RoadVitals

2005 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
17
Latest Oct 26, 2017
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.
7%
of 248 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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 brake

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

BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 26, 2017

I AM REPORTING A SAFETY CONCERN FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2005.5. MY JETTA RECENTLY STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS DUE TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ON 8/4/2017 I HAD TO FORCE MY CAR OFF THE ROAD FROM HITTING MULTIPLE VEHICLES DUE TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILING. VOLKSWAGEN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE I HAVE DONE RESEARCH IN FOUND COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS RECALLS BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP ME THE FUEL LINE HAS ALSO FAILED AFTER REPLACING IT CAUSING A GAS SMELL THROUGH OUT THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTING AFTER PUMPING GAS. I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVE BODY DAMAGED THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY SELF IN OTHERS WHO OWN THE SAME VEHICLE THE VALVE BODY DAMAGED CAUSES THE CAR TO SLIP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC LEADING UP TO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH COMPLAINTS THEY DID ADD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO END 100,000 MILES. BACK IN 2005 LEADING UP TO 2014 THERE ARE MULTIPLE 2005.5 JETTAS AROUND NASHVILLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. BUT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT HELP FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE SAFETY OF THERE CUSTOMERS

NHTSA ID
11040022
Incident
Aug 4, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 2012

ABS CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT ALLOW BRAKES TO FULLY ENGAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10474141
Incident
Sep 5, 2012
Mileage
120,124 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 10, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE; WHEN HE WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, IT WOULD STAY ON. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THERE WAS ALSO A RIGHT REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,936. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,740.

NHTSA ID
10365240
Incident
Oct 21, 2010
Mileage
77,740 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AND WHEN APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE CYLINDER AND BOOSTER HAD FAILED BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THEY FAILED. THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED AT A DISCOUNT RATE TO THE CONTACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED AND THE MANUFACTURER TOOK THE LIABILITY FOR A PARTIAL REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

NHTSA ID
10343957
Incident
Jul 11, 2010
Mileage
56,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 7, 2010

SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT CAR I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM (SOUNDED LIKE) ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED CAR NOT CHANGING GEARS SMOOTHLY. FELT AS IF IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING ESPECIALLY UP HILL, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW A VW SHIFTS AND SOUNDS. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT NOTICE IT WHEN I INITIALLY OWNED THE CAR. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC SINCE NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT THEIR OWN WILL, THE CLOCK LOOSES TIME CONSTANTLY, AND THE NOISE HAS GOT A LOT WORSE AND SO HAS THE GEAR SHIFTING. THE DIAGNOSTIC THEY SAY SHOWED THE DUAL FANS ARE BOTH BURNED OUT. IF THEY ARE BURNED OUT WHY ARE THEY STILL MAKING A LOUD NOISE SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF? THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM EXISTS BUT ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME THEY CANNOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC WILL NOT PICK UP ON A BAD TRANSMISSION ONLY A TOTALLY FAILED ONE. WHICH THE CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY THEN. THESE CARS HAVE OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING IGNORED. AFTER HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEM I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND WAS ASTONISHED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. SLOW AND HARD SHIFTS, WIPERS, CAR ACTING AS IF IT IS STALLING, CLOCK LOSING TIME, BATTERY GOING BAD TOO QUICK. BRAKES CONSTANTLY BAD. THIS CAR IS JUST A LEMON. WHY WILL THE GOVERNMENT NOT DO A TOTAL RECALL. THERE IS TOOOOOOO MUCH WRONG WITH TOOOOO MANY OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341888
Incident
Oct 1, 2008
Brakes
Filed Aug 18, 2009

EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. NEED TO REPLACE BRAKE SWITCH AND EVERYTHING IS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280788
Incident
Aug 14, 2009
Mileage
33,990 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 31, 2009

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON 4 TIMES IN MY 2005 NEW JETTA 2.5 THE SEAT BELT SENSORS IN FRONT HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT DEALERSHIP, THIS STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 22000 MILES AND KEPT COMING ON AROUND EVERY 10000 MILES, THEY HAD TO ALSO REPLACE THE AIRBAG(S) NOT SURE WHICH ONES WERE REPLACED, THE SEATBEALTS DON'T WIND BACK UP PROPERLY SOMETIMES AS WELL. AT AROUND 25000 MILES THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED, WE HEARD A CLICKING ONE DAY IN THE REAR WHEEL WELL, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAD REPLACED THE BRAKES, ROTORS ETC. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF THESE REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278989
Incident
Dec 15, 2005
Mileage
22,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2009

MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA'S LEFT REAR BRAKE HAS WORN METAL TO METAL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED 5 BRAKE JOBS TO INCLUDE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258181
Incident
Jan 17, 2009
BrakesFuel systemTransmission
Filed Feb 3, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V063000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT STOP ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES AND, FINALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT DIMMED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME MOBILE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE MONTH AND THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,707 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,207. UPDATED 03-09-09 *BF THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOISEY AND WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. UPDATED 03/12/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10257289
Incident
Jan 6, 2009
Mileage
71,207 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 8, 2008

REAR BRAKES ON 2005 VW JETTA - METAL ON METAL AFTER 19K AND 38K MILES. TOLD BY VW THAT IT IS DUE TO A SMALLER BRAKE PAD ON THE REAR. FEAR THAT A SMALLER BRAKE PEDAL WEARS FASTER AND IS THUS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251130
Incident
Dec 5, 2008
Brakes
Filed Sep 5, 2007

20K MILES, NOTICED REAR GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING. SOUND SEEMED TO DISSIPATE AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF BRAKING. HOWEVER, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE GRINDING SOUND WAS THE REAR PADS HAVING BEEN WORN DOWN TO THE RIVETS. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTORS AND REAR PADS, AT 20K MILES. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL. SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO 60K MILES ON REAR PADS, PERHAPS AS SOON AS 30K ON FRONTS. *TR UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ID
10201982
Incident
Aug 31, 2007
Mileage
20,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 9, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ABS FAILURE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 15 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, USUALLY WHEN DECELERATING AND STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES MAY CONTAIN DUST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,100, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,300.*AK UPDATE 4/25/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10187306
Incident
Mar 20, 2007
Mileage
17,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 18, 2006

2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA BRAKE PEDAL FAILED, WHEN ATTEMPTING PRESS THE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10172238
Incident
Sep 18, 2006
Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2006

FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH LEADING TO UNSAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BRAKE SWITCH FAILED AT 19,000 MILES CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10169678
Incident
Aug 10, 2006
Mileage
19,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS DEPRESS. THE FIRST 3 TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THE COMPUTER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN AREA REPRESENTATIVE. HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 02/06/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147250
Incident
Dec 6, 2005
Mileage
6,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 22, 2005

THE CAR IS SQUEALING RIDICULOUSLY LOUD WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP OR IN REVERSE. (MOSTLY IN REVERSE) I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO FIX IT. I HAVE OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME NOISE. THE SQUEALING NOISE IS SO LOUD, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN 18 WHEELER COMING TO A STOP. WE KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM VOLKSWAGEN. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE FIXED, I WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN OUT A LEASE ON THIS CAR. IT IS ONLY WITH THIS MODEL. MY PREVIOUS JETTA HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE CAR IS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI 1.8 TURBO. I WANT ANSWERS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON WHEN THEY ARE PLANNING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WANT THIS KNOWN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE OVER $350 A MONTH TO HAVE THE CAR, THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT NEED TO WAIT 1 MORE MINUTE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143494
Incident
Oct 1, 2005
Mileage
250 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Oct 27, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON 8-16-05 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR DIED. THEN IT LURCHED FORWARD, STOPPED AND LURCHED FORWARD AGAIN. THIS WAS THE FIFTH TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERS. THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEY REPLACED A FUEL INJECTOR. THE SECOND TIME THE ABS LIGHT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY INSTALLED A FULL DISTRIBUTOR RAIL. THE THIRD TIME THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT WORK . THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND COOLING FANS. THE FOURTH TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND THEY REPLACED A VALVE. THIS LAST TIME THE DEALER GAVE HIM A LOANER CAR. THEY HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM YET. THE DEALER CALLED ON FRIDAY TO TELL HIM THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE LOANER CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10140929
Incident
Aug 16, 2005
Mileage
10,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .