2019 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 2019 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
- Powertrain (other)16123.3%
- Electrical15322.1%
- Engine14821.4%
- Driver assistance395.6%
- Brakes304.3%
- Fuel system294.2%
- Exterior lighting263.8%
- Visibility233.3%
- Body & structure223.2%
- Airbags162.3%
- Suspension142.0%
- Steering121.7%
- Seat belts60.9%
- Other / unspecified60.9%
- Interior & seats30.4%
- Tires & wheels30.4%
- Transmission10.1%
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the RPM was revving high with the vehicle violently jerking and vibrating. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 73,816.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after driving and shifting into reverse(R), the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve body, the wiring harness, and all fluids needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, after driving 5 miles, the vehicle started jerking and the message "Transmission Error - Please Pull Over Safely" was displayed. The vehicle was towed back to the same dealer, where the contact was informed that the seal was installed incorrectly, and the seal and the valve needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred the same day. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where it was determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the engine revved, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. There was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle lost motive power. The message "Error Start/Stop" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Ignition switch off, safely stop the vehicle” or “Starter system faulty” Error was shown on a hot day. The vehicle turned off
The vehicle experiences a sudden engine stall shortly after starting, accompanied by an immediate dashboard error message stating: "Starter system faulty, please service vehicle." An OBD-II diagnostic scan confirms active fault code P253200 (Ignition Switch Run Position Circuit High). This failure mirrors Volkswagen Safety Recall 28H7 / NHTSA Campaign 23V604 exactly, but my specific VIN is currently excluded from the recall database. The sudden stalling presents an immediate traffic safety and crash hazard.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Ignition switch off, safely stop the vehicle” or “Starter system faulty” Error was shown on a hot day. The vehicle turned off
The vehicle experiences a sudden engine stall shortly after starting, accompanied by an immediate dashboard error message stating: "Starter system faulty, please service vehicle." An OBD-II diagnostic scan confirms active fault code P253200 (Ignition Switch Run Position Circuit High). This failure mirrors Volkswagen Safety Recall 28H7 / NHTSA Campaign 23V604 exactly, but my specific VIN is currently excluded from the recall database. The sudden stalling presents an immediate traffic safety and crash hazard.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING ON WESTLAKE DRIVE IN WIMAUMA FL PREPARING TO TURN LEFT TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PUT FOOT ON CLUTCH PUT CAR IN 2ND GEAR WITH FOOT ABOVE BRAKE TO MASH DOWN, PCOULD WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN HIT ELECTRIC POLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CAR WAS IN SHOP PRIOR TO ACCIDDENT AT BOB BOAST VOLKSWAGEN IN BRADENTON FL.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle lost automotive power intermittently, and the vehicle shuddered abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer stated that the cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING ON WESTLAKE DRIVE IN WIMAUMA FL PREPARING TO TURN LEFT TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PUT FOOT ON CLUTCH PUT CAR IN 2ND GEAR WITH FOOT ABOVE BRAKE TO MASH DOWN, PCOULD WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN HIT ELECTRIC POLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CAR WAS IN SHOP PRIOR TO ACCIDDENT AT BOB BOAST VOLKSWAGEN IN BRADENTON FL.
There was an intersection, I hit a car head on and no airbags went off
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
It will not take fuel. I try very slowly to put fuel in it and it keeps shutting off at the pump. I took it to the VW Dealership and they said it was a stuck valve in the tank. That I would need a new gas tank and wanted to charge me $2000 to fix it. I took it to another place and they said it was a venting problem. They put a camera down in the tank and pushed the stick valve open and it wasn’t stuck as much as it had pressure built up in the tank from not getting holding the valve shut. I’m not sure what to do. I don’t know if it’s a stuck valve or a venting problem.
VIN: [XXX] Previous Report: XXX.. This a report of a continuing problem with my vehicle. The engine randomly shuts down endangering both myself and my passengers who are often my [XXX] and [XXX] grandchildren . No warning lamps. the car both stumbles and stops while driving and at stop signs and traffic lights. I repeatedly have taken it to my dealer (Elgin IL VW) they have been unable to determine the fault and fix it. This has been going on since June 2026 and progressively worsened. The most recent incident was on the afternoon of 19 June 2026. The “fixes’ so far have included bith replacing the fuel taknk fuel pump and today a part of the fuel feed system. It’s still at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving my car on a 100 degree day and and after about a block, a warning popped up on the little screen behind the steering wheel that said "Ignition switch off, safely stop the vehicle". I feel like the engine may have shut off, but I'm not sure as I just rolled to the side of the road and turned off my car as fast as a could. I waited a few minutes and turned it on, drove about a block, and it said, "Starter system faulty, please service vehicle". I once again turned it off, waited a few minutes. I googled on my phone instances of this and people saying they were still able to drive that car, so I turned it back on and started to drive it the two blocks back to my house, the "Starter system faulty" message popped up again and suddenly all of the electrical in the car shut off (the engine was still running). My radio, speedometer, everything was just off. I made it home, got on my computer and found an article about a recall that match my car's make, model, year, and key rather than button ignition. It described my exact experience. I looked up my car to see if it had a recall and it didn't. I called the dealership and they were no help, so I called the Volkswagen of America customer care line. They told me my VIN didn't qualify "probably" because it wasn't within the "manufacturing dates". I'm having a hard time understanding that since everything else lines up. Additionally, I just purchased this vehicle used from a VW dealership less than two months ago. The dealer plates are still on the car. According to them, the car was in great condition...
