10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,394 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Jul 112023

Jetta

  • miles
The ignition switch for my 2019 Jetta randomly went out, while driving the vehicle in the middle of summer, this caused the AC and radio to go out, as well as the spedometer and other tracking system on the dashboard to display as if the car was not on when the engine was still running. I have read online in several places that this is a common issue for the 2019 Jettas and at this point the ignition switch failure should be treated as a recall. Volkswagon service initially diagnosed as faulty battery which did not resolve the issue and the same thing happened 7 days and $300 later. I was able to find the issue with a quick google search.

- Van Alstyne, TX, USA

problem #56

Jun 282023

Jetta

  • miles
Ignition system (available for inspection upon request) malfunctioned, which disallowed the engine from starting. After multiple attempts, the engine started and I was able to drive and indicate turns, but there was no dashboard display such as speed, gas level, etc. Since the first incident, this has happened 3 times. At one point while driving with no screen display, I forgot to turn off the option for the engine to stop when the car has come to a complete stop. When I stopped at a light, the engine stopped and I was unable to get it to start again for several minutes, causing me to block traffic. There was no warning prior to the failure, just beeping and a screen notification while it was failing. The problem has not been replicated/confirmed, and the vehicle has not been inspected since the issue began to happen. Each time this failure happens, it is during a hot day after the car has been parked in direct sunlight.

- Ponchatoula, LA, USA

problem #55

Jul 162023

Jetta

  • miles
Hot day (~107f), car started fine but after a mile of driving ALL ELECTRICAL systems appeared to STOP with the following error: "Starter System Faulty. Please Service Vehicle." The engine kept going, and the car was driven home (with no signals, speedo, air conditioning, lights etc.) If this had happened in a more demanding situation (e.g. weather, night or traffic) there could have been an accident. There are numerous threads online about this happening to 2019 Jettas in hot weather, and the ignition switch being blamed. I recreated the issue in the heat of the day, but the car worked fine later on when the day cooled down.

- Davis, CA, USA

problem #54

Jul 162023

Jetta

  • miles
Car shut off but still running while driving. Check the starter system came on. Did it twice. Not sure because of heat but dash board and a/c shuts off but car still running.

- Sandy Springs, GA, USA

problem #53

Jul 142023

Jetta

  • miles
When it's really hot outside my car while just shut off while driving. Then I get a "Please check the starter system" message. The radio, ac, and eveything electrical turns off as well. This is the second time it has happened in a month.

- Hobbs, NM, USA

problem #52

Jul 122023

Jetta

  • miles
As I was driving the vehicle the car just randomly shut off. It turned off the air conditioning and wiper blades as it was raining. It said to check starter system or ignition system or something like that. I recently had the software update recall done at the dealer also had a new battery installed by the dealer between two days. Also said something about checking the key battery. It has happened on two separate occasions this week alone.

- Miami Springs, FL, USA

problem #51

Jul 132023

Jetta

  • miles
Left my work parking lot and my jetta said there was an ignition problem and -??starter system failure-??. Then all electronics systems went dark but the engine kept running, until I came to a stoplight and stopped. I pulled over and turned it off. Then restarted. This is VERY DANGEROUS

- Seneca, SC, USA

problem #50

Jul 092023

Jetta

  • miles
My 19 year old was driving down the road and all electrical systems in the car shut in the car and told her to check starter system.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #49

Jul 062023

Jetta

  • miles
Car turns off with a message relaying on the screen -??please check starter system-??

- Hamilton, NJ, USA

problem #48

Jul 022023

Jetta

  • miles
A minute after starting my car sitting in a hot parking lot, the entire car and engine shut off. A message popped up saying -??please check starter system-??. I looked this up and seems to be an extremely common issues with 2019 Jettas, and everyone has had issues with getting it fixed. Mechanics have said there-??s -??no issue-?? with the car because it won-??t shut off every time. Some even had their cars shut off on the highway. My car has about 25,000 miles and is in great shape. I-??m terrified to drive it for safety reasons, and I don-??t have money to take it in anywhere. I-??m so disappointed there has not been a recall on this common, extremely dangerous issue. There were no prior warning lights or signs.

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #47

Jul 022023

Jetta

  • miles
When interior gets hot, check starter system message displays and all gauges, air conditioning system, infotainment system and all associated systems become inoperable. This becomes especially dangerous as it will happen while driving.

- Magna, UT, USA

problem #46

Jun 282023

Jetta

  • miles
When interior gets hot, check starter system message displays and all gauges, AIR conditioning system, infotainment system and all associated systems become inoperable. This becomes especially dangerous as it will happen while driving.

- Wahiawa , HI, USA

problem #45

Mar 312022

Jetta

  • miles
Starter System Faulty. Please service vehicle. Warning shows on screen when high temperature outside. Car will not start/turn on if the weather is hot outside. I researched the issue and multiple 2019 Jetta users have the same issue when weather is hot outside.

- Bulverde, TX, USA

problem #44

Jun 162023

Jetta

  • miles
Driving down the highway and received a -??starter system failure-?? message. All electronics in the car shutoff. Engine continued to run normally.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #43

Jun 102023

Jetta 4-cyl

  • miles
I purchased the vehicle on 6/10/3023 and that evening I noticed a dashboard error message that the Rear View camera was unavailable. Due to my work schedule I was unable to get back to the dealership until Monday, 6/12/2023. On Monday I asked [XXX], my sales representative, and [XXX], a sales manager, what it meant and how to fix it. They offered Wes, a repair technician, to come look. [XXX] left rapidly and never returned, so I left for work. On 6/15/2023 I had the car inspected by my mechanic for an assessment and he stated that I needed a new electrical body harness for the repair. This part costs over $5K, plus labor; total estimate $12,742.14. My safety is at risk because this electrical issue not only renders (this list is not exhaustive): the back-up camera useless, but also the seat belt sensor, side mirror lights, and the front proximity sensors work only intermittently. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

problem #42

Jun 072023

Jetta

  • miles
When the car sits in direct sunlight and the interior temperature raises above 100F, the car will start and all is well for a minute or so and then the ignition fails. Dash says check starter system and all gauges, clusters, infotainment system, interior and exterior lights turn off. The car thinks that it is off electronically but it still runs, shifts, and drives. Attached photo was taken after I left home, traveling on highway at ~55mph.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #41

Jun 122023

Jetta

  • miles
Driving my car in 85+ degree weather and an alert came on that said -??check starter system, -?? -??find a safe place to park, -?? -??ignition shutting off.-?? My car shut off on the highway. A quick google search found that hundreds of people with 2019 jettas were having this exact same problem. This issue has now happened twice with my car, both when temperatures exceeded 85 degrees.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #40

Mar 042023

Jetta

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost electrical power; however, the engine remained running. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the -??STOP Safely-?? message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Perry, GA, USA

problem #39

May 222023

Jetta

  • miles
The Car lost all electrical components, gauges, turn signals, and possibly break lights while in operation. If I had been unlucky, I could have been rear-ended or ended up in an accident if my brake lights were not working and I could not tell how fast I was going. First, the car dinged and said "Please check starter system" while I was downshifting while coming to a stop. The engine remained running, but I lost all gauges, dashboard lights, cabin controls, and turn signals.

- Brownsburg , IN, USA

problem #38

Mar 012023

Jetta

  • 13,400 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the check starting system warning light illuminated. The contact stated he had experienced the failure a total of four times within two months. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and continued to experience the failure in warmer weather. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,400.

- Dallas, TX, USA

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