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2017 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

19 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

19
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2021Dec 2020
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Engine Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #17V070000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

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.

Owner Complaints (19)

criticalENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FireFiled: Dec 2025

The bolts holding your fuel rail loosened and one broke off, causing fuel to leak from the front of your engine. When you tried to start the car to have it towed, it caught fire. This is a serious safety hazard because fuel leaks can ignite while driving or at any time the engine runs. The fix will require replacing the fuel rail bolts and inspecting the fuel system for damage from the fire.

NHTSA #: 11702692
criticalENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2025

Your car has a strong, constant gasoline smell while driving and parked, suggesting a fuel leak that could be a fire hazard. This matches symptoms from a known recall (20V648000) affecting some 2016–2018 Jettas with loose fuel rail bolts, but your VIN isn't included in that recall. Volkswagen has refused to cover repairs under warranty because your vehicle technically falls outside the recall, even though it appears to have the same defect. The repair will likely involve inspecting and tightening the fuel rail bolts to stop the leak.

NHTSA #: 11652263
highENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2025

While driving at 55 MPH, your vehicle suddenly started running rough and then stalled completely. A mechanic diagnosed that your head gasket failed and determined the engine needs to be replaced. This happened at 140,000 miles, and although there's a recall for this issue, your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in it.

NHTSA #: 11651810
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2024

The catalytic converter malfunctioned and is defective. My vehicle is within 8 years and under 80,000 miles and Volkswagen of Toms River will not replace or address the safety concern as they are required by law to replace it. The vehicle will hit 8 year on January 1st and they are trying to stallmate me until it is out of warranty

NHTSA #: 11622890
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Sep 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fuel leaking from under the hood of the vehicle. The check engine, and electronic power control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel rail bolt had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

NHTSA #: 11616215
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Apr 2024

The EPC light and Check Engine light came on while driving, major car throttling, problems with acceleration, stronger throttling occurred with more acceleration. Car was immediately towed to nearest VW dealership service. Me and my son had to stop on the expressway far from home. Problems were confirmed at inspection by VW dealership on same day of incident. No symptoms or warnings occurred of problems before incident.

NHTSA #: 11582508
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2022

When driving the vehicles power dropped suddenly, especially above 3000 RPM. The actuator arm on the waste gate for the turbo charger broke. Error P2263 was seen on an OBD reader. A quick search online seems to show this is a prolific issue with Volkswagen 1.4 TSI engines between 80,000 and 90,000 miles. My wife and daughter could be seriously hurt down a highway onramp and the power cuts out.

NHTSA #: 11476662
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2021

I WAS DRIVING ON ROAD & I HIT A MAJOR ROCK OR A POTHOLE I WAS IN HYATTSVILLE. I WORK & LIVE IN THE CITY OF HYATTSVILLE. I DRIVE THOUGH THE BLADENSBURG/HYATTSVILLE TO DO MY DELIVERIES WORKING BUT THIS ONE JUST DAMAGED MY VEHICLE & STARTED A MAJOR LEAK FROM MY TRANSMISSION PAN. I LEFT WORK CAUSE I NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING CONSTANTLY DROVE IT HOME AND SAT IT DOWN.

NHTSA #: 11406281
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2021

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE CODE CAME ON AS WELL AS THE EPC LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD TRY TO START BUT WOULD RUN VERY ROUGHLY. WHEN I GOT IT HOME I STARTED IT AND NOTICED FUEL POURING FROM THE FUEL RAIL

NHTSA #: 11399727
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2021

RECALL NUMBER: 20V648 IS NOT RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER. THERE IS NOT A REPAIR AVAILABLE YET.

NHTSA #: 11388635
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2021

I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TODAY TO ASK ABOUT THE FUEL RAIL REPAIR AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION NOR A TIME FRAME OF WHEN THEY INTEND TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT. I PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE ALLOWING MY SON TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT I COULD NOT SELL THE CAR DUE TO THE RECALL NOW I'M STUCK WITH A VEHICLE I CANNOT SELL OR DRIVE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MY CATCH FIRE. I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT IN A TIMELY MANNER OR BUY THE VEHICLE BACK

NHTSA #: 11388717
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2020

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER, CAR DIED, EPC LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER.

