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2005 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems

48 complaints (19% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 80,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
48
of this car's complaints
19%
typical mileage
80,000
crashes
1
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Wiring
    2
  • Ignition
    2
  • 12v/24v/48v battery
    2
  • Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
    1
  • Instrument cluster/panel
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems in other years

19901995200020052010201520202027

Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Fire or smoke 11

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2005 Volkswagen Jetta owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 6, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · GA

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.

Filed Mar 5, 2021 · Airbags, Electrical · 94,300 miles · MO

Started having electrical problems (random dashboard lights, doors, locks, windows wouldn't work, key fob battery died, etc) then I had to replace the battery. Continued electrical issues with new battery, passenger side window/door wouldn't operate or work at all. Needed master key fob to lock driver's side door but all other doors wouldn't lock with fob. Next, I am having issues with the car not starting, put another battery in it. From there random dashboard lights, dinging with drl and first few minutes of operating vehicle, and airbags lights are on. My mechanic sends me to a mechanic shop that specializes in vw. Mechanic replaces window manager and driver side door harness. Still find issues with airbags so I take my car to the dealership in st peters mo during a snow storm. Hand them all my paperwork, they go in and find that my car is being worked on and see that their are splices, connections butted, so they "fix" the airbags and send me on my way. However, I have a toddler in the backseat and she was able to open the doors while the vehicle was in motion, the windows stopped working, etc. Dealership cannot speak to other mechanic shop's work so they did the recalls needed (airbags) and replaced the harness, apparently again. I have all the receipts from the work, all the parts are in my trunk of my car, another appointment to see what the issue is. Car appears to be stuck in security mode but doesn't properly lock, not able to use child lock, and unable to protect vehicle safely with proper locking mechanism. I don't feel safe if there is an intruder or if my toddler were to try this stunt again, also concerned of the fuel issues I've been having. Replaced my gas cap in hopes I wouldn't see loss of fuel, and the car has a slight oil leak that no mechanic can seem to find. Unable to attach paperwork as the dealership has it at this time.

Filed Mar 8, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 153,341 miles · MA · fire

On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly. When turning on the car, the air bag default button comes on. The interior lights do not come on. While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast. While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast. The vehicle suddenly caught fire, while idled in a drive thru line at a fast food restaurant. The fire started under the hood.

Filed Dec 21, 2019 · Airbags, Electrical · NJ

When turning on the car, the air bag default button comes on. The interior lights do not come on.

Filed Nov 26, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · FL

While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast.

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · FL

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.

Filed Feb 7, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 155,000 miles · CA

Secondary air injection system - ongoing issue.. No reading for smog check

Filed Jun 3, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · GA

I have had nothing but issues with my 2005 jetta since purchasing it a little over a year ago. The first issue was loss of power while driving, causing me to almost be struck by other vehicles while turning at intersections. Cause: the fuse box ontop of battery melted, along with the fuses and ground wire. Then the coolant resevoir had to be replaced. Due to the fans not turning on because of those fuses melting. Then, then radiator. Then the break pump, exaust manifold gasket blew. The thing recently wasni had no break lights. Went to change bulbs. Kept breaking the fuses. Then stuck in park. Saw a recall listed for faulty break switch. Called vw they stated my recal had already been serviced. So sorry it was up to me to repair the issue. Told them of every other issue. They said there was nothing they could do for me. Basically I bought a very unrealiable, unsafe, piece of garbage. That I assumed was completely opposite for myself snd my two small children to be dependant upon getting us safely place tonplace.

Filed Oct 16, 2015 · Electrical, Fuel system · 115,000 miles · FL

For the past year I have taken my car to vw shops and highly rated top vw shops in la . My car was dying if I didn't drive it ever day. I had my car in the shop for over a month and after doing electrical checks, giving me an alternator, replacing countless batteries the problem is still to this day unsolved.in the past 6 months things have become worse and can lead to an accident if not fixed. My car has been decelerating while I am driving on the road, it happens at all different speeds and is random. The car will lock up so that I can not make it pick up speed when it starts decelerating and then out of no where it will work again but instead of letting me gradually increase the speed it blasts off in an uncontrollable manner. This is very dangerous and I have tried to get this fixed and diagnosed but no one not even vw has any idea what is happening because every time I take it to the shop it somehow doesn't happen. Now in the past week my car is taking it to the next level with the deceleration and acceleration but on top of that now it is just dying while I am driving it after doing the jerky thing. I literally was driving on the hwy and it jerked a couple of times and then the car just died while driving and the brakes and steering wheel locked up. I was able to get to the shoulder but it was absolutely terrifying and I could have been killed! The battery light came on and I turned off the car. When I tried to turn it back on it started up like nothing happened. I then tried to drive to safety but it would die over and over again. I just found out about this site and I decided to read some reports. Turns out there are 100s of other cases just like mine. Why then does vw act like they have no idea whats wrong with my car. Apparently the only way you can get them to do something about it is to have a tragedy! Something needs to be done. Please help!!!!

Filed Sep 1, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · 119,000 miles · NE · fire

Fuse box on the top of the battery caught fire and melted the fusible link from the alternator to the battery connect. Going at 40 miles per hour and car shuts off, no brakes no power all electrical systems off dash lit up like christmas tree. Thank god for the ditch and that we weren't on interstate otherwise someone could have been killed or injured such as my pregnant wife.

Questions about the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta electrical

Does the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 48 complaints about the electrical of the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta, 19% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2005 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 80,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta electrical?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Volkswagen Jetta have the most electrical problems?

The Volkswagen Jetta model years with the most electrical complaints are 2010 (233 complaints), 2011 (186 complaints) and 2019 (154 complaints).

Other 2005 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Transmission 84Engine 68Airbags 26Fuel system 21Brakes 14Lights 14Body 12Acceleration 11Locks 7Seat belts 7Visibility 7Suspension 5Driver assistance 3Seats 3Tires 3Steering 2Wheels 1

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