The Used Car Index

2008 Volkswagen Jetta problems

NHTSA lists 189 complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, 4 of them mention a crash and 4 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN JETTA.

At a glance

Complaints
189
With crash
4
With fire
4
With injury (complaints)
4
Injuries
4
Deaths
0
Recalls
4
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
340,000
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
597

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The available sales group does not match this vehicle variant.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN5328.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4222.2%
AIR BAGS2111.1%
ENGINE2010.6%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC157.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER115.8%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES105.3%
VISIBILITY84.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING73.7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE63.2%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION26
STRUCTUREBODY4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMIGNITION3
POWER TRAINDRIVELINE3
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT PANEL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSEAT HEATER1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESDOORS1
WHEELSRIM1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

4 recalls.

19V679000

Date: 2019-09-25. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Defect: 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 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an (excerpt)

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. (excerpt)

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

10V621000

Date: 2010-12-10. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: 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. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND (excerpt)

Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

09V164000

Date: 2009-05-19. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSE (excerpt)

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V442000

Date: 2007-09-24. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE09035

Opened: 2009-07-17. Closed: 2009-11-19.

VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWER

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 MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PR

Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Linked campaign numbers: 09V333000.

Manufacturer communications

597 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT195
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING150
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM125
ENGINE58
POWER TRAIN38
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE35
STRUCTURE34
UNKNOWN OR OTHER29

11038143

Date: 2026-09-09. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.

10244545

Date: 2023-10-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

VW Engine oil quality standards

10243299

Date: 2023-09-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

VW Engine oil quality standards

10242897

Date: 2023-09-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Battery Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS Charger. Update Tool terminology

10242894

Date: 2023-09-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting

10241177

Date: 2023-08-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

10239654

Date: 2023-07-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Diagnostic assistance for excessive static current draw

10239653

Date: 2023-07-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

10238308

Date: 2023-06-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger

10239655

Date: 2023-06-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
JETTA188
GLI1

Same model, other years

All model years | All Volkswagen models

Other Volkswagen models, 2008

Sources

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