NHTSA #: 11385781
mediumENGINE
Filed: Dec 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING, AND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE DUE TO CYLINDER'S MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CITY VOLKSWAGEN OF HIGHLAND (9601 INDIANAPOLIS BLVD, HIGHLAND, IN 46322), WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,200.

NHTSA #: 11377279
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2020

I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A 40 MPH ZONE TO A 65 MPH HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND THEN ENTER A LIMP MODE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF FUEL SPRAYING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST CERTIFIED MECHANIC, VALLEY MOTOR HONDA, SHERIDAN WY. THERE WAS NOT A VW SHOP WITHIN 100 MILES OF THE BREAKDOWN. UPON ORIGINAL INSPECTION, A TORQUES HEAD BOLT WAS DISCOVERED LOOSE FROM THE FUEL RAIL AND THE FUEL RAIL WAS SEPARATED FROM THE INJECTOR ON THE DISTAL CYLINDER (SEE PICTURE). SIMPLY TIGHTENING THE FUEL RAIL DID NOT SATISFY THE PROBLEM. THIS IS REPORTEDLY THE RESULT OF THE INJECTORS SHIFTING POSITION AND/OR BEING DAMAGED. AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THIS COMMON VW JETTA PROBLEM, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP IN BILLINGS MONTANA. IT APPEARS THAT THE PRESCRIBED RECALL FIX FOR THIS ISSUE MIGHT ONLY REQUIRE SOME LOCTITE AND WRENCH TURNING FOR THE CARS THAT HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE FIX LOOKS TO BE MORE EXTENSIVE FOR CARS LIKE MINE THAT WERE NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT BILLINGS VOLKSWAGEN FOR 14 DAYS WITHOUT RESOLUTION. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT PARTS ARE INVOLVED OR WHY THE REPAIRS NOT AVAILABLE. I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE REPAIR BILL FROM VALLEY MOTOR HONDA IN WHICH THE FUEL RAIL WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE SOURCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 11375997
mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE APC ENGINE CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AT A DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,836.

NHTSA #: 11246418
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (TOM BUSH VOLKSWAGEN, 9850 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA #: 11232810
mediumENGINE
Filed: May 2019

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH SUDDEN LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO 30MPH. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WERE EXCESSIVE METAL PARTICLES IN OIL PAN. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CAR IS A 2017 WITH 66,748 MILES. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE AND PAID $5306.33

NHTSA #: 11216914
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2019

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 1/4 TO 1/2 FULL TANK OF GAS, MY CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER/HESITATE. IMMEDIATELY THE "EPC" LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CHECK ENGINE SYMBOL, BLINKING. ALL POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR CEASED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER ON EACH INSTANCE, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED 2-5 MINUTES. AFTER WAITING, I SUCCESSFULLY RE-STARTED THE CAR EACH TIME, WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINING ON. AFTER THE FIRST INSTANCE, I DROVE <40MPH TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND LEFT MY CAR TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONCLUSION WAS, "NOT ENOUGH GASOLINE", DESPITE THE TANK READING 1/4 FULL. AFTER THAT INSTANCE, I MADE A POINT TO NEVER LET THE GAS FALL BELOW 1/2 FULL. ON THE TWO OTHER OCCASIONS OF HESITATION/LOSS OF POWER, THE TANK FELL BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 FULL. AFTER PULLING OVER, TURNING THE CAR OFF, AND RESTARTING THE CAR, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO A GAS STATION AND FILLED UP TO A FULL TANK WITHOUT BRINGING IN FOR INSPECTION. KEEPING THE GAS TANK ABOVE 1/2 FULL, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE. WHEN THE GAS FALLS BELOW 1/2 A TANK, IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11195511
mediumENGINE
CrashFiled: Dec 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WHEELS SEIZED WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING THE SIDE WALK WHILE BEING OPERATED APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIKES AUTO BODY WHERE THEY WERE INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V070000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN 17V070000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE VEHICLES VIN WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE NHTSA TO GET THEIR VIN ADDED TO THE CAMPAIGN. THE DRIVER THAT OPERATED THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FROM A HEAD INJURY NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

NHTSA #: 11057320

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