Home · 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Hev · Complaints

What 399 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 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 (399)Crash / fire / injury (22)Engine (111)Electrical system (95)Transmission & drivetrain (87)Fuel system (41)Airbags (36)Lights (24)Brakes (20)Steering (17)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (10)Speed control (10)

Newest first · 399 complaints · page 14 of 16

Jun 22, 2016Seat belts

WEEK OF APRIL 3RD 2016 (APPROX THU APR 7TH) MY 17 YEAR OLD SON EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE, REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NO LONGER SLIDE DOWN THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING CAUGHT AT A TORN SPOT ON THE SEAT BELT THAT WAS NOW BEGINNING TO FRAY. WE COULD NOT USE THE SEAT BELT THE WAY THAT IT WAS SO HE SAT ON THE OTHER SIDE TO GET HOME. ...UPDATED 08/31/16 *BF WE OBSERVED THE SEAT BELT AND NOTED THAT IT WAS SEVERELY FRAYED APPROX OF AN INCH INTO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT BELT. THE NYLON WEBBING WAS BUNCHING UP AND NOT ALLOWING THE BUCKLE TO SLIDE DOWN THE SEAT BELT. MY FIRST ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THE SEAT BELT GOT SLAMMED IN THE DOOR AND MAY HAVE CUT IT ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT TO START TO FRAY. THINKING THIS WAS THE CASE WE DECIDED TO TRIM THE FRAYED FIBERS FROM THE BELT AND USE AN IRON TO SEAL THE AREA BY HEATING IT. THIS WORKED WELL AND ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE TO USE THE SEAT BELT BUT UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION WE NOTICED THAT THE FRAYED AREA WAS EXACTLY WHERE THE BELT STOPS IN THE OPENING IN THE REAR DASH, EXACTLY!. WE LOOKED AT THE OTHER TWO BELTS, REAR CENTER, AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND NOTICED THE SAME FRAYING OCCURRING IN VARYING DEGREES OF DAMAGE, IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATIONS, RIGHT WHERE THE SEAT BELT STOPS IN THE OPENING IN THE REAR DASH, THE EXACT SAME SPOT!..I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THELEN IN BAYCITY, MI TO ASK THEM TO LOOK AT THE SEAT BELTS WHILE THE CAR WAS IN FOR ITS 30,000 MILE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON APRIL 29TH 2016.THE DEALERSHIP FOUND ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ELEVATE THE SEAT BELT ISSUE TO THE REGIONAL VOLKSWAGEN REP. I AGREED TO LEAVE THE CAR. I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELT DEFECT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY VW. I APPEALED TO VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BBB AUOTLINE BUT HAVE BEEN DECLINED EACH TIME. ...UPDATED 08/30/16 *BF VIN NUMBER IS INVALID UPDATED 6/20/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 10875928

Mar 29, 2016Lights

BOUGHT USED CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2015 HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LOW BEAMS MULTIPLE TIME. DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM REPLACED ONCE. PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES. I HAVE SEEN OTHER JETTA'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 10852142

Feb 8, 2016Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE, THE FRAME DETACHED FROM THE JACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PLACED THE JACK IN THE PROPER POSITION ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DESIGNED PLACE TO PLACE THE JACK WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO JACK THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 10824788

Feb 1, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

FORCED OFF ROAD BY ANOTHER DRIVER, HIT POLE AND MY FACE HIT STEERING WHEEL AND HEAD SHATTERED WINDSHIELD CAUSING SEVERE CONCUSSION, CUTS/BRUISES AND NECK ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 10823364

Jan 27, 2016Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PARKED, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE AIR FLAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING IN COLD INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN SENSOR WAS FROZEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,758.

