NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2011 Volkswagen Jetta (Page 4 of 9)

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CarComplaints.com Notes: Digging through the long list of NHTSA complaints about a sudden loss of engine power and the high pressure fuel pump failing, it's never good to come across the "my car (with a cold engine) set itself on fire in the middle of the night" complaint.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 4 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #106

Aug 302017

Jetta

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The key gets stuck in the ignition when attempting to turn off the engine; thus preventing the engine from being able to be turned off. I was lucky enough to be close to an auto repair shop, and they had to pull off a relay from the engine compartment. Upon replacing the relay, I was able to start the car so that I could drive home. Once I got home and once again attempted to shut the engine off, the key once again would not turn. The mechanic at the shop said that this is a known issue with my model car but that Volkswagen refuses to acknowledge the problem. Upon doing a google search to see what I can do to shut the vehicle off, I found a few hundred pages describing the issue, so I'm sure this is frequently happening. Apparently, the only solution is to have the failed parts replaced which costs upwards of $600. Also, the key has been getting stuck on and off for the past year, but in each case, I was able to wiggle the key so that it would turn off. Today, I wasn't able to even turn the key to the off position from the on position.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #105

Jun 142016

Jetta

  • 210,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The engine and battery warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to wray automotive Volkswagen (located at 655 broad river rd, columbia, SC 29210) where it was diagnosed, but the technician could not find a failure code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that there was no recall under the VIN. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #104

Aug 122017

Jetta

  • 62,000 miles
Once the car is started and engine is running, it has been difficult to turn the key off and stop the engine. On Saturday it was impossible to turn the key to the off position and remove the key when we wished to park the vehicle. We had to stall the engine to make it stop running. There are multiple reports of this online in various VW forums for multiple model years. We were only able to get the key out by using one of the tricks we found online.

- Los Altos, CA, USA

problem #103

Aug 062017

Jetta

  • 84,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased 2011 VW Jetta car recently for my daughter. It drove ok for a short while but then lost power while driving. First the radio turned off, then several lights turned on on the dash and the steering became hard. Finally the car turned off. I managed to pull off the freeway. After this, it would not start. We tested the battery but it was not the problem. Replaced the alternator but that also did not work. Now I am reading about many other complaints on this same model by other owners. I respectfully request that this be investigated as a recall since there are too many complaints about electrical problems that should not be ignored. Here is the website: Https://www.carcomplaints.com/Volkswagen/Jetta/2011/electrical/electrical_system.shtml

- South Gate, CA, USA

problem #102

Jul 202017

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles
Takata recall. Key wont turn in ignition on or off in car was in park

- Shawnee, OK, USA

problem #101

Mar 152017

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles
Vehicle stationary, ignition locked/cylinder lock malfunction while car on, not able to turn car off. Wheel locked while car on. This occurred twice before.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #100

May 172017

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle is keyless entry and most of the time the back passenger side door is faulty and does not unlock. The mechanism that unlocks the door only unlocks if the car is parked on a hill. This is a safety issue because the car automatically locks all doors when driving and if I were in an accident, I could not open the back passenger door from the outside. I have an infant daughter and I always have to load her in the car from the back drivers side, also a safety hazard. I see many other Volkswagen owners complain about this same issue in online forums. I've asked the VW dealership to fix the problem, but they don't acknowledge it is a faulty part that was installed in manufacturing. The car has had this problem since I purchased it used in 2013. The car is no longer under warranty.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #99

Feb 152017

Jetta 5-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving, the horn was depressed but failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the horn alarm failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V196000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 48,000. Updated 04/28/17 updated 10/11/2017

- Somers Point, NJ, USA

problem #98

Feb 222016

Jetta

  • 90,000 miles
Map sensore (manifold absolute pressure sensor) has repeatedly went bad even a day after changing it. I had replaced the sensor in February then again in March and again in March a day or 2 then again in July after just replacing it. It has no hose leaks or anything wrong with it that Volkswagen couldn't find anything that would make the map sensor continue to fail.

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

problem #97

Sep 042015

Jetta

  • miles
I have issues with the headlights. Every other month my headlight goes out. When I drove off the lot I had one headlight. This has been ongoing for almost 2 years. When I change it the other side goes out. I know thats not normal. And then one day I had been running arrends and made a stop. I was wearing flip flops that day. Well when I went to turn around in my seat to get what was being handed to me from my girlfriend I burned my three little toes ! !!! I immieately went under the steering wheel and seen it was a pipe not covered.I have had many cars and I have never felt any thing so hot under a dash.I had three blisters.each toe had a tiny blister.thats when I seen all the rust everywher or anywhere there is metal is covered with rust.there was a recall on the rear end.I noticed after I took it in that the tires diidnt look even in the back.driver side tire bows inward on the top side and the other side doesnt. The air bag light well thats always on..and when I checked the air filter it smelled like it was in an electrical fire.my horn sounds defective.barely hear it. And the windsheild wiper has aloud noise when operating.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #96

