truck and light truck category vehicles are increasingly being sold with larger and larger tires along with LED headlights. This causes a huge safety issue as the profile of these category vehicle now sits higher and causes the LED lights to be level with the driver's head. The increased lumen count from the headlights causes night blindness and is greatly exacerbated when the oncoming vehicle high beams are switched on.
Volkswagen Jetta headlights problems
249 of the 9,926 owner complaints about the Volkswagen Jetta describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 249
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical repair cost reported
- $600
- typical mileage
- 65,000
Is there a fix? There are 7 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Wipers 15Fire or smoke 13Stalling 11Check engine light 9Door locks 8Airbag light 8Warning lights 7Loss of power 6
What owners say
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.
I'm not exactly sure on what happened but when using the lane stay assist it doesn't read the lines correctly causing the car to abruptly jerk in a unexpected direction! doing this during certain scenarios would cause an accident for sure. also the headlight auto switching for high beams malfunctions often causing the lights to flicker
I purchased my car used. In the past 3 years I have had problems my headlights became increasingly dim I checked my fuses and it had blown so I replaced it. Upon doing so my windshield wipers that had just been working no longer moved. But my headlights worked. Then my passenger window would not work with the drivers door controls. I can put it up but not down. I have never had the front collision warning work. Nor the lane departure the tire info used to work. Now it doesn’t. I toook my car into be caked and I was told that everything except the windows and wipers was fine. The wipers had a blown motor. Replaced it and they are good the window motors are dying? And need to be replaced. Also when in cruise control it will accelerate for just a second before slowing to the speed set at. Love the Volkswagens family has had four others and never had smyproblems
Very similar to Recall #: 28H7 of VW. Was driving in hot temperature and dash displayed warning: "Starter system faulty. Please service vehicle" after a warning sound and message "Car Ignition Off. Please stop vehicle for safety." After this, all my electrical went out (from dash to blinkers to head lights to tail lights). However the car could still accelerate and brake.
I am continually have issue with my headlights bi-xenon ds3 bulbs going out. I have replaced the ballast and the bulb w oem parts and the issue continues. My day runner LED lights work on the passenger side but the HID bulb does not work. I have no low beam. Everything else works. Same issue on drivers side until I replaced the entire housing unit. Regardless both lights DO NOT REFLECT IN DISTANCE making it EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT forcing me to have to drive w my fog lights on just to see.
FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY: 1) the HID HALOGEN lights- (a.) the main DS3 buld continues to burn out not lasting longer than a month. (b.) the ballast also than shorts out (c.) the HIGH BEAM does the reverse effect making everything black (d.) the LOW BEAM do not work right as i cannot see obstacles in the road clearly- WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT; I ONLY HAVE MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO DEPEND ON PRIMARILY. THE PASSENGER LIGHTS WHEN SOMEWHAT WORKING; ARE DIM AND WHEN THE HID BULB BURNS OUT- ALL I HAVE TO DEPEND ON (for that side of car) ARE MY DAY RUNNING AND FOR LIGHTS. 2.) FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SENORS ARE NOT WORKING MAKING IT TOO LATE IF OBSTACLES DETECTED 3.) THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER STOPPED WORKING
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the contact became aware that the front and rear exterior lights were not functioning as needed. The headlamp warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed an electrical fault with the exterior lights. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.
I have had my headlights replaced 3 times by a certified mechanic within the last year. While I was driving on the highway, my low beams and high beams on both sides went out. Extreme safety issue!
Every time it rains, water comes down im assuming from my sunroof, ive cleaned the drains multiple times, it doesnt make a differenc, the water goes through my fuse box on the driver side fuse box inside the car like a white water rapid and collects in the floorboard. It blows all of my fuses, it also blows out my headlights, brake lights, and turn signals. Not to mention the mold that must be growing in the car from all the water. I tried contacting volkswagen but they wont do anything.. eventhough ive spent who knows how much money replacing all those bulbs and fuses. Plus the damprid containers ive bought to help dry everything up, and the cleaners, the air freshners, the cost of vacuuming all that water up.. also my doors wont lock, i cant control anything in the car with the drivers side controls, cant open my trunk with the switch by the drivers seat. This has changed my whole opinion of volkswagen vehicles.. i used to think they were really good cars, not anymore!
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- A reduction in the driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side headlight, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L1.
Recall number 18V671000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured July 11, 2014, to November 13, 2014. Due to incorrect software within the headlight control module, the low beam headlights may turn off when high beam lights are turned on. As a result, the light output from the headlights may be insufficient. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Insufficient headlight output may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the headlight control module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 57F6.
Recall number 14V790000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- 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 aim and some vehicles may contain a cap that disables the vertical aiming screw.
- Risk
- Noncompliance can inhibit proper headlamp aim adjustment for roadway illumination, improperly aimed headlamps could cause reduced road visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 aiming screw and if present, the cap will be removed. The recall will begin on october 31, 2007. Owners may contact vw at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 07V442000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
- Risk
- The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
- 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. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v‑183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 07V063000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v‑265 or 04v‑096.
- Risk
- The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v‑183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 06V183000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain hazard switch relays which occurs due to substantially increased electrical current load from higher wattage turn signal bulbs.
- Risk
- This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the hazard flasher switch/relay kit. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 04V584000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
- Risk
- If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
- Remedy
- This recall has been superceded by 06v‑183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 04V096000 · Recall details
Questions about the Volkswagen Jetta headlights
Which Volkswagen Jetta years have headlights failing or too dim problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (35 complaints), 2006 (24 complaints) and 2014 (23 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $600 (median of 11 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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