Volkswagen Jetta steering lock-up problems

Filed Dec 23, 2025 · Steering · TX · crash

The steering wheel is the principal reason for this incident. Because when I'm driving on the highway almost to get an exit to the right going at the speed limit of 70 MPH the right tire passes through a high/low on the street, then my steering wheel locked lightly and started to pull to the right like for 2-3 seconds. Causing me hit the wall on the highway. Then straightened itself back, I'm just desacelerate the car and go down to see if the tire is the problem, but not really this is a risky fail on this car i feel insecure to drive it again and take the highway. I feel under risk cause its a highway with a lot of traffic of cargo trucks going more than 75 MPH Im available any day for inspection when needed. This isn't the first time the car do this , but in this case now caused an incident. Before I did the first maintenance on the car for the 10k miles. I took it to the dealer cause since new the car present this issue and they never found nothing wrong on the car supposedly. The specialist technician of the dealer drives with me like 20/30 minutes to verify the issue but the car just do it when it want not always, its like a glitch on the system. It activates some times with the high/lows on the street or speed bumps or on the train rails. The car never present any warning on the dashboard or emergency lights just happen for 2-3 seconds and then goes back to drive normal. Not the first time ,it does since new i got the car since 0 miles and since the 1st week I noticed this but now the fail is worst cause never has do it to me at highway like this time does it just when passes thru speed bumps at low speed.

Filed Dec 3, 2025 · Steering · CA

On the dashboard there’s an message saying “Error: Steering Lock” and it won’t let me turn on the car.

Filed Mar 28, 2025 · Steering · PA

Car won't start due to steering lock issue

Filed Apr 21, 2024 · Steering · MD

The steering lock has miraculously failed and several other individuals have made this complaint. VW advised this is a known issue but has not issued a recall to have this fixed. Instead, we are forced to pay thousands to fix their mistake when it came to manufacturing

Filed Aug 13, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · SC

my steering wheel locked up

Filed Jul 30, 2023 · Electrical · OR

The key will either get stuck in the ignition while the car is on, or it will occasionally not turn at all. Both of which have left me or others borrowing my car stranded. Has taken up to 2 hours of jiggling the key and finally turning to the on or off position. Some shops are saying the ignition cylinder, others the switch, and others the steering lock but this seems to be a very common complaint online from Volkswagens in this age range. It could seriously harm someone if they were unable to start their car in an emergency situation due to the key not turning.

Filed May 9, 2022 · Steering · 126,600 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel locked and the vehicle started jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics; however, there was no failure detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,600.

Filed Mar 27, 2022 · Steering · AZ

About 5-6 times my steering locked up as I was mid turn but thankfully only for a second or two but a few of those times I was traveling at a high rate of speed on the highway in the center lane with cars on either side of me. Another time I was turning onto the highway and trying to beat the long line of cars that just got a green light and as I was mid turn my steering locked up and I fishtailed into the center lane almost into oncoming traffic. Had I been a more inexperienced driver neither of those times would have ended well.

Filed Jun 1, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · CA

My car would randomly stall while driving, happens both when braking and not braking. When it stalls steering wheel locks up, cannot press gas pedal, and brakes stop working almost. This is incredibly dangerous because while on a road at 50mph+ and my car suddenly stops it can cause a serious accident. The dealer has been able to reproduce it multiple times, and has said it is a common problem. The only warning light that switched on was the battery light after it had stalled. Currently at the VW dealership and was told that it was the fuel filter, was not the problem and car continued to stall more. Not only was a good part replaced but created an even more dangerous situation than before.

Filed May 12, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · 125,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition key ceased in the ignition switch and the vehicle failed to start immediately. Also, while driving the steering wheel locked and failed to turn. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000