2010 Volkswagen Jetta

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 875 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 875

Of the 2010 reports, 24 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system236 reports · 27% of complaints
Owner complaints875Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system236
  2. Fuel system198
  3. Diesel166
  4. Fuel/propulsion system127
  5. Engine119
  6. Power train111
  7. Engine and engine cooling71
  8. Service brakes62

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. Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipDec 20, 2016

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.

    A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.

    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

    Campaign 16V913000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Fuel system, dieselOct 3, 2011

    VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

    DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

    VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

    Campaign 11V490000 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, automatic transmissionAug 20, 2009

    VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.

    THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

    Campaign 09V333000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: power train

111 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Fuel system, Diesel, Power train, Apr 21, 2010

    I'VE HAD 3 AUTOMOBILES SINCE 1986 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND DON'T RECALL A STALLING PROBLEM LIKE I'M HAVING NOW WITH MY VW 2010 JETTA TDI. IT STARTED WITH A TEST DRIVE AND A NUMBER OF TIMES AFTER PURCHASE. I ASSUMED MY MOTOR SKILLS WOULD ADAPT AND THE PROBLEM WOULD BECOME LESS FREQUENT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, SPECIFICALLY AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A COMPLETE STOP, A ROLLING STOP, OR WHEN BRAKING/CLUTCHING HARD. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I TRY TO SLOWLY GO OVER BUMPS OR UP HILLS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT RESULTED IN SLIGHT DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I WAS LEAVING A CONDO GARAGE IN WHICH I HAD TO GO UP A STEEP DRIVEWAY, THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR AND OUT AN ALLEY WITH A SPEED BUMP JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR. THE COMBINATION OF THE DRIVEWAY, BUMP AND A TIGHT LEFT TURN MEANT THAT I HAD TO GENERATE RPMS INITIALLY, BUT THEN HAD TO TAPER DOWN IMMEDIATELY. MY FRONT WHEELS MADE IT OVER THE BUMP, BUT MY CAR STALLED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO AT LEAST COAST MY REAR WHEELS OVER THE BUMP. ESSENTIALLY I WAS STUCK IN SUCH A SPOT THAT MY CAR CLEARED THE DOOR'S BEAM BUT A PART OF MY TRUNK WAS STILL IN THE PATH OF THE CLOSING DOOR. IN A PANIC I TRIED TO START THE CAR, BUT ANOTHER NUISANCE GOT IN THE WAY. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY BACKWARD BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION ON AGAIN. THAT AWKWARD FEATURE CAUSED ME TO FUMBLE AS IT HAD ON OTHER OCCASIONS AND IT TOOK ME THAT MUCH LONGER TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE DOOR HIT MY CAR. THIS ISSUE IS AT LEAST FRUSTRATING, BUT AT MOST, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSECTIONS, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. I'VE IMAGINED TIMES WHEN MY CAR STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND CARS BEHIND ME PLOWING INTO ME. NOT LONG AGO I READ A FAVORABLE REVIEW (PUBLICATION ESCAPES ME) ABOUT MY CAR EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE REVIEWERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THE AUTOMATIC INSTEAD. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER SEEKING HELP (TO NO AVAIL) I WANTED TO FIND THE ARTICLE ONLINE BUT INSTEAD FOUND OTHER REVIEWS AND FORUMS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

  2. Fuel system, Diesel, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Apr 14, 2010

    WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE AND IMMEDIATELY STEPPING HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS A SEVERE HESITATION/LAG BEFORE THE CAR TOOK OFF CROSSING TRAFFIC. ONCE IT KICKED IN IT TOOK OFF BUT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I NOW WAIT A SECOND OR MORE FOR THE BRAKE SWITCH TO COMMUNICATE TO THE DSG TRANSMISSION TO TELL THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE. VW MUST FIX THIS AS I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN IN A COLLISION. THIS WAS MUCH MORE THAN TYPICAL TURBO LAG WHICH IS COMMON WITH DIESELS. THIS WOULD OCCUR REGULARLY IF I DIDN'T ADJUST MY DRIVING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LAG. *TR

  3. Power train, Apr 7, 2010

    WHEN YOU STOP AT A LIGHT AND THEN GO TO TAKE OFF THE CAR HAS A SEVERE LAG (NO POWER) BARELY WILL MOVE. IT SHOWED UP ABOUT 2000 MILES 2010 JETTA TDI. *TR

