What 399 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

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

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

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