2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Owner Complaints

Purchased my 2014 Jetta TDI SportWagen DSG used with 60k miles in 2017 from a Subaru dealership. It was purchased at auction by the dealership as reported at auction known to be an unmodified dieselgate vehicle. The dealership performed the modifications to bring it into emissions compliance and sold it to me. I noticed an occasional "boing" sound from the back and my wife wouldn't drive it, she said it was too twitchy on the highway. I just thought that was part of the Sportwagen experience. In 2026 I took it to my local garage for a [XXX] state inspection. Mechanic showed me that the front right coil spring was broken as part of the strut, and both rear coil springs were also snapped. The rear spring pieces "screwed" up into themselves and it was actually difficult to see the snapped section. I had been driving for a year on a single front left spring, the only remaining good spring. Total cost of repairs was $4500 in parts and labor (which was actually quite reasonable for the work performed). From [XXX] I purchased VW OEM "Towing" springs for the rear and new front struts and new rear shocks, plus all linkages, mounts and all bolts plus a $150 alignment. Regarding the engine, the glow plugs were replaced in 2025 and the dissimilar metals had "galled" the threads and the head had to be chased with a reamer in order to install new glow plugs to the correct torque. The faulty glow plugs were determined to be VW OEM parts from the factory. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11737612

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

While driving my car, which is a manual, will stall out of nowhere. Not while changing gears, but while driving on highway. It stalls which is extremely dangerous. I read the NHTSA investigated this problem in 2010. I believe my car is part of this investigation.

NHTSA ID

11610280

Incident

Aug 22, 2024

The contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI equipped with four Continental Tires: Tire Line: Extreme Contact DW6 Plus; Tire Size: 245/45/R19, and DOT Numbers: N/A. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH and traveling around a curve, the passenger side rear tire tread separated, he lost control of the vehicle, and he crashed into a guardrail. The contact sustained injuries to his back, but medical attention was not provided. The side curtain air bags were deployed. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T001000 (Tires). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The tire mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11596427

Incident

Jun 24, 2024

Mileage

110,000 mi

While driving on a major highway at approximately 65 mph, my car completely shut off. The steering wheel froze, all the lights on the dashboard started blinking and the car's engine completely shut down. The wheel locked as I was able to steer to the median. I got out of the car and another car behind me immediately crashed into my stopped car, totaling it.

NHTSA ID

11545965

Incident

Sep 21, 2023

Took normal turn down road, heard clicking noise. Airbag light on dash came on immediately along with loss of function of steering wheel buttons. No warning lamps prior to failure. No issues prior to failure. Vehicle has been inspected by Volkswagen dealer and claimed clock spring needed replacement.

NHTSA ID

11515295

Incident

Apr 3, 2023

Wipers stopped working replaced motor and still nothing. I have spoken to other VW owners and they have stated they have had the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11504288

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

The passenger seat occupancy mat and control module are no longer available from Volkswagen Of America. The Air bag lamp is illuminated and the fault code will not clear. VIN : [XXX] Part Number : 1K9 881 256 AA. Part Number dropped on August 1, 2022 without replacement. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11503273

Incident

Jan 23, 2023

Car all of a sudden stalled in the middle of the road with almost no warning because the High Pressure Fuel Pump Failed. Car only has 133,000 miles on it. Left us without a car over an hour and a half from home with our kids in the car. I am told Repair is Several Thousand dollars (Almost what the car is worth) Volkswagen knows that there is an issue with these pumps, as the previous years (approx. 2009 with the same pump were recalled, but not this year)

NHTSA ID

11501527

Incident

Jan 7, 2023

November 2022 while Driving on Highway at 70mph Transmission shutters and vehicle begins to decrease speed. Pulled over to the side of the road and the Check engine lights came on. Vehicle shut off and re-started and vehicle drove, but would not shift out of 3rd gear. Drove 20 miles home at 40MPH with Hazard lights on, checked engine code and error was P0722 Output speed sensor. I brought to VW dealership and was told the DSG transmission failed at 67,000. Despite having VW Drive Easy protection, TRansmission cost ~4000 to replace with a used transmission. VW Drive easy states because Maintenance schedule was not done at 40,000 miles, warranty was void. This 2014 TDI was a Dieselgate car that sat for ~2years prior to VW selling, and at purchase I was told all fluids were changed, which would have changed schedule service dates. This was very dangerous to myself and my small kids as loss of power at highway speeds, with no warning and transmission being dead, could have caused a serious accident if I was not on a remote section of highway.

