Most common 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen complaints by model year
Best Jetta Sportwagen years: 2009, 2010. Years to avoid: 2014. Compare all years →
2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen:
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
What 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen owners say
Electrical system
At first we had to replace the intake manifold and then a month later we had to replace the catalytic converter and now it's in the shop having the DLF filter , fuel pump , & fuel lines . All dealing with the diesel exhaust and fuel distribution. It's leaking diesel fuel with strong odor of diesel to the point it makes you feel sick. The Volkswagen dealership never informed me of any recalls on my vehicle. The dealership is Flow Volkswagen Greensboro NC
The car stalls in traffic and is slow to accelerate. The service department attributes the cause from a problem with a contaminated fuel system. However, the car has had a series of problems with the electrical system where I was told the "radio is draining the battery". The car would be parked without the keys in the ignition and it failed to start and the cause being the radio draining the battery. The issue is both electrical and diesel engine related.
Lights
The f16 fuse in the engine bay that connects power to multiple exterior lights as well as the abs brake system melts and melts part of the fuse tray. This is the same thing that happens with the vw Tiguan in campaign am97. Look into am97 as this can ruin your abs brake system. This should be recalled and fixed. This picture is not mine but is exactly what happened.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side headlight, the driver's side tail lights, directional turning signal lights, and the license plate lights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuse panel in the engine compartment was melted which caused the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,351.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the catalytic convertor warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the particle filter needed to be removed and reinstalled. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was taken to a different dealer who determined that the particle filter needed to be checked and reinstalled. Additionally, the EGR cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the second dealer; however, the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. While driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle shook and misfired. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The contact called dirito brothers walnut creek Volkswagen (2020 n main st, walnut creek, ca 94596, [phone]) and was informed to schedule a service appointment. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 181258947. The manufacturer referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was 94,000.
2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 39 / 32 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 31 / 27 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 33 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Jetta Sportwagen rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Jetta Sportwagen at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen?
The electrical system — 15 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the lights (5) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen have?
There is 1 recall for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, the most recent from February 10, 2016 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014. See the full Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 7% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.