NHTSA ODI 10822655

Jan 25, 2016Engine

AT 60MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY AND ULTIMATELY STALLED OUT. IT RESTARTED 6 TIMES BUT NOT ENOUGH POWER TO MOVE AND STALLED IN APPROX 20 SECONDS. IT ACTED LIKE A FLOOD OUT SITUATION. NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. IT JUST CHUGGED AND DIED. JAN 24, 2016 33 DEGREES. 37,000 MILES. AFTER A NUMBER OF TRIES AND STALLS FINALLY STARTED UP AFTER 45 MINUTES....SO FAR HAS CONTINUED TO RUN FINE. 2/3 FULL TANK OF DIESEL.

NHTSA ODI 10822078

Jan 19, 2016Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,999.

NHTSA ODI 10820942

Jan 12, 2016

MOON ROOF FRONT PANEL IS SHATTERED IT WAS IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND I LOOKED UP WHEN PULLING OUT AND THOUGHT OH THERE IS FRONT ON IT SO I TOUCHED IT . IT FELT LIKE PAPER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IT'S ALL CRUSHED.

NHTSA ODI 10819590

Jan 12, 2016Visibility & wipers

WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR IN COLD, SNOWY WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WILL NOT WORK AND THE WIPER BLADES WILL FREEZE TO THE WINDSHIELD (WHILE MOVING) WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS ON HIGH HEAT. THE WIPER FLUID I USE IS DESIGNED NOT TO FREEZE. THIS RESULTED ON NO VISIBILITY DUE TO THE DEICING AGENT THAT WAS USED ON THE ROADS STICKING TO MY WINDOW. I HAD TO EXIT AND DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY WITH MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW AND MY VISIBILITY WAS SEVERELY LIMITED. I ALMOST HIT THE RAIL AND THE WALLS INSIDE A TUNNEL UNTIL I COULD EXIT BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE.

NHTSA ODI 10819766

Dec 6, 2015Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 JETTA SE (14 MONTHS AGO 13658 MILES ON THE CAR) ON NOVEMBER 25, 2015, WHEN IT COMPLETELY STOPPED ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 4 PM ON THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING BADLY (FROM SIDE TO SIDE) AND THE MORE I DROVE THE CAR THE MORE LIGHTS STARTED TURNING ON. I WAS STUCK IN MAJOR HOLIDAY TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT HIT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND GOT HONKED AT MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP UP IN TRAFFIC DUE TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE. GOING ABOVE 25 MILES AN HOUR CAUSED THE CAR TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND SHAKE EVEN MORE VIGOROUSLY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE FIRST LIGHTS TO TURN ON INCLUDED THE EPC, OIL LIGHT (ENGINE LOW OIL) AND ENGINE (EMISSION CONTROL LIGHT). HOWEVER, AS I DROVE THE CAR MORE, TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER AT THE CURRENT PLACE I BROKE DOWN, THE MORE LIGHTS STARTED TO TURN ON SUCH AS THE TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHO SAID 3 OF MY 4 IGNITION COILS WERE MISFIRING. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON DECEMBER 1, 2015 AND MY CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN ON DECEMBER 4, 2015, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO A DIFFERENT DEALER DUE TO BREAKING DOWN IN A DIFFERENT AREA. THE IGNITION COILS HAVE FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN AND PUTTING ME IN A VULNERABLE PLACE. I AM LUCKY THAT MY ENGINE FAILED ON A CITY STREET THE SECOND TIME COMPARED TO A BUSY HIGHWAY BUT THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, BECAUSE THE FIRST BREAK DOWN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WAS NOT ONLY SCARY BUT A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 10808644

