Home · 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hev · Complaints

What 194 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 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 (194)Crash / fire / injury (11)Electrical system (48)Engine (43)Transmission & drivetrain (24)Fuel system (20)Brakes (19)Airbags (17)Steering (15)Suspension (14)Seats (8)Wheels (8)

Newest first · 194 complaints · page 3 of 8

Sep 12, 2021Electrical system

Since purchasing my used used 2015 VWA Jetta in 2019 I have had several issues I think are electrical. (1)The phone charger outlet has blown a few times and required them to reset it, (2) there have been 4 occasions in the last 6 months where my car wouldn't start, but upon being checked out by a VW repair shop it was not determined what caused this, the lights started coming on, but it would not fully start. (3) More recently my horn has randomly stopped working, on three occasions when I went to use it, nothing happened and when I park or later in the day it resumes working.

NHTSA ODI 11432650

Sep 9, 2021Steering

Volkswagen Jetta 2015-- 45K--defective Power steering Pump---

NHTSA ODI 11432237

Sep 7, 2021Engine

Operating vehicle at highway speed engine stopped suddenly and vehicle lost all power. Engine timing belt failed at 103XXX miles. Vehicle was difficult to bring to stop and steer to side of road. Timing belt interval listed at 130k this is a TDI Dieselgate car. New regen cycle causes car to operate more cycles and at higher temperatures potentially causing premature timing belt failure.

NHTSA ODI 11431933

Jul 23, 2021Suspension

Rear suspension springs needed to be replaced. Both were snapped in two pieces, one happened to be broken but held together (stacked top to bottom) as two separate pieces. Nothing occurred to the car to cause this. Car has approximately 90,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11426227

Jun 19, 2021Brakes

Emergency/parking brake button broke and fell off, rendering the brake inoperative.

NHTSA ODI 11421503

Jun 19, 2021Suspension

I own a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta SE TSI And the rear coil spring on my drivers side snapped into 3 pieces. I was just on the highway and was coming through torrential downpour in the middle of Rhode Island. I was lucky enough to just have pulled in my drive way and put the car into park when a loud bang occured and my car dropped on the driver side a few inches. there were zero warning signs or indicator lights. The car just drooped. could have been a disaster had it happed in the downpour on my way home.

NHTSA ODI 11421504

Jun 14, 2021Engine

2015 VW Jetta, 1.8L turbo engine. While interstate driving, the engine abruptly failed, running very roughly, causing a severe loss of power. This was in the hills of Tennessee at 65mph, and the sudden loss of power made us a traffic hazard and put all our lives in severe danger, being forced to travel under 40mph to reach safety. There were no warning lights prior, and the car had just had an oil change and inspection. After the loss of power, we had warning lights all over the dashboard. The Traction Control, ECM, and a flashing Check Engine were the ones I can recall. After reaching a safe place with cell service, the car was towed to a VW dealership in the next major city. Technicians there diagnosed it with an exhaust valve failure, which in turn shattered the spark plug. This was verified by CNA National, an extended warranty company.

NHTSA ODI 11420859

Jun 14, 2021

Looking to see if my timing belt or serpentine belt needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11420900

Mar 24, 2021

SUNROOF EXPLODED FROM INSIDE OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY KNOWING THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT UNDER REVIEW. OTHER DRIVERS WERE EFFECTED DODGING CLASS PARTICLES ON HIGHWAY. INTERIOR OF CAR PLUS MYSELF WAS COVERED WITH GLASS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MILES UNTIL FINDING A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. SUPER LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK TOO. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND VOLKSWAGEN BRAND TO ANYONE NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11404703

Mar 19, 2021SteeringSuspensionWheels

BOTH MY FRONT TIRES UNRAVELED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN A MONTHS TIMEFRAME ON THE INSIDE WHEEL WELL. I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD SOME LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THE TIRE AND WHEN REMOVED THERE WAS METAL SHOWING ALL ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND ABOUT A FOOT OF UNRAVELED RUBBER WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED A COUPLE WEEKS LATER TO THE OTHER FRONT TIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11403809

Mar 19, 2021Electrical systemAirbagsSeats

THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT INDICATES THAT A PASSENGER IS NOT THERE WHEN THERE IS. IT WILL START BLINKING RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES REGISTERING THEM AND SOMETIMES NOT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11403808