Oct 012015

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My cars low beam headlights unexpectedly stopped working after bringing it into the West broad Volkswagen of richmond, va for a safety recall. I thought there may have been a chance that they both burned out simultaneously and had the light bulbs changed, but still no luck. I also purchased a new light switch for my dash and it still does not work. I am a college student and do not have a lot of money to spend on blind diagnoses. My daytime running lights work and my high beams, just not my low beams. I have done research online and have found that this is an issue with many Volkswagen Jetta drivers from their standard models, through SE-sel, and up into the tdi trims. I believe there should be a recall on this, because it is unsafe for me to drive during dusk and if I ever need to drive at night I am forced to use my high beams.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #95

Aug 212016

Jetta

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving in the rain at approximately 30 mph, the windshield wipers and horn failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V196000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA without filing a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

problem #94

Jun 302016

Jetta

  • 22,000 miles
At 22,591 miles, I discovered the driver airbag, audio controls, horn, other electronics on steering wheel failed because of faulty clock spring. There is a recall notice for multiple VW models including my model and year, but the dealer and VW corporate told me my vehicle's VIN doesn't qualify for the recall. Here is the link to VW recall information regarding this issue: media.VW.com/release/1042/ this is dangerous, someone could get killed. How can this fail at only 22K miles and be normal wear and tear? it is obvious my VIN number should be included in this recall. I have contacted mark gillies 703-364-7104 mark.gillies@VW.com who is listed on the VW site. They still refuse to issue a recall for this VIN.

- Rutherford, NJ, USA

problem #93

Aug 082016

Jetta

  • 75,000 miles
My vehicle will cut off at random times while driving and steering locks up, also my alarm will make the sound to disarm the vehicle when driving I have to pull over shut down car and disarm it and start again. While at a stop light the vehicles RPM will raise and go down raise and go down until car just shuts off. I was pulling into my parking stall and car shut off and locked up I had to hit the brake and re start the car to pull in safely or it would have ran into the carport. On this date the car shut itself off in motion 2 times and it cut off with brake on at a light 3 times

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #92

Jan 152016

Jetta

  • miles
My horn does not consistently work. When I'm driving it only works sometimes due to believed to be faulty electrical. My door locks do not engage. A noise sounds but they do not engage causing safety issue. My wiper blades do not always work correctly nor do they spray wiper spray causing visibility issues. My electrical system is faulty causing one door to stay unlocked unless locked with key. My alarm system does not work. My driver side window does not properly work and will stop in the down position. The same door is having locking issue. There is known recall for other 2011 models on electrical system. I called VW and they said my VIN was not affected by the recall. I'm having the same issues as other Jetta owners with same year make and model and with active recall but VW refuses to fix my car. I could get into accident due to faulty horn, faulty door locks, faulty visibility and wipers that do not work properly. My electrical system is clearly faulty if all of these issues are failing at once. I took my vehicle to Firestone and they said faulty computer issues need to be fixed by VW. The vehicle is only 5 years old.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #91

Jul 242016

Jetta

  • 102,300 miles
I got into my car after filling the fuel tank and the the car started fine, but the radio is suddenly gone blank. Radio does not work. The vehicle was stationary. The radio was working just fine prior to my stop for fuel.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #90

Jul 052016

Jetta

  • 75,000 miles
My boyfriend and I drove to get dinner. On the way there my radio was fine we were singing and laughing. We get to the restaurant and I turn my car off and there were these little buzzing sounds, didn't think anything of it. It was a hot day cars make sounds. After diner getting in the car and getting ready to start driving I realize I can't play music! I always use the aux cord. At first I thought it was my phone then I looked up and seen that my touch screen was black.... then I just thought it was turned off so I tired pushing the power button... nothing. So on the way home my boyfriend looked up the fuses got the chart, and we pulled it out and it was perfect no nothing. Then I immediately got on the internet and started reading. No only did I find that similar models and previous years have had the same problem, but in a few months it leads to dead batteries, and the possibly that's your car is not reliable and it should be with an easy fix. I also found that the type of radio is very hard to find, I couldn't find it in VW parts and replacements, but instead finding earlier, and more update versions!

- Brooklyn Park, MN, USA

problem #89

May 092016

Jetta

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the battery warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but no failure could be determined or duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V196000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

problem #88

Jul 062016

Jetta

  • 60,000 miles
The radio is completely dead. I have checked all applicable fuses, none of them are blown.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #87

Feb 042016

Jetta 5-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
Fuse box with blown fuses. Unable to replace fuses without diagram. VW dealer states I need to bring car in and pay for diagnostic test which totals over $100 that I cannot afford. I am able to change fuses myself that are blown but need to know what the fuse is for and this is what VW dealer told me I have to do, get test from VW dealer or pay for a diagram. I feel this is wrong, as long as I have been driving, all fuse boxes will have a diagram of fuses so individual can change fuse themselves. How can I resolve this issue for diagram without costing me over $100. I will await your reply. Noticed my cigarette lighter and phone charge was not working. Did not notice when car was purchased. Changed a 20 amp fuse that was blown, that took care of cigarette lighter and charger, but now my horn does not work. That is why I am asking on advise on how to resolve situation. Thank you

- Carson, CA, USA

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