Dec 4, 2015Engine

I PURCHASED A 2014 VW JETTA, BRAND NEW FROM VW BOISE IN IDAHO. ON 3 OCCASIONS, I REPORTED AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR SHAKING/LOSING ACCELERATION POWER WHILE DRIVING (A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE). IN OCTOBER 2015, I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AGAIN, THEY ASSURED ME THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WOULD FIX IT. ON 12/02/2015, I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AFTER WORK AND A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS TURNING. I BRAKED AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND STUTTER. I LET OFF OF THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND MY CAR BLEW A CLOUD OF EXHAUST AND DIED. I HAD TO WAIT OVER 25 MINUTES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REP FROM VW ROADSIDE AND THEN I HAD TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL HOUR BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK WOULD BE ABLE TO TOW MY CAR. I ALSO WAS NOT GIVEN A LOANER BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NONE AVAILABLE. I HAD TO CALL VW FOR AN UPDATE AS THEY HAD NOT CALLED ME AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF BAD GAS (WHICH I KNOW IS NOT THE ISSUE AS IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR). THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME BEFORE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON 12/03 WITH ANOTHER UPDATE. I DID NOT GET A CALL BACK AND I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE VW CONSUMER'S DEPARTMENT BUT THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AND SAID THEY'LL HAVE TO REFER IT TO A REGIONAL MANAGER. I AM STILL STUCK WITHOUT MY CAR, WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION, AND WITHOUT A LOANER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10808452

Oct 8, 2015Engine

THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER. THE ACCELERATION SLOWED TO A HALT AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10780940

Oct 6, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ODI 10780039

Oct 5, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED SERVICE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, BUT IT CONTINUED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 10779637

Sep 25, 2015Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsFuel system

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION OF BUYING A GOOD CAR, WHEN I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON MARCH 6 2015 I WAS NEVER INFORM ABOUT THE CURRENT RECALL #14V1820000, I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, EVEN SO IS A 2014 MODEL, ALSO I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE (JUNE) I THINK AND ALSO I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A NEW RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED ON JAN 23 2015 RECALL #15V028000, AND THEN I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL ISSUED ON AUG 04 2015, RECALL #15V483000, I WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED AND HELD VW CO RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WRONG DOING SINCE THE VEHICLE CAN COST FIRE AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I'M A SR RETIRED AND WOULD LIKE HELD VW RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCT AND BECAUSE THEY SOLD ME A CAR WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 6 2015 BRAND NEW EVEN SO IS A 2014 MODEL. AGAIN I SHOULD BE GIVEN TRHU INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR STATUS.

NHTSA ODI 10777715

Sep 19, 2015

THIS VEHICLE HAS CHROME TRIM ON DASHBOARD AIR CONDITIONING VENTS NEXT TO DRIVER'S AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S DOORS, AND THAT CHROME TRIM PUTS CIRCULAR REFLECTIONS (OVALS OR RING IMAGES) IN THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS, BOTH SIDES. WHEN DRIVER GLANCES AT THESE REAR VIEW MIRRORS THERE ARE DISTRACTING IMAGES THAT INITIALLY MUST BE CONSCIOUSLY CONSIDERED TO IGNORE AS "FALSE" THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR SOMETHING, IS BEHIND THE CAR. OVER TIME THIS "PROGRAMS" THE DRIVER'S BRAIN TO DISREGARD IMAGES IN THE MIRRORS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT LIKELY INCREASES CHANCE THAT DRIVER WILL IGNORE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TAILGATERS AND THE LIKE. THE FIX WOULD BE FOR VW TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THIS PLASTIC CHROME TRIM, USING SOMETHING LIKE WITH NON-GLARE BLACK PLASTIC.

NHTSA ODI 10765301

Sep 15, 2015Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,200.

