no report yet
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING…
2005 Volkswagen JettaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 248 owner complaints about the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 17, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Brady Holt, CC BY 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta has problems
248 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
84Power train1 crash/fire/injury
48Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
41Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
27Engine5 crash/fire/injury
26Air bags7 crash/fire/injury
14Exterior lighting
12Structure
11Vehicle speed control
10Service brakes, hydraulic
6718 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 84 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 48 | 9 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 41 | 1 |
| Engine | 27 | 5 |
| Air bags | 26 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 2 |
| Structure | 12 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 10 | 1 |
| 18 other systems | 67 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2005 Volkswagen Jetta recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Brake lights: switch
Risk. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON.
no report yet
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
no report yet
Fuel system, diesel
Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
78kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 74 power train complaints. 69% were reported before 100,000 miles.
10under 30k miles51under 100k miles23100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
16 owners mentioned a cost$2,035median
Middle half: $1,200 – $3,250
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Jetta year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Jetta median. How we score
0000113141819282231301711722031541923494396687024562312485802011888898526075005183881941621603255354714342463461
'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Volkswagen Jetta safety ratings
2005 Volkswagen Jetta 4-DR. w/SAB Later Release in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Jetta owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
TUGGING OCCURS, BUT RARELY. THE CAR DRIVES SMOOTHLY BUT WILL DO A BIT OF A TUGGING. IT HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BACK IN 2015 IT WAS WORSE AT THOSE TIMES BUT FIXED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I'VE INVESTED MAJOR MONEY TO GET THE TRANSMISSION, MOTOR, AND SO ON OF WHAT THE…
THE TRANSMISSION IS TERRIBLY MADE. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO RECEIVE THE CORRECT FUEL AS WELL AS THE GAS TANK. THE CAR JERKS BECAUSE OF THE GAS TANK AND THE CODES READ AD IF THE CAP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THE WHOLE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
2005 VW.JETTA - VIN# [XXX]. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD & DOWN SHIFT HARD WHEN THE CAR HAS RUN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING TRAVEL. ALSO, THE FAULTY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED AND MAY SHOW INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER & 02 SENSOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED…
Own a 2005 Jetta?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.