Problems · NHTSA complaints
2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems
Owners filed 638 complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen with NHTSA between Oct 2010 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (200).
Complaints
638
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
28
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system200
- Engine93
- Fuel system, diesel82
- Fuel/propulsion system81
- Power train55
- Exterior lighting46
- Air bags37
- Vehicle speed control26
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Service brakes25
- Steering23
- Structure20
- Visibility/wiper20
- Electronic stability control (esc)15
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
100
50
39
79
79
58
44
35
54
35
17
16
11
10
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 100 |
| 2012 | 50 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 79 |
| 2015 | 79 |
| 2016 | 58 |
| 2017 | 44 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 54 |
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 4 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
200 reports7 crashes6 fires
“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.”
Engine
93 reports2 crashes2 fires
“Car was being driven and coils snapped caused, tire to pop damaging front end. Car was being driven and randomly shut off in middle of road. Driving vehicle shifting into gear lags, check engine light is on, had reader and said that valve 2 has low pressure. As a result clanking and loose noise sounds are heard when driven from drivers side.”
Fuel system, diesel
82 reports
“THE CAR IS A 2011 VW JETTA SW TDI. ON SEPT 7, 2015, WHILE DRIVING ON THE AUTOBAHN, THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED AND THE CAR ABRUPTLY LOST POWER. I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER. WE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. VW SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS DESTROYED DUE TO TAINTED DIESEL FUEL. REPORTS INDICATED THAT METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN FUEL SAMPLES. VW REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM AT A COST OF EIGHT THOUSAND EUROS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE ESSO STATION & HEADQUARTERS. ESSO HAS INDICATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF TAINTED DIESEL FUEL AT THE STATION. I AM BEING SHUFFLED BETWEEN THE ESSO STATION & THE VW DEALERSHIP. IT IS OBVIOUS WHO THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY IS. VW NEEDS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND DEMONSTRATE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. *TR”
Fuel/propulsion system
81 reports1 fire
“I recently bought a 2011 volkswagen jetta tdi last owner wasn't aware of recalls, car started throwing white smoke, my local service mecanics NORTHWEST EXPRESS AUTO CARE let me know that the problem is a recall on emission need to fix but dealer don't want to do it”
Power train
55 reports5 crashes
“The power window never works the way it is suppose to, when I row my window down it MESSES with the speakers for some reason, my wipes don't work all the time and freeze easy. When driving does nor like to shift out of 1st it's got that mk shifter, it will stay in first gear unless the gas is pressed and released fast also can smell like a burnt wire or/ candle was smell. When I try to put the air on the smell becomes worse.”
Exterior lighting
46 reports1 crash2 fires
“I BOT W/ ONLY 40,000 MILES APPROX. I DRIVE ALOT. ITS ABOUT 70,000 NOW. ONE TIRE SENSOR IS OUT AND THE PERSON AT FRIRESTONE SAID THEYLL GO OUT AGAIN AND ITS HARD TO KNOW WHICH TIRE IT IS. THE ELE TRICAL IS A MESS. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. IT IS DEFNITELY ELECTRICAL. THIS CAR IS NOT A GOOD VALUE AS EVERYTHING BREAKS ON IT AND I DONT SPEED AND ADD ADDITIVES AND B\'BABY" IT. I'M 62. IT HAS TO LAST. BUT IT IS NOT. I SEE THERES RECALLS FOR IT CONCERNING ELEECTRICAL, YET THE DEALER SAYS NO NEVER HA DA RECALL. THE NIGHT HALF MY LIGHTS WENT OUT WAS AFTER THANKSGIVING AS I WAS TRAVELING THE GRAPEVINE IN CAL. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.