2005 Volkswagen JETTA: complaints, problems and recalls

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STATION WAGON. ON JANUARY 5, THE DRIVERS SEAT CAME OFF, (UNATTACHED,WAS DISCONNECTED ) FROM THE TRACK ON THE CAR. WOLKSWAGON HAS FIXED THIS AT NO CHARGE BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIAGION INTO WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER CARS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IF I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR IT HAD UNATTACHED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THE VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SAY WETHER IT WAS A PARTS PROBLEM OR AN INSTALLATION PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105989 at NHTSA ↗

THIS PROBABLY IS THE SAME AS THE EXISTING COMPLAINT NUMBER 10079735 FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 04. 1. IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT IS COLD. IF IT IS COLD, THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE. 2. WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE, WE MOVE THE SHIFT FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE (IT'S THE SAME). THEN NORMALLY, TORQUE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH DRIVESHAFT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, JETTA DOES NOT FUNCTION AS SUCH. 3. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY CAN ENGAGES WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE ALMOST COMPLETELY. UP TO THE POSITION, IT IS THE SAME AS NEUTRAL. THAT INTRODUCES SUDDEN A…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106218 at NHTSA ↗

MY ALARM ON MY 2005 JETTA TDI IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING FAULTY CONTROLS IN THE STEERING COLUM, AND FAULTY COMPONENTS IN THE ESP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT TO REPAIR THE ALARM, THE RADIO MUST BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE RADIO IS ON 'BACKORDER', HAS BEEN FOR SIX WEEKS, AND I DO NOT AS OF TODAY, KNOW WHEN I WILL HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THESE PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH THE EXTENDED DELAY IN REPAIRING THE RADIO HAVE CAUSED ME TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF A MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ITSELF AND I A…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108362 at NHTSA ↗

IN THE MORNINGS THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, YOU HAVE TO LET OFF ON THE BRAKE AND REVERSE THE ENGINE A BIT, THEN THE CAR JUMPS INTO REVERSE, SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTLY LURCHES BACKWARD. DEALERS RESPONSE: BACK YOUR CAR INTO YOUR GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE AT NIGHT SO YOU DON'T NEED TO USE REVERSE IN THE MORNING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118696 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2005 VW JETTA TDI (1.9 LITER DIESEL ENGINE) IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THIS VEHICLE HAD A HEATING ELEMENT THAT WAS BAD AND EVENTUALLY FIXED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY IN NOVEMBER OF 2004. SINCE APPROX. DECEMBER OF 2004 WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INCREASED PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGING FROM THE FLYWHEEL WHILE SHIFTING UP OR DOWN AND WHILE PASSING CARS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THE CAR (SINCE 2001) HAS A DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BY VW THAT IS AT ROOT OF PROBLEM. THE TWO LAYERED FLYWHEEL IS BECOMING OVER HEATED AND WARP…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121145 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FOLLOWING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS, MY HANDS WERE THROWN OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN PROCEDED TO GO STRAIGHT UP ONTO A CURB CAUSING THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO BE DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121825 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN HE NEEDS IT TO. WHEN HE TURNS THE CAR OFF AND LETS THE COMPUTER RESET THEN START THE VEHICLE IT WILL ACCELERATE. HE TOOK CAR TO A DEALER, AND SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE HAVING THE CAR FOR EIGHT DAYS.*AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 928 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122055 at NHTSA ↗

THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT AS WELL, SO THAT VW WILL EVENTUALLY BE FORCED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTION. WHEN I START MY CAR AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AND HOUR OR MORE, I PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT IT EITHER INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, AND IF I AM ON ANY HILL, VERY SMALL OR LARGE, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL ROLL DOWNHILL. THE FIRST FEW TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I ALMOST ROLLED THE CAR OVER A CURB AND DOWN A LARGE EMBANKMENT. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR IS TO APPLY THE BRAKE AG…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123951 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-12-15 (December 15, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L GASOLINE ENGINE, A FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY NOT BE POSITIONED PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2007-02-20 (February 20, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.