RoadVitals

2019 Volkswagen Jetta Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
22
Latest Jun 25, 2026
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.
4%
of 544 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.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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 body or structure

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

AirbagsBody & structureBrakes
Filed Jun 25, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

There was an intersection, I hit a car head on and no airbags went off

NHTSA ID
11746389
Incident
Jun 23, 2026
Body & structure
Filed Mar 4, 2026

I was driving when I heard a loud "bang" over my head. I was terrified and swerved because I was startled. This put me at risk of hitting a vehicle in the lane next to me and injuring myself or others. There were no warning lights or anything to indicate what happened and no cars within 100 feet of me in the front. When I got to my destination I looked to find any visible damage to my car but nothing seemed to stick out at first. Eventually I saw spidering of the glass panel between my factory windshield and sunroof without any point of impact. I took my vehicle to the dealer and they inspected it and tried to gaslight me that it was from impact. There is no impact point. There is separation/lifting of the panel at the seems. I was told they would not replace it since their corporate stated that the claim was "denied since it was due to impact" based off of some dealer photos that were submitted for their review. When I spoke to the service person on the phone he indicated he had heard of this happening before but when I was in person the manager tried to gaslight me that it was due to impact and not spontaneous even though there are tons of documented cases of this happening.

NHTSA ID
11721940
Incident
Feb 5, 2026
Body & structure
Filed Jan 24, 2026

Powered sunroof exploded while driving. Contacted Volkswagen and explained the issue to no avail. Also contacted local glass repair business that said they have replaced 3 sunroofs on the same vehicle for the same issue

NHTSA ID
11713050
Incident
Nov 19, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Oct 3, 2023
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the upper left corners on both the driver and passenger side doors of the vehicle would bend outward upon opening the doors. While the contact's husband was stepping down from a curb to enter the passenger side of the vehicle, the door's sharp corner pierced his husband's right eye. The contact was taken to the hospital where he sought medical treatment for the injury. Since the injury, the contact's husband continued to seek treatment from an eye specialist and stated that the injury had left him legally blind. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ID
11547980
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Mileage
35,000 mi
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2023

Jan 2023-check engine light for oil came on-just had oil change November 21, 2022 and only went 3000 miles. No oil in engine so it was topped off at a local Volkswagon Satellite and inspected for leaks no leaks found. Mid Feb 2023 had to put 2 quarts oil in car and high pitch noise/humming coming from car when driving. Mar 2023 went to VW dealership and explained noise and oil. They said noise was bad wheel bearings and it was ok to drive until backorder came in to replace. Was told the oil consumption is normal for VW despite us telling them it’s not normal consumption and they told us to read the owners manual. They couldn’t find leak, they topped it off and sent us on our way. April,May 2023 humming noise louder and a creaky, clanking, cricket chirp noise began and gear shifting became delayed. Made an appoint with VW dealership for June 2023 for wheel bearings to be replaced and told them about oil (we had to put 2 quarts in June)and new noise, and shifting. Wheel bearings are replaced, noise continued and they replaced front axle, different noise continued and now they are replacing transmission. They said they were going to prep car for oil consumption test but DO NOT have my car back from the shop to drive it to determine the cause. Called sales to get quote on extended warranty as mine is about to expire in about 8000 miles. I was “told it is not an inexpensive car to warranty and was quoted $5749.00 for a 4 yr 60k warranty (it’s in an email I have) My worry is “what else is going to break or even possibly hurt or kill my daughter”. This was her graduation present to get her through college and on her feet with a job. She attended undergrad out of state and now attending her graduate school out of state. 97% of her miles 62-64k are highway miles. She has kept up with all service requirements for her vehicle and has never been in an accident (carfax). All her records are in her car and can upload once we get her car back. Car is at Sheehey VW

NHTSA ID
11531816
Incident
Jan 8, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Oct 13, 2021

We were driving on highway 90 from Del Rio to San Antonio Texas when our sunroof exploded without any signs. No signs of impact or anything just exploded. Dealership declined any warranty coverage as they stated that something could have hit the sunroof weeks prior to the incident. There are no signs of impact on the sunroof and you can see the broken bits bending outward on the glass and not inward.

