Volkswagen Jetta: common faults & what to check

Which Volkswagen Jetta are you looking at?

3 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Fuel not stated

3 variants documented

2006–20171K2006–20171K1.4 TSIFuel not statedDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2006–20171K2006–20171K2.0 TSIFuel not statedDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2006–20171K2006–20171K2.0 TDIFuel not statedDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Volkswagen Jetta

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Volkswagen Jetta before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Be there for a genuine first-start of the day and listen hard at the front of the engine for a rattle - this is the key test.

  See why

  1.4 TSI twincharger timing-chain tensioner and supercharger failure (CAVD)

  The 1.4 TSI 'twincharger' (supercharged and turbocharged, engine code CAVD) fitted to the Jetta is one of the most failure-prone petrol engines VW ever sold. Its timing chain tensioner loses tension - often from around 100,000 km - letting the chain rattle and, in the worst case, jump teeth and destroy the valves and pistons. The belt-driven supercharger clutch also fails, causing lost low-end power. VW issued an upgraded tensioner and a recall for many cars, but plenty are still on old parts. A cold-start rattle on this engine must be taken seriously.

  What you would notice

  • Rattle from the front of the engine on cold start (1-3 seconds)
  • Chain / rattling noise that returns as it warms
  • Engine warning light for camshaft/crankshaft correlation
  • Loss of low-end power (supercharger clutch)
  • Misfires or rough running

  Typically $2,500–$6,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Ask whether the oil pump and balance-shaft module have been upgraded or replaced.

  See why

  Oil pump hex drive failure (2.0 TDI Pumpe Duse with balance shafts)

  The 2.0 TDI Jetta uses the same balance-shaft oil-pump module as other VAG diesels of the era, driven by a small hex shaft that can round off. When it does, oil pressure collapses and the engine can spin its bearings with little warning. Failures are documented from around 120,000-150,000 km. Some cars received an updated drive but it is not immune. This is the fault that separates a bargain diesel Jetta from a very expensive mistake.

  What you would notice

  • Oil-pressure warning light (often just before failure)
  • Sudden bottom-end knocking
  • Engine seizes / will not restart
  • Metallic particles in the oil

  Typically $2,500–$8,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Open the bonnet with the engine running and smell for raw diesel.

  See why

  Recall: cracked No. 2 injector fuel line, diesel leak and fire risk (2.0 TDI EA189 common rail, 2009-2011 build)

  On 2.0 TDI EA189 common rail Jettas built from 2009 to 2011, the fuel injection pulses can match the natural vibration of the high pressure line feeding cylinder two, so the line can crack and leak diesel onto a hot engine. That is a fire risk. Volkswagen recalled these cars in Australia (PRA 2012/13017) to fit improved injector lines and vibration dampers free of charge. A car that missed the recall should have it done before purchase. Recall lists cover cars sold new in Australia, so for an NZ-new or imported car ask a franchise dealer to check the VIN.

  What you would notice

  • Smell of diesel in the engine bay or cabin
  • Wet diesel film around the injectors on top of the engine
  • Hard starting or rough running if the leak is large

  Typically $0–$600 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Do several slow crawls and hill starts on the test drive, feeling for shudder and hesitation, and watch the gear display for flashing warnings.

  See why

  DQ200 7-speed dry DSG mechatronic failure and loss of drive (1.4 TSI)

  Jettas with the 7-speed DSG use the dry-clutch DQ200, the gearbox at the centre of the 2013 Australia/NZ VW-Skoda mechatronic recall. The mechatronic control unit and the dry clutches fail, giving shudder pulling away, jerky shifts, flashing gear display and sometimes complete loss of drive. City-driven cars wear fastest. Repairs mean a rebuilt mechatronic or clutch pack. Check whether the recall software and any parts work was done.

  What you would notice

  • Shudder pulling away from a stop
  • Jerky or delayed low-speed shifts
  • Flashing gear indicator
  • Momentary loss of drive
  • Grinding on slow manoeuvres

  Typically $2,000–$6,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Lift the floor mats and press hard on the carpet and underlay in all footwells feeling for damp.

  See why

  Water in the footwells from blocked plenum / pollen-filter drains

  Like its Golf Mk5/Mk6 siblings, the Jetta collects leaves and grime in the scuttle (plenum) at the base of the windscreen. When the drains block, water backs up and runs into the cabin - usually the front passenger and driver footwells - soaking the carpet and, critically, the electrical control modules that VW mounts under the carpet. Wet modules cause random electrical faults: comfort control, central locking, airbag lights. A damp Jetta footwell is a genuine warning sign, not just an annoyance.

  What you would notice

  • Damp or musty smell inside
  • Wet carpet or underlay in the footwells
  • Fogged-up windows
  • Random electrical faults - locking, warning lights, comfort systems
  • Sloshing sounds when braking or cornering

  Typically $150–$2,000 to put right.

• Common issue

  Ask the seller whether the diesel emissions recall software update has been done and look for a dealer service entry or sticker.

  See why

  Recall: emissions defeat device software update (2.0 TDI EA189 diesel)

  The 2.0 TDI EA189 diesel in 2009 to 2015 Jettas was built with engine software that ran cleaner only during emissions testing, so real world NOx emissions were above the legal limit. Volkswagen recalled these cars in Australia (PRA 2015/14950) for a free software update of about 30 minutes. It does not stop the car driving, but a car that has not had the update is an unresolved recall, and some owners report the car feels different after the fix. Recall lists cover cars sold new in Australia, so for an NZ-new or imported car ask a franchise dealer to check the VIN.

  What you would notice

  • No symptom on its own: it is an emissions software defect
  • Recall notice letters in the glovebox or service book

  Typically $0–$200 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Volkswagen Jetta’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• DSG and Dual-Clutch Gearbox Repair Cost
• Diesel Injector Replacement Cost

Other Volkswagen models