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 6 of 16

Mar 1, 2020

OUR PURCHASED SINCE NEW AND DEALER MAINTAINED 2014 JETTA ONE MONTH AFTER HAVING THE MICRO SWITCH RECALL PERFORMED (DEC 2019) , HAD A MAJOR SAFETY FAILURE-THE WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE, AND IGNITION KEY WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY STUCK. THIS PRESENTATION WAS UNIQUE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED OUR VW DEALER IN WATERTOWN, VALENTI MOTORS WHO HAS SERVICED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND ARRANGED FOR THEM TO REPAIR THIS. THEY FOUND CODES SUGGESTING A MICRO SWITCH FAILURE BUT CLAIMED THE IGNITION ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING WHICH WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY GOOD ONLY UNTIL 100K OR 10 YEARS. OUR VW HAS 110K MILES ON IT. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY MENTIONED THAT IF THE RECALL ITEM-MICRO SWITCH WAS BEING REPAIRED OR REPLACED AGAIN, THEY WOULD COVER THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING. ONCE THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MICRO SWITCH, VW CUSTOMER CARE UPON A SECOND CALL, RENEGED CLAIMING A WARRANTY IS CUT AND DRY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE ISSUES WHEN OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME ARE INTERRELATED NOT TO MENTION A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND THOSE DRIVING AROUND THIS VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS HIGHLY UNETHICAL AT A MINIMUM FOR A MANUFACTURER TO HIDE BEHIND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM WHEN THE SAFETY OF THOSE ARE INVOLVED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTIONING ITEM. OBVIOUSLY I PAID THE $500 FOR THE UNCOVERED ISSUE AS I PLAN TO HAVE MY 16 YEAR OLD DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD ALLOW THIS TO GO UNFIXED. I CANNOT BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY VW OWNER WITH THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE CT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE BBB AND AM NOW LETTING YOU FOLKS NOW OF THIS SITUATION AS I BELIEVE IT TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI 11315428

Feb 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR HAD TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS SOON AFTER I PURCHASED IT. VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT REPAIRED IT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. NOW A MORE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. AT FIRST IT SORT OF FELT LIKE THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING, THEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. TO TRY TO MOVE AGAIN, I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, LIKE 30SEC OR MORE, AND THE REVS WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO 10 BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THEN IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER, AND NOW IT WON'T EVEN TURN ON. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT EITHER THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY OR IT HAS A DANGEROUSLY FAULTY DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI 11309549

Feb 15, 2020SteeringEngineFuel system

UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION, THIS HAS HAPPEN ON 12 OCCASIONS. TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AROUND OIL RING WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO FLOW IN COOLANT. DEALERSHIP STATED RECALLS ARE OUT JUST NOT MY VIN NUMBER. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS VIN TO BE INCLUDED, ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11309326

Feb 8, 2020EngineFuel system

CAR ENGINE JUST DIED WHILE IN DRIVE, USUALLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND COMING TO A STOP. WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR, A FUEL ENGINE WAS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. ANOTHER PART WAS REPLACED. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE WILL IN IDLE WITH FOOT ON BREAK. AND THEN SHUTS OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11307897

Jan 20, 2020Electrical system

CAR IGNITION STOPPED WORKING WELL AFTER SOME MONTHS OF PURCHASED. NOW, CAR IGNITION IS HARD AND TAKES SEVERAL TIMES FOR STARTING THE CAR. IT'S IS DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY OCCASION THAT I DON'T HAVE MY CAR READY.

NHTSA ODI 11300537

Jan 7, 2020

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11297819

Jan 3, 2020Fuel system

VEHICLE HAS ANOTHER FUEL RAIL ISSUE. THIS WAS PART OF A COUPLE OF RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE WAS "REPAIRED" IN THE PAST BY VW. HOWEVER, THE FUEL RAIL HAS FAILED AGAIN AND VW WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALLS OR PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS KNOWN DEFECT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. SEE RECALLS #24BI WHICH WAS REPLACED BY #24BL.

