10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,772 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #12

Dec 112005

Jetta

  • Manual transmission
  • 34,700 miles
: the contact stated while traveling at 60 mph on a slush covered highway, the vehicle started to fish tail and hit the retaining wall in the median. This was a frontal impact, the driver side air bag did not deploy. The passenger side air bag deployed without a passenger in the seat. The contact was wearing a seat belt, but sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine why the air bag did not deploy. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The manufacturer has been contacted. A police report was taken at the scene.

- Whitehall, MT, USA

problem #11

Apr 082005

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
Motor vehicle accident in residential area with moving 2003 VW Jetta and parked Honda/Toyota? driver of Jetta came around the corner, looked down & away from the road momentarilly while driving apx. 30 mph when she hit the other vehicle without any breaking. This full frontal impact and the entire front end of this Jetta was taken out and the other vehicle was totaled. None of the 4 airbags deployed. We are currently being told "no changes or alterations will be made with regard to the airbags".

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #10

Dec 232004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 35,561 miles
While driving 65-70 mph both frontal air bags inadvertently deployed. Vehicle is at the dealer.

- Florence, MT, USA

problem #9

Nov 012004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles
Consumer stated air bag cover shook while vehicle was in motion. Dealer indicated that it was normal.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #8

Oct 212004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Making a right turn driver and passenger air bag deployed.

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #7

Aug 282004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • miles
The vehicle's air bags did not deploy during an accident. The consumer sustained multiple injuries as a result. VW refused to investigate the problem. The consumer requested an exchange for a most recent model at no cost or penalty under the same remaining terms of the existing lease.

- Hanford, CA, USA

problem #6

Jun 282004

Jetta

  • Manual transmission
  • 22,000 miles
While backing out of a driveway driver's frontal air bag deployed. Manufacturer offered to buy the vehicle.

- Boulder Creek, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 192004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles
Consumer's vehicle was going 40 mph when it was hit by another vehicle which had cut in front of consumer. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. Driver sustained whiplash. Vehicle was not totalled, but it did suffer over $8,000 in damages.

- Cornwall, NY, USA

problem #4

Jan 252004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 25 mph in inclement weather consumer applied the brake pedal and the brakes failed. This caused the vehicle to crash into a tree. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection.

- Hyattsville, MD, USA

problem #3

Sep 152003

Jetta

  • 13,000 miles
While driving 25 mph and rolling over a small pothole airbag deployed inadvertently.

- Desert Hot Springs, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 312004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,000 miles
While driving between 65 and 70 mph and without any warning front and window passenger air bags deployed. Dealer notified.

- Dale City, VA, USA

problem #1

Nov 012004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 17,000 miles
While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and none of the front air bags deployed upon impact. VW suggested that nothing was wrong with the air bags upon inspection.

- Hudson, FL, USA