2007 Volkswagen Jetta

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Service brakes is the leading concern among 201 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 201

Of the 2007 reports, 11 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.

Primary concernService brakes46 reports · 23% of complaints
Owner complaints201Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship6 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Service brakes46
  2. Electrical system45
  3. Hydraulic38
  4. Air bags35
  5. Power train33
  6. Engine16
  7. Seats11
  8. Structure11

Recalls and investigations

  1. Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderSep 23, 2020

    Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.

    If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.

    Campaign 20E064000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Other or unspecifiedSep 25, 2019

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

    If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

    Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

    Campaign 19V679000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 7, 2014

    The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

    A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

    Campaign 14E007000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 10, 2010

    VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.

    IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

    Campaign 10V621000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Power train, driveline, driveshaftMay 19, 2009

    VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.

    IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

    Campaign 09V164000 on NHTSA.gov

  6. Exterior lighting, headlightsSep 24, 2007

    CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

    NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

    Campaign 07V442000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: seats

11 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Seats, Sep 11, 2020, fire

    THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THEN A BURNING SENSATION. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT COVER, EXPOSING THE WIRING AND FOAM. MY COAT AND CLOTHING WERE BURNED, AS WELL AS MY BACK. THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING/BURNING IN ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS OF THE SEAT COVER, BUT IT ONLY BURNED THROUGH IN ONE LOCATION. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE SEAT HEATER. THIS OCCURRED ON 3/8/19 WITH LESS THAN 95K MILES ON THE CAR.

  2. Seats, Feb 1, 2019

    WHILE DRIVING AROUND, DOING SOME SHOPPING, I HAD THE THE SEAT WARMER TURNED ON LEVEL 3-4 ON THE DRIVER SEAT AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE IN THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY SEAT BURNED ALL THE WAY THROUGH MY JACKET. I WENT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND QUOTED ME OVER $1000 TO REPLACE MY SEAT. I CANNOT USE MY SEAT WARMER ANYMORE, IT'S A FIRE HAZARD. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE?

  3. Electrical system, Seats, Mar 30, 2017

    I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I FELT SOMETHING HOT ON MY BACK AND A BURNING SMELL. I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AND I HAD TWO BURN MARKS IN MY SEAT WITH A BIG BROWN BURN MARK DOWN THE SIDE ALONG WITH IT BURNING MY CLOTHES. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF.

  4. Seats, Oct 23, 2015, fire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WITH THE SEAT WARMERS ACTIVATED, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER IMMEDIATELY OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE CONTACT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED EVEN AT THE LOWEST SETTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

  5. Electrical system, Seats, Sep 26, 2015

    ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM IN THE MORNING, MY SEAT WARMERS HAD BURNT OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK; IT WAS A CHILLY MORNING SO I TURNED THE SEAT WARMER ON TO 4. THE HIGHEST IT GOES UP TO IS 5. SOON AFTER, I FELT IT WAS A BIT TOO HOT. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, I SAW SMOKE! I COULD NOT STOP ANYWHERE SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. I REMAINED CALM UNTIL I ARRIVED TO A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I LOOKED BEHIND ME I NOTICED 3 HOLES IN MY SEAT. TWO LITTLE ONES AND ONE BIG ONE. YOU CAN SEE THE BURNT WIRES. I WAS SO ANGRY BY THE TIME I GOT TO WORK. I DROVE OVER TO VW NEMER IN LATHAM, NY TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO ENGINE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP. WAS NOT SYMPATHETIC AND NOT VERY POLITE. HE KEPT SAYING I SHOULD HAVE CALLED AND I SHOULD HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT. I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO STAY THERE AND WAIT TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS. HE CAME BACK TO TELL ME THAT THE SEAT WARMER BURNT OUT AND THAT WAS ALL. HE ALSO TRIED TO GET ME TO FIX MY BRAKES (I DID NOT COME IN FOR BRAKES). HE TOLD ME I WOULD NEED NEW WIRING AND SEAT COVERS (LEATHER) TO FIX IT. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I AM NOT PAYING THAT DEDUCTIBLE. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT MATTER, BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT MY CAR HAS NOT REACHED 100,000 MILES YET... I HAVE WRITTEN A COMPLAINT TO VW DEMANDING SOME TYPE OF RESOLUTION. THEY NEED TO CHECK THEIR CARS VERY THOROUGHLY. I READ THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER SEAT WARMER INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN CANADA AND VW DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I AM AFRAID TO TURN ON ANY HEATING SYSTEM IN THE CAR NOW, BECAUSE IT TOO MIGHT FAIL AND SHOCK ME. I HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW MY TORN SEATS. I CAN SEND THEM IF NEEDED.

  6. Seats, Aug 12, 2014, fire

    2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SEAT HEATER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE CONSUMER AND HER CLOTHING. *SMD AFTER THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, IT WAS RETURNED TO HER IN THE SAME MANNER AND SHE WAS OFFERED $1200 AND THEY WOULD DISCONNECT THE HEATER. *JB

  7. Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Oct 25, 2013

    A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ICON OF THE AIRBAG. I LOOKED IT UP AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A WARNING LIGHT TELLING ME THAT THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT THAT DETECT SOMEONE SITTING IN THE SEAT WERE FAULTY AND COULD RESULT IN AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT. OTHER OWNERS OF VW JETTAS FROM 2007 AND YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ALTHOUGH MANY OWNERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, THINK THERE SHOULD BE. *TR

  8. Seats, Aug 29, 2012

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BEGAN MOVING BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THEY REPLACED A SENSOR TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

  9. Seats, Mar 14, 2012

    WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I DID NOT SEE SMOKE OR FIRE BUT WHEN I PULLED OVER I FOUND THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD STARTED BURNING THE SEAT. IT ACTUALLY MELTED A HOLE IN THE SEAT IN ONE SPOT. THE BURN MARKS ARE VISIBLE RUNNING VERTICALLY 13 INCHES ON THE BACKREST OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

  10. Seats, Jan 10, 2012

    THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT GOT SO HOT THAT THERE IS NOW A BURN MARK ON MY SEAT AND CAUSED INJURY TO MY BACK. I HAVE A BLISTER, THAT TURNED NOW INTO A SMALLER BLISTER AND IS BLACK. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW BACK IN 2007 AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IF I LOWER THE HEAT SETTING FOR THE SEAT THE SEAT IS STILL VERY HOT. SOMETIMES I CAN SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, WHICH SMELLS ELECTRICAL. I HAVE PICTURES FOR EVIDENCE OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE. *TR

  11. Seats, Feb 8, 2011

    WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 VW JETTA, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR, I NOTICED A VERY BIG BURN ON MY SEAT (WHERE MY BACK WAS). MY BACK IS ALSO DISCOLORED. THIS MORNING, I PUT THE SEAT WARMER ON #1 (THE LOWEST SETTING) AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS SCORCHING HOT. *TR