2017 Volkswagen Jetta: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
47%
63 of 133 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
47% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 59% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 26 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE01/24/2018CRASH1 INJURED
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE GAS CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AFTER THAT. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON PARKWAY, ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ABILITY TO BRAKE AND STEER WAS GONE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE FRONT END…
ENGINE12/29/2017CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WHEELS SEIZED WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING THE SIDE WALK WHILE BEING OPERATED APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. A POLICE REPOR…
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE07/29/2026
Note: (never has any issues before ever as vehicle always maintained and taken directly to vw for maintenance.) /-/———————————————— I was driving: came to a stop: light turned Green proceeded to go through intersection YET VEHICLE. KT NOT MOVE! Put lever into park: turned off car and turned back on : put thr stick BACK…
Three of 63 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Je…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf S…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
7 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
