2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: April 2, 2026 · Filed: May 13, 2026

Purchased my 2014 Jetta TDI SportWagen DSG used with 60k miles in 2017 from a Subaru dealership. It was purchased at auction by the dealership as reported at auction known to be an unmodified dieselgate vehicle. The dealership performed the modifications to bring it into emissions compliance and sold it to me. I noticed an occasional "boing" sound from the back and my wife wouldn't drive it, she said it was too twitchy on the highway. I just thought that was part of the Sportwagen experience. In 2026 I took it to my local garage for a [XXX] state inspection. Mechanic showed me that the front right coil spring was broken as part of the strut, and both rear coil springs were also snapped. The rear spring pieces "screwed" up into themselves and it was actually difficult to see the snapped section. I had been driving for a year on a single front left spring, the only remaining good spring. Total cost of repairs was $4500 in parts and labor (which was actually quite reasonable for the work performed). From [XXX] I purchased VW OEM "Towing" springs for the rear and new front struts and new rear shocks, plus all linkages, mounts and all bolts plus a $150 alignment. Regarding the engine, the glow plugs were replaced in 2025 and the dissimilar metals had "galled" the threads and the head had to be chased with a reamer in order to install new glow plugs to the correct torque. The faulty glow plugs were determined to be VW OEM parts from the factory. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 22, 2024 · Filed: August 22, 2024

While driving my car, which is a manual, will stall out of nowhere. Not while changing gears, but while driving on highway. It stalls which is extremely dangerous. I read the NHTSA investigated this problem in 2010. I believe my car is part of this investigation.

Incident: June 24, 2024 · Filed: June 25, 2024

The contact owned a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI equipped with four Continental Tires: Tire Line: Extreme Contact DW6 Plus; Tire Size: 245/45/R19, and DOT Numbers: N/A. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH and traveling around a curve, the passenger side rear tire tread separated, he lost control of the vehicle, and he crashed into a guardrail. The contact sustained injuries to his back, but medical attention was not provided. The side curtain air bags were deployed. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T001000 (Tires). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The tire mileage was 5,000. 

Incident: September 21, 2023 · Filed: September 22, 2023

While driving on a major highway at approximately 65 mph, my car completely shut off. The steering wheel froze, all the lights on the dashboard started blinking and the car's engine completely shut down. The wheel locked as I was able to steer to the median. I got out of the car and another car behind me immediately crashed into my stopped car, totaling it.

Incident: April 3, 2023 · Filed: April 3, 2023

Took normal turn down road, heard clicking noise. Airbag light on dash came on immediately along with loss of function of steering wheel buttons. No warning lamps prior to failure. No issues prior to failure. Vehicle has been inspected by Volkswagen dealer and claimed clock spring needed replacement.

Incident: November 1, 2022 · Filed: January 29, 2023

Wipers stopped working replaced motor and still nothing. I have spoken to other VW owners and they have stated they have had the same problem.

Incident: January 23, 2023 · Filed: January 23, 2023

The passenger seat occupancy mat and control module are no longer available from Volkswagen Of America. The Air bag lamp is illuminated and the fault code will not clear. VIN : [XXX] Part Number : 1K9 881 256 AA. Part Number dropped on August 1, 2022 without replacement. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Incident: January 7, 2023 · Filed: January 12, 2023

Car all of a sudden stalled in the middle of the road with almost no warning because the High Pressure Fuel Pump Failed. Car only has 133,000 miles on it. Left us without a car over an hour and a half from home with our kids in the car. I am told Repair is Several Thousand dollars (Almost what the car is worth) Volkswagen knows that there is an issue with these pumps, as the previous years (approx. 2009 with the same pump were recalled, but not this year)

Incident: November 12, 2022 · Filed: December 27, 2022

November 2022 while Driving on Highway at 70mph Transmission shutters and vehicle begins to decrease speed. Pulled over to the side of the road and the Check engine lights came on. Vehicle shut off and re-started and vehicle drove, but would not shift out of 3rd gear. Drove 20 miles home at 40MPH with Hazard lights on, checked engine code and error was P0722 Output speed sensor. I brought to VW dealership and was told the DSG transmission failed at 67,000. Despite having VW Drive Easy protection, TRansmission cost ~4000 to replace with a used transmission. VW Drive easy states because Maintenance schedule was not done at 40,000 miles, warranty was void. This 2014 TDI was a Dieselgate car that sat for ~2years prior to VW selling, and at purchase I was told all fluids were changed, which would have changed schedule service dates. This was very dangerous to myself and my small kids as loss of power at highway speeds, with no warning and transmission being dead, could have caused a serious accident if I was not on a remote section of highway.

Filed: October 24, 2022

We were stopped at a light and the car would not go when it turned green. The engine would rev with pedal application as though the car was in neutral but no gear change (D, R, return to P and try D again) would induce the car to move. There was no check engine but a tiny flashing wrench in the corner of the display. In desperation we turned the ignition completely off, removed the key and restarted the car, and the error and flashing wrench disappeared and the car started and behaved normally. Unfortunately, the complete disconnect/stuck in neutral behavior happened again 5 minutes later on a high-speed 4 lane highway. We were cruising at full speed and the wheels abruptly lost power even though the engine was still going. There was no limp mode or power of any kind, we managed to coast to the shoulder by residual momentum, but if we hadn't been fortunate to be in the extreme right lane a deadly accident would have been extremely likely. The freeway incident showed the "check engine" light as well as the flashing wrench. The car was completely disabled and had to be towed. The dealership was not helpful or informative but wanted to replace the transmission.