Volkswagen / Jetta / 2008
2008 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Owners have filed 251 complaints about the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 21.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 17.1%.
Complaints251
Crashes7
Fires6
Injuries5
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 21.9% · 55
Electrical system 17.1% · 43
Air bags 8.0% · 20
Engine 8.0% · 20
Service brakes, hydraulic 6.0% · 15
Unknown or other 4.4% · 11
Latches/locks/linkages 4.0% · 10
Visibility 3.2% · 8
Severity
Of those complaints, 7 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 5 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 25 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta in this data, 2008 sits 20th by complaint volume. 2009 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 9 in the last three years against 19 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 62,000 miles.
In owners' own words
My vw 2008 2.0T, shifts very hard when driving with the dsg transmission. It also lurches forward from a stop; at times it also loses power when the accelerator is stepped on. The vehicle jerks very hard and has also when reversing almost hit the garage. The car cannot be trusted to go from park to drive smoothly, at times violently jerking forward. Power train · reported at 19,000 miles
2008 Volkswagen Jetta gli with dsg transmission. This car has a faulty dsg transmission which makes the car unsafe to drive. The car shifts roughly, bucks while rolling in stop and go traffic, and rolls backwards an excessive distance when shifting into park on a hill (nose pointing uphill). This is a dangerous defect. Power train · reported at 13,000 miles
Since I purchased the car it has been exhibiting erratic behavior. For example when I press on the gas there is a delay of a second or two before the transmission engages and provide power to the wheels. Everytime I stop and then start again there is a sudden jerk. It is a safety hazard when merging onto highways. Power train · reported at 1,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…