What 586 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

TIMMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND TENSIONER FAILED AT 71K MILES, ALTHOUGH MAINTENANCE IS SET AS LIFETIME OR 120K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11043245

I PURCHASED MY 2013 JETTA ON END JUNE 2017 FOR 47 K MILES FROM HAYWARD CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA. COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE, MY CAR START TO SHOW PROBLEMS WITH CAR STALLING. IT HAS BEEN FOUR TIME IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH TIME WHERE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. . THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE FRONTAGE OF I-35 SOUTH, ON 50 MPH, IT SHUT DOWN OUT OF BLUE, I WAS LUCKILY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PARK ON THE GRASS, I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RETRY THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WORKED FINE. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE WEST WILLIAM CANNON DR ON WAY TO HOME, IT SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON AGAIN ON 45 MPH, AGAIN I WAS CAPABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT DOWN AND RESTART AGAIN, DID NOT WORK FOR 10 MINUTES THEN I TRIED AGAIN THEN IT WORKED. THIRD TIME I WAS ON WAY TO MY FRIEND HOME, AT THE STOPLIGHT I WAS PLANNING ON TAKE A LEFT TURN ON MY WAY TO LITTLE TEXAS LANE, AND IT SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON, I HAD TO REACT FAST AND HOPING THAT IT WOULD START AGAIN IN ORDER TO NOT CAUSE TRAFFIC, IT WORKED FINE AGAIN. THE FOURTH TIME I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY OF I35 SOUTH, IT SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND I HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO SLOWLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER IN THE ENGINE AND LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF CARS AT THAT TIME. I WAS VERY LUCKY, BECAUSE I COULD EASILY BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN WHERE I WAS LOCATED AT THAT TIME, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. IT IS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND I NEED TO RETURN TO CALIFORNIA AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THIS CAR AT ALL BECAUSE OF MY SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI 11040086

WE PURCHASED OUR 2013 JETTA IN NOVEMBER 2016 FROM CASEY CHEVROLET, A "CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE" DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA. A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE, WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR STALLING AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION TROUBLES. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON MY PREGNANT WIFE AND 2 YEAR OLD AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. ONCE SHE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, THE NEXT SHE WAS IN A FAST FOOD DRIVE-THROUGH LINE, THE THIRD TIME SHE WAS TRYING TO MANEUVER A TURN, AND THE FINAL TIME SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE BABYSITTERS DRIVE WAY. WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSMISSION, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE EITHER SHE OR I WOULD BE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE OR JUST NEED TO PICK UP SPEED AND IN BETWEEN SHIFTS THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND THEN SHIFT VERY AGGRESSIVELY. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND EACH TIME WE TAKE IT IN THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM SO THEY GIVE US THE CAR BACK. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY HAVE "SOLVED" THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM TWICE ONLY FOR IT TO REAPPEAR AT A LATER TIME. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE OR REFUND US THE PURCHASE PRICE. WE HAVE ALSO CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN WHO LIKEWISE REFUSES TO REFUND OR REPLACE THEIR PRODUCT. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY BECAUSE WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. MY WIFE IS NOW DRIVING MY TRUCK AND I AM IN MY OLDER CAR FROM COLLEGE. ALL THE WHILE, PAYMENTS STILL HAVE TO BE MADE WHICH IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I FEEL THAT TWO COMPANIES I THOUGHT WERE TRUSTWORTHY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MY FAMILY AND I.

NHTSA ODI 11022978

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11013120

WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 94 THE EPC AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TURNED ON. AT MY 55MPH, MY SPEED DECREASED IMMEDIATELY AT 20 MPH. MY SON AND I FELT UNSAFE, AS THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME DRIVING AT THEIR PROPER SPEED LIMIT. IT WAS SCARY AS THESE CARS COULD OF CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE AS MY GAS PEDAL LOST IMMEDIATE SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11001195

REPLACED VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID. FELLS LIKE ENGINE WANTS TO SHUT OFF IDLES RUFF. AFTER REPLACEMENT HAVING SAME ISSUE WITH CAR. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI 10979304

CAR SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS GOES INTO "LIMP MODE". WILL START BACK UP FINE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN.

