Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% | 92,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% | 5,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% | 100,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% | 107,000 miles |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% | 45,000 miles |
| 2010 | 14 | 2% | 45,000 miles |
| 2009 | 9 | 1% | 54,000 miles |
| 2008 | 10 | 5% | 68,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 4% | 76,000 miles |
| 2006 | 14 | 2% | 78,000 miles |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% | 108,000 miles |
| 2003 | 7 | 2% | 64,000 miles |
| 2002 | 6 | 1% | 64,000 miles |
| 2001 | 18 | 3% | 58,000 miles |
| 2000 | 8 | 2% | 99,000 miles |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1997 | 4 | 7% | 78,000 miles |
| 1996 | 3 | 10% | 108,000 miles |
| 1995 | 37 | 17% | 139,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The door locks will not lock properly, all they do is click trying to lock as I drive - from time to time, if they do lock - I can't unlock the driver side door from inside the car, and have to crawl out the passenger side. This is a major safety concern in the event I need to exit the car in an emergency. I had the same issue on a 2009 Jetta - and I if you look on the internet - there are many others with the same issue. I feel it's a design flaw from vw - and it's quite obvious it's been going on for quite some time now - and I'm sure vw knows about it, but has failed to fix the issue. I feel the only way vw will fix the issue is if the ntsb forces them to do a recall - please help us ? Also, I'm not able to lock the doors manually either inside or outside the car. Thank you,
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the doors locked and unlocked automatically at every stop. The failure occurred without warning. The contact called schumacher Volkswagen of west palm beach at [phone] (located at 3001 okeechobee blvd, west palm beach, fl 33409) and scheduled a diagnostic appointment. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the front passenger side door latch failed to properly lock, and the door swung open without warning. The contact had to tie the door with rope to prevent it from opening. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the repair was not covered under a recall or warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the door locks on the vehicle began to lock and unlock independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving or parked, the door locks, gas cap sensor, and tailgate were not working as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to several unknown recalls; however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle alarm sounded in the middle of the night. The contact noticed that the key fob and manual keys were only locking the front driver side door and not the other doors. The vehicle was taken to the bommarito Volkswagen dealer where it was diagnosed that the latches failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty and nothing could be done. The approximate failure mileage was 72,950.
The door locks on my 2009 Jetta will not lock/unlock. This can cause an issue where the door remains locked randomly, prohibiting an occupant from exiting the car in case of an emergency. This also allows the door to remain unlocked when assuming it has been locked, leading the car to be more accessible to unwanted patrons!
Purchased a new '09 vw Jetta sdn 2.5 l s and the second day I had it, I had to take to service dept. The door seal from drivers door was coming off, the car would smell like burning plastic and I noticed after 3rd trip ( in 2 days ) the rear brakes were "glowing" red hot. They said they could figure it out and said it May be a plastic coating they put on brake pads to keep rust from building up on the ship overseas! After the brakes constantly squeaking and having to take my new car in 2 more time with every excuse known to man , I was mistakenly told it was a defect and they changed them at no charge. My brakes are again going out and it has only been about 6-9 months. The concern is that they have not fixed the root of the problem as well as a seat belt indicator which has been faulty. …
Related recalls (1)
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The bolts securing the front hood latch can loosen over time. The latch would move causing disengagement of the hood striker from the latch.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the hood latch and securing bolts and replace them if necessary.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Jetta years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (37), 2001 (18), 2006 (14), 2010 (14) and 2008 (10) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 17% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Jetta door lock & latch problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 98V-160 (latch, Jul 16, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Jetta door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles; 31% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the doors › latch (52 mentions), followed by the hood › latch (16).
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.