NHTSA ID

11498980

Incident

Nov 12, 2022

We were stopped at a light and the car would not go when it turned green. The engine would rev with pedal application as though the car was in neutral but no gear change (D, R, return to P and try D again) would induce the car to move. There was no check engine but a tiny flashing wrench in the corner of the display. In desperation we turned the ignition completely off, removed the key and restarted the car, and the error and flashing wrench disappeared and the car started and behaved normally. Unfortunately, the complete disconnect/stuck in neutral behavior happened again 5 minutes later on a high-speed 4 lane highway. We were cruising at full speed and the wheels abruptly lost power even though the engine was still going. There was no limp mode or power of any kind, we managed to coast to the shoulder by residual momentum, but if we hadn't been fortunate to be in the extreme right lane a deadly accident would have been extremely likely. The freeway incident showed the "check engine" light as well as the flashing wrench. The car was completely disabled and had to be towed. The dealership was not helpful or informative but wanted to replace the transmission.

NHTSA ID

11490590

Incident

Sep 8, 2002

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the glow plug warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to coast the vehicle off to the side of the roadway after nearly being crashed into by a semi-truck. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his residence; and upon inspection, he discovered that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed and released metal shavings into the fuel filter. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 125,733.

NHTSA ID

11477523

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

Mileage

125,733 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal noises. Upon inspection, the contact noticed the coil spring bushing had detached and was on the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with three fractured coil springs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

NHTSA ID

11472967

Incident

May 4, 2022

Mileage

81,000 mi

Both springs on the rear suspension . The driver side spring broke in half. The pax side broke in two locations. Vehicle only has 65,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11465977

Incident

May 20, 2022

Last year a front coil and strut broke. This week the rear coil spontaneously broke making it dangerous to drive. It is currently available for inspection. It put my safety and others at risk had it punctured a tire or come loose and hit the car behind mine. There were no warning lights. It has been inspected by a mechanic and myself.

NHTSA ID

11450474

Incident

Jan 28, 2022

I got this car as a certified preowned 2 years ago and it had a broken drivers side spring that the dealer replaced under warranty, yesterday I finally found the rattling problem with the drivers side, It was a broken spring and the sharp end up the spring is jammed against the anti sway bar and the spring is half off the perch. I've already contacted VW by online chat and explained to them, no avail they will not warranty it even though the dealership told me its a known issue because they weren't properly heat treated. This sounds like pure negligence on VW's behalf as if they already didn't learn after a multi billion dollar emissions scandal. The spring is broke and I got no where, when I showed the guy the info in the online chat about the 90 complaints of broken springs filed he ended the chat on me which includes my year and model.

NHTSA ID

11440505

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

Horn stopped working. Then started again and stopped again over period of few days. Currently working.

NHTSA ID

11436880

Incident

Oct 7, 2021

7/3/21 Just parked at corner store about 1/2 mile from home when I heard a very loud bang, like a tire exploding on the rear passenger side of vehicle. I got out of the car to inspect the tire and saw that it had not exploded. I then looked under the car next to the wheel and noticed that the coil spring had broken. I removed the broken piece of spring, but the car was sagging on the rear passenger side corner. Through an internet search I noticed several other 2014 VW Jetta Sportswagens having the same problem and that there has been recalls of other VW vehicles of later dates due to coil springs breaking from faulty manufacturing.

