The vehicle was stationary at idle for approximately 15 minutes. Fire started under the hood at unknown location. Initial smell of "something hot" was followed by smoke through vents. Noticed smoke between hood and windshield. Paint on hood bubbled in approximate location above oil cap / diesel particulate filter. Shut engine off and exited the vehicle.

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

I am requesting that the dot NHTSA investigate the timing chain tensioner in this make and model of car. I started my car one morning and the engine made a metallic rattling sound as I proceeded to back out of the driveway. No check engine light came on until reaching the end of the driveway. Car was then driven to dealership immediately and diagnosed as having "jumped time" due to the failure of the timing chain tensioner. Upon picking up the car several days later after the repairs were complete, the service advisor informed us that the metal ring holding the tensioner latch in place had fallen off; allowing the tiny adjustable latch to fall out, and that both pieces were lying, loose, in the compartment when the car was taken apart. This failure appears to be related to technical service bulletin 15-12-01. A web search reveals that this problem has become more and more common and affects multiple years and models of Volkswagen automobiles. The car had approximately 49,000 miles on it at the time of the failure and never missed a service. VW was notified of the failure.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. While the vehicle was parked, it failed to start and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing chain tensioner fractured. As a result, the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,020.

- Chelsea, MA, USA

Check engine light comes on frequently and when I take to dealer it is always a sensor problem I have also had some electrical issues replacing bulbs frequently. Also while driving the shifting lights will all light up prnds, sometimes there is a loss of power. Also one of the overhead light seems to have melted due to a high heat source of some kind.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

Engine fire in motion on the highway cause unknown.

- Portola Valley, CA, USA

The ABS module needs to be restore or replace. The lights on the dashboard that comes on includes engine, brakes, steering, ABS, and E.T.C.(electronic throttle control).what actually happens when it comes on is it hard to steer, acceleration goes slow, beeping hearing test noise frequents, gas gauge goes to E, and speedometer stops working. This happens frequently and doesn't matter what road or highway I'm what makes it more dangerous when its hard to steel and the brake lights are constantly flashing.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

We have been having an issue with the engine stalling out while driving. It started with the epc light coming on several months ago, but the light does not stay on and there has been no consistency to the occurrences. However, now, the car will stay running for long and stalls out shortly after starting. The epc comes on sometimes, but not every time that is stalls out. Today I took the car for a drive around the block, as soon as I got it back home, it stalled out. From that point on the car would not stay running for more than 15 seconds.

- Chicago, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact had to pull over and park the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine and glow plug warning lights illuminated. The contact, a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the water from the air intake cooler needed to be drained.the excess water was removed from the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated that, because the vehicle was no longer under warranty, they would not provide a free repair. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

- Fish Creek, WI, USA

Just bought this car from a dealership 2 months ago. We haven't even put 2,000 mile on the car yet and the check engine light came on. I talked to my mechanic after I bought the car and he told me these cars are notorious for maf sensor failures and that it is not an easy fix. In fact he won't even work on this problem due to his past experiences with this exact problem. Now I have to take it to VW and they will have to replace to whole throttle body and reprogram the ECU. Kinda funny how my mechanic warned me if this problem and wasn't even time for an oil change before this happened. Seems like VW has an issue with this problem and the fact they haven't done anything to rectify the problem such as recall or offer cheap solutions and charge over 1000$ to fix the problem and has to be done at VW to reset the ECU tells me they are doing this on purpose to make as much money as possible on repairs that should only cost a couple hundred dollars... completely not satisfied with VW will never buy one again, will never recommend one to anyone in fact will campaign to boycott VW at all costs!!

- Orange, CA, USA

The timing chain tension broke causing the chain to break off and bend several values causing extension damage to the motor. Most cars are equipped with timing belts but VW went to the timing chain in return the tensioner which they later revised is faulty and breaks causing the chain to destroy several important parts. VW is unwilling to help us with this issue that they know is an issue because they later corrected in the later models. I called customer care but because the power train warranty at 60,000 is expired they will do nothing. There is a huge forum started with several people that have had this use around 80-110,00 miles!! I am outraged and have to spend thousands of dollars to repair all the damage or basically get a new car. The car is worthless at this point.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

Engine light came on, I had my mechanic do a 120,000 mile service and diagnose the dash engine light and the intake manifold was replaced. When I picked the car up I smelled diesel. I drove it 13 miles, when I got home I smelled diesel again. I opened the hood and there was diesel all over the left engine side. There was a wet, split fuel line, leaking fluid in the parking lot, a blue plastic set small rings (like the olympic symbol) sat near the split hose. It could have caused a fire, and other cars to be in danger from slick road, among other things.

- Watsonville, CA, USA

I was driving down the street when a loud beeping and the red ABS failure + every light on dashboard lit up. Every gauge stopped working (the gas gauge, speedometer, etc) I was close to home and carefully proceeded to the house. After a half mile the car stalled and the engine died. Because I was prepared for an event, I immediately set hazards and rolled to the side of the road. I restarted the car and made it the rest of the way home (2 blocks) without it stalling again. I have not driven the car since, I took it the VW dealer and it was determined the ABS module failed / broke and caused the problems. This is obviously a manufacturing the defect which can cause an immediate harmful affect. If I was on a highway or being careful far beyond any normal sense I could have easily been in a life threatening accident.

