2017 Volkswagen Jetta problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (25) · Engine (13) · Steering (12)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Jetta model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
94 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (7)
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail 2020-10-21 · campaign 20V648000 · 218,192 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2020-09-23 · campaign 20E064000 · 38 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:ignition:anti-Theft:control Module 2019-08-22 · campaign 19V615000 · 679,027 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Equipment:other:labels 2017-05-31 · campaign 17V352000 · 2 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles. The affected vehicles have Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) markings on the body that do not match the VIN plate near the windshield. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: The mismatched VINs make the vehicle noncompliant with regulatory requirements.
Fix: Volkswagen has notified owners and has replaced the vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 06A8.
Equipment:other:labels 2017-03-02 · campaign 17V136000 · 797 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Beetle and Jetta GLI vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B9.
Equipment:other:labels 2017-03-02 · campaign 17V137000 · 4,875 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B8
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2017-02-03 · campaign 17V070000 · 2 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles equipped with a 1.4L engine. These vehicles have an engine that may seize due to an improper casting of the block.
Risk: If the engine seizes, the wheels may suddenly lock up, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will either buy back the vehicle or replace the engine block, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F4.
Service bulletins (666)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Steering 2026-08-03 · V4823022072282_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
clean and install an additional plastic "ring" to prevent ingress of dirt,hair. foreign bodies into the clock spring.
Electrical System 2026-07-15 · VOS-26-42 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the issue: da 0019 - hotfix 12-v battery test(s) – no battery diagnosis - inconclusive test result.
Showing the 6 most recent of 666 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i was driving on monday xxx when my car started to smoke and smell of fumes. the epc light came on and my car was stuttering, so i immediately pulled over and turned off the car. when i got out i noticed a large pool of gas under the front of the car. i called a tow truck who brought it to crew vw in [xxx] who diagnosed to car with broken fuel rail…”
2026-07-29 · Power Train“note: (never has any issues before ever as vehicle always maintained and taken directly to vw for maintenance.) /-/———————————————— i was driving: came to a stop: light turned green proceeded to go through intersection yet vehicle. kt not move! put lever into park: turned off car and turned back on : put thr stick back into drive - nothing happened…”
2026-03-07 · Seats“i have severe painful burns on my gluteus from the seat heater. i had the heater on intermittently on a drive of about 75 miles. i put the heater on for about 10-15 minutes a few times but did not have it on the entire trip. after getting to my destination i started feeling painful burning sensation so looked at my bum in the mirror and was shocked…”
2026-02-25 · Suspension“on 8/14/24 i had the rear springs replaced due to a broken spring. now today 2/25/26 i was inform that i have a broken front spring. this vehicle is only 9 years old and we have had spring break in the front and back. this seems like a premature failure of a critical suspension component. though fortunately nothing happened in the way a bodily inju…”
2025-12-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“the fuel rail bolts on the car loosened, one sheered off. fuel poured from the front end of the car. when the car was started, to be placed on a flatbed the car caught on fire. the car is currently at a mechanics, but has not been repaired. the car could have easily caught on fire while being driven or started any time before or after it actually c…”
2025-11-07 · Equipment:electrical:infotainment:video (Touch)screen/Monitor/Unit · 40,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the infotainment system touch screen failed to operate as an intended. no warning light was illuminated. an independent mechanic was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the vehicle co…”
2025-09-19 · Unknown Or Other“horn no longer working, can't signal an impending accident to other drivers. that along with infotainment touch screen, kind of hard to use hands free when i cant select yes on the touchscreen …”
2025-09-19 · Unknown Or Other“door lock actuator for all passenger doors, the only one that hasn't failed is the driver's door. …”
2025-09-12 · Service Brakes“please copy the link. it is not a spam nor malware. it is the diagnostic report ran 9/12/2025. please look under “airbag” tab and you will see the code related to brake system. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2025-07-29 · Power Train“july 2024 my 2017 vw jetta sel premium [xxx] at 153,253 miles without notice had transmission failure where a major oil and transmission fluid leak occurred. i was sitting at a red light, the light turned green i tried to go and ended up flooding the engine thus preventing the car to ever move again. i experienced a total loss on a vehicle who’s pz…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.