2001 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 28, 2021 · 668 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Jetta years
Far more complaints than other years 4th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 668 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. That ranks 4th out of 32 Jetta model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (117 complaints, 18%), typically at around 44,000 miles. Complaints mention 40 crashes, 12 fires, 47 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.

Volkswagen Jetta
A 2025 Volkswagen Jetta SEL photographed in Flushing, Queens , New York, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2001 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System117 · ~44,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling109 · ~52,000 mi
Air Bags97 · ~68,150 mi
Exterior Lighting80 · ~58,000 mi
Visibility69 · ~54,650 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic67 · ~39,000 mi
Power Train62 · ~40,850 mi
Structure43 · ~46,500 mi
Seats27 · ~49,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages18 · ~57,928 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System problems11718%44,000“ignition coil” (26%)$1,500
Engine and Engine Cooling problems10916%52,000“mass air flow” (9%)$1,550
Air Bags problems9715%68,150“air bag” (32%)—
Exterior Lighting problems8012%58,000“brake switch” (40%)$190
Visibility problems6910%54,650“side window” (23%)—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems6710%39,000“rear brakes” (16%)$750
Power Train problems629%40,850“clutch failed” (8%)$2,750
Structure436%46,500——
Seats274%49,000——
Latches/locks/linkages183%57,928——
Equipment173%37,750——
Fuel System, Gasoline152%77,800——
Unknown or Other142%100,500——
Vehicle Speed Control142%89,000——
Suspension101%82,500——
Engine91%90,821——
Fuel System, Diesel91%41,000——
Seat Belts51%———
Steering51%72,070——
Wheels51%80,000——
Service Brakes, Air41%41,428——
Tires41%139,244——
Parking Brake30%97,605——
Service Brakes30%155,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)20%48,500——
Equipment Adaptive/mobility20%73,280——
Fuel/propulsion System20%130,000——
Fuel System, Other20%57,855——
Visibility/wiper20%127,359——
Electronic Stability Control10%29,000——
Service Brakes, Electric10%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2004, with 135 complaints
2000: 620002001: 392002: 11120022003: 952004: 13520041352005: 962006: 5020062007: 332008: 4420082009: 122010: 920102011: 82012: 420122013: 52014: 620142015: 52016: 420162017: 12018: 220182019: 22021: 12021

n = 668 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2001 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (6)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switchFeb 20, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V063000 · 1,002,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.

Fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the vin number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switchMay 24, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V183000 · 646,246 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v-265 or 04v-096.

Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.

Fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the vin number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.

Exterior lighting:hazard flashing warning lights:switchDec 16, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V584000 · 410,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain hazard switch relays which occurs due to substantially increased electrical current load from higher wattage turn signal bulbs.

Risk: This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.

Fix: Dealers will replace the hazard flasher switch/relay kit. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switchFeb 20, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V096000 · 377,130 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.

Risk: If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.

Fix: This recall has been superceded by 06v-183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

Equipment:other:owners/service/other manualSep 12, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V244000 · 332,950 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." child seat anchorages installed in the vehicle's rear seats must be identified by markings, and their location and use be described in the owner's manual.

Risk: These vehicles were not marked or described as required by the standard.

Fix: Owners will be provided with a supplement for the owner's manual and also one set of four guidance fixtures intended to use in conjunction with child seats equipped with rigid or semi-rigid lower anchorage attachments. Also enclosed will be four decals together with installation instructions and a template for attaching the decals to the lower seat backs. Owner notification is expected to begin september 15, 2002. Owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipJan 31, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V031000 · 55,000 vehicles

Problem: On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (abs).

Risk: This can result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the abs control unit. Owner notification began march 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Brake light switch failure (RQ06004) — opened Feb 28, 2006, closed Aug 7, 2006, led to recall 06V183000.
  • Engine stalling (DP05004) — opened Aug 11, 2005, closed Dec 8, 2005.
  • Inadvertent side-airbag deployment (PE04081) — opened Dec 16, 2004, closed Apr 1, 2005.
  • Turn signal/hazard flasher failure (PE04073) — opened Oct 19, 2004, closed Dec 16, 2004, led to recall 04V584000.
  • Brake light switch (RQ03010) — opened Dec 17, 2003, closed Mar 1, 2004, led to recall 04V096000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

2001 volkswagen jetta. Consumer stated that airbags did not deploy during auto accident. *ld the consumer was severely injured. The vehicle was totaled. *js

Air Bags · received Jan 28, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11390173

Takata recall -the vehicle

Electrical System · received Sep 10, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11254533

The change in gears feels rough. It seems as if the gears are skipping or being forced. I was driving the vehicle and i went to accelerate the gas pedal pressed down but the car did not accelerate and the check engine light came on and started flashing. When accelerating the cars feels as if it is…

Engine · received Mar 1, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11183338

I was driving on the road like 35 or 40 mph and all the sudden the passenger's airbag exploded,, the one from the seat and the curtain airbag one ... I almost went down out of the road ... It got me by surprise

Air Bags · received Jan 23, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11064303

My abs light has been on and i don't know how to get it to turn off. My traction control light has been on and don't know how to get it off. I have bought a new coil pack and spark plugs and spark plug wires and now my check engine has came back on.please help me with this car.thanks.god bless u.

Service Brakes · received Jan 17, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11063377

Other Volkswagen Jetta years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 117 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Jetta model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.