NHTSA ODI 10978940

THE CAR IS A 2013 VW JETTA HYBRID WITH 64,189 MILES ON IT , BUT ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ITS OWN CHARGING SYSTEM WHILE STOPPED DURING DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD NOT IDLE PROPERLY. I TOOK IT IN TO TOMS RIVER VW AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHICH WOULD COST $ 9,000 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET ME "FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE" FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I WAS LEFT IN THE DARK FOR FOUR DAYS TILL I ECIEVED A PHONE CALL FROM ONE, ASHLEY, (NO LAST NAME GIVEN) AND SHE SAID VW WAS OFFERING 75% OF COST. I TOLD HER THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE. SHE KEPT REFUSING, THOUGH SHE DID SAY SHE WAS "SORRY THIS WAS HAPPENING". I WANT VW TO REPLACE THIS PART. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. THIS CAR WAS NEVER WORKED ON OR TAKEN ANYWHERE BUT TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. VW DOES ADMIT THAT THERE IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, IN THE HYBRIDS. MY DAUGHTER AND SON IN LAW WHO PURCHASED THE CAR AND MYSELF HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT THESE CARS WERE RECALLED. THE EXACT DATE, I FIRST NOTICED THIS I DO NOT REMEMBER, BECAUSE I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS JUST BAD FUEL. I FILLED IT TWO TIMES WITH PREMIUM GASOLINE TO SEE IF THAT WAS IT. THEN I CALLED MY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. ONE TIME IT ACYUALLY SHUT OFF ON ME AT A LIGHT , AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 10959505

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T TURN OFF CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10958605

I BOUGHT A NEW 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2.5L SE. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A THIRD VEHICLE FOR MY TWO TEENAGE CHILDREN TO USE. MY SON WAS HOME FROM COLLEGE AND USED IT TO COMMUTE TO A DAILY INTERNSHIP DURING THE SUMMER OF 2016 WHEN HE NOTICED THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS IT LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING 60 MILES PER HOUR. THAT FALL I TOOK MY DAUGHTER TO DO HER DRIVERS TEST IN THE JETTA. IT LOST POWER TWICE EN-ROUTE TO THE FACILITY AND LOST POWER AN ADDITIONAL THREE TIMES WHILE I DROVE IT HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER AND IT LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY. I COMPLAINED TO DICK DEAN (THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM) AND TO VOLKSWAGEN ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS SITUATION THREATENED THE SAFETY OF MY TWO CHILDREN. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO MIMIC THE COMPLAINT. DICK DEAN AND VOLKSWAGEN OFFERED ME A FEW THOUSANDS DOLLARS OFF ON A NEW JETTA. I TOOK THE OFFER BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTOR OF MY CHILDREN. I THINK IT IS THE HEIGHT OF IRRESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT GIVEN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE I FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 3013 JETTA. I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR, FORCING A CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR A NEW CAR WHEN THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. THIS CAR HAD AROUND 20,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WAS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY!

NHTSA ODI 10945379

MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND BENT 14 VALVES. ALL 4 CYLINDERS HAD ZERO COMPRESSION. VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTS IN THE WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES THAT THE TENSIONING SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR ABOUT 120,000 MILES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR REPAIRS. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE PLAINTIFF, OWNERS ARE PROVIDED MANUALS THAT DO NOT SHOW ANY TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM INSPECTION OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 10929005

A FAILED TENSIONER CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO SNAP AND BEND THE VALVES.

NHTSA ODI 10927046

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WIND, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR PLASTIC PROTECTOR FELL OFF. THE AC UNIT NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT COSTING 1600 AND NOW THE IDEAL WHILE TURNING ON CAR IS VERY HIGH. SOUND ALMOST LIKE IT DID WHEN I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE ELECTRICAL RECALL IN THE LAST YEARS. DOORS ARE SQUEAK WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. AND WHILE DRIVING A NOISE THAT SOUND LIKE CHAINS RATTLES THROUGH OUT THE CAR WHICH IS A VERY IRRITATING SOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10920084

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. LOST POWER. WENT FROM 70 TO 25 MPH ALMOST INSTANTLY. LIMPED ALONG BERM TO EXIT 2.5 MILES. SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED ENGINE. LOUD CLATTERING SOUND. SHUT OFF ENGINE AS SMOKE ROLLED FROM UNDER HOOD. TURBO FAILURE. NO WARNING LIGHTS LEADING UP TO EVENT. DEALER HAS PHOTOS.

NHTSA ODI 10908175

MY CAR DISPLAYS NO PROBLEMS ON THE DASH, THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON BUT WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR STALLS AND SOMETIMES JUST SHUTS OFF LOCKING MY BRAKES AND STEERING. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS GOING UNDER 20MPH. AFTER IT SHUTS OF I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK TO RESTART AND IT RESTARTS WITHOUT A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10893236

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,600.