Mar 16, 2021Fuel system

CAR IS RANDOMLY BUCKING AND OR HESITATING. MANY TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, AND KILLS THE ENGINE. I'M GOING TO GET KILLED IF THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. ITS BEEN DOING THIS FOR MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11403199

Feb 7, 2021Electrical systemEngine

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON 2015 JETTA 1.8 TURBO. ECU 1 STATES CODE P05A0 ACTIVE GRILLE AIR SHUTTER "A" STUCK ON. VOLKSWAGON WANTS TO CHARGE ME $900 TO CORRECT THIS SENSOR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS 32,000 MILES & WAS STATIONARY WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SENSOR SYSTEM. SHOULD VW HAVE TO PAY? WHY ARE CONSUMERS PAYING?

NHTSA ODI 11395041

Feb 3, 2021Body & structure

DRIVER FRONT DOOR RATTLE, WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. AND NOTHING IN DOOR POCKET

NHTSA ODI 11394580

Jan 20, 2021Fuel system

MY CAR HAS A KEYLESS PUSH START BUTTON AND NOW HAS A SLUGGISH START.

NHTSA ODI 11388991

Dec 11, 2020SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE HORN KEEP MALFUNCTIONING IT WORKS SOMETIMES THE CAR DON'T HAVE LOSE POWER WHEN I GO UP HILLS AND SMOKE IS COMING FROM TAIL PIPE

NHTSA ODI 11382968

Nov 5, 2020Fuel systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEARBY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL ODOR WAS ALSO PRESENT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11373162

Oct 22, 2020AirbagsSeatsCrash2 injuries

AS THE THIRD CAR IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT, IT WAS THE ONLY ONE WHERE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY IT WAS THE MOST DAMAGED. THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE UPON REAR IMPACT PRIOR TO THE CAR BEING FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11365846

Oct 21, 2020BrakesCrash1 injury

I HAVE OWNED THIS USED VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEED (10-15MPH) THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THIS BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DURING SAID ACCIDENT, AT LOW IMPACT, THE AIRBAG WAS TRIGGERED TO DEPLOY. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE AIRBAG OR SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, AS I HAVE BEEN IN A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH AN OLDER JETTA THAT DID NOT RESULT IN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM AT RISK OF HAVING MY VEHICLE TOTALED OUT BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES WHEN IT NORMALLY WOULD BE REPAIRABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11365653

Oct 9, 2020Electrical systemCrash

**SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT**

NHTSA ODI 11363609

Oct 5, 2020Speed control

WHILE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE SPEED, THE SPEED SETTING WILL SOMETIMES (I.E. UNPREDICTABLY AND INTERMITTENTLY) INCREASE THE SPEED TO THE CLOSEST 5 MPH INCREMENT WHEN COMMANDED TO DECREASE THE SPEED TO THE CLOSEST 5 MPH INCREMENT. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS ERROR DOZENS TO HUNDREDS OF TIMES BUT I CANNOT DISCERN A NOTABLE PATTERN AND THE BEHAVIOR SEEMS UNPREDICTABLE. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE BUT HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2014. EXAMPLE: I AM DRIVING AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO "ON" TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE SPEED AT 63 MPH. I PRESS THE BUTTON THAT IS SUPPOSED TO DECREASE THE SPEED TO THE NEXT LOWEST MULTIPLE OF 5 (60 MPH) BUT IT WILL INSTEAD INCREASE THE SPEED TO 65 MPH. THE 60 TO 65 MPH RANGE IS SIMPLY AN EXAMPLE AND THE ISSUE EXISTS AT ALL SPEEDS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

NHTSA ODI 11362920

Oct 4, 2020

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11362704

Aug 6, 2020Suspension

THIS BW 62,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION COIL BROKE OFF INTO THE ROAD. OUR SECOND VW, THE EXACT SAME CAR BOUGHT FOUR DAYS EARLIER, BLEW A FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING A MONTH EARLIER. I WILL REPORT THAT CAR SEPARATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11343702

Aug 6, 2020Suspension

WHILE HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING IS BROKEN. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO MY FIRST REPORT OF A REAR SPRING BREAKING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11343743

Aug 5, 2020

IGNITION KEY GOT STUCK INTO IGNITION SWITCH MAKING UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS STARTING HAPPENING AFTER RECALL 37M2 WAS PERFORMED.

NHTSA ODI 11343407

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Working with the data? Download all 194 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 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hev verdict →