2015 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical Problems
39 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
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."
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.
Owner Complaints (39)
You purchased your 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with an odometer reading of 77,183 miles. When you later tried to sell it to Carvana, they reported that the vehicle's last recorded mileage in 2023 was 80,000 miles — a discrepancy that suggests the odometer may have been rolled back before your purchase. This could indicate odometer fraud and may affect the vehicle's value and your ability to sell it.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your Jetta sometimes won't start after you've driven it for a short distance, turned it off, and tried to restart it within 15-45 minutes, even though the dashboard lights stay on. A diagnostic scan shows your immobilizer (the security system that recognizes your key) isn't working properly, so the engine won't crank. After waiting 1-3 hours or longer, it may start again, but the problem is unpredictable and happens with both keys in various conditions. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the immobilizer system or related electrical components that communicate with your key.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your car has trouble starting even though you don't drive it much and recently had the battery replaced and diagnosed. Sometimes the engine won't turn over for no apparent reason, though there's no pattern to when it happens.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your car unexpectedly lost power and shut off while driving at various speeds, including on a busy highway. After restarting, it ran normally again. The dealer found that a faulty ignition coil and ignition lead were causing the engine to misfire, which they replaced to fix the problem.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your car won't start, and the dealer diagnosed a faulty instrument cluster as the cause. The instrument cluster is the display panel that shows your speed, fuel level, and other vital information. Replacing this component should restore your vehicle's ability to start.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
I'm finding the brake pedal to be extremely hard to depress. This happened overnight, as the car was operating normally; now I'm afraid to move it because I can't brake properly at very low speeds.
2015 Volkswagen Jetta active grille shutter. A shutter system on the front end of the vehicle on the lower half of the radiator that allows air flow during different temperatures. The shutter assembly along with the electrical motor seems to go bad after a set amount of time. Giving off a Check Engine Code P05A0 as the shutters freeze open. Volkswagen dealerships have quoted $700-900 to replace the assembly as the only fix with vehicles being out of warranty. A quick search online has determined that this is a known problem for all these vehicles, Volkswagen are aware as they released a newer engine for the assembly. Also the check engine code can not be cleared until the assembly is fixed or replaced, thus not allowing vehicles to pass annual registration or smog check here in California.
Clockspring on my Jetta broke which disabled horn and cruise control functions. The safety issue is the horn. The clockspring should not fail on any car with barely 50k operating miles on it. The unit has not yet been replaced. The dashboard shows an airbag warning light. No prior symptoms.
1. Overtime, i noticed my car starts to jerk during acceleration and would accelerate, completely stall for about 2 seconds before getting back in forward motion. It when that jerk happens, it feels like the car is suddenly in neutral for those few seconds. This has been happening more frequently and has now been happening every other green light. This seems dangerous and I also don’t like that it does this on the highway. 2. steering wheel has some resistance issues. 3. ECM is malfunctioning because my dashboard constantly shows at least 5 incorrect warning check lights. Sometimes they change to other check lights, sometimes they appear and disappear when it wants. Very frustrating.
Since purchasing my used used 2015 VWA Jetta in 2019 I have had several issues I think are electrical. (1)The phone charger outlet has blown a few times and required them to reset it, (2) there have been 4 occasions in the last 6 months where my car wouldn't start, but upon being checked out by a VW repair shop it was not determined what caused this, the lights started coming on, but it would not fully start. (3) More recently my horn has randomly stopped working, on three occasions when I went to use it, nothing happened and when I park or later in the day it resumes working.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT INDICATES THAT A PASSENGER IS NOT THERE WHEN THERE IS. IT WILL START BLINKING RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES REGISTERING THEM AND SOMETIMES NOT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STATIONARY.
ENGINE LIGHT IS ON 2015 JETTA 1.8 TURBO. ECU 1 STATES CODE P05A0 ACTIVE GRILLE AIR SHUTTER "A" STUCK ON. VOLKSWAGON WANTS TO CHARGE ME $900 TO CORRECT THIS SENSOR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS 32,000 MILES & WAS STATIONARY WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SENSOR SYSTEM. SHOULD VW HAVE TO PAY? WHY ARE CONSUMERS PAYING?
**SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT**
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS OFF AND ON IF I DO NOT KEEP THE SEATBELT LOCKED, EVEN WITH NO PASSENGER. THUS OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING AND ASSUME THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, SAFETY ISSUE, AND POTENTIAL AIRBAG ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR. *TR
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND OUT THE VEHICLE FIRE OUT BUT THE WHOLE FROM END OF THE VEHICLE TO THE INSIDE AND BACKSEAT WAS AFFECT BY THE FIRE.
HORN WILL NOT FUNCTION BELOW FREEZING AMBIENT TEMPERATURE; LIKELY MOISTURE INSIDE HAS FROZEN THE MECHANISM; WORKS FINE ONCE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE HAS RISEN ABOVE 32*F
PUT CAR IN PARK ON CONVENIENCE STORE PARKING LOT COULDN'T TURN CAR OFF OR REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION TRIED SO MANY TIMES. DROVE HOME PARKED CAR IN GARAGE TRIED TO TURN OFF .CAR STILL WOULD NOT TURN OFF. FINALLY DROVE TO DEALER GARAGE . DEALER SAID THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. THE JOB COST 577.25 DOLLARS. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN HEADQUARTERS TO DISCUSS THIS REPAIR SINCE IT IS UNUSUAL TO HAVE TO MAKE SUCH A REPAIR AND I HAD ALSO LEARNED THAT I HAVE ONE RECAL ON THE CAR SIMILARLY RELATED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY. VOLKSWAGEN DENIED ANY RELATIONSHIP TO THIS REPAIR. VOLKSWAGEN ALSO HAS NOT NOTIFIED ME OF ANY RECALL ON MY CAR AND STATED THAT RECALL NOTICES HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED , THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHAT THE A FIX FOR THE RECALL POSTING. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS OCCURRENCE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED RECALL NOTICE . MILEAGE ON CAR IS 35,855 MILES.
THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED.
MY CHARGING PORTS QUIT WORKING. IT IS NOT THE FUSE.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF, COULD NOT TURN OFF ENGINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. SPIRIT AUTO CENTER OF RENTON (330 SUNSET BLVD N, RENTON, WA 98057, (425) 226-6113) DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, THE CONTACT REACHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDOW ROLLED UP AND SQUEEZED THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 160250974. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 *TT*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO RELEASE OR TURN BACKWARDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN VOLKSWAGEN OF ROCKVILLE (801 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852, (301) 637-8344) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO TURN OFF IN SOME INSTANCES.
THE MAJOR PROBLEM OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER MY 30,000 MILE CHECK UP, WHEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION, AND I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. I AM AWARE THIS PROBLEM DATES BACK TO AS EARLY AS 2012. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE SINCE I WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 36,400 MILES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST IN REPLACING THIS PART. IN ADDITION, I WAS CHARGED 153.63 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. MIDDAY ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2018, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CUSTOMER CARE DENYING MY CLAIM COMPLETELY. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL STATUS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT VW HAS UPDATED THEIR IGNITION SWITCH (REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED MODEL NUMBER) SO THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL NOT CAUSE PROBLEMS. I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS A PLOY TO GET ME TO GO TO THE VW DEALERSHIP, SO THEY MAY CONTINUE TO PROFIT OVER THEIR PAST MISTAKES. I BELIEVE I HAVE PAID FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, I HAD THE BATTERY FAIL AT THE 36,000 MILE MARK AS WELL. I FEEL THAT I HAVE HAD MORE TROUBLE WITH THIS NEW CAR THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST, AND I AM NOT REALLY THRILLED AS A FIRST TIME VW OWNER. *JS *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE. DUE TO THE VIN, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. *JS
IGNITION PROBLEM. IS HARD TO TURN OFF THE CAR, THEY KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK. AND I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 2 DAYS AGO.
I PARKED AT THE STORE AND THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING THE CAR ENGINE OFF . WHEN HE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING PREVENTING YOU FROM TURNING THE CAR ENGINE OFF. THEREFORE YOU CAN'T LEAVE YOUR CAR TO GO IN THE HOUSE , STORE OR EVEN TO THE BATHROOM. THIS WILL ALLOWS YOUR CAR TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO CAR THEIVES WHEN YOU MUST LEAVE TO GET HELP. NEEDS A RECALL ASAP.
IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. BOTH KEYS DO THE SAME THING. MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW HAS NOT DEALT WITH. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH AND THE PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THE VW'S. THIS FIRST HAPPEN AFTER PARKING AND VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY,
DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHT, RIGHT-SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) BULB BURNED OUT, HOWEVER WHEN THE BULB SOCKET WAS REMOVED, THE PLASTIC MATERIAL HAD SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE/PLASTIC MATERIAL DAMAGE AND THE BULB COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE SOCKET. THE SOCKET AND BULB WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO RECALL LISTED FOR THIS ISSUE WITHIN THE NHTSA, HOWEVER, THE HEAT DAMAGE WITHIN THE BULB SOCKET IS A CONCERN. LOCAL VW DEALER MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO TSB OR RECALL ON THIS ELECTRICAL PART. SOCKET AND BULB REPLACEMENT COST FROM THE VW DEALER IS NEAR $40.00.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES LATER, AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE DID SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WINNER VOLKSWAGEN IN DOVER, DELAWARE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TUMBLER FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE ISSUE WAS DO TO THE TUMBLER IN THE KEY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THIS WAS COMMON WITH VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES. *JS
MY KEY HAVE BEEN GETTING STUCK IN MY IGNITION. I COULD NOT TURN MY CAR OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE KEY OUT IS TO FLICK THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR IT TO LET GO.
JUST SECONDS AFTER THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON (I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT) MY BRAKES WENT OUT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF AND MY CAR HAD NO RESPONSE IN SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN A POSITION WHERE THERE WAS TIME AND SPACE TO REACT AND TO SLOW DOWN USING THE E BRAKE. JUST MINUTES EARLIER I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, AS WELL AS IN SOME CITY TRAFFIC - IF I LOST MY BRAKES AT ANY OTHER MOMENT THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. VW ENDED UP SWAPPING OUT THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE CAMSHAFT HAD BROKEN IN HALF. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO SOME SORT OF RECALL ISSUE THEY HAD IN THE PAST, BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT. I'M VERY TROUBLED THAT A LESS THAN 2-YEAR-OLD CAR WITH 16K MILES ON IT CAN HAVE SUCH A SUDDEN AND SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. PLEASE ADVISE AND ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. OH AND TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, I WAS ON MY HONEYMOON...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE VEHICLE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
THE "START ENGINE STOP" BUTTON IS LIVING AWAY ON THE LETTER N OF ENGINE, CAUSING A METAL BLADE TO PIERCE THE SKIN WHEN THE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED TO START OR STOP THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT GRABBED A CELLULAR PHONE OUT OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE MIDDLE CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT THAT TIME THE ON/OFF SWITCH WAS ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE STILL IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.
VW DEALER AND MECHANIC ADMITS TO DRIVING MY CAR AND VERIFYING IN PERSON WHILE DRIVING THAT MY CAR TIRES ARE SHAKING DUE TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE CAR AND I SHOULD PUT LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK TO HELP SMOOTH THE RIDE OR GO WITH A LARGER WHEEL SIZE.. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH FAMILY IN MY CAR. ELECTRICAL ISSUE IS A FUSE KEEPS BURNING OUT DUE TO AN IMPROPER GROUND FROM BOTH POWER PLUGS FRONT AND BACK SEAT. WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE BOTH HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN ONE MONTH AGO AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LISTED RECALLS. MY VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS AS LISTED ON THE RECALLS, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE RETURNS A SEARCH OF NO OPEN RECALLS. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL. ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE SMELLED GASOLINE BOTH WHILE AT AN IDLE AND JUST AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER IS APPRECIATED.
THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB HAS NO DELAY. IF YOU PUSH IT ONE TIME, WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE, THE ALARM GOES OFF. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND I STALLED THE ENGINE WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I WENT TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO START THE ENGINE AND SINCE THE PANIC BUTTON IS ON THE SIDE OF THE KEY (FACING STRAIGHT UP, OR DOWN WHEN IN THE IGNITION). THE ALARM STARTED GOING OFF AND THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START. I WAS HOLDING BACK TRAFFIC, SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS THE ACTION WAS COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. OTHER KEY FOBS I'VE HAD REQUIRED PRESSING AND HOLDING THE PANIC BUTTON FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS TO ACTIVATE IT. BAD DESIGN OF KEY FOB, THE BUTTON AT LEAST SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY RECESSED. *TR