What 537 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Car stalled and turned off after a red light turned green and pressed on the gas pedal. Error message popped up: Error: Start-Stop System. The red triangle with exclamation point symbol appeared. The check engine light has been on since. I had to immediately put my hazard lights on, put the car in park, press the start button to turn on again. It happened again immediately afterwards when the red light turned green again. Thankfully I was able to pull over safely. Will be sending the car to VW dealership tomorrow to be serviced to diagnose issue.

NHTSA ODI 11526445

THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT DOWN. IF THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN IT WILL JUST RANDOMLY NOT START. SINCE THE TEMPATURES OUTSIDE HAVE GOTTEN WARMER IT HAS NOW DONE 3 TIMES: THE CAR WILL START FINE AS I AM DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL PANELS AND EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF BUT THE GAS STILL WORKS AND THE CAR SAYS CHECK STARTER SYSTEM. MY 16 YEAR OLDS DRIVE THIS CAR. THE INSTRUMENT PANELS ALL TURN OFF. THE CAR HAS ALSO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHILE IN MOTION THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOESNT SHOW AND BECAUSE IT IS RANDOM MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND THE MAIN PROBLEM AND PARTS RELATED TO THIS ARE SOLD OUT WITH VW DUE TO IF YOU LOOK EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE PLEASE. MY CAR HAS SERVICE RECORDS JUST 50,000 MILES AND ITS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE FOR AWHILE. WE CANT TRADE IT IN FOR FINANCIAL REASONS BUT HAVE TO DRIVE IT. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE OUR KIDS DRIVING OUR HYUNDAI AND WE DRIVE THIS JETTA CAUSE I WOULD RATHER IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH HE OR I DRIVING THAN THEM. PLEASE THIS JETTA WILL KILL THE DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND WHOEVER CRASHES INTO IT WHEN IT KEEP SHUTTING OFF. IT HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AT A TIME AT TIMES TRYING TO FIX THIS

NHTSA ODI 11521570

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with an unknown warning light illuminated and an unknown message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11519802

The vehicle steering has been off and alignment when driving. My gas gauge has been off constantly, since I've owned the vehicle. I documented this many times and reported this to the dealership under warranty and Volkswagen care.

NHTSA ODI 11518599

Vehicle caught fire while putting car in reverse. Car exploded from engine, no check engine light. I could have died, the fire almost burned down a building. The fire department was called and the front of the car was melted. My arm was injured and I had to get a new cast for my broken wrist. Car was towed by city officials as a hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11497676

I was driving on a active snowing highway at 7pm when an alert appeared on the dashboard to “check starter system” and “pull vehicle over…”. During this time im on the highway going about 6mph and everything electrical turned off including my headlights and windshield wipers turned off. I was able to activate my hazards and pull off the highway but due to the snow and everything electrical cutting off my windows fogged up and almost caused me to crash into a semi-truck. I have googled this issue and it seems to be very common for this specific vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11495564

I bought the car October 1 2022 around October 15th it shut off without and warning while crossing over a intersection on November 19th I was on i95 north and it shut off again with no warning I got to the side of the highway and it started I got about a mile up the highway and it shut off a 3rd time this time it said error stop/start

NHTSA ODI 11494266

When going fast real quick the car start to smell like something is burning. My right light isn’t working right

NHTSA ODI 11484816

Had a 2019 Jetta 1.4 Turbo and kept hearing the same grinding noise over and over that everyone says. I couldn’t determine if it was coming from the transmission or torque converter or something else. I took it to the VW dealership twice and both times they claimed they couldn’t hear anything and kept my car all day long without calling me or anything. They also said it was normal. I know quite a bit about cars and that’s not normal. It’s kinda like the dealership didn’t want to help. They kept saying it’s still under warranty, so we are documenting it. Ok, I get that, but that’s not helping me at all. They are not worried about it because it’s not their car. Got to the point I finally got fed up with it and sold it. I traded a perfectly good car in to have a newer one only to have problems. It’s gone now of course, but I will never get my other perfectly good car back. Not pleased with Volkswagen and will never buy another one.

