Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 33 · page 1 of 2
The f16 fuse in the engine bay that connects power to multiple exterior lights as well as the abs brake system melts and melts part of the fuse tray. This is the same thing that happens with the vw Tiguan in campaign am97. Look into am97 as this can ruin your abs brake system. This should be recalled and fixed. This picture is not mine but is exactly what happened.
Vehicle’s electrical system shuts off as I am driving. This happened at night , almost caused a crash.
The car stalls in traffic and is slow to accelerate. The service department attributes the cause from a problem with a contaminated fuel system. However, the car has had a series of problems with the electrical system where I was told the "radio is draining the battery". The car would be parked without the keys in the ignition and it failed to start and the cause being the radio draining the battery. The issue is both electrical and diesel engine related.
Going down the road - in town - at about 35 mph and I started to hear loud clanking while I felt as the rear of the car felt "stiff" all of a sudden. I parked the car as soon as I could to check it over. The rear passenger side coil spring just snapped as you'd break a pretzel... I have never seen a broken coil spring in any of the cars we owned over three decades. As I looked for information online, it seems that this MK6 generation of Volkswagen vehicles made in MEXICO were manufactured with springs that are PRONE TO FAILURE! Even the next generation MK7 especially vehicles manufactured between 2015-2019 had a RECALL for this exact failure - 42J5. - 56,000 vehicles including Golf hatchbacks, Golf SPORTWAGEN, Jetta sedans and Tiguan SUVS. How come VW didn't have a recall for the previous generation? Obviously this is manufacturing with below par parts.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the catalytic convertor warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the particle filter needed to be removed and reinstalled. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was taken to a different dealer who determined that the particle filter needed to be checked and reinstalled. Additionally, the EGR cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the second dealer; however, the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
While changing lanes we heard a twang sound and felt an impact in the floor boards. The left rear of the car was unloaded from weight shift when the noise and impact was felt. When I was able to check the car over, I found the left rear spring was broken. The vehicle only has roughly 85k miles. I have heard many other stories of this happening to others as well.
At first we had to replace the intake manifold and then a month later we had to replace the catalytic converter and now it’s in the shop having the DLF filter , fuel pump , & fuel lines . All dealing with the diesel exhaust and fuel distribution. It’s leaking diesel fuel with strong odor of diesel to the point it makes you feel sick. The Volkswagen dealership never informed me of any recalls on my vehicle. The dealership is Flow Volkswagen Greensboro NC
THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. THE SEAT BELT WAS PULLED OUT TO BUCKLE AND FAILED TO RETRACT TO FIT THE PASSENGER. IT IS ALL THE WAY OUT AND CANNOT BE USED.
STATIONARY VEHICLE LEFT STRANDED. ENGINE WASS IMMOBILIZED KEY NOT RECOGNIZED
I HAVE BEEN GETTING HORRIBLE GAS MILAGE (250 PER TANK). THIS HAS BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR NOW OF TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS (DRIVING, FUELING, REPAIRS, ECT.).
REAR SPRING BROKE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE WITHOUT WARNING (AT SEPARATE TIMES). THIS CLEARLY SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AS I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT IT'S A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES THAT REQUIRED ANY TRANSPORT BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED PENDING AN OFFICIAL RULING FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOW YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
IT ALL STARTED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. APPARENTLY THE CAR JUMPED TIMING AND THE CRANKSHAFT WENT BAD. THIS CAUSED COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JETTA. I BELIEVE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS NEEDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. I REACHED BEHIND MY BACK AND BURNED MY FINGER. I PULLED OFF AND LOOKED AND SAW A HOLD AND MELTED SEAT. THE BACK OF MY COAT WAS MELTED AS WELL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A VW DEALER TO BE INSPECTED AND IT WAS CAUSED BY A WIRE SHORTING OUT. THERE IS A CASE NOW OPEN FOR ME WITH VW. WAITING TO HEAR IF THEY WILL PAY TO FIX THE SEAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND MISFIRED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED DIRITO BROTHERS WALNUT CREEK VOLKSWAGEN (2020 N MAIN ST, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596, (925) 934-8224) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 181258947. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. *DT *JS *DT *JB
STALLING OF VEHICLE WHILE IN TRAFFIC; EPC LIGHT WILL TURN ON, BATTERY LIGHT; REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH REGARDS TO FUEL AND OIL LEAKAGE AND STALLING STILL OCCURS
THE FUSE BOX MELTED AND CAUSED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY AND OTHER MODELS (TIGUAN) HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SAME PART NUMBER.