NHTSA ID
11436648
Incident
Sep 3, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Mar 10, 2021

THE PLASTIC CAPS ON SIDE MIRRORS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER) ARE INCREDIBLY UNSTABLE AND ARE AT RISK OF FLYING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DURING A WINDY DAY WHEN THE PLASTIC CAP FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR FLEW OFF. THE MIRROR/CAP HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE AND WAS NOT LOOSE IN ANY WAY, SO THERE IS NO REASON THAT IT SHOULD HAVE JUST FLOWN OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT, AND WHEN I HAD THE PIECE REPAIRED, IT WAS SIMPLY SNAPPED ON WITH NO SEALANT, AND CONTINUED TO FALL OFF AFTER REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11400240
Incident
Mar 3, 2021
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Feb 22, 2021

BOUGHT CAR NEW MARCH 2020. BACK COVER OF DRIVER SIDE MIRROR CAME OFF IN APRIL 2020. JANUARY 15, 2021 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND SPUTTER. EVERY ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK MORE. AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 25 MPH TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD CYLINDER 1 WAS DEAD AND OTHERS ARE MISFIRING. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT SOMETHING BROKE OFF AND WAS SUCKED INTO CYLINDER 1 DAMAGING CYLINDER 1. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW ENGINE SINCE JANUARY. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD IT IS ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA. IT IS NOW 2/22/21

NHTSA ID
11397276
Incident
Jan 15, 2021
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 5, 2020
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE'S AN EXPOSED METAL PIPE ABOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO BURN HIS FEET MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VILLAGE VOLKSWAGEN OF CHATTANOOGA, 6001 INTERNATIONAL DR, CHATTANOOGA, TN 37421, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT'S THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ID
11362807
Incident
Jul 8, 2020
Mileage
25,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2020

INTERIOR TRIM PIECE BELOW THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER IS DEFECTIVE. IT BEND OUTWARD LEAVING A 1 INCH GAP BETWEEN TRIM PIECE AND THE DASH. TAKEN TO VW DEALER AND IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR DEFECTIVE PIECE.

NHTSA ID
11322826
Incident
Apr 6, 2020
Mileage
6,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 11, 2020
1 injury reported

THE PASSENGER SIDE INDOOR, DOOR HANDLE IS A STICKER AND NOT AN ACTUAL CHROME HANDLE. THE STICKER HAS PEELED OFF THE BOTTOM, CREATING SHARP EDGES. I HAVE CUT MY FINGERS WHEN OPENING THE DOOR TWICE NOW. THE HANDLES ALL SHOULD BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11308621
Incident
Feb 7, 2020
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 21, 2019

UPON ACCESSING THE TRUNK, I HAVE BEEN STRUCK ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE THE TRUNK LID DOES NOT STAY UP UPON OPENING. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS CORRECTED AFTER A CERTAIN MANUFACTURER DATE, BUT I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALER WHO DID NOTHING ABOUT IT AND SAID THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID
11208900
Incident
May 21, 2019
Mileage
15 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 28, 2019

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WITH NO IMPACT FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ID
11204195
Incident
Apr 26, 2019
Mileage
1,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 11, 2019

THIS CAR HAS VENT ISSUES AND COWL SEAL ISSUE. THE SEAL IS NOT TIGHT AND THE INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD AND WINDOW FREEZES

NHTSA ID
11185759
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Mar 3, 2019

INSIDE THE CAR WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS FREEZES AND FORMS ICE EVERYDAY MORNING. AIR LEAK IN THE DOOR MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
11183737
Incident
Feb 27, 2019
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 28, 2019

1. 1800 MILES-TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK, THE SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2019 JETTAS, REPAIR TOOK 2 MONTHS 2. HEATER DOESN'T BLOW OUT WARM AIR WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 40 MPH, EVEN AFTER 18 MILES OF DRIVING 3. GRINDING/CROAKING NOISE LIKE A FROG AT 28-30 MPH AND AGAIN AT 40 MPH 4. BRAKES SQUEAK 5. TRUNK FALLS ON MY HEAD UNLESS I PUSH IT ALL THE WAY UP PER OWNERS MANUAL ADDENDUM

NHTSA ID
11183199
Incident
Feb 28, 2019
Mileage
1,800 mi
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 22, 2019
1 injury reported