NHTSA ID

11425160

Incident

Jul 3, 2021

AFTER HEARING A CLUNK IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION AND A VISUAL INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED MY COIL SPRING HAD BROKE AND WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE SEATED PROPERLY IN ITS PERCH ON THE STRUT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH OF VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS AND GROUPS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. IT APPEARS THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME NEWER VOLKSWAGENS I THINK THESE CARS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11404588

Incident

Mar 22, 2021

Mileage

98,000 mi

PANARAMIC ROOF TOP LEAKING. THIS VIN ISN'T COVERED BY THE RECALL THAT IS OUT BUT IT IS AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALL FOR 2015 AND UP MODELS. PANARAMIC ROOF TOP LEAKS IN DRAIN TUBES CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS DUE TO FOG AND DAMAGE TO AIRBAG UNIT VEHICLE STATIONARY. I HAVE ATTACHED THE RECALL FOR THE OTHER MODEL BUT MY CAR IS AFFECTED EXACTLY THE SAME AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11395867

Incident

Feb 5, 2021

Mileage

34,000 mi

74K MILES . CAR WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THEN STARTED THE CAR & AIR BAG LIGHT , TRACTION AND STABILITY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. NOTICED ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DID NOT WORK. HORN AND MEDIA CONTROLS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A CLICKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. *CALLED VOLKSWAGEN USA AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT A RECALL ON MY CAR LOOKED UP THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR AND THE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME CAR AN SIMILAR MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11388609

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

Mileage

77,123 mi

THE CAR WAS IN A SEVERE FRONT END COLLISION THAT TOTALED THE CAR. THE WRECK RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES FOR BOTH OCCUPANTS. BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN A COMBINE WITH NO LIGHTS CAME OUT IN FRONT OF THEM. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE COMBINE. ZERO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED IN THIS CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11374834

Incident

Oct 22, 2020

Mileage

66,000 mi

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE 2 PIECES OFF. HAPPENED WILE DRIVING UNIT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. COMBINATION OF CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. UNIT STARTEF HAVING A CLUNKING NOISE AROUND 100,000 MILES AND THEN A PART OF THE COIL SPRING FELL OUT ONTO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

NHTSA ID

11350750

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

TURBO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS OCCURRED IN A VEHICLE THAT HAD THE TDI EMISSIONS MODIFICATION. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AFTER A WARRANTY REPAIR AT VIC BAILEY VOLKSWAGEN AND APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT IS RELATED TO THE EMISSIONS MODIFICATION. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AFTER THE EMISSIONS MODIFICATION, AND ONLY 1300 MILES AFTER THE PREVIOUS FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TURBO.

NHTSA ID

11348741

Incident

Jun 19, 2020

Mileage

102,000 mi

FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY, WHEN DRIVING ONTO ROAD, NOTICED LOUD GRINDING AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. VEHICLE TOWED TO VW COLONIAL WESTBOROUGH, MA. OTHER VW MODELS FROM 2015 HAVE HAD COIL FAILURES AND RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11337833

Incident

Jul 5, 2020

Mileage

100,050 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME ON STARTUP WHEN STATIONARY (WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATES FROM FREEZING TO THAWING), SOMETIMES TAKING THREE TO FOUR TIMES FOR IT TO CRANK OVER. ONCE IT CRANKS OVER IT WILL VIBRATE AND SHAKE LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. IT WILL ALSO SHAKE AND ACT LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL AFTER IN MOTION FOR THE FIRST MINUTE. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP, SAID IT WAS AN OLD BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY, THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT (AGAIN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATES). READ ONLINE THAT IT COULD BE A TDI INTERCOOLER DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER UNLESS THEY EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE SAYS IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. LOOKING TO TAKE IT TO AN INDEPENDENT VW TDI SHOP TO SEE IF THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND GET A SECOND OPINION. HOPEFULLY, THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA ID

11315543

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

30,008 mi