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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,862 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

May 062022

Jetta

  • 126,600 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel locked and the vehicle started jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics; however, there was no failure detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,600.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #20

Sep 302021

Jetta

  • miles
Car horn stopped working followed by an airbag sensor light that won't turn off. Seems like the clock spring failed prematurely?

- San Diego , CA, USA

problem #19

Jan 122021

Jetta

  • 130,445 miles
My lights failed abruptly. When driving my car pulls to the right.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #18

Aug 202020

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles

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

I turned my vehicle on and noticed that my head unit would not turn on. Screen was black. I checked the fuses and all the wires and everything was normal.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #17

Aug 072020

Jetta

  • miles
Radio just stopped working all of a sudden checked wires and fuses which were good can't seem to find what the problem is.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #16

Oct 172019

Jetta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the sun roof glass cracked without warning while driving 60 mph. There were no injuries. The contact placed plastic over the sun roof to cover the defective parts. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000 (electrical system, steering) and was informed that the parts were not available. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Orting, WA, USA

problem #15

Oct 212019

Jetta

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received a recall notification in the mail per NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000 (electrical system, steering). The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. Upon calling NHTSA, the contact was informed that the parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #14

Aug 212019

Jetta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000 (electrical system, steering). The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #13

Jun 022017

Jetta

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. While the vehicle was parked on an incline, it rolled backwards. The contact stopped the vehicle with the emergency brake. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact also stated that the key fell out of the ignition when the vehicle was not in park or turned off. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000 (electrical system, steering). The contact called bozzani Volkswagen at 626-967-6325 (located at 528 S citrus ave, covina, ca 91723) and was confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, in 2017, while driving approximately 40 mph, the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle that stopped abruptly. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning indicator illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a concussion and struck her chest on the steering wheel. The contact also sustained neck and back injuries. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was damaged, but not totaled. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The contact was provided a case number. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #12

Aug 052015

Jetta

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000 (steering, electrical system). The contact called autobarn city Volkswagen at 773-794-7800 (located at 5330 w irving park rd, Chicago, il 60641) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact stated that the ignition key often pulled out even when the gear was in neutral, which could cause the vehicle to roll down from an incline. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #11

Apr 282019

Jetta

  • miles

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

Key gets stuck in ignition when turning on or off the engine.

- Ventura, CA, USA

problem #10

Jul 022018

Jetta

  • 44,000 miles
Key gets stuck in ignition and I cannot turn off the engine.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

problem #9

Sep 282017

Jetta

  • 90,889 miles
Vehicle stalls intermittently since purchase, commonly when exiting a freeway to a stop or during rush hour(stop/go)traffic. Before stalling, vehicle will jerk, rough idle, and delay acceleration. Stalling may occur at a stop after high speed, however stalling has also occurred during driving after a high speed to low speed departure. When vehicle stalls during driving, both the wheel and brakes lock up commonly. It takes putting it in neutral while rolling and attempting to start several times before ignition kicks in. This has been dangerous as the only braking would be a gradual emergency brake pull and there is no additional steering, thankfully I have had straightaways the times it has happened, however I have been forced to go through red lights with my hazards on, laying on the horn. VW has attempted repair 5 times for same issue with no resolve. Lights and codes come and go intermittently after stalling. One or both of the previous issues mentioned occurs on a daily basis as of the moment. The ftc, BBB, and attorney general for the state of Michigan have all been made aware of the situation and the attorney general's office recommended I report it to you.

- St Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #8

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 #7

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 #6

Jul 192016

Jetta

  • 62,000 miles
Rear left tie rod fractured resulting in loss of steering control at 45 mph on a wv hwy 152.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #5

Mar 122014

Jetta

  • 12,000 miles
I purchased the Jetta used from carmax in nashville, tn in 2014. It began having safety issues on March 2014. Randomly, my car will just stop while driving down the road, or after accelerating from a stopped position when moving on from a stop sign or stop light. I can be driving anywhere from 15 mph to 50 mph, and all systems shut down. The battery light goes on, the steering locks, and the brakes lock. I always panic, put the car in neutral and have luckily managed to veer off to the side of a road and stop, shut the car off, and turn it back on again. Eurofix tried to manage the problem by replacing the crank sensor and cam shaft. But he problem came back, much worse. The second problem is now I cannot unlock my drivers side door with my magnetic key or by sticking the actual key in the lock. I see that another recall has been announced for the 2011 Jetta that is not pulling up via my VIN number, but I believe it might be my car's issue: Online, ate that in March 29, 2011 (published by NHTSA) in which an issue with "an electrical wiring and fuse layout where the converter box is protected by the same fuse used by the signal horn and the anti-they alarm system. Should that fuse be blown, , the converter will be disconnected from the power supply which in turn will shut off applications such as the engine management system, lighting system, and wipers"......"should this happen while the vehicle is being driven, the engine could stall or the headlights or wipers could turn off unexpectedly, potentially leading to a crash without warning." Please help me!!!!!!! what do I do. What will remedy this situation so I don't get killed or kill others. I't gonna happen....then my family will file a lawsuit. I need guidance and for this car to be fixed/traded out.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #4

Apr 222013

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 25,869 miles
Was driving and heard a clicking sound, shortly after my steering and brakes locked up, and then the entire car stalled. I was unable to restart the engine. Had car towed into the VW dealership where they told me my fuel (diesel for Jetta tdi) was contaminated causing the fuel pump to burst which lead to metal shards destroying the entire fuel system. However, I am 100% positive, and have receipts for proof, that the car had been filled up with diesel gas about 1 week prior to the incident and was running completely smoothly up until the sudden break down.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #3

Jun 292012

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 18,200 miles
Traveling in the left lane on 95 N outside baltimore md at 65 mph my vehicle's gas pedal stopped responding and the car began to lose power and lurch forward and eventually die as the yellow diesel engine indicator along with the yellow engine indicator began blinking. I was able to avoid two lanes of traffic and coast over two lanes to an off ramp before the steering wheel locked. After contacting VW roadside assistance the vehicle was towed to heritage VW located at 9215 harford road #2 parkville, md 21234 (877) 398-1963. It was after 9:00 P.M so the vehicle was left in the lot and all the paperwork was dropped in the box. The service department cited a fuel pump malfunction along with a faulty fuel gauge as the issue. This is the second time we have had to submit a report to your Agency for the exact same issues (please see reference number 10417213), the agents information is listed below. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #2

Oct 052011

Jetta

  • 21,000 miles
Steering pulled sharply to the right, could not get the car straight and went into the curb. All of the lights on the dashboard lit up during the incident.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

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