MYRModel Year Report

2005 Volkswagen Jetta

● Typical for this model
2005 Volkswagen Jetta
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
248
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Power train

34% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1988: 19 complaints 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 17 complaints 1994: 120 complaints 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1999: 349 complaints 2000: 439 complaints 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 456 complaints 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2005 248 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2011: 607 complaints 2012: 500 complaints 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2017: 159 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2023: 43 complaints 2024: 44 complaints 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 19 complaints 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 17 complaints 1993 1994: 120 complaints 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1999: 349 complaints 1999 2000: 439 complaints 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2002 2003: 456 complaints 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2005 248 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2011: 607 complaints 2011 2012: 500 complaints 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2017: 159 complaints 2017 2018: 31 complaints 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2023: 43 complaints 2023 2024: 44 complaints 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1986 1987: 18 complaints 1988: 19 complaints 1988 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1992 1993: 17 complaints 1994: 120 complaints 1994 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1998 1999: 349 complaints 2000: 439 complaints 2000 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2002 2003: 456 complaints 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2005 248 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2010 2011: 607 complaints 2012: 500 complaints 2012 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2016 2017: 159 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2018 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2022 2023: 43 complaints 2024: 44 complaints 2024 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026

2005: 248 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19820
19830
19841
198513
198614
198718
198819
198928
199022
199132
199230
199317
1994120
1995220
1996173
1997141
1998192
1999349
2000439
2001668
2002702
2003456
2004231
2005248
2006580
2007201
2008188
2009888
2010852
2011607
2012500
2013517
2014386
2015194
2016161
2017159
201831
2019549
202053
202169
202243
202343
202444
202529
20266

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

34% · 84 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and clutch assembly.

FIRE

Electrical system

20% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing wiring and ignition.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Engine continually would not start with numerous documented car electrical the problem is a Volkswagen faulty electrical design caused my wiring to burn up as a result when they placed the wiring fuse box on top of the battery causing both heat...

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-08-12

Also filed under Engine

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the compressor and the fuse box overheated causing the air conditioner to stop working. The problem occurred twice within a year.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-07-16

Engine and engine cooling

17% · 42 reports

Most commonly citing engine and diesel.

FIRE

Air bags

12% · 30 reports

Most commonly citing sensor/control module and frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I was making a left hand turn and for no reason whatsoever the driver and passenger airbags deployed. Following the deployment of the airbags, my hands were thrown off the steering wheel, causing me to lose control of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-05-22

Engine

11% · 27 reports
FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly caught fire, while idled in a drive thru line at a fast food restaurant. The fire started under the hood. There were no injuries sustained.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-08-13

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 25 MPH, the accelerator pedal failed to respond. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact veered off to the shoulder of the road and turned off the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-07-02

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2005-02-08Fuel system, diesel04V586000 On certain passenger vehicles, the high pressure diesel pumps were produced with an improper fastener, which could allow diesel fuel to escape from the pump.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the diesel pump. The recall began on February 8, 2005. Owners should contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2005-07-11Fuel system, gasoline05V305000 On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L gasoline engine, a fuel supply line clamp located in the engine compartment may not be positioned properly and could cause a fuel leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the position of the engine compartment fuel supply line clamp and, if necessary, replace the clamp. The recall began on July 11, 2005. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2007-04-02Service brakes, hydraulic07E023000 Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078…

    Remedy: Cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during April 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2007-04-27Exterior lighting07V063000 On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

    Remedy: 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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2007-10-31Exterior lighting07V442000 Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Some vehicles may not have had a…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect for the presence of a cap in the socket of the low beam horizontal aiming screw and install one if missing, and inspect for the presence of a cap in the socket of the vertical…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2014-05-01Engine and engine cooling14E007000 The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013...

    Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2020-10-30Service brakes, hydraulic20E064000 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.

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Volkswagen Jetta — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 84 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 49 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 42 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 04V586000 · Fuel system, diesel
  • Recall 05V305000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07E023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 07V063000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07V442000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 14E007000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 20E064000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 34% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.