  4. Power train, Feb 23, 2010

    LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND STOPPING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE ONTO THE HIGHWAY BUT CAR DID NOT MOVE. AFTER I PUT MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE SECOND ATTEMPT THE CLUTCH ENGAGED AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. THE CAR IS A 2010 VW JETTA DIESEL. *TR

  5. Power train, Feb 17, 2010

    MY 3 DAY OLD 2010 VW JETTA SPORTWAGEN WITH DSG WAS BEING MOVED IN OUR GARAGE AND IT WON'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE INITIALLY THEN IN ALL GEARS. THE CAR COULD BE LEFT IN GEAR AND NOT MOVE AT ALL. I CALLED THE 24 HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED THE DAY AFTER TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT WITH A MECHATRONICS PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS ORDERED AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS. IF VW DSG RECALLED THIS IN AUG 2009, WHY ARE WE STILL SEEING THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 2010? *TR

  6. Power train, Dec 28, 2009

    I HAVE A 2010 US VERSION VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS AROUND 4500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH THE CAR SINCE DAY #1. THE PROBLEM IS MANIFESTED AS A LURCHING, AND ERRATIC SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN GEARS 1 TO 2 AS WELL AS FROM A STOP. EVEN THOUGH I DRIVE WITH A SOFT TOUCH, I CAN RARELY GET A SMOOTH START-OFF BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABLE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE IN STOP & GO DRIVING, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PHENOMENA MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE COMMUTING TO/FROM WORK. *TR

  7. Power train, Dec 28, 2009

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND SHUDDERS WHEN IT IS COLD. ALSO WHEN COLD,THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL DOWN-SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. AT THE LAST INSPECTION, THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.

  8. Power train, Dec 1, 2009

    2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI SEDAN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE STALLS FROM START POSITION, THEN CATCHES AND SURGES AHEAD, THROWING DRIVER'S HEAD BACK TO THE HEAD REST. CAR JUMPS AHEAD AND COULD CAUSE REAR END COLLISION TO TRAFFIC IN FRONT. *TR

  9. Power train, Nov 18, 2009

    ON A 2 LANE ROAD ATTEMPTING TO PASS A VEHICLE THERE WAS A SUDDEN JERKING AND BUCKING OF THE CAR. FOR A MOMENT THERE WAS NO POWER TO WHEELS. THE ACTIONS THREW ME FORWARD INTO THE SEATBELT. AFTER A FEW VIOLENT SECONDS IT REGAINED POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO HARSH DOWNSHIFTING OF THE GEARS AS I APPROACH A STOP. IT IS AS IF I HAVE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THIS ACTION ALSO THROWS MYSELF AND PASSENGERS FORWARD. *TR

  10. Power train, Oct 8, 2009

    I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY 1 WARNING LIGHT: "TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED: STOP! OWNERS MAN," AFTER STOPPING IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENCE TO RETRIEVE MAIL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH I HAVE RECEIVED THE WARNING (REFER TO ODI NO. 10283957 FOR INITIAL INCIDENT). I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCELERATION IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ACTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING DIAGNOSIS. AS FAR AS THE INITIAL INCIDENT ON 9/13/2009, VW REPORTED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, THAT NO FAULT/ERROR CODES WERE FOUND. THEIR REMEDY WAS TO RESET THE BASIC SETTINGS AND ROAD TEST THE VEHICLE - THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS. I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR 2 DAYS BEFORE THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR

  11. Power train, Sep 14, 2009

    ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 13, 2009, WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH, MY 2010 VW JETTA TDI (AUTO. TRANSMISSION) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING FLASHED A "TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT" WARNING LIGHT AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING A MAJOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AND LETTING IT SITE FOR A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO ADDITIONAL MALFUNCTIONS OR WARNING LIGHTS. HOWEVER, I DID MAKE AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE'S SPEED AT OR BELOW 70 MPH. BASED ON SIMILAR REPORTED INCIDENTS I RESEARCHED ON THE WEB, I CAN POSITIVELY CONFIRM THAT MY VEHICLE SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN I RECEIVED THE WARNING LIGHT. ON MONDAY, SEPT. 14, 2009, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR