2005 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
354 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 32/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 80,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2005 sits among all Jetta years
What owners report
“The transmission is terribly made. There is also an issue with the fuel injection that does not allow the car to receive the correct fuel as well as the gas tank. The car jerks because of the gas tank and the codes read ad if the cap needs to be replaced but the whole gas tank needs to be replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Jetta
“Takata recall. My volkswagon jetta gls engine keeps on misfiring for some reason no matter what work i put into it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Jetta
“My car while parked and the engine going will stop. Also when i'm on the freeway the epc light will turn on and feel like i have a loss of power and it feels like it is accelerating. My mechanic has no idea what is going on with my car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Jetta
“While driving and airbags deployed, cause windshield to break and lose control of car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Jetta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 277 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 76,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 44,500 and 111,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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. The fluid seal crimp on the master…
Fix: 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…
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 through October…
Fix: 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.
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 REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL…
Fix: 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…
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 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED…
Fix: 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
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.…
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Technical service bulletins
392 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The 2005 Volkswagen Jetta drew 354 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 32/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2005 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta are transmission & drivetrain (84 complaints), engine (69), and electrical (63).
At what mileage do 2005 Volkswagen Jetta problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Volkswagen Jetta problems around 76,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 44,500 and 111,500 miles.
Does the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.