2005 Volkswagen Jetta: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 248 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (29% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The transmissions are bad on these cars and when it's shifting gears it jerks and almost takes you off the road. I've had my car completely stop as I was driving and almost cause a wreck hurting myself in the process of not trying to kill someone walking because these cars are KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM THERE WAS AN ENTIRE LAWSUIT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. Please help if there is a recall done I can get the car fixed and continue working as an in-home caregiver. I am currently out of work because IT IS NOT SAFE TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS IN THAT DEATH TRAP. The mechanic said the entire transmission is built to brake and it's not a new problem these cars are bad.”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2022
“My daughter was in a serious accident, she hit a guard rail and lost control after spinning and hitting two more guard rails the never deployed. My daughter suffered a close head injury and facial lacerations. The car is a total lose, why didnt her air bags go off ? Is so she may have not sustained such injuries.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2021
“My car while parked and the engine going will stop. Also when I'm on the freeway the epc light will turn on and feel like I have a loss of power and it feels like it is accelerating. My mechanic has no idea what is going on with my car.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Front end collision on highway at approximate 45 mph, possibly slower. Airbags did not deploy. Damage primarily on driver side of vehicle. Flame ignited on front driver side of vehicle under the hood. Fire quickly spread causing total loss of vehicle. Unknown what caused fire. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2020
“While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the a/c on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2019
“Tl* the contact owned a 2005 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly caught fire, while idled in a drive thru line at a fast food restaurant. The fire started under the hood. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to a junk yard. The contact was unsure if a police report or fire report were filed. The dealer mike haggerty volkswagen (8920 s cicero ave, oak lawn, il 60453 (708) 425-8989) told the contact to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle and referred the contact to call the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2019
“Engine misfires while driving or accelerating or slowing. Then vehicle vibrates and stalls. Intermittent and without warning lights on dash. Vw garage could not solve this problem april 11, 2019 and may 7 to 11,2019. Vehicle had recall on coils approximately 2011 and coils were replaced but one failed few months later and manufacturer replaced it. Mileage now is slightly below 40,000. Vehicle has stalled while driving twice and not trustworthy. Policeman helped move vehicle off road once volkswagen garage advised keep driving to see if problem continues after they switched two coil wires. It has not stopped misfiring of engine.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2019
“The transmission is terribly made. There is also an issue with the fuel injection that does not allow the car to receive the correct fuel as well as the gas tank. The car jerks because of the gas tank and the codes read ad if the cap needs to be replaced but the whole gas tank needs to be replaced.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2019
“2005 vw.jetta - VIN# [xxx]. The transmission shifts hard & down shift hard when the car has run for a period of time during travel. Also, the faulty air bag light comes on when the car is first started and may show intermittently while driving. The catalytic converter & 02 sensor have been replaced but the codes still show when put on the machine. The ignition key gets stuck in the ignition. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
“I was driving along yesterday and the warning light for "air bag" came on. I researched this and according to other consumer blogs, a lot of car owners have the same problem. I don't see a jetta recall - but there should be one!!!”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
Remedy: Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.
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 WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L GASOLINE ENGINE, A FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY NOT BE POSITIONED PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Jetta by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
NHTSA has 248 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. The most complained-about area is power train (29% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Volkswagen Jetta problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 75,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.