As reported by many other drivers on this website and all over the internet that 2019 having ignition switch problem in 2019 Volkswagen jettas. I started having the same problem aswell. This has happened several time already and now I am scared to drive this car on the highways. It is clearly mentioned that 2019 and 2020 ignition systems are faulty than why vw is not helping people who have those year cars. This is the big safety concern and I believe it should not be overlooked. I tried searching with my plates and vin but it’s says 0 recalls. Every thing shuts off inside (ac, infotainment screen, all the dash lights, wiper blades, speedometer, rpm meter, everything) I hope NHTSA will take this problem seriously as not hundreds but thousands of vehicles are affected with this problem so far. Thank you
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was a loud explosion, and the sunroof exploded. There was no impact that would have caused the sunroof to shatter. The contact sustained ear injuries, and medical attention was needed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was inspected. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the sunroof glass panel had shattered. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the failure was not identified, and the vehicle was left for further investigation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,888.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
There was an intersection, I hit a car head on and no airbags went off
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.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
There was an intersection, I hit a car head on and no airbags went off
My car began flashing a bunch of warning lights, including the passenger air bag and the blind spot warning and locks working on the inside. I took my car to the dealer and had them diagnose it. Turns out it needs to parts that are connected; one part they have, another they have tried to order from corporate. This part has been on back order for 8 months.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VW 2019 Jetta R-line had rear coil spring failure (cracked) at 55,000mi. VW did have a NTSB recall on 2019 Jettas, however the VIN was not included. At 107,000mi the rear coil spring on the other side failed (cracked). VW dealer indicated replacements are on back-order and they don't know when they will be available. These failed coil springs put the driver/passengers at risk of loss of steering control. The problem was confirmed by dealer. The component was not inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or messages, etc., dealer identified issue during oil change inspection.
I've had a creaking noise in my back suspension since I bought the vehicle. Took it back to the dealership for inspection year after year and they said that my Springs were fine and they were not included in the recall. I come to find out that back coil springs or fractured and I've been driving on them for a while now because I guess everyone that has inspected my car has missed it at the dealership? My VIN number was not included in the recall for these coil springs but I have fractured Springs at 50,000 miles? Something doesn't seem right. Somebody missed something on the assembly line or with my VIN number according to this recall. This is a safety issue. And I've been driving down the highway with this crack fractured coil springs without even knowing. And the dealership keeps saying it's fine. VW just completely dismisses me because I wasn't included in a recall. I don't think this is right and it's a safety issue and they need to extend a recall to other VIN numbers for 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. I was always told everything is fine. But it's not.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Steering column lock went out while driving causing the steering to be lose and as soon as vehicle stopped it shut off and wouldn’t restart.
On the dashboard there’s an message saying “Error: Steering Lock” and it won’t let me turn on the car.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the front driver’s and front passenger’s side seat belts failed to remain buckled while driving with the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the failure was a manufacturer’s defect. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that the part was not covered under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 75,000.
I purchased the vehicle on 6/10/3023 and that evening I noticed a dashboard error message that the Rear View camera was unavailable. Due to my work schedule I was unable to get back to the dealership until Monday, 6/12/2023. On Monday I asked [XXX], my sales representative, and [XXX], a sales manager, what it meant and how to fix it. They offered Wes, a repair technician, to come look. [XXX] left rapidly and never returned, so I left for work. On 6/15/2023 I had the car inspected by my mechanic for an assessment and he stated that I needed a new electrical body harness for the repair. This part costs over $5K, plus labor; total estimate $12,742.14. My safety is at risk because this electrical issue not only renders (this list is not exhaustive): the back-up camera useless, but also the seat belt sensor, side mirror lights, and the front proximity sensors work only intermittently. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
At approximately 44,000 miles TPMS light illuminated however all tire PSI were normal and not low. I reset TPMS light however it came back on around 20 miles later. I kept resetting TPMS light however it would keep coming on even though tire PSI were set. At around 46000 miles car was taken into dealer. Dealer reset light and at around 20 miles light keeps coming back on.
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Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Driver Door Sensor" was displayed, and the electronic parking brake erroneously activated. During the failure, all the doors were closed and secured. The contact stated that late,r while driving approximately 10 MPH, the parking brake erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the driver’s side door electrical wiring harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT CAME UNBUCKLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER HITTING THE BREAKS TO STOP UNEXPECTEDLY. MY DAUGHTER WENT FLYING INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, NOW THE BUCKLE WILL NOT KEEP A LATCH.
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
I purchased a set of 4 Kumho tires on my vehicle on 9-24-24 when the vehicle had approximately 62,710 miles. On [XXX] with approximately 78,922 miles on the vehicle, I was informed that all the tires were cracked, they showed me in between the tread and they said they needed replacement. The tires had significantly less mileage than the advertised treadwear warranty. I maintained the vehicle according to manufacturer recommendations and had regular tire rotations and inspections performed. I am concerned that the tires experienced premature wear, which could affect vehicle safety and require replacement much sooner than expected. I contacted the tire manufacturer regarding the warranty, but my concerns have not been satisfactorily resolved-to date I have not heard from them, I emailed them on. 6-1-26 as well as the Volkswagen dealership in North Attleboro were the work was done. I am submitting this complaint because I believe the tire wear may indicate a product defect or issue affecting consumers. Tire size 205/60/R 16/92H They were the Solus TA – 31 tire I have original receipts if needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
205/60 R 16 I was driving on the Loop 101 South in Scottsdale, Arizona going highway speeds when I heard my passenger side rear tire explode. There were no preceding warning lights or tire pressure warnings before it happened. I pulled over and say that the sidewall blew out on both sides. There were no puncture marks on the tire that would have caused the blowout except for the sidewall failing.
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
2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER IS ALSO SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE ON VEHICLE.
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 .