2019 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11735241

Incident

May 1, 2026

On the dashboard there’s an message saying “Error: Steering Lock” and it won’t let me turn on the car.

NHTSA ID

11702829

Incident

Dec 2, 2025

Car won't start due to steering lock issue

NHTSA ID

11651265

Incident

Mar 28, 2025

The power steering on my vehicle malfunctioned, never giving me a warning as stated in the owner manual with a yellow steering light. As I was coming down a hill, the red steering light came on accompanied with a loud beep, and I lost power steering, nearly causing an accident. I had a mechanic look at it and the DTC codes he received were B200FF0 and B200F2 The dealership and independent service center I was recommended are unable to service the car for another 3 weeks. The only inspection done on my vehicle has been by a private mechanic There were no warning lights prior to the failure. The owner manual states a yellow steering wheel will illuminate to warn of an issue, then turn red if it's not addressed. This never happened. It went directly to red, and I lost steering during transit.

NHTSA ID

11604042

Incident

Jul 10, 2024

The steering lock has miraculously failed and several other individuals have made this complaint. VW advised this is a known issue but has not issued a recall to have this fixed. Instead, we are forced to pay thousands to fix their mistake when it came to manufacturing

NHTSA ID

11584364

Incident

Apr 19, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V604000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Additionally, the contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, and she became aware that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving to the residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred the following day. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that the "front assist systems" needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred with several unknown warning lights illuminated; however, the contact was able to stop the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was driven back to the same dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the tire pressure warning light becoming illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined the driver’s and passenger’s side front lower control arms were defective. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11554289

Incident

Nov 11, 2022

Mileage

31,000 mi

The vehicle steering has been off and alignment when driving. My gas gauge has been off constantly, since I've owned the vehicle. I documented this many times and reported this to the dealership under warranty and Volkswagen care.

NHTSA ID

11518599

Incident

Jul 4, 2022

On Jun 4, while driving on southwards on HW17 the steering became unresponsive. Eventually, the car, with four passengers, hit the curb. The vehicle is yet to be inspected by dealership, VW representative or repair shop person. I plan to take the car to repair shop, when they open on Monday, Jun 6. The car Engine Malfunction Light had turned on.

NHTSA ID

11467553

Incident

Jun 4, 2022

I JUST PURCHASED A 2019 JETTA R LINE AND SINCE DAY ONE I HAVE A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE OR THE TRANSMISSION. IT'S ALWAYS THERE AT AROUND 50KM/PER HOUR FOR ABOUT 2 SEC. LIKE MANY OTHERS SAID IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT FOR ME. I HOPE VW WILL TAKE ACTION AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. ON TOP OF THAT I LOST ALL MY RADIO PRESETS AND THE SCREEN HAS STARTED TO FREEZE. I ALSO NOTICE A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE REAR SUSPENSION OVER NORMAL BUMP

NHTSA ID

11351944

Incident

Feb 16, 2020

Mileage

20,000 mi

I SUSPECT THAT MY 2019 VW JETTA COMPUTER SYSTEM/CAR WAS HACKED/DRIVEN REMOTELY ON 12/3/2019 THAT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (PHOTOS ATTACHED) THAT LED TO MY CAR BEING A TOTAL LOSS. I SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE LOCAL ER FROM THE ACCIDENT. THIS CASE IS STILL INVOLVED IN COURT PROCEEDINGS AS OF TODAY. I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR SPEED ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME BEING ON THE GAS AND MY BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING. WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I DROVE OFF TO THE RIGHT HITTING A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED THAT AFTER IMPACT WITH PARKED CAR #1, I ROLLED BACK 55 FEET AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. I DID NOT THINK ANY OF THIS WAS POSSIBLE UNTIL I WAS READING ABOUT CAR HACKING AND CARS BEING DRIVEN REMOTELY. I ALSO DID NOT THINK THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE WITH THE 'IMPACT SAFETY FEATURES' ON A VW JETTA, I COULD POSSIBLY ROLL BACKWARD AFTER THE IMPACT OF PARKED CAR #1? I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED. I AM ALSO SENDING INFORMATION TO THE FBI INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER.

NHTSA ID

11351636

Incident

Dec 3, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

I WAS OUT TODAY AT A STORE AND MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T START MY CAR

NHTSA ID

11322327

Incident

Apr 26, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

THE CAR SHUT OFF, I LOST CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND THE BREAKS FAILED TO STOP AFTER THE COMPUTER SHUT THE CAR OFF. NOW THEY CALM THE SHIFTER IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACED AFTER THERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CODES FAILED TO DETECT THE PROBLEM THE FIRST 2 TIMES AND A TEST DRIVE WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM THEIR WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO A TEST DRIVE AND RELIED AND FAULTY COMPUTER INPUT. THIS SERIOUS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY INJURY OR DEATH OR INJURY AND DEATH TO ANOTHER PARTY. THE DEFECTIVE SHIFTER HAS CAUSED INJURY TO MY RIGHT KNEE AND TENDONS. I WAS IN PARK, A PERSON ENTERED THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF ROLLED DOWN THE HILL UNTIL IT STOPPED BY ROLLING IN REVERSE UP A HILL BEHIND ME. THE PERSON REFUSED TO BE IN MY CAR AS THE DANGER WAS OBVIOUS TO HER. THE ONLY REASON THE CAR STOPPED WAS BECAUSE OF THE HILL. I LOST CONTROL OF THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING AS THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. ANY CHILD OR ELDERLY PERSON BEHIND ME WOULD HAVE SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM IS REFUSING TO WRITE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11183080

Incident

Feb 27, 2019

Mileage

6,500 mi