2025 Volkswagen Jetta problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (8) · Visibility/Wiper (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Jetta model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2026-03-25 · campaign 26V185000 · 75,323 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: An instrument panel that does not display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90Z5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 22, 2026.
Electrical System:wiring 2026-03-11 · campaign 26V138000 · 48,165 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
Risk: An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97TC. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 13, 2026.
Service bulletins (148)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-23 · VIN4APIN20260923 · Other
oil leak from cylinder head cover; coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, low coolant level, visible coolant leak, or coolant warning message in instrument cluster; customer states error for dynamic cornering light in mfi; customer states no start condition; customer states no start condition;
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Lane Departure: Assist 2026-09-17 · TT 96 26 01 · Other
heat sensative trouble shooting explanation.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-10 · TT 57 23 01 · Other
remove key fob battery for 20 seconds to restore proper operation.
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 2026-09-02 · VIN4APIN20260902 · Other
oil leak from cylinder head cover; coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket, low coolant level, visible coolant leak, or coolant warning message in instrument cluster; customer states error for dynamic cornering light in mfi; customer states no start condition; customer states no start condition;
Showing the 6 most recent of 148 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Power Train“the car has randomly shifted out of a drive gear on two separate occasions. first time it happened i had car towed back to selling dealership for warranty repair but they found nothing wrong and said they reset a fault code. they also told me we would have to wait and see if it happened again. it did and i called dealership to speak to service mana…”
2026-10-22 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2025 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. the contact stated that the odor was a burning odor. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with internal transmission failure. the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be repaire…”
2026-10-12 · Service Brakes“i am not sure. my brakes are making noise. i made multi complaints to dealer and vw. i saw owner with the same car and he had the same problem. please look into this. something is wrong with brakes on vws…”
2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other“rental vehicle door malfunction (claim # [insert complaint/claim number]) date: xxx to: damage recovery unit / customer relations enterprise rent-a-car dear sir/madam, i am writing to formally report a serious safety defect and personal injury resulting from a rental vehicle provided by your [xxx] location, and to register a formal protest against …”
2026-09-03 · Lane Departure: Warning“this update is for odi #11761839. i am submitting new diagnostic evidence confirming that the acc/travel assist safety defect in my 2025 volkswagen jetta continues to occur and existed long before any accident or windshield replacement. on august 18, 2026, a certified adas technician performed a full diagnostic scan and documented u112300 databus e…”
2026-09-03 · Lane Departure: Assist“this submission is an update to my previous nhtsa odi complaint #11761837. i am adding new documentation provided by the authorized repair facility, including service records, diagnostic notes, and repair details. these documents confirm that the same safety defect continues to occur despite following all repair instructions and completing the rec…”
2026-09-03 · Visibility/Wiper“i am the owner/operator of a 2025 volkswagen jetta s and am submitting this complaint regarding recurring optical distortion in the windshield within my normal driving field of view. the vehicle has undergone four windshield replacement attempts for this same condition, yet the distortion remains present. the distortion appears as a rippling or “fu…”
2026-09-03 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“i am reporting a recurring safety defect involving the adaptive cruise control (acc) system in my 2025 volkswagen jetta. the acc system fails suddenly and without warning while driving, including during highway operation. this creates an immediate safety hazard, as the vehicle unexpectedly disengages speed control and forces abrupt driver intervent…”
2026-08-24 · Visibility/Wiper“description of safety defect the vehicle has experienced significant optical distortion in the driver’s primary line of sight with three separate replacement windshields. the distortion has included noticeable rippling, warping, and a “funhouse” effect that causes straight objects and the surrounding environment to appear distorted when viewed thr…”
2026-07-30 · Unknown Or Other“ 2025 jetta sport completely loses acceleration on straightaways and during turns, creating an intersection collision hazard. severe drivability and safety hazard. it drops power during turns, which exposes me to oncoming traffic. also when i press the gas, the car does not want to go. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.