What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta?

Electrical System leads with 201 complaints, then Engine with 119. Fuel system groups follow with 82 and 81.

Does the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact shows 8 recalls for 2011. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

How many complaints does the 2011 Jetta have?

NHTSA has 640 owner complaints on file, and 0 deaths are reported.

Is the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

Owners filed 640 complaints, led by electrical and engine issues. These are unverified and not adjusted for sales. See the by-year section to compare with other years.

What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Jetta?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 640 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta^[1]. The biggest group names the electrical system, with 201 complaints^[2].

640owner complaints^[1]

8recalls^[3]

25–32MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners filed most, biggest first.

Electrical System. 201 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the car stalling with a battery warning light on, then starting again a few minutes later. Others describe wipers that creep on their own, doors that unlock by themselves, a radio that crackles, and cruise control that behaves oddly.
Engine. 119 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe warning lights that blink soon after purchase, a sudden loss of power on the highway, and stalling at low speeds. One story describes a fire after a collision.
Fuel System, Diesel. 82 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a fuel pump that failed and left the family stranded, an injector that leaked, and stalls on the highway or in a parking lot.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 81 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a car that will not start and stalls in busy traffic. Several stories trace it to the high pressure fuel pump, with repairs that took weeks and cost a lot.

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and one complaint can name more than one part. Recalls also exist for this year, and they are listed in the Recalls section^[3].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 Jetta is necessarily included.

Unknown Or Other (19V679), September 2019. About 113 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, injury.^[9]
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module (19V615), August 2019. About 679,027 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[10]
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (16V078), February 2016. About 659,493 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[11]
Air Bags › Frontal (15V483), August 2015. About 415,825 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Suspension › Rear (14V656), October 2014. About 442,066 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Fuel System, Diesel (11V490), October 2011. About 168,275 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Exhaust System (11V466), September 2011. About 30,294 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: burns. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses And Circuit Breakers (11V196), March 2011. About 71,043 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Jetta, 2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	24 / 31 / 27	$2,500
Jetta, 2.5L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	23 / 33 / 26	$2,600
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	23 / 29 / 25	$2,700
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	24 / 34 / 28	$2,400
Jetta SportWagen, 2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	24 / 31 / 27	$2,500
Jetta SportWagen, 2.5L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[22]	23 / 33 / 26	$2,600
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	29 / 37 / 32	$3,000
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive^[23]	29 / 39 / 32	$3,000
Jetta SportWagen, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive^[24]	29 / 37 / 32	$3,000
Jetta SportWagen, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive^[25]	29 / 39 / 32	$3,000

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD^[5]	4	4	5	4	12.1%
SW FWD^[26]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	12.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2011 Volkswagen Jetta with electric motor^[27]	140 hp
2011 Volkswagen Jetta with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[28]	115 to 140 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
JETTA 4 DR SEDAN 2.0 TDI^[29]	182 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	3,161 lb
JETTA 4 DR SEDAN 2.0L^[30]	182 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	2,842 lb
JETTA 4 DR SEDAN 2.5L^[31]	182 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	3,045 lb

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Jetta model year. The 2011 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	220	4
1996	31	1
1997	54	1
1998	192	2
1999	349	6
2000	439	4
2001	668	6
2002	704	5
2003	458	2
2004	233	2
2005	248	4
2006	580	4
2007	201	4
2008	190	4
2009	905	6
2010	875	5
2011	640	8
2012	527	6
2013	633	7
2014	441	7
2015	197	8
2016	164	4
2017	160	6
2018	31	2
2019	549	11
2020	54	6
2021	69	4
2022	43	1
2023	43	0
2024	46	0
2025	30	2
2026	6	1

NHTSA's counts for the Jetta show 640 complaints and 8 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 33 model years listed, 28 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 4 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2009 (905)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2011 Jetta?

The 2011 Jetta has a sizeable complaint file, with 640 reports on record^[1]. Electrical problems lead the list, followed by the engine^[2]^[6]. Stalling shows up in the stories we read across several groups, and fire is named in 12 complaints, and 28 mention a crash^[1]. These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat them as a guide to what to check, not a final score. A careful inspection and a look at the recall list are sensible before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta?: Electrical System leads with 201 complaints^[2], then Engine with 119^[6]. Fuel system groups follow with 82^[7] and 81^[8].
Does the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact shows 8 recalls for 2011^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
How many complaints does the 2011 Jetta have?: NHTSA has 640 owner complaints on file, and 0 deaths are reported^[1].
Is the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?: Owners filed 640 complaints^[1], led by electrical^[2] and engine^[6] issues. These are unverified and not adjusted for sales. See the by-year section to compare with other years.
What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Jetta?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Volkswagen Jetta

2011 this page
2012 527 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 633 complaints, 7 recalls
2014 441 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 197 complaints, 8 recalls
2016 164 complaints, 4 recalls
2017 160 complaints, 6 recalls
2019 549 complaints, 11 recalls
2020 54 complaints, 6 recalls
2024 46 complaints, 0 recalls

Compare all model years of the Volkswagen Jetta

Other Volkswagen models from 2011

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan 162 complaints, 3 recalls

All Volkswagen models

Similar cars from 2011: compact cars

2011 Chevrolet Camaro 194 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Ford Focus 113 complaints, 0 recalls
2011 Honda Insight 41 complaints, 10 recalls
2011 Mazda 3 132 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport 58 complaints, 14 recalls
2011 Audi A4 43 complaints, 0 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 640 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta (28 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 16 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
201 complaints name the electrical system component group (7 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Volkswagen Jetta model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,000. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 12.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
119 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
82 complaints name the fuel system, diesel component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,030). NHTSA vehicle records
81 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 19V679, filed September 25, 2019: Unknown Or Other. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V615, filed August 22, 2019: Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V078, filed February 10, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V483, filed August 4, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V656, filed October 20, 2014: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
Recall 11V490, filed October 3, 2011: Fuel System, Diesel. NHTSA recall database
Recall 11V466, filed September 7, 2011: Engine And Engine Cooling › Exhaust System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 11V196, filed March 29, 2011: Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses And Circuit Breakers. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.5L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 33 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 34 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta SportWagen, 2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta SportWagen, 2.5L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 33 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 39 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,000. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta SportWagen, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,000. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta SportWagen, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 39 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,000. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SW FWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 12.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Volkswagen Jetta with electric motor: rated 140 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Volkswagen Jetta with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 115 to 140 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4 DR SEDAN 2.0 TDI: length 182 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,161 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4 DR SEDAN 2.0L: length 182 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,842 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4 DR SEDAN 2.5L: length 182 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,045 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta: problems, recalls and fuel economy