CAR RADIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE CAUSE. SCREEN COMPLETELY BLANK, DOES NOT RESPOND TO BUTTONS OR OTHER INPUT.
ENTIRE SOUND/RADIO SYSTEM SUDDENLY STOPPED THEREBY ELIMINATING MY BLUE TOOTH CONNECTIVITY FOR HANDSFREE PHONE USE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE GLOW PLUG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A PARKING LOT AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (JOE HEIDT VOLKSWAGEN, 515 ROUTE 17 SOUTH, RAMSEY, NJ, 201-327-2900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP CONTAINED PIECES OF METAL, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL SYSTEM TO FAIL. ALSO, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL WAS BAD. THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,205.
RECENTLY MY 2011 JETTA SPORTWAGEN'S EXTERIOR LIGHT DASHBOARD INDICATOR CAME ON. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THEY WOULD WORK AND THEN FAIL AGAIN WITHOUT ANY REASON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I HAD ONE BULB OUT AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER EVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE IN ANY VOLKSWAGEN. THE SAME DAY THE LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN. I INVESTIGATED THIS TIME MYSELF AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE F16 FUSE. MY F16 FUSE WAS VISIBLY BURNT AND THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED AT THE F16 SPOT. A NEW FUSE HAS TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS IS MELTING THE FUSE BOX AND MY LIGHTS COULD FAIL AT A CRITICAL TIME.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL MESSAGES STARTED TO APPEAR IN REFERENCE TO FAILED LIGHTS. I LOST SIGNAL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. REPLACING THE LIGHTS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AT THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON 3/24/2017.
FOR TWO YEARS PRIOR TO AUGUST 2016, I WENT INTO MY VW DEALER ONCE A MONTH BECAUSE THE CHECK TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. EACH TIME THEY JUST PUT AIR IN THE TIRES AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AND EACH TIME I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE RIMS. ONCE OR TWICE THEY INSPECTED AND CLEANED THE RIMS AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. IN JUNE 2016 I ASKED THEM TO CHECK AGAIN BECAUSE I PLANNED TO DRIVE FROM CHICAGO TO NEW YORK. THEY ASSURED ME I WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT DRIVING BACK FROM NEW YORK IN AUGUST 2016, THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING WELL, SO I CHECKED THE TIRES EVEN THOUGH THE CHECK TIRE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. I DIDN'T SPOT A PROBLEM, SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, BUT ON THE EXPRESSWAY JUST OUTSIDE OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT, AND I BARELY WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITH THE HELP OF A STATE TROUPER I FINALLY GOT A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE SPARE PUT ON. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST VW DEALER IN YOUNGSTOWN. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE, WHICH WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THEY SAID THAT THEY FOUND TWO SMALL INDENTATIONS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE TIRE TO LEAK AIR AND GO FLAT. THEY FIXED THE INDENTATIONS. BACK HOME AT THE VW DEALER IN GLENVIEW, IL, THEY AGAIN ASSURED ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AND THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE REPAIRS. BUT JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT, MY CAR BEGAN TO HANDLE POORLY. I PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, AND A FEW HOURS LATER ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE CHECK TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. I ASKED VW TO REPLACE ALL THE RIMS AND TIRES FOR BY BACK THE CAR. THEY REFUSED. ONLINE I SEE OTHERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THE CAR MYSELF, AT GREAT LOSS, AND BUY A SUBARU. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I TOOK TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS AT VW, BUT THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO MY CLAIM. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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