Problems · by component
2019 Volkswagen Jetta service brakes problems
29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta cite service brakes, 5% of all 552 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
29
5% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DRIVING ON WESTLAKE DRIVE IN WIMAUMA FL PREPARING TO TURN LEFT TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PUT FOOT ON CLUTCH PUT CAR IN 2ND GEAR WITH FOOT ABOVE BRAKE TO MASH DOWN, PCOULD WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN HIT ELECTRIC POLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CAR WAS IN SHOP PRIOR TO ACCIDDENT AT BOB BOAST VOLKSWAGEN IN BRADENTON FL.”
“It was a hot day and I went to start my 2019 Jetta, it sent me a warning code to safely stop the vehicle and then all electrical shut off but the engine then proceeded to stall in place and not want to start back up. I got it to restart and the parking break locked up. I turned it off again and restarted it and managed to get the parking break off after several attempts. I had to have it towed as it was clearly not safe to drive. As soon as the temperature dropped the car was completely fine no electrical errors making me think this is similar to other Volkswagen vehicle issues. There is no recall in place but this is extremely unsafe for me to drive and I just purchased the vehicle”
“My manual transmission clutch went to the floor without warning and the car suddenly was inoperable. Bay VW in Great Neck, NY performed a $4,000 repair.. I picked uo the car today and within five miles drive the clutch failed again and the car was inoperable. In December 2022 the same thing happened while driving on [XXX] . I was in the passing lane and lost complete control of the car except for steering. I had an elderly passenger with dementia and it was providential that we weren't in an accident. It's now three breakdowns of the same kind. Obviously, another part is defective causing these operational failures. It's a safety risk and the three two VW repair shops, on three occasions, have not been able to detect it. I am afraid for my safety and that of my passengers. I can provide the repair invoices. Please look into this.”
“My 2019 VW Jetta runs well, but recently there are two safety incidents cause my deep safety concerns. 1)9/20/2023 around 12:15 pm, I parked my VW Jetta in front of Wells Fargo. When I put shifter in reverse, tried to backwards out of the parking lot, suddenly the car lost control and kept rolling forward, there was a deep ditch in front of my car, but the car kept rolling forward. I was very scared. I drove the Jetta to nearby VW Princeton and asked a technician to check the Jetta and find out the system defects, but the technician scanned the Jetta and couldn't find any problems, then suggested to schedule an in depth diagnostics into the Jetta to address my incident. 2) 9/26/2023, around 9:00 pm, I was entering a gate, entered the code, suddenly my car couldn't go forward or backwards, the engine stopped working, the car screen then showed: "Please manually start the engine." After I turn off and then turn back the key again, the engine started. I have texted the Service Advisor at VW Princeton about the new insident today. I would like to report the above two incidents to NHTSA for investigation. Thank you!”
“The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that when depressing the brake pedal the vehicle would lunge forward. While driving approximately 40 mph and suddenly depressing the brake pedal the vehicle lurched forward and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, the driver sustained an injured left hand. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.”
“Recurrent, ringing/squealing and grinding of brakes. Rotors and Brake pads are defective warp faster than normal even after being repaired. My 2019 VW jetta needed New brake rotors and the brake pads re-surfaced with only 24,107 miles on the odometer, 3 months later the brakes are ringing/squealing/and grinding again at 27,601 miles. It has only been 3,000 miles. The speed at which the brakes wear out on the VW jetta is excessive and most likely is a vehicle defect. I am now being told that the car needs new brake pads. The dealer has told me I drive the car too hard and brake too hard. I have never had this problem with any other brand of car I have owned in the past. The jetta has low mileage for all these break issues that are never fully fixed. I am awaiting a recall on this by volkswagen or some type of resolution as this seems to be a defect in quality craftmanship.”
Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.