Brakes were replaced in 2025 after dealership said there was manufacturer issues with premature wear on the brakes. Same day brakes were replaced they started making grinding noises again. We called the dealership ship and they said it would stop with in a few days never did. Now a year later the the replacement brakes failed on us.
Volkswagen Jetta grinding brakes problems
224 of the 9,926 owner complaints about the Volkswagen Jetta describe grinding or squealing brakes, most of them for the 2019 model year.
- owner complaints
- 224
- worst model year
- 2019
- typical repair cost reported
- $600
- typical mileage
- 7,000
Is there a fix? There are 7 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Stalling 10Loss of power 8Hesitation 7Fuel pump 7Brake failure 7Door locks 5Check engine light 5ABS 5
Trouble codes mentioned
P1340 1
What owners say
The brake pads that are being used on Volkswagen are semi metallic and that causes the brakes to make a grinding noise which the dealer says is common on volkswagen. The problem you cannot tell if brakes need replacement. I have had my vehicle in service dept twice for the same problem. The noise is a grinding noise and that is a safety hazard. Now I have a warrantey on the entire car and I was told I have to pay 1100 dollars to have it repaired.
The rear service brake assembly—specifically the rear brake pads and rotors—suffered premature wear and catastrophic structural failure. The defective parts are not available for inspection, as they were discarded by Firestone during the emergency repair to restore the vehicle to a safe operating condition. The problem was first confirmed by an authorized manufacturer dealer, Larry H. Miller Volkswagen Tucson. It was subsequently confirmed, documented, and repaired by an independent service center (Firestone). The vehicle and the failing brake components were physically inspected by the manufacturer's authorized dealership service department at Larry H. Miller Volkswagen Tucson prior to the repair. No dashboard warning lamps or error messages illuminated. The symptoms appeared suddenly at approximately 33,200 miles in the form of severe metal-on-metal grinding noises, a vibrating brake pedal, and noticeably reduced stopping power during routine deceleration.
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated upon activating the defroster, the defroster only engaged while the switch was turned to maximum, and there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from underneath the dashboard. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a common failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
As I’m driving the car, the gear ship suddenly won’t go into gear to downshift and grind for a second so I stopped trying to change gears and I just close to the end of the exit. Finally able to get it back into gear drive down the road and the clutch is really loose and almost like it’s not connecting to anything. I’ve heard this has been a problem with the gearshift mechanism on other Volkswagens. And there have been recalls on that I don’t know why there’s no recall showing for my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with this issue.
A few weeks after purchasing my car, my brakes started to squeak. I went to the dealership to get them fixed and they told me that they didn’t see anything wrong with the brakes. All they did was clean the brakes because they said they weren’t ready to be replaced. This did not fix the issue and my brakes started to squeak again that same day. I went to the dealership again a couple months ago for the same issue. I showed the lady a video of what my brakes sound like while I’m driving to showcase how irregular the squeaking sounds. I was told that the squeaking is normal and that there is no fix for them. She told me that Volkswagen hasn’t been able to find a pad that fits properly which causes the squeaking to occur. My breaks were replaced that same day and the squeaking occurred again as I was driving out of the dealership. Paying thousands of dollars for my car just for it to squeak disturbingly loud and for there to be no fix for it just a few weeks after purchasing it and still two years later, is absolutely frustrating and unacceptable. I expect a vehicle of this quality and price to perform without persistent, unresolved issues—especially concerning safety-related components like brakes. At this point, I would like to escalate the matter. I believe Volkswagen should take responsibility for this defect, whether through a permanent fix, a recall, or another solution. What are my options for further action? Should I contact Volkswagen corporate, file a complaint with a consumer protection agency, or explore legal options under the Lemon Law?
Under 20,000 miles, but over 1 year old (leased new february 12, 2021). VW dealership and secondary party reported rear brake pads and rotors were worn down to 1mm and that the car was unsafe to drive. This cost $500 to repair and I had to pay it for a car that was just over 1 year old. The dealership wanted to charge double to replace. The brakes are only warrantied for 1 year, and because most don't hit 20k miles for a year, they know that the parts are unsafe and will wear down at 20,000 miles (as reported by many many others for the 2021 VW Jetta). I have receipts of inspection and for part replacement by Brakes Plus. There were NO warnings, just the tires squeaking when the weather got cold in December. Also, ABS issues - car stalled twice in the middle of a busy street in the first 6 months of use.
