Home · 2019 Volkswagen Jetta · Complaints

What 537 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

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 (537)Crash / fire / injury (34)Transmission & drivetrain (161)Electrical system (149)Engine (144)Brakes (29)Fuel system (29)Lights (26)Visibility & wipers (23)Body & structure (22)Airbags (16)Speed control (16)

16 of 537 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters

Feb 19, 2026Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle lost automotive power intermittently, and the vehicle shuddered abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer stated that the cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

NHTSA ODI 11719231

Jan 6, 2026Speed control

When engaging the gas pedal, it broke off during travel, requiring a need to pull over. Gas pedal is entirely plastic and contains no metal parts.

NHTSA ODI 11709036

Jul 18, 2024Electrical systemSpeed control

the ignition switch fails while the car is in motion, causing shut off the engine and electrical system, this lead to almost had crash.

NHTSA ODI 11603197

Aug 16, 2023Electrical systemSpeed controlLane Departure

When the vehicle gets hot, above 85 degrees Fahrenheit the electric system including, speedometer and other internal lighting as well brake lights and turn signals completely stop functioning. Windows and locking system is also affected. The engine remains on. But if the car is turned off, it will not turn back on.

NHTSA ODI 11538943

Aug 8, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

When the 8-speed automatic transmission attempts to shift from 3rd to 4th gear it will slip into neutral causing the engine to redline at maximum RPM. The accelerator pedal does not function and poses a serious safety issue. The vehicle will unexpectedly stall when the auto start stop is used and intermittently requires you to shift into park and restart the engine. The transmission also has difficulty shifting into reverse and puts the vehicle in neutral until it slams into gear.

NHTSA ODI 11537311

Mar 19, 2023Electrical systemLightsSpeed control

While driving, the following warning will appear “Starter system faulty! Service vehicle.” The instrument panel will then shut down entirely, and brake lights, headlights, and blinkers will not work. This can happen anywhere—on the highway traveling at 70 mph at night, for example. When the vehicle is pulled over and turned off, it will restart as normal—but while driving it might shut down again. There are numerous complaints on the internet, in VW forums and elsewhere, and the dealers do not seem to know how to correct the problem because it doesn’t happen all of the time. It is unpredictable. This creates an extraordinarily dangerous situation, and the vehicles should be recalled and VW should correct the issue immediately.

NHTSA ODI 11512702

Aug 1, 2022Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed control

While driving yesterday afternoon, the electrical system shut down thrice. Everytime i had to restart the car. When it shuts off it pops up a notification that says “Please check the starter system”. Reddit has many complaints regarding the 2019 Jetta Shutoff problem while driving. https://www.reddit.com/r/jetta/comments/p5pmti/2019_jetta_shut_off_while_driving/

NHTSA ODI 11476831

Nov 29, 2021Electrical systemLightsSpeed control

dash goes dark a check engine start system comes up. I have no lights inside or outside no turn signals or brake lights no heat, the engine still runs and drives but with the windows not working I cannot use hand signals. I took it to a dealer in Bend Or they did not fix the problem. It happened again in Boise Id. that was fun.I called the dealer in Bend and have an Appointment the end of December does not help if it goes out again. This has happened several times since June? it is happening more and more

NHTSA ODI 11441979

May 5, 2021Speed control

THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ONLY WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY SHIFT CHANGES. GOT STUCK ON 3RD GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11415215

Feb 11, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlBrakes

VIBRATION AND GRINDING NOISES AT LOW SPEEDS. STARTED AROUND 200-300 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ORIGINALLY ONLY OCCURRED IN ECO MODE NOW HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND MORE SEVERE OVER THE LAST 4-5 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S NORMAL BUT IT SOUNDS AND FEELS TERRIBLE. THE CAR FEELS VERY UNSAFE. SOMETIMES IT ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY AND OTHER TIMES I BARELY PRESS THE PEDAL AND IT TAKES OFF AND THE TIRES SPIN. WHEN DRIVING IN ECO MODE THE INTERNAL COMPUTER SEEMS TO FORGET AND SWITCHES BACK INTO REGULAR DRIVE MODE BUT THE ECO MODE BUTTON WILL STAY ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THE DASH DISPLAY SAYS IT IS IN DRIVE. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE GRINDING BECOMES MORE OF A LOW GROWL OR SCRAPE AND ALSO VIBRATES MUCH MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING. WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR TO LEAVE HOME OR LEAVE WORK MY BRAKES SCREECH THE FIRST 3-4 TIMES I APPLY THEM. IT'S SO LOUD THAT MY NEIGHBORS HAVE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES. NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF DRIVING I DO OR WHERE IT IS THE VEHICLE FEELS UNSAFE AND MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHEN ACCELERATING OR CRUISING.

