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)

22 of 399 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Nov 5, 2025Electrical systemFire2 injuries

Auxiliary Heater, Part# 1KO 963 235 H, Melted at the grounding post, potentially damaging wiring harness. Fire started in driver side footwell on 11/5/2025. Included is a photo of where the fire originated from. Medium burning to hands, and smoke inhalation from my passenger.

NHTSA ODI 11697713

Mar 25, 2024AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the son was driving at 46-47 MPH and turning left when another vehicle driving at 65-70 MPH crashed into the entire driver's side of the vehicle causing the vehicle to spin approximately 3 - 4 times before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. No air bags had deployed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The driver had received injuries to their right leg, however, no medical attention was sought. The dealer had not been contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11579350

Jul 10, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly shut off and began to roll backward causing a second vehicle to crash into the rear passenger side door. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was driven away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that after the vehicle was serviced under a manufacturer's campaign the vehicle had randomly shut off on several occasions and after restarting the engine the vehicle would operate as normal. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failures but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 149,000.

NHTSA ODI 11531388

Mar 28, 2023AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she was involved in a multi-vehicle accident pileup after a utility truck that was two vehicles ahead of her suddenly braked. The air bags had failed to deploy. The contact's daughter did not require medical attention but had sustained a headache from the impact. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,640.

NHTSA ODI 11514254

Aug 23, 2021AirbagsCrash2 injuries

Air bags failed to deploy on my 2014 volkswagen jetta. I hit a Guardrail head on at 50-60 mph pushing it 8 feet back. I sustained a large laceration on my forehead eventually needing 6 staples and 6 stitches to close it up. My passenger got abbrastions to her head from hitting the window. Which is now cracked and broken throughout. The air bag light came on my dashboard but no air bags were ever deployed. Having just bought this vehicle 6 months ago from a dealership and them verifying that everything was in working order has me wondering what to do about this? $18,000 for a trip to the E.R that night. Needless to say I'm pretty disappointed and know that if the airbags would have properly went off it would have made things Alot easier!!

NHTSA ODI 11430240

Mar 16, 2020AirbagsCrash2 injuries

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY ESTIMATION IS THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME WAS GOING 40-45 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11318221

Apr 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemCrash1 injury

2014 JETTA HYBRID DOESN'T ACCELERATE PAST 25-30 MPH CAUSING A HIGH REV AND IN THIS CASE A JERK FOWARD IF THE TURBO WAS ACTIVATED CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A CHEVY TAHOE THE SUVS TOWING WRENCH TO CRUMPLE OUR HOOD AND MORE DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF OUR VEHICLE ON OTHER DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OUR VEHICLE WOULD PUT OFF THE STHE OVERWHELMING SMELL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ALMOST AS IF A SKUNK WAS UNDER OUR CAR

NHTSA ODI 11192915

Mar 3, 2019Seat beltsCrash

REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH ENOUGH SPEED TO TOTAL MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I HAD CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING THE IMPACT FOR OVER 4 HOURS (CONFUSION, FOGGINESS, SLOWED SPEECH, FATIGUE NOT NORMAL FOR THE EVENT)

NHTSA ODI 11183807

Jan 24, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, AND HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A BODY SHOP. VOLKSWAGEN OF MURRIETTA (LOCATED AT 41300 DATE ST, MURRIETA, CA 92562, (951) 249-7072) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11171904

Jan 17, 2018Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash1 injury

DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 100 DAYS AND STILL NOT FIXED. 2014 - 2 CLUTCHES AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION LATER. CAR WAS RETURNED, SAME DAY 5TH GEAR WENT OUT AGAIN ON INTERSTATE 95 ALMOST KILLED MY SON.

NHTSA ODI 11063211

Nov 19, 2017Crash

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN PARK, BUT ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I WAS IN PASSENGER SEAT AND REACHED OVER TO TURN CAR OFF WITH KEY. I TURNED KEY TO TURN CAR OFF AND CAR ROLLED FORWARD 50 FEET RUNNING INTO A ROCK ENCASED RAISED FLOWER BED SUSTAINING $5000 WORTH OF DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11047322

Aug 7, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

WHEN MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE VW EMBLEM ON THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED OPEN TO THE LEFT AND THE AIRBAG PUSHED IT INTO MY LEFT ARM WHICH CAUSED A BURN AND MY ARM TO BLEED. I KNOW HAVE A GOOD SCAR ON MY LEFT ARM. IF THAT EMBLEM WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN THERE OR WOULD HAVE MAYBE OPENED DOWNWARDS I WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY WITH A SMALL AIRBAG BURN TO THE RIGHT HAND ONLY.

NHTSA ODI 11013432

Jun 10, 2017AirbagsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT-END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL WAS NOT RECALLED AND MAYBE SHOULD BE??? VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS SMASHED IN. NO AIRBAGS ACTIVATED - NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGERS SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 10994266

Jun 9, 2017AirbagsCrash2 injuries

MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MY CAR WAS MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT MY VEHICLE AT A FAST SPEED

NHTSA ODI 10994074

Mar 29, 2017Electrical systemBrakesEngineCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FLASHED. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE INJURIES TO THE OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FLASHING INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTING AND INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE. AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10969314

Jul 18, 2016Electrical systemSeatsFuel systemCrash1 injury

CAR CONTINUES TO LEAK, TIRE SENSOR ALWAYS ON DOESN'T GO AWAY, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF LEASE TERMS, ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED IS CONSISTENT, WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON STREET OR ON A HIGHWAY. FURTHER, THE SAME OCCURS WITH ANY TURN.

NHTSA ODI 10885533

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

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

Apr 14, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PICKUP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE NOSE AND LIP THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED IN AN AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,798.

NHTSA ODI 10705556

Jan 15, 2015Seats1 injury

HEATED SEATS BURNED THE BACK AND LEGS OF DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672612

Dec 21, 2014BrakesCrash

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BRAKES SEEM INCREASINGLY INEFFECTIVE. I WAS IN A FENDER BENDER DUE TO WEAK BRAKING IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION GOING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH AT A SEEMINGLY REASONABLE DISTANCE. THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO SKID MARKS OR TIRE SQUEALS. IT SEEMED THAT THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE LESS EFFECTIVE THE BRAKES WERE AND I BELIEVE THAT BRAKE PEDAL ACTUALLY HIT THE FLOOR. I HAVE NOTICED THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY BEFORE WHEN BRAKING HEAVY. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS ROCK HARD FOR A LITTLE WHILE AFTER STARTING UP. DOES NOT FEEL SAFE! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667507

Sep 8, 2014SteeringAirbagsBody & structureCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE CARFAX STATES THAT THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AM ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERE FRONT DAMAGE REPORTED. MULTIPLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE SUB RAIL FRAME HAS BEEN WELDED TOGETHER BY SOMEONE THAT DID NOT APPEAR TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND NOW THE ENTIRE FRAME IS CRACKED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631505

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 →