Problems · by component
2005 Volkswagen Jetta engine problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta cite engine, 11% of all 248 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The transmissions are bad on these cars and when it's shifting gears it jerks and almost takes you off the road. I've had my car completely stop as I was driving and almost cause a wreck hurting myself in the process of not trying to kill someone walking because these cars are KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM THERE WAS AN ENTIRE LAWSUIT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. Please help if there is a recall done I can get the car fixed and continue working as an in-home caregiver. I am currently out of work because IT IS NOT SAFE TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS IN THAT DEATH TRAP. The mechanic said the entire transmission is built to brake and it's not a new problem these cars are bad.”
“ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR, THE AIR BAG DEFAULT BUTTON COMES ON. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. WHILE IDLE CAR RUMBLES AND SHAKES, WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING CAR SHAKES (FRONT END). MY FUELING SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE IT SEEMS AS IF GAS SOMETIMES DOESN'T GET TO MY CAR IT STALES VERY OFTEN WHILE DRIVING OR BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AGAIN. TERRIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN FRONT LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. WHEN THE HEATER IS ON IT MAKES LOUD NOISE AND TICK EVEN WITH THE A/C ON IT DOES THE SAME THING. WHILE TURNING IT STALES AND THEN TAKE OFF REALLY FAST. WHILE IDLE CAR RUMBLES AND SHAKES, WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING CAR SHAKES (FRONT END). MY FUELING SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE IT SEEMS AS IF GAS SOMETIMES DOESN'T GET TO MY CAR IT STALES VERY OFTEN WHILE DRIVING OR BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AGAIN. TERRIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN FRONT LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. WHEN THE HEATER IS ON IT MAKES LOUD NOISE AND TICK EVEN WITH THE A/C…”
“WHILE IDLE CAR RUMBLES AND SHAKES, WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING CAR SHAKES (FRONT END). MY FUELING SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE IT SEEMS AS IF GAS SOMETIMES DOESN'T GET TO MY CAR IT STALES VERY OFTEN WHILE DRIVING OR BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AGAIN. TERRIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN FRONT LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. WHEN THE HEATER IS ON IT MAKES LOUD NOISE AND TICK EVEN WITH THE A/C ON IT DOES THE SAME THING. WHILE TURNING IT STALES AND THEN TAKE OFF REALLY FAST.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE IDLED IN A DRIVE THRU LINE AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT OR FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE DEALER MIKE HAGGERTY VOLKSWAGEN (8920 S CICERO AVE, OAK LAWN, IL 60453 (708) 425-8989) TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
“ENGINE MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING OR ACCELERATING OR SLOWING. THEN VEHICLE VIBRATES AND STALLS. INTERMITTENT AND WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH. VW GARAGE COULD NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM APRIL 11, 2019 AND MAY 7 TO 11,2019. VEHICLE HAD RECALL ON COILS APPROXIMATELY 2011 AND COILS WERE REPLACED BUT ONE FAILED FEW MONTHS LATER AND MANUFACTURER REPLACED IT. MILEAGE NOW IS SLIGHTLY BELOW 40,000. VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING TWICE AND NOT TRUSTWORTHY. POLICEMAN HELPED MOVE VEHICLE OFF ROAD ONCE VOLKSWAGEN GARAGE ADVISED KEEP DRIVING TO SEE IF PROBLEM CONTINUES AFTER THEY SWITCHED TWO COIL WIRES. IT HAS NOT STOPPED MISFIRING OF ENGINE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES, BUT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR BURNS TO THE RIGHT ARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.