NHTSA ODI 11296849

Dec 30, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsFuel system

WHILE DRIVING ON THE OVERPASS THE CAR CUTOFF ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BY A DUMP TRUCK WOULD NOT CRANK BACK UP FOR 7 MINUTES. AIRBAG LIGHT ON SHOW MALFUNCTION OF AIRBAG

NHTSA ODI 11292087

Dec 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLE SKIPPED REGULARLY WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. AFTER A LONG TRIP REQUIRING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STOP AND GO DUE TO HOLIDAY TRAFFIC, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HYBRID MALFUNCTION SYSTEM ERROR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO BE CHECKED, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO COINCIDE WITH THE ERRORS THAT WERE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL FOR OTHER VW JETTA HYBRIDS MADE IN THE SAME YEAR AS MINE. HOWEVER MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE SAME RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND IT DOES APPEAR THAT OTHER 2014 JETTA HYBRIDS HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND ARE ALSO NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11291157

Dec 23, 2019Engine

THE VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR INTERCOOLER ICING AND VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY CAN REPLICATE IT. AFTER DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER AND STARTING THE CAR UP AGAIN THE INTERCOOLER HAS WATER BUILD UP FROM CONDENSATION THAT CAN POTENTIALLY HYDROLOCK OR DESTROY THE ENGINE BY PUMPING WATER THROUGH IT.

NHTSA ODI 11290859

Dec 7, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel system

MY VEHICLE; FOR MONTHS NOW, HAS EITHER NOT STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY OR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH CITY STREETS AND A MAJOR FREEWAY. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOSES POWER BUT THE BATTERY HAS POWER. POWER STEERING BECOMES LOST AND I HAVE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD OR FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS A ROUGH IDOL WHEN THIS OCCURS AND BECOMES UNSAFE TO HANDLE AND CAREFULLY REMOVE FROM A BUSY ROAD.I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO VW SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES AND THET CANNOT FIX IT. NO CODE COMES UP ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND NO CHECK ENGINE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS AS THOUGH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD IT TO ME, AND SELF DIAGNOSING IS OUT OF MY LEAGUE.

NHTSA ODI 11287700

Nov 29, 2019AirbagsBrakes

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NOT WORKING/OFF NOTICE ALONG WITH ABS OFF NOTICE AND UNDERINFLATION NOTICE ALL HAPPENED SIMULTANEOUSLY UPON STARTING CAR AND REMAINS ON. CAR ONLY HAS BEEN DRIVEN 18000 MILES SINCE NEW

NHTSA ODI 11282851

Nov 25, 2019Engine

CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. LOST ALL POWER. PULLED OVER, PLACED IN PARK, AND THEN THE CAR STARTED. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI 11282162

Nov 22, 2019Electrical systemLightsEngine

AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY AND GOT TO THE OVERPASS I HAD TO STOP, AFTER A ACCELERATED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER EXCEPT FOR THE RADIO, FORTUNATELY AFTER THE OVERPASS WAS A DOWNGRADE SO THE CAR WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SAFETY ON TO THE SHOULDER. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING IN CITY STREETS. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, SHE HAD COMPLAINED TO ME OF THE CAR NOT STARTING AFTER SHE GOTTEN OFF WORK, WE TRIED TO JUMP STARTED IT AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START, SO IT HAD TO WAIT TILL I GOT OFF FROM WORK. SOON AS I GOT TO THE VEHICLE AFTER MY SHIFT, I TRIED TO CRANK START IT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH OUT HESITATION. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY STREET, AFTER MAKING A STOP THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF, I WAS UNAWARE SINCE THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING, SO MY WIFE POINTED OUT THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING TO HER AS WELL, EVEN AFTER WE REPLACED THE BATTERY. SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE MENTIONED THAT THIS COULD BE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM, SO WE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AS WELL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHUT DOWN OR IT JUST WON'T START. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE WIRING TO THE BATTERY AND TO THE DISTRIBUTOR AND AFTER DOING THIS THE VEHICLE WILL START UP AGAIN. LAST EPISODE WAS ON 11/15/2019 AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. WHEN I GOT HOME I REMEMBERED THAT MY WIFE HAD HANDED ME A COUPLE OF LATTERS FROM THE VW DEALER WITCH WE HAD OMITTED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN A CAR LOT. THIS IS HOW I FOUND OUT THAT THESE LETTERS WHERE NOTICES OF THE RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I SHARED THIS WITH A FRIEND THAT CLAIMS HE ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A VW VEHICLE HE OWNED, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM IN HIS UNKNOWN VW MODEL, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS AT FAULT. I'M SCHEDULED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL FOR THE KEY COLUMN, WITCH IS NOT ASSOCIATED TO THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO VW REP.

