2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Complaints

MY VEHICLE IS KEYLESS ENTRY AND MOST OF THE TIME THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS FAULTY AND DOES NOT UNLOCK. THE MECHANISM THAT UNLOCKS THE DOOR ONLY UNLOCKS IF THE CAR IS PARKED ON A HILL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS ALL DOORS WHEN DRIVING AND IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, I COULD NOT OPEN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE AN INFANT DAUGHTER AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO LOAD HER IN THE CAR FROM THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE, ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. I SEE MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE IN ONLINE FORUMS. I'VE ASKED THE VW DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A FAULTY PART THAT WAS INSTALLED IN MANUFACTURING. THE CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2013. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). SUBJECT:2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA [XXX] NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS STANDARD NO. 206 DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS - PASSENGER CARS REQUEST FOR DOOR LATCH REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR LATCH OF MY DAUGHTER'S VW RECENTLY BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DOOR SIMPLY DID NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED AND WOULD FREELY SWING OPEN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST DEALER, TOM WOOD VW OF NOBLESVILLE, IN. ON MAY 13, 2017. IN DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX], HE STATED THAT VW WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. I MENTIONED TO [XXX] THAT THE DOOR LATCH IS PART OF THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, (FMVSS STD. 206) AND THAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE NOT LIMITED TO MILEAGE OR WARRANTY. A VEHICLE SHOULD MEET THOSE STANDARDS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR AT A COST OF $512 (SEE ATTACHED REPAIR INVOICE RECEIPT). IN PREPARATION OF THIS LETTER I ENTERED IN A CHAT WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE. THE VW REP, WHILE SYMPATHETIC TO THE SITUATION, STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN WITHIN THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT OF 50,000 MILES. I STATED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A FMVSS COMPLIANCE ISSUE AND THAT SUCH A REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DOOR DOES NOT STAY SHUT AND SWINGS OPEN FREELY. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED. IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF CHOICE IN THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND MOST LIKELY ILLEGAL TO DRIVE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING THAT VW REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF $512. *DL

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND MY BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD TO KEEP PUMPING THE BRAKE UNTIL I GOT SLIGHT PRESSURE AND PULLED THE HAND BRAKE WHICH DIDN'T HELP. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT IT WAS REPLACE THIS WAS LAST YEAR. YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED I CHANGED MY BRAKES AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT MY BRAKES. I AM LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THAT IT IS MY MASTER CYLINDER. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHERE I CAN'T STOP AND I'M PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE AT DANGER BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING OF WHEN IT'S GOING TO OCCUR.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL MESSAGES STARTED TO APPEAR IN REFERENCE TO FAILED LIGHTS. I LOST SIGNAL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. REPLACING THE LIGHTS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AT THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON 3/24/2017.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON WITH THE CAR BEING IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR FOR MY CAR. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT TO BE INCLUDED FOR THE RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH, SHOULDER, BACK, AND LEFT KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

ABS MODULE FAILED AFTER 31K MILES. HORN ALSO FAILED. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED BY MY MECHANIC. TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2009 AND 2010 JETTA'S FOR ABS MODULE. LIGHTS FOR ABS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AIR BAG AND TIRE PRESSURE ARE ALL ILLUMINATED. CAR HAS 31K MILES. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ABS MODULE ON 2009 AND 2010 JETTA'S THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2010.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING, THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN ALARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V196000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 04/28/17 *LJ UPDATED 10/11/2017*JS

UPON STARTING THE CAR ON FEB 8, 2017, THE RADIO/NAV SYSTEM/BLUETOOTH SYSTEM DID NOT WORK.

WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TEENS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK THE NEXT MORNING. IF I WARM THE CAR UP FOR 20 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN LET IT SIT FOR ANOTHER HALF HOUR THEN THEY WILL USUALLY WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES FROM 12/2016 - 2/2017. SEEMS WORSE IF IT HAS BEEN SNOWING OR ICING OVERNIGHT. WHEN THEY ARE WORKING THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF HESITATION OR SLOW MOVEMENT. THE FACT THAT IT IS RANDOM SEEMS UNUSUALLY DANGEROUS. SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OR MOVING DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. CAR HAS 52000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION.