2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Suspension Problems

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

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

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

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

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

BROKEN REAR PASSENGER COIL SPRING. UNKNOWN CAUSE OR TIME OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11205439

Incident

Apr 25, 2019

Mileage

77,500 mi