NHTSA ODI 11281687

Nov 18, 2019

TRANSMISSION ISSUE DRIVING HOME ON BELTWAY (I95) TRAVELING @ 58 MPH, WHEN THE CAR JERKED 2 TIME THEN LOST ACCELERATION POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11280905

Nov 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR FAILED AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE IT IN 1ST GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER WHICH THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS DUE TO THE MECHTRONIC UNIT IN MY HYBRID TRANSMISSION FAULTING. I WAS ONE THE HOOK FOR ABOUT $940 A LABOR COSTS TO GET A NEW ONE REPLACED IN MY CAR SO IT CAN RUN. WHEN I SEARCHED ON GOOGLE, I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THE MECHTRONIC UNIT FAILURE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID AND IS DUE TO IT'S FAULTY DESIGN. THERE WAS A RECALL HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY PARTICULAR VIN. I AM HOPING THAT SOMEDAY THE RECALL IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VIN AS THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SEVERAL OTHER 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRIDS. VERY EXPENSIVE THING TO HAVE FAIL SO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11280201

Nov 11, 2019

SUNROOF SHATTERED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION WHILE DRIVING, SHORTLY AFTER, THE REAR WINDSHIELD ALSO SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER TIME WAS THE CAR HIT WITH ANYTHING OR ANYTHING OUT OF PLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11279400

Nov 3, 2019Engine

2014 JETTA WITH 90000 MILES STALLS ALL THE TIME IN COLD WEATHER. IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC OR STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS. I ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY A LARGE 18 WHEELER WHEN VEHICLE STALLED IN BALTIMORE TUNNEL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, PLEASE REPORT THIS ISSUE IF IT OCCURRING TO YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11277766

Nov 3, 2019Fuel system

AFTER FUELING CAR WILL NOT START. ALSO FUEL LINE APPEARS TO BE HANGING

NHTSA ODI 11277831

Oct 31, 2019Electrical systemEngine

DEALER ISSUED KEYS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF ENGINE IN STATIONARY/PARK POSITION. HAVE TO FLICK KEY FORWARD CAUSING A POWER SURGE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. PROCESS IS GETTING WORSE, NOW FUEL LIGHT IS ON STATING THAT MY FUEL SENSOR IS BROKEN. CAR HAS LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AS WELL. THIS IS ALL CONNECTED TO THE POWER SURGE NEEDED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. DEALERSHIP STATES, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, IT WILL COST ME UPWARDS TO $1000 TO FIX IGNITION CYLINDER. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IS KNOWN BY THE DEALERSHIPS. DEALERSHIP ONLY ADVISES TO PURCHASE NEW VEHICLE WITH "PUSH TO START." THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST AND LAST VW.

NHTSA ODI 11277334

Oct 26, 2019Electrical systemEngine

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11271254

Oct 22, 2019Fuel system

FUEL PUMP REPLACED. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. PROBLEMS STARTED AT 54,000 MILES. NO LETTER FOR A RECALL!

NHTSA ODI 11270230

Oct 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CATCH GEAR, SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. HAS TRANSMISSION LEAK & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON TO WARN.

NHTSA ODI 11269596

Oct 18, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AFTER IT WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN AUGUST OF 2019. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND MULTIPLE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BURKE VOLKSWAGEN (LOCATED AT 519 STONE HARBOR BLVD, CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ 08210, (609) 465-6000) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11269467

Oct 14, 2019Fuel system

FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11268384

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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 →