2005 Volkswagen Jetta problems
The 2005 Volkswagen Jetta has 354 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (18%) concerns engine. After that come drivetrain & axles (17%) and electrical system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 354 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 13 and 25
- Injuries and deaths
- 10 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 74,000 miles 286 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 | 42 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 29 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 29 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 55 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 35 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 48 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 13 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 18 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 10 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 286 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 74,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 86,000 miles (53 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 13 complaints mention a crash; 25 complaints mention a fire; 10 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 17th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta with enough data (178 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
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 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.
My daughter hit the back of a volvo SUV with her 2005 VW jetta and not 1 air bag deployed leaving her in the hospital for a month's stay with major brain trauma and $100,000 + dollars in medical bills instead of a minor trip to the emergency room for air bag deployment. Her entire front end is in the windshield. (we have photos).because she hit the volvo at the wrong angle, was the determined reasoning as to why the air bags didn't deploy. Are you kidding me.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 volkswagen jetta. The contact was involved in a crash while traveling approximately 40 MPH. The contact was knocked unconscious with the level of impact sustained during the crash. The entire air bag system failed to deploy. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.
Turn signal switch malfunction and fire... Right turn signal activated without switch being activated. After about 5-10 minutes in this condition, smoke came out of steering column. Fire/marking could be seen in the switch area. Eventually the turn signal went out and the smoke/fire stoppped. VW service replaced the switch and wire harnes. The plactic on the switch and harnes was melted and charred.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure would occur intermittently. The engine would also misfire and the vehicle would jerk and decelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician advised the contact that the b valve, the glow plug and the glow plug harness would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure continued after the repair.