NHTSA ODI 10763955

Sep 9, 2015Engine

BOUGHT THE CAR MAY 1ST 2014 13 MILES ON IT...ALL OF MAY SEEMED TO RUN OK...THEN FROM JUNE UNTIL NOW SEPT 2015 IT HAS A NON RESPONSIVE GAS PEDAL. SAME PROBLEM AS ENTRY IN MAY 2013. IT SCARES ME TO DEATH!!! CAN'T GET PAST 30 MPH TRYING TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY....CROSSING TRAFFIC FROM LIGHTS...TRYING TO CHANGE LANES....SCARES ME WHEN I SEE A BIG SEMI BARRELING DOWN ON ME AND I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY AND HE IS BLARING HIS HORN GIVING ME THE FINGER AND YELLING....THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO 2 DIFFERENT VW SHOPS...THEY CANT DUPLICATE IT SO THEREFORE THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG...NO CODES...ALSO HAZZARD LIGHT ON SEAT BELT LITE ON AND DINGING...TOOK 3 MO TO FIX THOSE....YET SEAT BELT STILL DOES......ONE DAY ITS OK NEXT NOT. WORST NOW IS IT IS TEARING MY 2011 FUSION APART AND THE PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING. VW WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK...BBB WAS INVOLVED UNTIL I CASTED THE FOOT FOR RELIEF....VW OFFERED ME ONE MO FREE PAYMENT...THAT I DIDN'T TAKE BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THEN JUNE JULY AUGUST THE GAS MILEAGE DROPS BY NEARLY 100 MILES AND THEY SAY IT IS BECAUSE I USED THE AIR CONDITION...HARDLY...AUG GOT ONLY 254 MPG....I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. I TRIED TO ENTER THIS LAST YEAR BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T TAKE IT.

NHTSA ODI 10762676

Aug 6, 2015Brakes

ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015, I WAS DRIVING MY LEASED 2014 JETTA WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD BABY, WHEN MY BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE TIME, WE HAPPENED TO BE AT A STOP SIGN ON A STEEP HILL ABOUT A HALF A BLOCK FROM OUR HOUSE. AS I BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF IN THAT MOMENT OF SHEER PANIC, I TRULY DID NOT THINK THE OUTCOME WAS GOING TO BE GOOD. THANKFULLY AFTER ABOUT FIFTEEN SECONDS OF NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER, THEY FINALLY POPPED BACK ON. I LEASE THIS JETTA, SO I HAD IT TOWED FOR FREE TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE I OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO GET ALL OF THE WORK DONE. THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY ONE YEAR OLD CAR HAD FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS AND IT WAS CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO GET CONFUSED AND THEREFORE MAKING MY BRAKES SEIZE UP. MY CAR IS 1 YEAR OLD AND HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO OTHER SYMPTOMS AND/OR NOISES THAT WOULD SIGNIFY BAD WHEEL BEARINGS. WHICH MADE IT EVEN WEIRDER IS I CALLED MY OLD VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP (I JUST MOVED A MONTH AGO) AND I ASKED HIM IF IT COULD INDEED BE MY WHEEL BEARINGS. HE SAID IT WAS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY AND THAT IF IT WERE, MY BRAKES PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE POPPED BACK ON. MAYBE I'M JUST BEING PARANOID, BUT THIS ALL IS SO FISHY TO ME. I FEEL LIKE THEY BE COVERING UP AND/OR MISDIAGNOSING THE CAR TO AVOID A POSSIBLE LAW SUIT BECAUSE MY BRAKES FAILED. I'M TERRIFIED TO GET BACK IN THE CAR EVEN AFTER THEY'VE "FIXED" IT.

NHTSA ODI 10746886

Jul 27, 2015SteeringSuspension

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT. STEERING IS OUT OF LINE EVEN WITH ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENTS. CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. DIFFICULT TO DRIVE STARIGHT WITHOUT SWERVING. DANGEROUS GOING AROUND CORNERS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES. NO WARRANTY REPAIRS WERE MADE DUE TO COSTS.

