2019 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 31,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (27% of reports).
- 154electrical system complaints
- 31,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 16%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 42 of 154 complaints (27%)
- Shut off: mentioned in 39 of 154 complaints (25%)
- Check starter: mentioned in 28 of 154 complaints (18%)
- Faulty please service: mentioned in 12 of 154 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 39 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 154 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 an injury.
Volkswagen Jetta electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta | 3 | 50% | — |
| 2025 Jetta | 3 | 10% | — |
| 2024 Jetta | 7 | 16% | 17,600 |
| 2023 Jetta | 9 | 21% | — |
| 2022 Jetta | 10 | 23% | 39,750 |
| 2021 Jetta | 13 | 19% | — |
| 2020 Jetta | 17 | 31% | 8,000 |
| 2019 Jetta | 154 | 28% | 31,000 |
| 2018 Jetta | 3 | 10% | 55,491 |
| 2017 Jetta | 33 | 21% | 36,054 |
| 2016 Jetta | 36 | 22% | 41,600 |
| 2015 Jetta | 49 | 25% | 36,128 |
| 2014 Jetta | 94 | 24% | 56,400 |
| 2013 Jetta | 148 | 29% | 55,000 |
| 2012 Jetta | 138 | 28% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Jetta | 186 | 31% | 60,000 |
| 2010 Jetta | 233 | 27% | 67,000 |
| 2009 Jetta | 107 | 12% | 78,500 |
| 2008 Jetta | 42 | 22% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Jetta | 45 | 22% | 75,730 |
| 2006 Jetta | 112 | 19% | 90,000 |
| 2005 Jetta | 48 | 19% | 86,665 |
| 2004 Jetta | 36 | 16% | 90,000 |
| 2003 Jetta | 97 | 21% | 78,203 |
| 2002 Jetta | 148 | 21% | 34,000 |
| 2001 Jetta | 117 | 18% | 44,000 |
| 2000 Jetta | 60 | 14% | 49,513 |
| 1999 Jetta | 44 | 13% | 60,000 |
| 1998 Jetta | 41 | 21% | 69,050 |
| 1997 Jetta | 17 | 31% | 55,000 |
| 1996 Jetta | 4 | 13% | 197,485 |
| 1995 Jetta | 45 | 20% | 97,537 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without an audible warning, the driver may be unaware that the key is left in the ignition, which can increase the risk of vehicle theft or a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90W7.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My problem is the same as Recall 28H7/or 23V604. I have the some make and model and ignition as the Jettas with the recall but for some reson it is not a part of the recall. When the car gets hot the ignition cuts off while I'm driving and I have not speedometer, turn signals or wippers. Please…
Ignition switch off, safely stop the vehicleâ or âStarter system faultyâ Error was shown on a hot day. The vehicle turned off
The vehicle experiences a sudden engine stall shortly after starting, accompanied by an immediate dashboard error message stating: "Starter system faulty, please service vehicle." An OBD-II diagnostic scan confirms active fault code P253200 (Ignition Switch Run Position Circuit High). This failure…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 Volkswagen Jettas have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 154 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta (28% of the 549 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta electrical system?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 31,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 42 of 154 complaints, followed by “shut off” (39).
Other 2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems
- Power Train problems (162)
- Engine problems (147)
See all 2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems or electrical system problems across all Jetta years.