FIRST, TRUNK OF THE CAR. IT'S UNSAFE AND DOESN'T LOCK UNLESS U OVEREXTEND IT OPEN. I HAVE BEEN HIT IN MY HEAD TWICE BEFORE I LEARNED MY LESSON. SECOND, TRANSMISSION. IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN OPERATED AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I AM REACHING 9,500 MILES AND NOISE IS STILL THERE SINCE DAY ONE. THREE, THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A INTERNAL DEFECT BECAUSE TODAY I WAS DRIVING A THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE I CHECKED THE OIL I SAW THAT THE DIPSTICK WAS CLEAN, NO OIL, NADA. WHERE HAS ALL THE OIL GONE ON A NEW 2019 JETTA? IT SURE HASN'T BEEN LEAKING ON THE GROUND OF MY GARAGE BECAUSE THERE IS NO FLUIDS.

NHTSA ID
11182044
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
Mileage
9,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 24, 2019

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR VIBRATES LIKE CRAZY WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON AND A CERTAIN FREQUENCY IS HIT (DOESN'T MATTER THE BASS OR VOLUME). THE PROBLEM CAN BE ALLEVIATED BY PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE ARM REST OF FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THIS ISSUE CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME - IN MOTION, STATIONARY, ETC.

NHTSA ID
11171990
Incident
Dec 22, 2018
Body & structure
Filed Jan 18, 2019

AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE REAR DOOR HANDLES WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHENEVER IT RAINED, WATER GOT INTO THE DOOR LOCK LATCH MECHANISMS AND WATER WAS POOLING BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER DOOR SEALS. WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED, WATER POURED OUT. I EXPLAINED THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND DEMONSTRATED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY TALKED TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL WATER DRAINAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS : 1) THE FRONT DOORS DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE 2) THIS ISSUE IN THE LEFT REAR DOOR IS NOT AS BAD AS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR ( A GOOD AMOUNT OF WATER POOLS IN THE SILL IN THE RIGHT REAR DOOR AND I CAN SEE WATER IN THE LOCK LATCH MECHANISM ) 3) THIS ISSUE DIDN'T EXIST WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR 4) WATER IS POOLING INSIDE OF THE OUTER PLASTIC DOOR SEAL THAT IS ON THE DOOR SO IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT MAY END UP PASSING THE INNER PLASTIC SEAL THAT IS ON THE FRAME ( THERE ARE DRAINAGE HOLES ON THE OUTER BOTTOM PART OF THE DOOR, WHICH IS FOR NORMAL WATER DRAINAGE. I AM NOT REFERRING TO THESE ) 5) THIS CAN LEAD TO RUST IN THE LOCK MECHANISM AND CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN COLD WEATHER WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS MAY FREEZE SHUT 6) I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF ISSUE IN ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED SO, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE DEALER'S AND MANUFACTURER'S ASSESSMENTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11170875
Incident
Jan 4, 2019
Mileage
1,489 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 18, 2019
1 injury reported

TRUNK LID DOES NOT STAY OPEN ALL THE WAY UNLESS IT IS PUSHED AND LOCKED INTO PLACE. COULD KNOCK SOMEONE OUT IF YOU FORGET TO DO THIS. NEVER SEEN A DESIGN LIKE THIS. VW SHOULD ADDRESS AND FIX THIS HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
11170790
Incident
Jan 10, 2019
Mileage
1,600 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 6, 2019

TAKATA RECALL- I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE WAS GOING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. ONCE DIAGNOSED VW DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE FIREWALL OF THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SEALED, THEREFORE WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS MOLD FOUND IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH NOW THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COMPLETION DATE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MADE NO EFFORTS TO CONTACT ME.

NHTSA ID
11165458
Incident
Dec 17, 2018
Mileage
900 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 25, 2018

GLASS PANEL AT LEADING EDGE OF ROOF SHATTERED WHILE PARKED. LATERAL "CRACK" FROM SIDE TO SIDE APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF TORSIONAL LOADING. GLASS WAS NOT DAMAGED WHEN VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY PARKED.

NHTSA ID
11153594
Incident
Nov 25, 2018
Mileage
2,600 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .