1985 Volkswagen Jetta Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Volkswagen Jetta, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission423.5%
- Brakes317.6%
- Seat belts211.8%
- Engine211.8%
- Suspension15.9%
- Body & structure15.9%
- Visibility15.9%
- Electrical15.9%
- Interior & seats15.9%
- Powertrain (other)15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
YOU CANNOT TELL IF THE CAR IS IN FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE. THIS IS EXTREEMLY DANGEROUS.*AK
I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST MY CLUTCH CABLE NEEDING REPLACED BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PEDALS WELD POINT. THE ODOMETER HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHY IT DOESN'T WORK. NO GEARS ARE STICKING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE. QUESTION, I REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM ALSO; HOW CAN I GET REIMBERSED FOR THESE RECALLS ?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND SPRUNG A LEAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER ANS MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. AK
BRAKES FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT CAUSED SEPARATION OF STERNUM AND NERVE DAMAGE TO LEG DURING ACCIDENT. *AW
DRIVER'S SEAT BOLTS SHEARED OFF SEAT STRUCTION AND FLOOR DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACK, RESULTING IN INJURY. SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER PUT ONE AND HALF QUARTS OF OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE, AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISE. HE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOUSE AND CHANGED THE OIL . *AK
ALTERNATOR/STARTER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHAKE IN FRONT-END CONTINUAL NOISE DURING SHARP TURNS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL THE DOOR HANDLES OUTSIDE STICK . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEATER CORE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED, NO REASON GIVEN (92V-050). *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALTERNATOR/STARTER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT CAUSED SEPARATION OF STERNUM AND NERVE DAMAGE TO LEG DURING ACCIDENT. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST MY CLUTCH CABLE NEEDING REPLACED BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PEDALS WELD POINT. THE ODOMETER HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHY IT DOESN'T WORK. NO GEARS ARE STICKING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE. QUESTION, I REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM ALSO; HOW CAN I GET REIMBERSED FOR THESE RECALLS ?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .