Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Because of recall, car was not engaged in park completely like it stated after I got out it rolled away down the hill and hit a tree, therefore the recall caused my accident. Yes the problem has been confirmed it is a recall. No it has not been inspected by dealer or police. Volkswagen will not engage in any further investigations they say it's my fault. There were no warning lamps.
Door unexpectedly does not close and latch correctly. Had to hold the car door the whole time driving. The driver door and passenger door has done it so far. This needs to look into.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the splash guard detached from the vehicle and damaged the radiator. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE FUSIBLE LINK WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE CEASED. ONCE THE BATTERY AND FUSIBLE LINK WERE REPLACED, THE DOORS BECAME DIFFICULT TO LOCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.
LEFT SIDE DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTION: UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM LEFT REAR EVEN WHEN CHILD PROTECTION IS DISABLED. COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN NEEDING TO EXIT VEHICLE. FAULTY DOOR LATCH ISSUES ARE WELL KNOWN TO OCCUR. THE LATCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. 05
THE DOOR LOCKS AT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES...THE RADIO WHICH ACCORDING TO THE VW DEALERSHIP HAS TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE IF I REPLACE WITH AN AFTER MARKET THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT....THEY CLAIM THE RADIO HAS TO BE VW
WHILE IN CAR WAS DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MIN AT LEAST AND NOTICED CAR WAS SMOKING. PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND POPPED THE HOOD TO CHECK WHY IT WAS SMOKING AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS UNDER FIRE. CAR WAS PARKED PRIOR FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS.
WIND NOISE COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE DOOR.
TWO EXISTING RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM UPDATED AS COMPLETE IN THE SYSTEM. THEY ARE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION> 11E036 RECALL DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 26G9 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION> 14V656 RECALL DATE: APRIL 7, 2015 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 42G8 I HAVE ATTACHED A PRINTOUT FROM THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP THAT SHOWS THE INSPECTIONS AND IF NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN TO ADDRESS BOTH.
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). SUBJECT:2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA [XXX] NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS STANDARD NO. 206 DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS - PASSENGER CARS REQUEST FOR DOOR LATCH REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR LATCH OF MY DAUGHTER'S VW RECENTLY BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DOOR SIMPLY DID NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED AND WOULD FREELY SWING OPEN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST DEALER, TOM WOOD VW OF NOBLESVILLE, IN. ON MAY 13, 2017. IN DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX], HE STATED THAT VW WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. I MENTIONED TO [XXX] THAT THE DOOR LATCH IS PART OF THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, (FMVSS STD. 206) AND THAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE NOT LIMITED TO MILEAGE OR WARRANTY. A VEHICLE SHOULD MEET THOSE STANDARDS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR AT A COST OF $512 (SEE ATTACHED REPAIR INVOICE RECEIPT). IN PREPARATION OF THIS LETTER I ENTERED IN A CHAT WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE. THE VW REP, WHILE SYMPATHETIC TO THE SITUATION, STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN WITHIN THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT OF 50,000 MILES. I STATED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A FMVSS COMPLIANCE ISSUE AND THAT SUCH A REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DOOR DOES NOT STAY SHUT AND SWINGS OPEN FREELY. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED. IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF CHOICE IN THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND MOST LIKELY ILLEGAL TO DRIVE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING THAT VW REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF $512. *DL
STANDING WATER IN THE WHEEL WELLS TRACED TO SUNROOF DRAINAGE HOSES NOT ATTACHED TO DRAINS BECAUSE THE CLIPS MEANT TO HOLD THE HOSE IN PLACE MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED THE HOSE TO "BACK OUT" OF PLACE. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY APPARENT AS CAR IS USUALLY KEPT GARAGED. BODY SHOP, INTERNET DISCUSSIONS AND DEALERSHIP HAVE ALL REPORTED THEY BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A VW DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF CONSUMER NEGLECT, MILEAGE OR AGE OF CAR. THE CARPETING AND SOUND-DAMPENING UNDER PAD ARE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MOLD AND MILDEW CONCERNS. TO REPAIR, THE HOSES WILL BE RECLAMPED INTO PLACE. TOTAL REPAIR COST ~$1700. VW WILL COVER PARTS CITING "PART FAILURE," BUT DECLINES TO COVER LABOR COSTS. PURCHASE OF "PLATINUM" LEVEL EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH NEW CAR WILL COVER ONLY 1/3 THE LABOR. *TR