NHTSA ODI 10743960

Jul 15, 2015EngineFuel system

THIS IS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI (TURBO DIESEL) I COMMUTE FROM CHARLOTTE, NC TO DETROIT, MI APPROX ONCE EVERY 3 WEEKS. I TRAVELLED FROM A COLD (15F), WET CLIMATE, TO A WARMER CLIMATE (34F), AND PARKED MY VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER, AND ACTED LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I CHECKED THE BATTERY, AND IT WAS 13.9VDC. I CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE VEHICLE, EACH TIME THE STARTER MOTOR JUST MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND NOT TURNING OVER. I LEFT THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES, AND TRIED AGAIN, WHEN IT EVENTUALLY TURNED OVER, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, AND THE CAR IDLED VERY ROUGHLY AT APROX 400 RPM. I TRIED TO INCREASE THE RPM, AND EVENTUALLY (5 MINUTES OF GENTLY PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR) IT GOT UP TO 800-900 RPM. I TRIED TO DRIVE, AND THE CAR STUMBLED AND SPUTTERED FOR A WHILE BEFORE GETTING UP TO NORMAL SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES TOTAL SO FAR. 3 TIMES DEAD BATTERY / HYDRO LOCK SITUATION OCCURRED 1 TIME THE CAR RAN ROUGHLY, AND THEN WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD THE CAR STUMBLED, DIED, AND WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE. I QUICKLY PUT THE HAZARD FLASHER LIGHT ON, AND SOMEHOW AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH THE CARS AROUND ME. 1 TIME THE CAR RAN ROUGHLY FOR APPROX 5 MINUTES, THEN RAN SMOOTHLY THE REST OF THE TRIP. I'M WORRIED THAT I'VE DAMAGED THE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI 10734371

Jul 7, 2015

*WHITE POWDER/MOLD ON THE WINDOW TRIMS. ALL FOUR WINDOWS. ALL OVER THE SEAT AND VEHICLE WHEN A/C WAS ON. I WAS EXPOSED TO THIS UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE FOR NEARLY 3 MONTHS. I ASKED VW TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THAT CHEMICAL OR SUBSTANCE, SADLY THEY NEGLECT MY REQUEST. FROM WHAT I FOUND OUT, SOME VW VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM, YET NONE HAS TAKEN A SINGLE STEP TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF IMPACT HIS COULD HAVE ON ME AND THE PEOPLE (KIDS WHO WERE RIDING WITH ME) CAR. UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10732350

Jul 6, 2015Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

ON JULY 5, 2015, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR AS WE WERE APPROACHING A TURNPIKE OFF RAMP. THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS MOVED OUT OF TOP GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL; THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT RETURN, AND THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF NEUTRAL. THE CAR HAD TO BE MANEUVERED THROUGH TRAFFIC FROM THE FAR LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHTS-SIDE SHOULDER, IN NEUTRAL. THIS PUT MY FAMILY AND EVERYONE AROUND US AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. THERE WAS NO DEGRADATION OF CLUTCH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. THIS CLUTCH FAILURE CAME SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE READ COMMENTS FROM OTHERS ONLINE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT THE CLUTCH ISSUE COULD BE RELATED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER ISSUE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST CLUTCH-RELATED PROBLEM WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 11/7/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10732134

May 5, 2015Speed controlBrakesCrash

PARKING THE CAR IN PARKING SPACE. CAR MADE EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE (LIKE A BACKFIRE) AND THEN AUTO ACCELERATED. TRIED HITTING THE BRAKE BUT BRAKE DID NOT DECOMPRESS. HIT A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714571

May 3, 2015Tires

2014 VW JETTA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH LOW TIRES AND HANDLING ISSUES WHILE DRIVING ON DRY, WET OR EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER SINCE ITS PURCHASE 13-NOV-2013 AND WASN'T UNTIL 1-MAY-2015 THAT WE NOTICED 3 OF THE 4 TIRES HAVE SIDEWALLS WHICH HAVE SEPARATED AND COME APART ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE AS WELL AS IN MULTIPLE PLACES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES HAVE 20,000 MILES ARE IN GREAT CONDITION AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SIDEWALLS ONLY. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE I HAVE NOTICED WITH THESE TIRES AND I AM HAVING THEM ALL REPLACED! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714219

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Working with the data? Download all 399 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 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Hev verdict →