repaired · 2021 Q1
Unknown or other
Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
2011 Volkswagen JettaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 607 owner complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-679 the manufacturer reports only 18% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta has problems
607 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
186Electrical system12 crash/fire/injury
90Engine5 crash/fire/injury
82Fuel system, diesel
77Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
54Power train5 crash/fire/injury
41Exterior lighting
37Air bags
26Vehicle speed control
25Engine and engine cooling
19321 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 186 | 12 |
| Engine | 90 | 5 |
| Fuel system, diesel | 82 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 77 | 1 |
| Power train | 54 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 41 | 3 |
| Air bags | 37 | 10 |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 25 | 2 |
| 21 other systems | 193 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2011 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.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Anti-theft: control module
Risk. Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal…
repaired · 2017 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of…
repaired · 2016 Q3
Suspension: rear
Risk. The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 3 more recalls
no report yet
Fuel system, diesel
Risk. DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system
Risk. IF THE TAILPIPE EXTENSION IS HOT DURING INADVERTENT CONTACT, A BURN COULD OCCUR.
no report yet
Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE ENGINE COULD STALL, OR THE HEADLIGHTS OR WIPERS COULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A…
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 electrical system problems start?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 148 electrical system complaints. 82% were reported before 100,000 miles.
29under 30k miles122under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2011 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
2011 Volkswagen Jetta safety ratings
2011 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, and the recalls they led to.
- High-Pressure Fuel Pump FailureNo recall
- Clockspring failureNo recall
- Diesel Fuel Injector Line LeakageLed to recall 11V-490
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureLed to recall 15V-483
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Jetta owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Suddenly the car showed the abs, cruise control, air bag, and a flashing break light on the dashboard. Took to dealership to get diagnostic and the Abs control module needs to be replaced.
Component/System Failure/Malfunction: ignition switch and starter, possibly transmission Yes, available for inspection upon request. Car has randomly stalled while in motion; ignition and starter switch have been replaced as well as microswitch panel - yet problem persists. Power steering shuts…
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the horn was replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the…
Own a 2011 Jetta?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.