RoadVitals

1994 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest May 24, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 117 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed May 24, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 25-55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10074118
Incident
Apr 20, 2004
Mileage
185,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN PARTICULARLY WHEN HOT (~190 F ). SOMETIMES WHEN ENGINE IS IDLE, WHILE HOT, VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS TO BE RESTARTED TO REGAIN POWER. EVIDENTLY THIS ENGINE PROBLEM CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS CONDITION OCCURS FREQUENTLY: THAT IS WHILE ENGINE IS HOT, IT SHUTS DOWN, THEN RESTART ENGINE AFTER IT COOLS SOMEWHAT, VEHICLE MAY RESTART; BUT AGAIN THIS WILL REPEAT ITSELF EVEN FOR SHORT DRIVING DISTANCES. DEALER CLAIMS IT CANNOT FIND ANY ENGINE PROBLEM!!!!!. *AK

NHTSA ID
750626
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2001

TIMING BELT DETERIORATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE TIMING BELT FAILURE DAMAGED THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF FAULTY ENGINE DESIGN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT INNER TUBE WAS FOUND IN SUPPOSEDLY TUBELESS TIRE WHEN THE TIRE BECAME FLAT. *YH

NHTSA ID
877707
Incident
Nov 8, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 2000

ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE ALWAYS RESTRARTS BUT HAVING ENGINE DIE IN TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS. ALSO, DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE, AIR CONDITIONER FAILED, TIMING BELT BROKE AT 50,000 MILES AND JACK COLLAPSED.

NHTSA ID
730103
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Mar 6, 2000

WHEN ANY WEIGHT 50 POUNDS OR OVER IS PUT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT MAKES A DRAGGING NOISE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
784540
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 9, 1999

VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS

NHTSA ID
549901
Incident
Aug 14, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 17, 1999

VEHICLE WIL STALL/COMPLETELY DIE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
845176
Engine
Filed May 22, 1999
Fire reported

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN PUTTING OIL IN.

NHTSA ID
706762
Incident
May 18, 1999
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE OIL PAN. WHILE DRIVING SMELLED FUEL, AND THE OIL LEAKS FROM THE PAN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. IN ADDITION, THE RADIATOR FAN DOESN'T COME ON WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID
831325
Incident
Nov 4, 1998
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED TIMING BELT AND OTHER BELTS. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID
829571
Incident
Oct 24, 1998
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 1998

MASS OIL FLOW METER FAILED. DEALER STATED THAT TOO MUCH OIL WAS ADDED DURING THE LAST OIL CHANGE.

NHTSA ID
536622
Incident
Sep 5, 1996
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+8 more
Filed Apr 6, 1998

LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.

NHTSA ID
999999999
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 1998

VEHICLE HESITATES/STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ID
528387
Incident
Aug 15, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 14, 1998

VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, WITHOUT WARNING, AT ANY SPEED AND UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. VEHICLE ALWAYS RESTARTS.

NHTSA ID
528861
Incident
Aug 15, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPPED, VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VEHICLE HAS TO BE RESTARTED TO REGAIN POWER.

NHTSA ID
528300
Incident
Aug 15, 1997
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 5, 1997

THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AND LOSE POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR IN APRIL OF 95, IGNITION COIL IN APRIL OF 96, THE IDLE STABILIZER IN AUGUST OF 96, IN SEPTEMBER OF 97 THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE STALLING PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *AK

NHTSA ID
818329
Incident
Apr 4, 1995
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 27, 1997

WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS IN THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REGARDING THE IGNITION COIL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
815722
Incident
Nov 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 1997

WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, FIRST IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN; CONSUMER THEN NEEDS TO PULL OVER, RESTART ENGINE. VEHICLE WILL RESTART, BUT THIS WILL REPEAT ITSELF SOMETIMES WITHIN 2 FEET. DEALER CLAIMS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
815337
Incident
Aug 11, 1997
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 1996

THE GAS IS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
801800
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 4, 1996

JACK THREADS STRIPPED.

NHTSA ID
503138
Incident
Nov 22, 1994
EngineVisibility
Filed Oct 2, 1995

ENGINE OIL LEAK. *SD

NHTSA ID
488562
Incident
Aug 20, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical21Other / unspecified21Interior & seats20Visibility16Brakes10Body & structure9Fuel system8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .