general problems of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta

25 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta based on all problems reported for the 2008 Jetta.

1 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/18/2024

The ignition switch gets stuck sometimes and I can't crank my car nor turn it off I'm just dating that because that's what's going on on my end. Therefore, I've had times where I can't crank my car or I can't turn it off when I need to. So you may tell me if there was a recall on ignition switch or whatever.

2 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/03/2024

Sometimes I feel as if my car is possessed I own a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta and sometimes the passenger headlight works sometimes it doesn't I've replaced the bulbs doesn't matter. My sunroof all of a sudden stopped working. My turn signals on the right side don't work when the headlight is not on. I have no sound from my stereo cuz my speakers automatically went out. It has a lot of electrical issues not sure why.

3 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 07/12/2023

Passenger airbag is always off. I saw reports on youtube wiring connectors under the seat are the reason. There’s a home remedy solution. Important air bag issues should be freely be done by manufacturer or dealer. Also steering issues are more common than reported. The electrical devise fails too often rendering driving the vehicle difficult.

4 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/17/2022

Car go into a safe mode take to dealer they said car is no reparable because the part they need is no longer made by vw and is no a substitution part for it. So basically they talk me to send it to a junk lot or I can buy a new car and they will gime some money for it also at the end they recommend a shop that maybe be they can fixit so I think why ???? IA safety advised for a dealer. ????.

5 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/12/2020

Key was stuck in n the ignition in the on position. Could not turn the key either way. After several hours of the car running I was forced to head to my local vw dealership for repair. The cost to replace the inside of the ignition plus labor was $1,000.

6 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 09/18/2020

Just after I purchased the used vehicle from a private party, I was driving on the interstate at approximately 70 miles per hour, when the vehicle without warning slammed into second gear, sending my face into the steering wheel, while the cars travelling behind me had to brake to avoid collision. I pulled over, and turned the car off to assess the reason, to no avail. When I re-started the car and put it in gear, it drove fine until the next time I drove it. Then it did a repeat of the previous action, sending the transmission into safe made without any notice or provocation, and again, when I restarted the vehicle it drove perfectly normal while I drove it directly home. When I performed an obdii scan, it generated p0746 as the problem, with no other problems being reported. I am reporting this problem because the first time it happened, it could have have ended very badly had someone else been behind the wheel, such as a mother who may be distracted by her children at the time, and I feel this matter should be addressed before someone is killed on the highway. Prior experience has taught me that highway accidents seldom only happen to one vehicle at a time, and almost anyone that experiences this problem on a highway could cause serious injury to multiple cars and needs to be addressed.

7 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/13/2020

Could not start vehicle but once able to start was unable to turn off vehicle. Key is stuck in ignition in the on position. Had to disconnect battery and pull fuel pump relay to kill power. Did some research and this seems to be a common and expensive manufacture defect for certain Volkswagen models. Due to the required knowledge and specialized tools needed to repair this issue, vw should have recalled and repaired. This has been an ongoing issue but now unable to drive.

8 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/23/2018

I utilized my seat warmer on the driver side and only had the setting on 2 (out of 5). After approximately an hour of my trip home for christmas, I started to feel my lower back (on my right) burn because the seat was excessively hot. When I reached my hand behind my back to feel the seat that is when I discovered the hole in my seat and I burnt my hand in the process.

9 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/20/2018

The ignition key gets stuck in keylock and you are unable to turn off engine. Went online and there are tons of complaints on forums.

10 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 09/12/2016

While the vehicle was in motion on a highway, the turn signals began to act erratically. Initially only the left turn signaling appeared to be affected, and would fail to make any indication on the dash or illuminate the lights. Shortly after this, attempting to signal a right turn would actually result in the left turn indicator lights illuminating (yes, the opposite of what was intended). As I am one of the individuals dealing with the door control issue, I am unable to use my window. I could not use arm signalling to make my intentions clear to other drivers. It was very difficult to change lanes on the highway. I believe that there was a similar issue, and associated recall, with the 2002 Jetta turn signal indicator/switch.

11 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/08/2016

I pulled into a gas station and tried to turn off engine to fuel the car. An ignition malfunction would not allow me to turn engine off or remove key from ignition.

12 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/14/2015

Tl-the contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the rear passengers side door failed to lock. The door failed to lock manually and with the key fob. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the door lock mechanism was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000. Mf.

13 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/09/2015

The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered that the front driver and passenger side air bag crash sensors would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, there was a shortage within the electrical circuit. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

14 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/06/2014

Sunroof would open and close at random, had that fixed while under warranty. Now the rear drivers side door will not lock and the alarm will not turn on. This is a safety issue as well as a theft issue and appears its pretty common due to previous vw threads. At $400 repair costs and vw knowing this is an issue, I feel this should be elevated to a recall status and not chargable to owners. Please help me/us, I cant afford the repair!!!.

15 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 05/26/2014

Tl * the contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact steered the vehicle to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred four times in five days. The dealer stated that the electronic computer machine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

16 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/30/2014

I got locked inside the car on a hot day with my kid! I sat in the back to play with him and keep him company. The door closed and it would not unlock no matter how many times I would pull on the lever. I was pinched between the child seat, the driver's seat (I keep it pulled back quite a bit) and the door. I could barely move. My wife had to unlock the door from the outside. The door lock/latch mechanism has (since this incident) failed on both rear doors. Both!!! we can no longer lock the car without spending 10-15 minutes opening, closing, working the remote etc, until it finally produces the desired beep with the car being actually locked. The door would close, the alarm would be activated but the rear door (passenger side) would remain unlocked. I pull on the handle, the door opens and the alarm goes off. We are almost at the point where we might have to take the child out of the car via the front doors. I am not even talking about the car probably getting stolen over this. This is a serious child hazard! there are dozens of threads on vw forums about these mechanisms failing either 1. Electrical harness being damaged. Or 2. Door lock/latch not activating or deactivating. Or both how long is vw going to ignore this massive problem. The dealership wants $450 in parts and labor for 1 door. That's almost a $1000 for a problem that is very common. Very.

17 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/25/2013

The led mirror turn signal and the front bumper orange illuminated safety reflector both on the driver's side of the vehicle simultaneously stopped working. I'm unsure if this is due to fuse issues or computer related electrical issues. A safety problem is posed when they're not working.

18 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/27/2013

I was driving to work one morning and it started to smell like something was burning. I thought maybe it was just a weird smell in my vents but within 10 minutes of driving a cloud of smoke filed the driver side of my car. Luckily I was not on the highway yet and I was able to pull over and shut off the car. Not knowing where the smoke came from I immediately got out of the car. It when then that I looked down and saw the source of the smoke, there was a quarter size hole in my driver seat. I had been driving with the seat heater on and it caught fire. Luckily I was not injured and was able to quickly get off the road and discover the issue however I have read other complaints of similar events and yet no recall.

19 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/07/2012

My vehicle passenger door(s) will not respond to the keyless entry lock or unlock commands. They can only close and open manually. I have read several different forums and this seems to be a standard default in model years ranging from 2007 and onward. The sunroof will periodically open by itself and the blinkers do not function properly (example is when I flick the blinker up to make a right turn, the left blinker comes on instead). Why hasn't there been a recall to replace these faulty, and life threatening, issues?.

20 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/15/2011

In 2011, the right rear door stopped locking. When I would try to lock the door both with the internal lock switch and the fob, the door would not lock. It also would not chirp to let me know that all the doors were locked and the alarm was set. Locking the door with the fob does set the alarm, however you can open the rear door and the alarm goes off. In September of 2014 the left rear door stopped locking as well. . . It has the exact same issues as the right rear door not locking. . . However, it is so far somewhat intermittent and sometimes will not open at all!.

21 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 07/07/2011

Every morning my 2008 vw Jetta 2. 0t is very hard to start. Sometimes when the car is trying to start it stalls in the middle of starting. . Read more...

22 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/26/2010

Drivers heated seat activated on its own. Control switch on dash was set at 0, drive received moderate burns to legs and buttock. Removed fuse and took vehicle to dealer. Nothing found, dealer suggested if the seat heats up again, bring vehicle directly to the dealer, do not shut it off. Burns are similar to a bad sunburn, some redness, no blisters.

23 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/01/2010

I first took my car to the dealership June 1st for an obvious rattling noise in between my front tires. On June 15th back to the dealership for them to replace my bushings but problem still existed so they ordered pins for caliper bracket. In July after replacing struts the problem still existed. Aug 31st they replaced the sway bar and declared the problem was resolved. When I got in my car the problem still existed and they had left my car out of alignment it was almost impossible to drive. Sept 14th I returned back to the dealership for the same problem. They replaced both sway bars. The problem was finally resolved after losing my car for 6 full days, however my brake lights were on. They assured me it was just a coincidence, the service guy discovered the tech had forgotten to connect my brakes back. I did not file a formal complaint at this time because I was so relieved they had finally fixed my suspension issue. Ive had to buy 2 brand new sets of tires since June because of all the ware on my tires from my messed up suspension. Today, Jan 3rd 2012 my car is back in the shop yet again. This time for a rear passanger side door lock that had been set on child lock will no longer lock. Ordered the part, since my car is no longer under warranty the part with labor 360. In the meantine the tech discovered an oil leak. The dealership is now saying my vaccum pump is leaking and is no longer under warranty for them to fix it. Their quote 960. I checked on the part its 257 new. Even though I didn't file a complaint or cost them money when they forgot to connect my brakes bake they are going to charge me 700 dollars in labor. My car is only a 2008 and has been in the shop more in one year than any of my other cars combined. It is daily a safety hazard because of the lingering of fixing my car right the very first day I took it to the dealership June of 2010.

24 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 05/17/2010

2008 vw Jetta 2. 5l engine stalls and epc light illuminates.

25 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/16/2009

This vehicle was purchased approximately September 2008, and to date has experienced five (5) failures of the electronic door locking/unlocking mechanisms of three of the four doors of the vehicle and in some case multiple failures. I am currently experiencing failure number six (6). The failure of the locking/unlocking mechanisms is a safety issue as these failure have at time prevented being able to exit the vehicle and in the case of an emergency it is a serious threat to my safety. Additionally, I'm unable to lock the vehicle whenever I go anywhere thus putting anything in the vehicle at risk of loss from theft. The dealer's solution is to replace the locking mechanisms as they fail and as the vehicle is no longer under warranty it's cost roughly $370. 00 per incident. Below is a summary of the failures experienced thus far. I have copies of the service records available. 2008 Jetta door lock failures: date ro # item responsible party cost 11/16/09 116190 drivers side front door lock replaced warranty 03/02/10 118212 left rear door lock replaced warranty 08/03/10 121525 right rear door lock diagnosed warranty 08/06/10 121609 right rear door lock replaced warranty 06/01/11 129079 left rear door lock diagnosis customer paid $69. 00 06/01/11 129247 left rear door lock replaced customer paid $303. 09 10/18/11 132986 drivers side front door lock replaced customer paid $367. 25 03/15/12 right rear door lock beginning to fail. Door lock failure occurances drivers side front 2 left rear 2 right rear 2.



Jetta Service Bulletins
Jetta Safety Recalls
Jetta Defect Investigations