MY CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING LAST YEAR, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF WAITING TO DISCUSS IT WITH VOLKSWAGEN UNTIL THIS YEAR, NOW THEY ARE SAYING MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED WHICH WE HAD BOUGHT THE 6 YEAR PLAN AND THAT THE CLEAR COAT IS NOT THEIR ISSUE ANYMORE PLUS A SPOT ON MY REAR FENDER IS DARKENING EVERY TIME I WASH MY CAR. I'VE SPOKEN WITH 4 SEPARATE BODY SHOPS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE SAID THAT BOTH ISSUES ARE IN FACT A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND THAT I NEED TO GO BACK AND KEEP TRYING TO GET THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAULT. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL BRING UP SEVERAL VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND SAME YEAR MODEL, I'VE FOUND ONLY ONE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THEIR CAR FIXED. I HOPE THAT MY STORY HELPS OTHERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE BASICALLY JUST IGNORING IT WITH ME. *TR
THE LATCH ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BECOME LOOSE. AS I WAS DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS, I NOTICED THE DOOR WOULD RATTLE HARD. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND NOTICED THE LATCH ATTACHED TO THE CAR WAS LOOSE. I TIGHTENED UP THE SCREWS AND THE DOOR WAS ABLE TO CLOSE TIGHTLY AGAIN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. I TIGHTEN THE SCREWS, BUT THIS TIME, THE DOOR CANNOT CLOSE FULLY. THIS IS WORRISOME, BECAUSE WHAT IF THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN AS I AM DRIVING? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN! *TR
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE STOPPED. I WAS TRYING TO GET MY 3 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK. BECAUSE WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE ALSO USE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS TO PREVENT THE DOOR FROM OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. THE LOCKS HARE REPEATEDLY FAILING TO EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND MY CHILD (OR CHILDREN) WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE VOLKSWAGEN DOORS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGED, THIS BECOMES MUCH LESS OF AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, THESE LOCKS COULD LEAD TO A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH A SMALL CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT, UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR IT WOULD NOT LATCH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR HAD TO BE TIED SO THAT IT WOULD NOT OPEN DURING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,800. RETURNED BY USPS. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 1/14/2013 FIALED. *KB
THE FACTORY INSTALLED LIP SPOILERS THAT COME WITH 2011 JETTA OR LATER ARE ONLY ATTACHED USING GLUE. IT IS NOT SECURED WITH ANY HOOKS OR SCREWS. SO THE LIP SPOILER AT THE BACK OF MY JETTA HAS STARTED TO COME OFF. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE LIP SPOILER CAN COME APART AT ANY TIME. SO IF I AM ON THE ROAD OR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE LIP SPOILER COMES APART, IT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE OR INJURIES TO CARS BEHIND ME. I TOOK THIS ISSUE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AT DULLES, VA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DENIED WARRANTY SERVICE TO REPAIR THE LIP SPOILER. THEY EVEN TRIED TO CLAIM THAT I HAD SOMEHOW BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS NOT TRUE AT ALL. I BELIEVE VW IS TRYING TO COVER THIS ISSUE UP AND I REQUEST NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2011 VW JETTA S SEDAN ON 1/24/2011. AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A WHISTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE DASH NEARLY ALL THE TIME. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 2/16/11 AND AFTER A FEW DAYS, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS ISOLATED TO THE THERMAL EXPANSION VALVE IN THE AC SYSTEM. THIS WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, THE SOUND RETURNED. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN ON 3/29/11 AND AGAIN WAS CONTACTED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. THE DEALER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT THE VW FACTORY TECH REP LOOKED AT THE CAR AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. HIS DETERMINATION IS THAT IT IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATION. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY CONFIRMED THIS AS THE OUTCOME AND THAT IF I REMAIN UNSATISFIED I COULD CALL THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AUTO LINE FOR RESOLUTION, WHICH I HAVE ALSO DONE. THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT CERTAINLY REPRESENTS A DESIGN FLAW THAT VW IS NOT WILLING TO RECTIFY. THE CAR WHISTLES NEARLY CONSTANTLY WHEN THE AC SYSTEM IS AT OPERATING PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLEARCOAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE AFTER LESS THAN 48 HOURS OF EXPOSURE TO BIRD DROPPINGS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THE WARRANTY SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDES THAT DAMAGE FROM COVERAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD WIND SOUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS IF THE EXTERIOR WIND WAS BLOWING IN THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS. THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS CONSIDERED A DESIGN FLAW. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 5/9/11 *CN UPDATED 06/20/11
2011 JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI REAR HATCH HAD A LEAK CAUSING TAILGATE TO FILL WITH WATER. BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. 1ST TIME-REPLACED WINDOW AND SEAL 2ND TIME-REPLACED THIRD BREAK LIGHT AND GASKET 3RD TIME-SAID THERE WAS A BAD WELD AND REPLACED ENTIRE TAILGATE. THE LEAK RESULTED IN A HIGH AMOUNT OF MOISTURE BEING IN THE CAR, NOW HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. VW WILL NOT EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE ELECTRONICS, THAT GOT WET. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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