2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems
NHTSA has received 41 complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, and 37% of them involve electrical system. After that come lighting (12%) and engine (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 41 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 37% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 85,000 miles 31 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 31 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 85,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen with enough data (11 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 volkswagen jetta sportwagen. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side headlight, the driver's side tail lights, directional turning signal lights, and the license plate lights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuse panel in the engine compartment was melted which caused the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
On this vehicle, fuse (f16 plug-in position) overheated and damaged the fuse box, causing a partial loss of exterior vehicle lighting. This could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. VW issued 97am action alert for earlier year same models, but not this and later year models.
Recently my 2011 jetta sportwagen's exterior light dashboard indicator came on. Upon investigation I found that the passenger side exterior front and rear lights were not working. Intermittently over the next few days they would work and then fail again without any reason. I took the car to the dealer and was told I had one bulb out and that there was nothing wrong with the car. And that they had never ever heard of this issue in any volkswagen. The same day the lights failed again.
Both rear springs broke without warning (at separate times). This clearly seems to be a manufacturing defect, as I have since discovered that it's a very common occurrence.
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the catalytic convertor warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the particle filter needed to be removed and reinstalled. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was taken to a different dealer who determined that the particle filter needed to be checked and reinstalled.