Engine
2.0L 4-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 188 of 188 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 152 of 188 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Power train
55 complaint records1 crash report
"MY 2008 VW JETTA WAS GIVING BURNT SMELL/FUMES. LOSS OF POWER IN GEAR WITH IN 1 MILE RADIUS WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE. HAD TO TOW TO VW DEALERSHIP..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Electrical system
43 complaint records1 fire report
"THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK IN KEYLOCK AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN OFF ENGINE. WENT ONLINE AND THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
27 complaint records1 fire report1 crash report
"EVERY MORNING MY 2008 VW JETTA 2.0T IS VERY HARD TO START. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS TRYING TO START IT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF STARTING. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=_TGW53YVLQA&FEATURE=YOUTUBE_GDATA_PLAYER. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE09035 opened Jul 2009 | closed Nov 2009 | Power Train | VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWER - led to recall 09V333000 THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A... |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V679000 | Unknown Or Other | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015... | Normally free |
| 10V621000 | Fuel System, Gasoline | VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. | Normally free |
| 09V164000 | Power Train | VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. | Normally free |
| 07V442000 | Exterior Lighting | CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED... | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020353 2020-08-04 | Label | 132,432 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the warning label for the engine block heater cable is written in English only. As a result, a French user may not receive important safety information about how to use the engine block heater. |
| 2019469 2019-09-25 | Other | 4 | Issue: A small number of vehicles built before the start of series production ("pre-series vehicles" ) may have been sold to retail customers. Volkswagen has determined that these vehicles may not meet all Canadian regulations. |
| 2010444 2010-12-10 | Fuel System | 30,255 | On certain Golf, Golf wagon, Jetta and Rabbit equipped with a 2.5L Engine, a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. |
| 2009141 2009-05-14 | Structure | 2,388 | On certain vehicles, driveshaft cover plate screws may not have been torqued properly during vehicle assembly. Should they loosen, a knocking sound may be heard while the vehicle is in motion. |
| 2007306 2007-09-18 | Lights And Instruments | 52,475 | Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108 - Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment. 1). |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM 39-2026 Sep 2026 | Unknown Or Other | This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided. | |
| V171901201285567 Oct 2023 | Engine | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V171905201285566 Sep 2023 | Equipment | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V271901201189425 Sep 2023 | Equipment | Battery Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS Charger. Update Tool terminology | |
| V0018092053065_4 Sep 2023 | Equipment | Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| V171901201285565 Aug 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards | |
| V271503201607612 Jul 2023 | Electrical System | Diagnostic assistance for excessive static current draw | |
| V171901201285564 Jul 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments. | |
| V2719012011894_2 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger | |
| V271901201189424 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger | |
| V011812201460319 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Software Version Management (SVM) instruction. | |
| V171806201781318 Jun 2023 | Equipment | Engine Oil Consumption Measurement Instruction and Work sheet. | |
| V171901201285563 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards, updated to include model year 2024. | |
| V0116132033805_8 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Diagnostic Aid for engine misfire. | |
| V001713203384619 Jun 2023 | Fuel System | Gasoline fuel additive | |
| V011615201481517 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Gasoline quality information in regards to gasoline engine performance. | |
| V171901201285562 May 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments. | |
| V191701202254810 May 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Introduce new engine coolant compatible with all models and all model years. | |
| V171901201285560 Apr 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments. | |
| V171901201285559 Mar 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine Oil Quality Standards | |
| V4016012043146_2 Feb 2023 | Structure | Strut or Shock leak assessment. | |
| V171901201285558 Feb 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments (excludes Routan & ID.4). | |
| VWP-23-01 Feb 2023 | Equipment | This Document informs dealers on VWP-23-01 | |
| V691901201047915 Feb 2023 | Seat Belts | VW contact when reporting a Airbag or Pyrotechnic safety belt deployment. Update to model year applicability. | |
| V171901201285557 Jan 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments (excludes Routan & ID.4). | |
| V171901201285556 Dec 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments (excludes Routan & ID.4). | |
| V941901201152119 Dec 2022 | Equipment | Update model year applicability to include 2023. | |
| V271901201189422 Dec 2022 | Electrical System | Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability. | |
| WLA-22-15 Nov 2022 | Forward Collision Avoidance | ACC Calibration Process | |
| V171901201285555 Nov 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments (excludes Routan & ID.4). | |
| V171901201285554 Oct 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil ) excluding Routan & ID.4attachments. (excludes Routan & ID.4) | |
| V241801204513812 Sep 2022 | Equipment | Update warranty table labor operation numbers due to recent Saga updates. | |
| V171901201285553 Aug 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments. (excludes Routan & ID.4) | |
| V241801204513811 Aug 2022 | Equipment | Update warranty table labor operation numbers due to recent Saga updates. | |
| CT_batt_charger Aug 2022 | Electrical System | Minimum battery charger requirements during software updates | |
| V171901201285551 Aug 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments. (excludes Routan & ID.4) | |
| V171806201781317 Jun 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine oil consumption measurement. | |
| V171901201285550 Jun 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include model year 2023 and the latest Engine Oil attachments. (excludes Routan & ID.4) | |
| V011812201460318 Jun 2022 | Unknown Or Other | Software Version Management (SVM) instruction. Update to require 70amp minimum battery charger during procedure. | |
| SM 48-2022 Jun 2022 | Equipment | This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided. | |
| V0116132033805_6 Jun 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine misfire diagnostic aid. | |
| V011615201481514 Jun 2022 | Fuel System | Gasoline quality. | |
| V171901201285548 Jun 2022 | Unknown Or Other | VW engine oil specifications. Update to model year applicability. | |
| V001713203384615 Jun 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Recommended fuel additive to avoid engine misfires. | |
| V3718022033975_8 Jun 2022 | Power Train | Auto Trans fluid requirements. | |
| V271901201189420 Jun 2022 | Electrical System | Battery Testing and Charging using VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS | |
| V171901201285547 Jun 2022 | Equipment | VW engine oil specifications. Update to attachments. | |
| TT 13 20 01_2 May 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine oil pressure priming. | |
| V871812200556627 May 2022 | Visibility | Cleaning of Heating and Ventilation system, Updated to include additional model year applicability and cost of cleaning solution in warranty table. | |
| V271901201189419 May 2022 | Electrical System | Battery Testing and Charging using recommended VW test equipment. | |
| TT 27-10-02_4 May 2022 | Electrical System | Battery Tester VAS 6161 introduction. | |
| V171901201285546 Apr 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments) | |
| V941901201152118 Apr 2022 | Exterior Lighting | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation. Update model year applicability to include 2022. | |
| V171901201285545 Mar 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments) | |
| V171806201781316 Mar 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine oil consumption measurement. Update procedure and work sheet. | |
| V271503201607611 Mar 2022 | Electrical System | Discharged Battery, Diagnosis for excessive current draw. | |
| V1917012022548_9 Feb 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Update model and model year applicability, introduce new coolant G12Evo. | |
| V171901201285544 Feb 2022 | Engine | Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments) | |
| V171901201285543 Jan 2022 | Equipment | Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments) | |
| A002155201173212 Dec 2021 | Electrical System | This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates. |
Showing 60 of 533 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 4 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Volkswagen Jetta →