Have had the car to dealer numerous times for brake noise issues. Now front and rear brakes make a growling and squealing noise especially when they are cold . Squealing and growling sounds are severe especially when backing up and the brakes are cold. All four brakes make squealing noise Noticeable scraping sound to rear brakes when brakes are not being applied. Rear brakes replaced twice. Car has just over 24,000 mi.
Rear brakes replaced twice on warranty. The car only has 24,000. Car remains with loud chattering brakes on all 4 brakes especially when brakes are cold. Especially loud chattering and squealing brakes still exist especially on rear brakes. Issue with a fuel valve needing to be replaced on warranty. EPS engine light on dash. Driver's door widow regulator malfunction for door not going down with one touch. Replaced under warranty. Dealer for VW stated that they would no longer do any brake repairs. Obviously, the material being used for brake materials is cheap and doesn't last. Have had situation with the main radio Information screen going blank on 2 occasions and having to do a hard reboot to get it to work. Cause unknown for screen totally going blank.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The components that failed or malfunctioned include the rear brake system and the EVAP (Evaporative Emission Control) system of my 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SE 1.5T FWD. Both components are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The safety risks include premature wear of the rear brakes, which could lead to reduced braking efficiency or failure, especially under emergency braking situations. The EVAP system malfunction poses an environmental risk by potentially releasing excessive emissions, and it could also lead to engine performance issues, including stalling or hesitation during acceleration, which may cause hazardous driving conditions. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issues with both the rear brakes and the EVAP system have been reproduced and confirmed by the service departments at two authorized Volkswagen dealerships. Despite multiple repair attempts, the problems have not been fully resolved. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by Volkswagen service departments, but no inspections have been conducted by the police or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, for the EVAP system, the check engine light illuminated repeatedly, indicating a malfunction. The brake issues were not accompanied by warning lamps but were noticeable through audible grinding noises and reduced braking performance, which started occurring within the first few thousand miles after purchasing the vehicle. The brake issue was first reported to the dealer when the vehicle had less than 10,000 miles.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2020 Jetta vehicle. The front brake caliper bolts may come loose.
- Risk
- If a brake caliper bolt comes loose, it may affect the vehicle's brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace all four front brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47Q2.
Recall number 20V359000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
- Risk
- A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298.
Recall number 16V913000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
- Risk
- This can result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began march 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 02V031000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear brake line on the passenger side was routed too close to the corner of the fuel tank. The line could be damaged by chafing against the fuel tank.
- Risk
- Repeated chafing could eventually result in a leaking brake line causing diminished braking in one brake circuit increasing the vehicle's stopping distance.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the brake line and replace any damaged lines.
Recall number 98V195000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- An engine preheating tube may not be properly supported due to a missing support bracket, causing the preheating tube to chafe against the right front metal brake line. This can damage the hydraulic line, causing brake fluid leakage and diminished braking in one brake circuit.
- Risk
- Diminished braking can result in increased stoppingdistances and a possible accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a preheating tube support bracket to ensure proper positioning relative to the right front metal brake line.
Recall number 93V129000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Front brake hoses of insufficient length were installed in some vehicles. These short hoses could stretch and develop cracks.
- Risk
- This could result in brake fluid leakage, with loss offluid pressure and braking ability.
- Remedy
- Replace both brake hoses.
Recall number 90V173000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Omission of air ducts intended to guide flow of cooling air to left and right front brake calipers could allow brake fluid to exceed allowable operating temperature under certain operating conditions.
- Risk
- If brake fluid boils, this could result in reducedbraking pressure with potential for an accident.
- Remedy
- Install missing left and right front air ducts.
Recall number 90V142000 · Recall details
Questions about the Volkswagen Jetta grinding brakes
Which Volkswagen Jetta years have grinding or squealing brakes problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2019 (102 complaints), 2007 (14 complaints) and 2001 (13 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix grinding or squealing brakes on the Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $600 (median of 24 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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