NHTSA ODI 11308634

Jan 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlWheels

ON 9/6/2019 I BOUGHT 2019 VW JETTA 1.4 T R-LINE TSI 16 VALVE DOHC TURBO 4 CYLINDER W/DIRECT FUEL INJECTION. HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST WEEK COMPLAINING ABOUT THE GRINDING AND GROWLING NOISES UNDER 40 MPH RANGE WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IT IS NORMAL FOR 8 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS. ALSO SAID THE ONLY WAY STOP THE NOISE IS TO DRIVE IT IN SPORT MOD , NOT GOOD WITH GAS CONSUPTION BUT YOU WON'T HEAR IT. WHILE MAKING A U TURN AND COMING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY INTO CITY TRAFFIC, IT HAS UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION WHICH REALLY SHOCKED ME. I LEFT RUBBER AND THE WHEELS MADE A LOUD SOUND ON THE PAVEMENT. IT LARCHED TWICE AND I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11299542

Oct 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

2019 JETTA SE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES SINCE I PURCHASED MY JETTA IN JANUARY 2019 IT SEEMS LIKE MY CAR HAS A SERIOUS LAG. I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND AS I WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF THE TURN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN IT SHOT OFF.. I NOTICED THAT IT DOES IT WHEN I SLOW DOWN ALSO IT HAVE VERY SLOW RESPONSE TIME WITH THE ACCELERATION. IT DOESN'T IT EVERY SO OFTEN. MAYBE ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK ALSO WHEN THE 'AUTO ENGINE TURN OFF' IS ENGAGED THE CAR LAGS AND SOMETIMBES DOESN'T WANT TO GO.. SOMETIME I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. OR SHIFT IT OUT AND BACK INTO GEARS AT RED LIGHTS OR DRIVE THROUGH I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SAVANNAH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND A ISSUE OR A FIX. I HONESTLY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR.. ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS

NHTSA ODI 11266083

Aug 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

TAKATA RECALL: 2019 VW JETTA GLI STALLS AND TURNS OFF WHILE IN NEUTRAL WHILE STATIONARY, AS WELL AS IN GEAR AND IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AND IN PARKING LOTS, PUTTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. UNSURE OF ISSUE, BUT DOCUMENTED WITH VIDEO FOOTAGE. NO ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARED. THIS HAPPENED 20 OR MORE TIMES YESTERDAY, AND ONE TIME 2 WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11252073

Oct 20, 2018Speed control

THE JETTA DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. THE JETTA INCREASES SPEED UP TO AN INCREASE OF 20 MILES AND HOUR, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED WHILE GOING DOWN HILL.

NHTSA ODI 11141605

Oct 17, 2018Speed controlCrash

TRUNK LID DOES NOT STAY OPEN UNLESS IT IS PUSHED UP ALL THE WAY, MULTIPLE PASSENGERS WHEN USING THE TRUNK IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WERE HIT BY THE TRUNK LID. WHEN TRAVELING LOW SPEED ON CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED WILL BE LOWERED WHEN GETTING CLOSE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ITS LANE BUT IF THE IMMEDIATE CAR SWITCH LANE AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER VEHICLE GET INTO YOUR LANE, THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM HAS A DELAY IN DETECTING IS THERE VEHICLE THERE OR MAY NOT IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE JOINING YOUR LANE AS A VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND MAY SUDDENLY INCREASE SPEED AS NO VEHICLE WAS DETECTED AND RESULT IN A REAR-END COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11141116

Sep 20, 2018Speed control

THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS TAPPED OR FULLY PRESSED. AS SOON AS THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED THE CAR RESUMES THE PREVIOUS SET SPEED. THIS BEHAVIOR WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH ANY STANDARD VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION IF THE CAR IS IN CRUISE, APPROACHING A SLOWER CAR, AND THE SPEED IS DECREASES BY COASTING. UPON RE-ENGAGING, THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI 11130485

Working with the data? Download all 537 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 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 2019 Volkswagen Jetta verdict →