NHTSA ODI 10892056

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WIND, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR PLASTIC PROTECTOR FELL OFF. THE AC UNIT NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT COSTING 1600 AND NOW THE IDEAL WHILE TURNING ON CAR IS VERY HIGH. SOUND ALMOST LIKE IT DID WHEN I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE ELECTRICAL RECALL IN THE LAST YEARS. DOORS ARE SQUEAK WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. AND WHILE DRIVING A NOISE THAT SOUND LIKE CHAINS RATTLES THROUGH OUT THE CAR WHICH IS A VERY IRRITATING SOUND.

NHTSA ODI 10886167

FAULTY ENGINE COIL

NHTSA ODI 10876290

WE OWN A VW JETTA HYBRID HAVE APPROX. 70K MILES. VW HAS ADVISED WE NEED TO REPLACE A MECHATRON UNIT TO THE COST OF APPROX. $2000. HAVE BEEN READING THAT THERE ARE MASSIVE ISSUES WITH THIS PART AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI 10853456

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ,AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE INTERCOOLER AND THE CHARGE AIR PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT HAD SNOW AND ICE ON IT, AND SHORTED OUT THE SENSOR WHICH IN TURN FRIED ALL THE WIRING. I NOTIFIED VW AS TO THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS SERVICE. IT COST $1342.00 FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10846082

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND BACK TO THE ON POSITION, THE ENGINE STARTED AND STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE INNER COOLING SYSTEM AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,796.

NHTSA ODI 10822630

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIP OR HESITATE ESPECIALLY IN LOW GEARS OR WHEN ACCELERATING. OUR 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT FROM OPERATIONAL TO THIS CONDITION. SHORTLY AFTER, THE EPC INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE CAR SLIPPING BECAME MORE OF A JOLT, CAR UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND IT FELT VERY MUCH LIKE IT WOULD STALL. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFETY GET IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE WHERE WE WERE PROVIDED WITH A 30,000 MILE CHECK UP (CAR HAS 24K MILES) AND WERE TOLD IT WAS JUST AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, NEEDED A RESET. ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, WITH THE SAME JOLTING AND HESITATION. UPON SECOND VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE IGNITION COIL, CAUSING MISFIRE OF THE SPARK PLUGS.

NHTSA ODI 10818715

1/7/2016.CLEAR MORNING, 25 DEGREES OUT, STARTED VEHICLE, WARMED UP FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE GETTING READY TO LEAVE. DROVE CAR TO END OF STREET WHEN CAR ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS OUT OF OIL AND IT STALLED. BROUGHT TO LOCAL VW DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT INTERCOOLER CRACKED FROM ICE BUILD UP AND THAT ONE GLOW PLUG WAS DAMAGED AS A CHUNK OF ICE ENTERED ONE ENGINE CYLINDER. WAS QUOTED $1200 DOLLAR REPAIR NOT COVERED BY VW EVEN THOUGH A TSB HAS BEEN IN EFFECT WITH AN IMPROVED INTERCOOLER REPLACMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH VW SINCE THEIR 2009 MODEL YEAR. MY FAMILY ALSO OWNS ANOTHER 2013 VW WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES AND IT HAS EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON VW FORUMS OF NOT STARTING OR STALLING WHEN PUT IN GEAR OR AT A STOP LIGHT, POSSIBLE INDICATIONS OF ICING IN THE INTERCOOLER SYSTEM. WAS TOLD FROM THE DEALER THE ONLY WAY THE INTERCOOLER GETS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IS AFTER IT FREEZES AND ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURS AND ONLY IF IT OCCURS BEFORE 36,000 MILES. I HAVE READ WHERE ENGINE DAMAGE FROM ICE BUILD UP IN THE TURBO INTERCOOLER SYSTEM HAS COST OWNERS OVER $6000 IN REPAIRS IF OCCURS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THAT MEANS VW OWNERS PAY ROUGHLY 25% OF THE MSRP OF THE VEHICLE IF THE INTERCOOLER ICES UP SIGNIFICANTLY, WHICH THE MANUFACTURER ADMITS COULD RESULT FROM NORMAL OPERATION. READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF ENGINES KNOWN TO HYDRO-LOCK AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEREBY DRIVER LOSE THE ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE IS A HAZARD THAT ENDANGERS ANYONE NEAR THIS VEHICLE WHEN AN ICE CHUNK STOPS THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY. SINCE THE MANUFACTURER HAS DEVELOPED A COLD WEATHER KIT FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL WITH SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR REPAIR IT SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL WHEN THERE IS NO WARNING IF AND WHEN THE CAR MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH DEPENDING ON WHEN THE INTERCOOLER ICING OCCURS AND THE CAR STOPS MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 10818797

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 10808475

THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T RUN CORRECTLY IT REFUSES TO MOVE WHILE IN DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 10789658