NHTSA ODI 11471052

On Jun 4, while driving on southwards on HW17 the steering became unresponsive. Eventually, the car, with four passengers, hit the curb. The vehicle is yet to be inspected by dealership, VW representative or repair shop person. I plan to take the car to repair shop, when they open on Monday, Jun 6. The car Engine Malfunction Light had turned on.

NHTSA ODI 11467553

Car started making a weird noise after service. It sounded like a tractor trailer idling next to me. Brought the car up to the dealership and determined it was due to a faulty engine. Luckily I didn’t avoid the sound since there was metal shavings in my oil pan which could have caused a complete engine failure. Car only had 27K miles on at the time.

NHTSA ODI 11466154

Issue: 2019 VW Jetta, the problem first occurred at 46,000 miles and has occurred approximately 8 times while in operation both when at a full stop and in motion at speeds from 10 to 50mph. When this happens all electronics shut off, dashboard goes blank, to include turn signals, side and front warning indicators, head lights and brake lights. This appears to happen in elevated outside temperatures. The vehicle will still drive, however without any electronics, lights etc. Vehicle starts up again with full electronics after stopping and restarting engine, usually takes two or three attempts. This has put my safety and drivers around me at risk of accident. I took the vehicle to the VW dealership, they did not observe the problem to my knowledge but said diagnostics indicated the original battery was malfunctioning and needed replacement, which I had done, not by VW. After battery replacement and recoding of electronics according to VW specifications, same issue occurred again two days later. Dashboard warning message, “Please check starter system” appears when this failure happens. Also states pull over immediately and address problem. Research online indicates this is a common problem in VW’s and appears to be an electrical switch problem. See attached VW Dealership docs.

NHTSA ODI 11462219

Low level oil It has problem with oil Vw cannot fixes

NHTSA ODI 11437105

The hill start assist is dangerous. Unlike most hill start assists, the one in this car doesn’t let go when you release the clutch, it waits about 2-3 seconds every time. I’ve had several incidents with this but just recently I was starting on a not very steep hill and forgot about the fact I have to compensate for this system, and tried to start normally and stalled. Thankfully the person behind me was my friend and was paying attention, but people don’t usually expect a car to sit there not moving once the brake lights go off, and then shudder to a stop because it has just stalled, and is possible for rear end collisions, as well as other more dangerous ones to happen depending on the situation. The system is working as designed; I’ve heard many complaints from other people that theirs does the same thing. It is dangerous as it doesn’t let you move for 2-3 seconds even if you really need to in an emergency situation.

NHTSA ODI 11434727

1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER 25-35 MPH THEY HEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THE TURBO WASTE GATE HAS PLAY IN IT WHICH IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11428982

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the turbo was making an abnormal loud mechanical grinding sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken three times to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was working as designed. Additionally, the contact was informed that the wastegate turbo had a lot of play and the wind was causing the abnormal sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 600.

NHTSA ODI 11422895

MY CAR LOST OIL EVERY 7K MILE ,I BOUGHT FOR BRAND NEW , I WENT IN DEALERSHIP MAMY MANY TIME AND THEY INSPECTED MY CAR AND RESULTS ARE WE CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEMS TO MANY CARS VW 2019 HAS THIS PROBLEM SO MY CAR LOST 500GR ON 1000 K MILE , THEY JUST REFILL OIL , I NEVER HEART THAT TO PUT OIL ON TOP DOEST SINCE. I HAVE PAPER AND EVERYTHING BUT NO BODY CARE

NHTSA ODI 11404374

BOUGHT CAR NEW MARCH 2020. BACK COVER OF DRIVER SIDE MIRROR CAME OFF IN APRIL 2020. JANUARY 15, 2021 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND SPUTTER. EVERY ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK MORE. AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 25 MPH TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD CYLINDER 1 WAS DEAD AND OTHERS ARE MISFIRING. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT SOMETHING BROKE OFF AND WAS SUCKED INTO CYLINDER 1 DAMAGING CYLINDER 1. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW ENGINE SINCE JANUARY. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD IT IS ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA. IT IS NOW 2/22/21

NHTSA ODI 11397276

I TOOK A CAR BRAND NEW 2019 AFTER 5K MILES LIGHT ON DISPLAY ' PLEASE CHECK OIL LEVEL' I WENT DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME WHEN YOU LIGHTS ITS ON STOP HERE AND WE FUEL IT QUARTER OIL...SO NOW I SEE DEALERSHIP EVERY 5 K MILE AND EVERY 10K MILE WHEN I CHANGE OIL... NO BODY CARE THIS IS DISRESPECT FOR COSTUMER NEVER BUY VOLKSWAGEN

NHTSA ODI 11395679

VEHICLE HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CHECK COOLANT LEVEL WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FIRST WAS TOLD IT HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT. A LITTLE LATER THE DEALERSHIP THEN APOLOGIZED AND SAID THAT WAS FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE AND OURS WAS JUST LOW ON COOLANT. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT ABNORMAL AS FLUIDS NEED TO TOPPED OFF PERIODICALLY.

NHTSA ODI 11387334

I HAVE ABOUT 14, 000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT BURNS THROUGH ENGINE OIL VERY QUICKLY. SOMETIMES I CAN EVEN SMELL THE BURNING OIL. TWICE THE ADD OIL LIGHT HAS COME ONE. IT SEEMS THAT A CAR THIS NEW SHOULDN'T BURN OIL LIKE THIS. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. COULD IT BE THAT THE OIL IS TOO THIN? I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT FRUSTRATING.

NHTSA ODI 11378372

MY CAR IS BURNING OIL AND RUNNING VERY WELL BEFORE THE 10K RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. MY CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD AND EVERY MONTH I HAVE TO ADD A HALF A QUART OF OIL SO I DONT FORGET TO CHECK AND RUN OUT OF OIL AND GET THE OIL LIGHT. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BURNING OIL. VW SAYS ITS NORMAL TO RUN LOW AFTER 1000 MILES...?? HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE? LUCKILY I CHANGE MY OIL MORE FREQUENTLY THAN EVERY 10K MILES AND NOTICED IT WAS 2 QUARTS LOW.

NHTSA ODI 11374519

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2019 VW JETTA AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT MANY OF THE OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. UNDER LOW ACCELERATION IT STALLS AND MAKES A GRINDING, WHIRRING SOUND BELOW 20-30 MPH. IT MAKES ME TIMID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED PEOPLE TO REAR END ME DUE TO THE STALL. IT FALLS ON ITS FACE WHEN YOU NEED IT TO MOVE. I'M CONCERNED AS THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP YET, BUT NOW UPON READING ALL OF THE CONCERNS, IT SEEMS TO BE A WASTE OF TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 11360647

I JUST PURCHASED A 2019 JETTA R LINE AND SINCE DAY ONE I HAVE A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE OR THE TRANSMISSION. IT'S ALWAYS THERE AT AROUND 50KM/PER HOUR FOR ABOUT 2 SEC. LIKE MANY OTHERS SAID IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT FOR ME. I HOPE VW WILL TAKE ACTION AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. ON TOP OF THAT I LOST ALL MY RADIO PRESETS AND THE SCREEN HAS STARTED TO FREEZE. I ALSO NOTICE A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE REAR SUSPENSION OVER NORMAL BUMP

NHTSA ODI 11351944

2019 JETTA S. BEGAN STALLING AFTER 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW WITH 62 MILES. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER 09/27/2019 AND THEY STATED IT WAS FINE NO ISSUES COULD BE FOUND. ON 05/18/2020 THE CAR STALLED AGAIN IT HAD 15452 MILES ON IT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY KEPT THE CAR UNTIL 07/25/2020 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED IT WAS FIXED. ON 07/30/2020 THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A CENTER MEDIAN WITH LARGE BOULDERS IN IT. IF THEY WERE NOT THERE I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE CARS ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.

NHTSA ODI 11343433