1994 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 1994 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
- Electrical2113.2%
- Other / unspecified2113.2%
- Engine2113.2%
- Interior & seats2012.6%
- Visibility1610.1%
- Brakes106.3%
- Body & structure95.7%
- Fuel system85.0%
- Driver assistance74.4%
- Transmission74.4%
- Airbags42.5%
- Heating & air conditioning42.5%
- Suspension31.9%
- Powertrain (other)31.9%
- Steering21.3%
- Seat belts21.3%
- Tires & wheels10.6%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK PROPERLY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED, WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN.*AK. THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY, WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. THE HOOD WILL NOT OPEN, THE CABLE CAME LOOSE FROM THE HOOD LATCH. THE SUNROOF WAS BROKEN THE CABLE AND WIND DEFLECTOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE RADIO HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT. *JG
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
JACK RECALL--HASN'T RECEIVED REPLACEMENT.
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 25-55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE (1994 VW JETTA) THE HOOD LATCH BROKE AND HOOD DETACHED FROM LOCK FLEW UP CRACKING MY WINDSHIELD, BRAKING WIPERS, I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHING INTO DIVIDER OF HIGHWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND DROVE TO SAFETY AS MY HOOD COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS SHATTERED OVER THE FRONT DRIVING AREA. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME AT THIS TRAUMATIC TIME. I HAD TO CALL FOR HELP AND USE FIRST AID FOR CUTS. I WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL AND REPAIRED WINDSHIELD,WIPERS AND TEMPORARILY STABILIZED HOOD. *JB
WIRES ARE BURNED OUT INSIDE DASHBOARD PANEL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL UNIT IS DEFECTIVE. HAS HAD TO REPLACE 4X. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WAS DRIVING AND BEGAN TO SMELL A "WIRE" BURNING SMELL, NOTICED SMOKE EMITTED FROM VENTS. REACTION MELTED THE FRONT OF PANEL BOTH TIMES ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. TS
REAR WINDOWS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A SHORT IN ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR. RECALL 96V122000 WAS ISSUED; THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *MJS
WHEN ANY WEIGHT 50 POUNDS OR OVER IS PUT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT MAKES A DRAGGING NOISE. *SLC
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK PROPERLY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED, WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN.*AK. THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY, WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. THE HOOD WILL NOT OPEN, THE CABLE CAME LOOSE FROM THE HOOD LATCH. THE SUNROOF WAS BROKEN THE CABLE AND WIND DEFLECTOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE RADIO HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT. *JG
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE IN TANK FUEL PUMP DESIGN HAS THE ACTUAL PUMP SITTING IN A PLASTIC HOUSING WITH RUBBER SEALS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM TO KEEP FUEL AROUND THE PUMP FOR COOLING, EVEN WHEN THE TANK QUANTITY GETS LOW. THE RUBBER SEALS ON MY FUEL PUMP ROTTED AND DISINTEGRATED. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE PUMP TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DESIGNED COOLING OF THE PUMP AT LOW GAS LEVELS. OVERHEATING OF THE PUMP BECAUSE OF THIS COULD RESULT IN A GAS TANK FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STRUCK A MANURE TANK SPREADER, THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *YH
INTERMITTENTLY CRUISE CONTROL BECOMES INOPERABLE, AND THROTTLE DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE. RECALL 95E34000 WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH CABLE. *LA
WHEN ANY WEIGHT 50 POUNDS OR OVER IS PUT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT MAKES A DRAGGING NOISE. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I NOTICED THE RED LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF (NOT NOTICEABLE IN DAYLIGHT) THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 92K MILES. THE WARNING LIGHT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT. IF IT FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF A JOURNEY THERE IS NO WARNING SOUND.... CONSUMERS CAN BE KILLED OR MAIMED IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS WITHOUT REALIZING THIS PART HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING, DRIVERS MAY GET A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIRBAG HAD STOPPED WORKING. WE, (MY HUSBAND AND I), CALLED VW OF AMERICA, BUT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS 1. OUT OF WARRANTY, 2. 'OLD' (13 YRS) AND 3. 92, 000 MILES THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WOULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE. WE DISAGREED; THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD WEAR OUT, ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT'S NOT THE SAME AS ENGINE PARTS, TIRES, BODY, ETC. THAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO WEAR AFTER TIME AND MILEAGE. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SEEMED ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT IF THE CAR IS WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I AM SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO DEALER WITH A DECISION TO REPLACE THE MODULE. *JB
AIR BAGS INFLATED LEAVING A POWDERY RESIDUE ON EVERYTHING INSIDE VEHICLE. CONSUMERS MOTHER HAD A SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE RESIDUE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO SEE WARNINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLERGIC TO THE AIR BAG RESIDUE. *JG
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
PRIOR TO RECALL (98V-160) THE FRONT HOOD CAME OFF AND SMASHED IN THE FRONT WINDOW WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. YH
TRANSMISSION 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
WHEN ANY WEIGHT 50 POUNDS OR OVER IS PUT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT MAKES A DRAGGING NOISE. *SLC
VEHICLE TRAVELLING AT 35-40 MPH ON A CURVE, WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN AROUND CURVE, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND WENT OVER AN ENBANKMENT. TT
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
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
OWNER STATES THAT SHE HAD DRIVETRAIN PROBLEMS, HER FRONT AXLE BROKE OFF IN TRAFFIC WHILE SHE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. SHE ALSO NOTES THAT SHE DID HAVE WORK DONE ON DRIVETRAIN BEFORE AND THAT DEALERS TOLD HER THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HUMAN ERROR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
EXCESSIVE IDLE SPEED, REPLACED ALARM SYSTEM ONCE,REPLACED IDLE STABILIZER THREE TIMES AND COMPUTER CONTROL REPLACED ONCE ,VEHICLE IS STILL IDLING HIGH, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK *JB
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
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND A CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS IN THE REAR SEAT, IN A SEAT BELT. FORCE CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO BEDISCONNECTED, THROWING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AROUND IN VEHICLE. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED WHILE IN VEHICLE COLLISION CAUSING OCCUPANT TO BE EJECTED FROM VEHICLE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
INNER SIDEWALLS ON 3 OF 4 TIRES HAVE SPLIT - 2 OCCURRED WHILE NOT DRIVING AND THE OTHER OCCURED AT LOW SPEED. THEY HAVE ALL FAILED IN LESS THEN ONE MONTH. I HAVE THE THIRD FAILED TIRE AND THE FORTH ORIGINAL. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE AROUND THE SPLITS. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OCCURANCE BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO.*AK (TIRESIZE: 185/60R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185/60R14 )
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 .