What 526 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

AS I ACCELERATE TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY, I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER TO SPEAK OF, WHICH WAS QUITE ALARMING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, BUT I INSTANTLY TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS REALIZING THAT I COULD NOT GAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON, AND I DROVE MY CAR 1 MILE TO THE NEAREST OFF RAMP. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I DROVE 1 MILE TO MY SCHEDULED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. I PARKED MY JETTA WITH PLANS TO ADDRESS THE MATTER AFTER MY APPOINTMENT. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START, AND I CALLED AAA TO TOW MY CAR TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. AS I MENTIONED, THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, AND I WAS IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK BECAUSE I LOVE MY CLEAN DIESEL, AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED 4 OTHER FRIENDS TO BUY THE EXACT SAME MODEL!!! AFTER LEAVING THE CAR AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, I BEGAN TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS IN THE VW CLEAN DIESELS. HONESTLY, THIS HAS DEEPLY CHANGED HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY CAR, AND WORRIES ME GREATLY! IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A CAR COMPLETELY LOSE POWER! :( FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, VW IS "SUGGESTING" THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE PUT GAS IN THEIR DIESEL ENGINES. MY HUSBAND HAS HAD A JETTA DIESEL WAGON FOR 12 YEARS AND HAS OVER 200, 000 MILES ON IT, SO WE ARE WELL VERSED IN THE USE OF DIESEL. WE HAVE NEVER PUT GASOLINE IN OUR DIESEL CARS!!! WE ARE INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY VW IS HANDLING THIS ISSUE. TO SUGGEST THAT HUNDREDS OF LOYAL, DEVOTED DIESEL FANS THAT HAVE PURCHASED THEIR CARS ARE AT FAULT IS AN ENORMOUS MISTAKE, AS IS SUGGESTING THAT CONSUMERS ARE NOT BUYING "QUALITY DIESEL." TAKE THAT UP WITH THE REFINERIES AND GAS STATIONS, VOLKSWAGEN, NOT YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10534650

I WAS ON AN APPROXIMATELY 6 HOUR ROAD TRIP. APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN FLASHING. VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", SLOWING TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, AND COME TO A STOP AT THE OFF RAMP STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS LEFT MY WIFE AND I STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP STATED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP "EXPLODED", SENDING METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY "CONTAMINATED FUEL". A SMALL AMOUNT OF ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN TDI ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10508307

DRIVING AT 45 MPH CITY HIGHWAY SPEED, IN TRAFFIC, & STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, ACCELERATED, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER & WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET, TURNED OFF ENGINE & LOOKED UP THE WARNING LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. "ENGINE PRE-HEAT" WARNING, SOLID, NOT FLASHING. RESTARTED CAR, LIGHT WAS OUT, RESUMED NORMAL TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY, BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. BOTH SOLID. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS TOLD TO BRING IN THE CAR. DURING TRIP TO DEALER GLOW PLUG LIGHT RESUMED FLASHING & CAR LOST POWER ON HILLS. TECH REMOVED FUEL FILTER, FOUND METAL FILINGS, SAID HPFP HAD FAILED & FILLED FUEL SYSTEM WITH METAL PARTICLES. REPAIRS ESTIMATED @ >$7,000. DEALER ORIGINALLY SAID REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN 2 DAYS LATER SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NO POSSIBILITY OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION. PURCHASED CAR EXPRESSLY TO FUEL IT WITH 100% VEGETABLE OIL BASED BIODIESEL. DEALER KNEW INTENT & SOLD THE CAR FOR THIS EXPRESS PURPOSE. STILL WORKING WITH DEALER & VW TO RESOLVE WARRANTY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496077

AFTER LESS THAN 3 MINUTES OF OPERATION, THE VEHICLE CAN STALL UNDER A SPECIFIC SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THE INCIDENCES (13 AND COUNTING IN 2 MONTHS) ALWAYS OCCUR WHEN IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR AT ~30-35 MPG. THE DRIVER IS SLOWING DOWN (AS TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT) AND THEN ACCELERATES (LIGHT CHANGES TO GREEN). ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION BEGINS THE ENGINE STALLS AND MUST BE RESTARTED. THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OUT DURING ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10471607

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED AND SAID THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10470499

WHEN FUELING WITH DIESEL, SOME DIESEL PUMP HANDLES DON'T FIT INTO FILL NOZZLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL VEHICLE. FUEL WILL SPILLED OVER ONTO PERSON FILLING, GROUND AND VEHICLE. YOU ARE UNABLE TO SAFELY FILL VEHICLE WITHOUT SPILLING FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10460602

WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD. CHECK ENGINE AND GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WAS JUST ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. CAR WOULD TURN OVER, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND METAL SHARDS WERE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM (INCLUDING FUEL TANK) AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I CAN PROVIDE LIST OF PARTS, IF NEEDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10455353

2012 VW JETTA TDI SPORTWAGON 10408 MILES. FLASHING GLOW PLUG LIGHT, AND CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE. DAY AFTER REPAIR BOTH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. DEALER THEN REPLACED THE HPFPUMP PER VW TECH RECOMMENDATIONS. FUEL (DIESEL) WAS CHECKED ON BOTH REPAIRS AND NOT FOUND TO BE FAULTY. A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, THOUGH SUPPOSEDLY "FIXED". MY CONCERNS ARE FOR ADDITIONAL FAILURE, POTENTIALLY LEAVING US STRANDED OR ON A FREEWAY GOING 40MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10455243

FIRST COMPLIANT NUMBER-10442730 I AM REPORTING YET ANOTHER OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER FIXED A CHECK VALVE BECAUSE THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE WAS TOO LOW. APPROX. 1600 MILES AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE CAR STARTED TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING SHUTTERING AND STALLING. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS THE FUEL THAT WE ARE USING IN MY CAR. THEY TOOK A FUEL SAMPLE AND ALSO DROVE THE CAR 300 MILES AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANY LONGER FOR FEAR OF BEING IN A WRECK. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON MY 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. VW DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES I AM PAYING FOR MY CAR TO SIT IN THE SHOP! I WANT MY MONEY BACK. I WILL NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THERE FUEL SAMPLE TEST FOR THREE WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10452728

48 HRS AFTER DRIVING OFF DEALER LOT, "DIESEL ' ODOR THRU FAN AND IDLE AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS, DEALER NOTIFIED TOLD IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER BROKE IN, CONTINUED W/O IMPROVEMENT, TOOK TO DEALER, STATED CHECKED EVERYTHING NO PROBLEM, BRING BACK MAY BE ANIMAL OR SOMETHING BLOCKING EXAHUST (WITHIN DAYS). RETURNED TOLD SEAL WAS BROKE JUST UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD, PICS SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN,, CALLED TO CHECK STATUS ONLY TO BE TOLD "TURBO CRACKED." 2 WEEKS LATER CAR PICKED UP, STATED ALL RECALLS PERFORMED PRIOR TO DRIVING OFF LOT NOV 26,2011, STILL HAVENT BEEN PROVIDED WITH DOCUMENTATION. CONCERNED FOR SAFETY, AS WELL AS NAUSEA ASSOCIATED WITH ODOR IN CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 10443831

UPON ENTERING AN ON-RAMP AND ALSO ACCELERATING AROUND A TURN, EXPERIENCED NO RESPONSE TO DEPRESSION OF GAS PEDAL. BASICALLY CAR HAD SERIOUS LAG BEFORE TAKING OFF. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF SOMEONE'S WAY. VERY UNPREDICTABLE IN OCCURRENCE AND DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A WRECK. ALSO EXPERIENCED "STUTTERING" AROUND 30 MPH AS IF VEHICLE DID NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR TO GET INTO. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND CREATES A PHYSICAL SHUTTER OF VEHICLE FELT BY DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10440575

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2012 JETTA TDI AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE ON THE HIGHWAY, LOSING NEARLY ALL POWER. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM HAD GONE AWAY. IT OCCURRED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. MY FUEL PUMP DID NOT FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY AS OTHERS HAVE, BUT IT STILL FAILED. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH COMMON RAIL VW DIESELS AND IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY PARTICULAR PUMP DID NOT FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY AND JUST SUPPLIED LOW FUEL PRESSURE AND THAT I'M STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND VW SHOULD DEFINITELY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10436842