Problems · by component

2010 Volkswagen Jetta engine problems

119 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta cite engine, 14% of all 875 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
119
14% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER ONTO A SIDE STREET AND POPPED THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I THEN PULLED MY PANICKED 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT AND TOOK HER ACROSS THE STREET. WE THEN CALLED 9-11 AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE SAYS THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL LINE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL FOR MY CAR BUT IT IS NOT FOR MY VIN# EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME CAUSE AS MY CAR'S FIRE!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2021Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11415957
“CAR WILL UNPREDICTABLY STALL SOME TIMES, CLOSE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ENGINE WILL BE ABLE TO START,,, WILL GO IN LIMP HOME MODE WHEN THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR DTC P00AF....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2021Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11391144
“I HAVE A 2010 VW JETTA WITH 118K ON IT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY ENGINE DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I EVETUALLY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND THEY ESTIMATED REPAIR COST TO BE BETWEEN 4-5K RANGE TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSINOR. I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND THOUNDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. VW SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. VERY DISSAPONTED. WON'T BUY ANOTHER VW EVERY AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2020EngineODI 11350140
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND TIMING BELT WERE RECENTLY REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MCKENNA VOLKSWAGEN CERRITOS (18303 STUDEBAKER RD #5328, CERRITOS, CA 90703, 562-741-3035) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A $249 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,193. *BF*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2020EngineODI 11330865
“THERE HAS BEEN A STATEWIDE LAWSUIT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN REGARDING 2010 JETTA TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSOR. THE DEALER SHIP HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE EVEN TOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. RICK CASE VOLKSWAGEN HAS REFUSED TO CHECK AN ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF TIMING CHAIN ISSUES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2019EngineODI 11254730
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGE VOLKSWAGEN (385 W BASELINE RD, GILBERT, AZ 85233, (480) 646-4858), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2019EngineODI 11245840

Showing 6 of 119 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.