Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 50% | — |
| 2025 | 3 | 10% | — |
| 2024 | 7 | 15% | 18,000 miles |
| 2023 | 9 | 21% | — |
| 2022 | 10 | 23% | 75,000 miles |
| 2021 | 13 | 19% | — |
| 2020 | 17 | 31% | 8,000 miles |
| 2019 | 154 | 28% | 31,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 10% | 91,000 miles |
| 2017 | 33 | 21% | 36,000 miles |
| 2016 | 36 | 22% | 42,000 miles |
| 2015 | 49 | 25% | 36,000 miles |
| 2014 | 94 | 24% | 56,000 miles |
| 2013 | 148 | 29% | 55,000 miles |
| 2012 | 138 | 28% | 60,000 miles |
| 2011 | 186 | 31% | 60,000 miles |
| 2010 | 233 | 27% | 67,000 miles |
| 2009 | 107 | 12% | 81,000 miles |
| 2008 | 41 | 22% | 90,000 miles |
| 2007 | 45 | 22% | 76,000 miles |
| 2006 | 112 | 19% | 90,000 miles |
| 2005 | 48 | 19% | 93,000 miles |
| 2004 | 36 | 15% | 90,000 miles |
| 2003 | 97 | 21% | 78,000 miles |
| 2002 | 149 | 21% | 34,000 miles |
| 2001 | 117 | 18% | 44,000 miles |
| 2000 | 60 | 14% | 50,000 miles |
| 1999 | 44 | 13% | 60,000 miles |
| 1998 | 41 | 21% | 69,000 miles |
| 1997 | 17 | 31% | 55,000 miles |
| 1996 | 4 | 13% | 300,000 miles |
| 1995 | 45 | 20% | 98,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The vehicle's Forward Collision Avoidance system (Front Assist) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) intermittently malfunction while driving. On at least three separate occasions during clear, dry weather with clean sensors, the AEB system engaged full hydraulic braking unexpectedly with no obstacles ahead-once while utilizing Adaptive Cruise Control and twice while driving manually. This severe "phantom braking" creates an immediate, life-threatening rear-end collision hazard on public roadways. Immediately following these braking events, the digital cluster displays the warning message "Front Assist Currently Unavailable."The vehicle has a documented history of electrical instability, including a prior dealership visit where technicians allegedly attempted to fix power errors by servicing a loose battery connection. …
I'm not exactly sure on what happened but when using the lane stay assist it doesn't read the lines correctly causing the car to abruptly jerk in a unexpected direction! doing this during certain scenarios would cause an accident for sure. also the headlight auto switching for high beams malfunctions often causing the lights to flicker
I purchased a brand-new 2025 Volkswagen Jetta from LaFontaine Volkswagen of Dearborn, MI on October 2, 2025. Within 24 hours, the check-engine light illuminated, and the fuel gauge cluster froze, showing an incorrect fuel level. On October 3, 2025, I contacted the dealership and was told to bring it in for service. The service department confirmed a faulty Transmission Control Module (TCM) and opened a repair order. Before the repair could be completed, the vehicle became inoperable and would not engage Drive, leaving me stranded in my driveway. The car had less than 350 miles on it at the time of failure. This incident is extremely concerning for a brand-new vehicle and raises questions about potential safety and manufacturing defects in the 2025 Jetta model line. A new car's transmission should not fail within days of delivery. …
The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the infotainment screen was darkened and inoperative. There were several different unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (example: 26V185000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted however, the dealer confirmed the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH up an incline, the hill assist system engaged. The contact stated that while descending the incline, the hill assist was still engaged. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle to disengage the feature. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had gradually become a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had additional failures with the transmission and the rear brakes due to the hill assist not disengaging as needed. The contact stated that the manual transmission was slipping out of gear and the rear brakes showed premature wear on the pads. The contact had taken the vehicle to several dealers. The contact stated that one dealer recommended that the transmission be replaced. …
Zero warning lights, dash clusters only allowing two options to show, oil temperature reading 200degrees Fahrenheit or higher, floor board feels like the firewall is almost in the interior of the vehicle and not engine port. Upon performing a thorough investigation of my own, the manifold, intake valve and wires are visibly damaged and BURNT, coil two is visibly damaged and was smoking. The battery generating system is also malfunctioning, with visibly burnt ground wires. Additionally the thermostat and temperature gauges both are not giving out any signal or alert for faulty electrical activity. However the vehicle was so hot from only driving 6 miles from my house that the arm to hold the hood up was legit bending and folding as it become unusually soft from the hot intake. Transfer case has been clicking, as well as the intake sizzling like making repeated sounds of sparking. …
The backup camera in my 2023 VW Jetta has been malfunctioning since the car was new. It intermittently fails to display an image when shifted into reverse, creating a serious safety hazard. Backup cameras are federally required safety equipment, and when it doesn't work, visibility behind the vehicle is completely lost. This failure also affects all associated safety systems, including rear cross traffic alerts and lane assist, reducing driver awareness and increasing the risk of a collision. We were advised early on that the issue would probably be resolved through a future software update, but that never happened. The issue continues without warning and has been documented on video. Despite this, Murdock Volkswagen in Logan Utah refuses to perform warranty repairs because no diagnostic trouble codes are present. They have been offered video proof but declined to review it. …
The follow failed module faults have REPEATEDLY FAILED: U010400 lost communication with cruise control module, U112100 databus missing message & U112300 databus error value received, C110BF0 Adaptive Cruise Control Sensor, C111207 Haldex Clutch Pump Mechanical Malfunction, P030400 Cyl 4 Misfire, ***P085000 Park/Neutral Switch Input Circuit Open or Short***, U105400 Information Electronics Control Module 1 No Communication. I've had it repaired once by VW. Been at dealership multiple times for all of these issues. Currently, they are not helpful. My car does not recognize PARK, it thinks it's in NEUTRAL.
Related recalls (7)
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026.
Electrical system › Wiring
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Show 2 more recalls
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2011 jetta vehicles, manufactured from March 2010 through March 2011. These vehicles May have an electrical wiring and fuse layout where the converter box is protected by the same fuse used by the signal horn and the anti-theft alarm system.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners when sufficient quantities of repairs kits are available. Dealers will separate the wiring for the horn and the theft protection horn from the power supply of the converter box and route…
NHTSA investigations
Engine stalling
By letter received on June 24, 2005, mr. Ronald m. Strickland of raleigh, nc, submitted a petition requesting that the agency investigate the performance of the ignition coil plugs on model year (my) 2000-2003 Volkswagen jetta, golf and passat sedans.the petitioner alleges that he had experienced multiple stalling events as a result of one or more ignition coil plugs malfunctioning on his 2002 vw jetta sedan.as a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Jetta years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (233), 2011 (186), 2019 (154), 2002 (149) and 2013 (148) model years. Electrical complaints make up 27% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems?
Yes — 7 recalls, including 26V-185 (instrument cluster/panel, Mar 25, 2026); 26V-138 (wiring, Mar 11, 2026); 23V-619 (instrument cluster/panel, Sep 6, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition (191 mentions), followed by the horn (38).
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.