR, THE INDEPENDENT STATION SUGGESTED PUTTING THINGS BACK TOGETHER, AND HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, AS IT WAS SUSPECTED TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. IN FACT IT WAS, AND WHILE THE CAR WAS TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALER WENT AHEAD AND COVERED THE REPAIR UNDER THE UNRELATED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. I CONSIDER MYSELF INCREDIBLY LUCKY THAT THIS WASN'T 15 MINUTES EARLIER, WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON AN INCREDIBLY FULL FREEWAY. IT COULD'VE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I HAD SUDDENLY LOST POWER. CONSIDERING THERE ARE ENTIRE WEBSITES DEVOTED TO TRACKING THIS ISSUE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10607180

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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 →