Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2020 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% | 14,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% | 72,000 miles |
| 2015 | 8 | 4% | 45,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% | 45,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 0% | 24,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% | 38,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 0% | 80,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2009 | 8 | 1% | 78,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 3% | 106,000 miles |
| 2007 | 9 | 4% | 91,000 miles |
| 2006 | 25 | 4% | 110,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 1% | 68,000 miles |
| 2004 | 14 | 6% | 120,000 miles |
| 2003 | 35 | 8% | 96,000 miles |
| 2002 | 16 | 2% | 116,000 miles |
| 2001 | 19 | 3% | 49,000 miles |
| 2000 | 10 | 2% | 111,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% | 108,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
As the third car in a 4 car accident, it was the only one where airbags failed to deploy. Additionally it was the most damaged. The front drivers seat broke upon rear impact prior to the car being forced into the vehicle in front of me. I was stopped at the time.
My vehicle is displaying the exact defect described in NHTSA recall number 15V627000 for Volkswagen's 2015 Jetta. My vehicle was manufactured in November of 2014, which falls within the recall time frame. However, the manufacture refuses to make repairs because they have not included my car's VIN number in the NHTSA recall. This issue can be observed when the vehicle is in motion, and when it is stationary. It has occurred in situations where the vehicle is on a city street and on a highway as well as turning. I don't know what else to do at this point, I just want my vehicle to be safe. Thank you.
Car continues to leak, tire sensor always on doesn't go away, since the beginning of lease terms, all the above mentioned is consistent, while vehicle is stationary, in motion, on street or on a highway. Further, the same occurs with any turn.
I have a problem with the ignition key switch that has been more difficult to start up and turn it off when is stationary of curse. The switch its getting stuck or jammed and wont move any where until so many tries and moving the drive wheel. I spend 1 hrs yesterday 04/13/19 trying to power the engine off because of the ignition key and my wife drive the car too but she is not strong enough to turn the engine off and she called me to help her. I have this problem since January 2019 and I don't know what I have to do. I have other problem with the driver seat that is cracking when I'm driving and press the break pedal my seat make a click and noise every time the car change the speed.
At home while the vehicle was off and stationary, upon removal of the rear bench seat, I discovered severe burn marks under the seat. As well as some coins that have been cemented in place by melted plastic. The burned area appears to be right above the exhaust.
Headrest is very uncomfortable to the point where I reversed it which makes it very unsafe. In the normal position it causes significant neck pain. Please change the safety laws to the old version for headrests. My 2000 Volkswagen Jetta had very comfortable headrests.
2010 Volkswagen Jetta. Consumer states there is a design flaw with the head restraint on the driver's or front passenger seat. The consumer stated his wife's head was in contact with the head restarint and would not provided any support in the event of a crash. Due to the shape, size and position of the restraint, the consumer believed the force of a rear-end collision would force his wife's head downward to her chest while the upper bones of her cervical vertebrae would be forced rearward into the v-shape cavity formed by the head restraint and the seat back. Jb
Our car is driven by 2 drivers- I am 5 feet tall, my husband is 6'1". The car seat gets moved back and forth a lot as we both drive the car daily. In late November my husband moved the seat all the way back and it made a cracking noise. We later noticed the air bag light was on. He found the broken wire under the seat and repaired it, but the light was still on. A call to the dealership revealed they knew about the issue and the fix was to "not move the seat so much". The next week- before we had a chance to take the car in to get the light cleared- the car was involved in a collision. I rear ended a car in slow-and-go traffic when she switched lanes in front of me while I was accelerating. $15,000 in damage was done to the car but the air bags did not go off. A witness that stopped to help had to pry the door open to get me out. …
Related recalls (3)
Seats › Critical fasteners
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021.
Seats
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020.
Seats
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Jetta years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (35), 2006 (25), 2001 (19), 2002 (16) and 2004 (14) model years. Seat complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Jetta seat problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 21V-038 (critical fasteners, Feb 1, 2021); 20V-505 (seats, Aug 26, 2020); 14V-670 (seats, Oct 24, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Jetta seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 22% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › recliner (4 mentions), followed by the mid/rear assembly (3).
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.