Problems · by component

2011 Volkswagen Jetta exterior lighting problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta cite exterior lighting, 7% of all 640 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
46
7% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11633929
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, WheelsODI 11382782
“THE LOW BEAMS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE FAILED 12 TIMES AND REQUIRED ME BUYING NEW H7 BULBS. THEY HAVE ON 3 OCCASIONS WENT OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY TURNS OFF, REQUIRING OPENING AND SHUTTING THE TRUNK TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON OR SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT TO GET THE TAILLIGHT BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 30K MILES, MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 135K.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11364648
“DRIVER SIDE OF MY JETTA LIGHTING WENT OFF , I WENT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT CAN BE WRONG WITH IT AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THATS UNSAFE, SHOULD BE RECALLED, ITS NOT A FUSE OR LIGHT BULBS ,SO ITS THE WIRE IN, I THINK THIS IS NO SAFE TO BE DRIVING AND SHOULD BE CHECK , LIKE I SAY ITS MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THANKS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11300579
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERITAGE SUBARU OWINGS MILLS, 9808 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, (888)553-0026 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLAMP WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCKS SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2020Exterior lighting, Electrical systemODI 11297940
“PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON BECAUSE OF SOME SORT WIRING ISSUE. HEADLIGHT BULBS CONSTANTLY SHORT OUT. I'VE HAD TO CHANGE ATLEAST 10 BULBS IN LESS THAN A YEAR. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND TAILIGHTS... THESE ARE 2 SEPERATE ISSUES. BUT IF YOU GOOGLE IT, THEY ARE BOTH COMMON ISSUES. IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE ON MY CAR FOR YEARS, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE I COULD REPORT IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2019Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11241454

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.