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

Stopped and left the line at a green light when our 2009 Jetta tdi sputtered and stopped in the middle of a busy intersection. Was able to get the vehicle towed to a local VW dealership and given an invoice for $5500 for the high pressure pump, which is identified a known issue by VW under a self-imposed extended warranty but never under a recall. As I was told by VW customer service, since there was never a catastrophic issue to our vehicle prior to 120K miles, instead at 124K miles, the safety items were not identified and corrected.

- Orcutt, CA, USA

Driving down the road at 35 mph the car suddenly dies, leaving me no power to escape a possible accident, brakes are hard to use, stuck in a traffic lane with cars coming up on me at 35 to 45 mph, turns out the hpfp exploded sending metal thru out the fuel system causing the engine to starve for fuel and stall out, with no fuel getting to the engine the motor wont restart causing a life threatening situation

- Reseda, CA, USA

Started the car and after about 5 minutes of driving, the engine shuts off but all electrical systems appear to be working. No trouble/ indicator lights come on. This has happened on the interstate traveling 70, on a side street traveling 35, and sitting idle at a stop light. Every time, the car will run for between 5-7 minutes than not restart for 5-7 minutes. At attempts to restart inside that 5 minute window after the engine stalls, there is no turning over, no clicking or anything. There is no temp issues, or low fuel issues. This has happened on a full tank and a half tank also.

- Oconomowoc, WI, USA

While driving on the highway, the check engine light came on and the car began slowing itself down. When I tried to accelerate the engine revved and the RPM indicator went up but the car would not speed up past 45 mph and the steering wheel shook very hard the rest of the way. When I took it for diagnostics and repair, the codes P2431 and P2432 indicated a faulty sensor in the air injection system pressure sensor. I was told that volkswagon was aware of the particular problem, which has occurred in a high number of vehicles and they in fact recommended an updated version of the injection hose and sensor. This was a $350 repair on a vehicle with less than 30,000 miles and according to volkswagon a common repair. I don't think it's fair that consumers should absorb the cost of this type of repair.

- Eldersburg, MD, USA

2009 Volkswagen - Jetta tdi - 2L, in-line4 (120cl) diesel * a previous claim was submitted lacking information, please disregard. Vehicle engine shut off during travel, due to fuel filter being clogged by metal debris. The high pressure injection pump failed effectively ending the life of the engine. The welds on the high pressure injection pump had deteriorated, resulting metal debris to circulate through complete injection system. After multiple failed attempts to flush out the injection system it was decided that the best course of action was to replace the engine if a replacement could be found. A replacement was found and the current engine installed has the same high pressure injection pump, as a replacement part is not available to independent shops, only to dealerships. Cost of replacing engine - $8,500.

- San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

Vehicle engine shut off during travel, due to fuel filter being clogged by metal debris. The high pressure injection pump failed effectively ending the life of the engine. The welds on the high pressure injection pump had deteriorated, resulting metal debris to circulate through complete injection system. After multiple failed attempts to flush out the injection system it was decided that the best course of action was to replace the engine if a replacement could be found. A replacement was found and the current engine installed has the same high pressure injection pump, as a replacement part is not available to independent shops, only to dealerships. Cost of replacing engine - $8,500.

- San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

We were driving on down the road and the cars lights started blinking and then car stop running and stopped dead in the road. Could not get it started again. If it had been on the freeway I am sure I would not be typing this we would be in hospital or worse. We had to get out and the steering was not working to get it to side of road. I am elderly and do not have alot of strength. We had to pay extra to aaa to tow it since we were far away from dealer. The dealer called and said there was metal shavings in fuel line and components. I researched online and have seen several of the same things happening to other cars. This is a real safety issue. Please help fix before someone dies car stall problem 2 failure date: 10/25/2012 while driving the dash warning lights illuminated and the car stalled causing complete loss of all power steering almost causing me to lose control and wreck. I was able to steer car to side of road and stop. Once stopped was able to get car to restart but was barely able to drive home (periodically died and had to restart, wouldn't stay running or idle). Had car towed to repair shop. They have diagnosed problem as low rail fuel pressure caused by failed high pressure fuel pump. This failure caused metal shavings to be dispersed throughout entire fuel system. I'm told that the hp fuel pump, low and high pressure fuel regulators, and tank fuel pump all must be replaced along with a complete removal and cleaning of all fuel system components. Estimated cost to repair is between $7,000 and $10,000. This car is a diesel tdi.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

I was driving our 2009 Volkswagen Jetta sportswagen tdi on the highway when the glow light came on. I stopped the car and the engine stopped working and started smoking. The dealer said that the engine had seized but did not know the reason. According to the dealer the engine will have to be replaced. The vehicle has had all of the recommended services which were done by the dealer including all of the oil changes.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA