2005 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE IDLED IN A DRIVE THRU LINE AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT OR FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE DEALER MIKE HAGGERTY VOLKSWAGEN (8920 S CICERO AVE, OAK LAWN, IL 60453 (708) 425-8989) TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ENGINE MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING OR ACCELERATING OR SLOWING. THEN VEHICLE VIBRATES AND STALLS. INTERMITTENT AND WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH. VW GARAGE COULD NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM APRIL 11, 2019 AND MAY 7 TO 11,2019. VEHICLE HAD RECALL ON COILS APPROXIMATELY 2011 AND COILS WERE REPLACED BUT ONE FAILED FEW MONTHS LATER AND MANUFACTURER REPLACED IT. MILEAGE NOW IS SLIGHTLY BELOW 40,000. VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING TWICE AND NOT TRUSTWORTHY. POLICEMAN HELPED MOVE VEHICLE OFF ROAD ONCE VOLKSWAGEN GARAGE ADVISED KEEP DRIVING TO SEE IF PROBLEM CONTINUES AFTER THEY SWITCHED TWO COIL WIRES. IT HAS NOT STOPPED MISFIRING OF ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES, BUT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR BURNS TO THE RIGHT ARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO WHEELER AUTO PARTS (LOCATED AT 8391 E MONROE RD, WHEELER, MI 48662; (989) 842-3158) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE SHOP'S PARKING LOT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LAFONTAINE VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 2200 S TELEGRAPH RD, DEARBORN, MI 48124; (313) 996-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-822-8987 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CASE NUMBER: 170791374 WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR, ENGINE WILL SPORADICALLY SHUT OFF AND THE CAR WILL NEED TO BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED. NO ERROR CODES COME FROM THE COMPUTER AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPLICABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP OR AT AUTO SHOPS. THE VEHICLE IS EITHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THE DECIDING FACTOR IS THE ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. MA 08/06/15 UPDATED 8/14/15 *JS

CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER AND LOSE POWER WHILE ON I95 DOING HIGHWAY SPEED. PROCEEDED TO DO IT MULTIPLE TIMES. ONCE I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY IT LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I LET THE CAR SIT FOR AN HOUR AND IT STARTED BACK UP WORKING FINE. HAPPENED AGAIN 3 HOURS LATER. HAPPENED THE ENTIRE WEEK IN FLORIDA ON VACATION. ONCE THE CAR GOT BACK INTO COOLER WEATHER PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 70 DEGREES OUT. HAPPENED ON I97 DOING 60 MPH. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY ONCE AGAIN TO HAVE MY CAR DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUTE 2. IT DID NOT DO IT FOR MY MECHANIC WHO HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS. OTHER VW OWNERS SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN FIX. THIS MUST BE LOOKED INTO, SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED! *TR

OVER THE PAST 3 WEEKS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CYCLED ON/OFF. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3700(PARTS&LABOR). I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 9 YEARS AND HAVE APPROX 65000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD OIL CHANGES EVERY 5000 MILES AS WELL AS ALL RECOMMEND FACTORY MAINTENANCE. SINCE MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATES THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 10 YEARS/100,000 MILES THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH COVERING ANY COST OF THE REPAIRS. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 05/06 VOLKSWAGEN ENGINES YET THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT IT. TIMING CHAINS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AT 65000 MILES AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO HAVE CHECKED AT ADVANCE AUTO. TECHNICIAN FOUND FAULT FAILURE CAM SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. CAR TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP, TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING BELT, ESTIMATE REPAIR $2700 NOT GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT $6400. TIMING BELT SHOULD NOT FAIL ON A CAR WITH 109K MILES, CAR HAS BEEN KEEP ON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SINCE PURCHASED 5 YEARS AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY PROVIDED A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO RECEIVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE PROGRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO PASS AN INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER (MISFIRING VERY BADLY) AND WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, AND THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES STORED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO VW DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY CONFIRMED THE CAMSHAFT WAS COMPLETELY WORN AND "SEVERAL LIFTERS HAD CAVED IN." INTERNET SEARCHES CONFIRM THIS MODEL VEHICLE (TDI WITH A BRM ENGINE) HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF CAMSHAFT FAILURE. ASIDE FROM THE COST OF REPLACEMENT ($2900 AT THE DEALER), THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CRASH. *TR

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER JUST LIKE IGNITION TURNED OFF. ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED DUE TO SUDDEN SLOWING DOWN. HAD TO PULL OVER TO LEFT LANE ON VERY BUSY INTERSTATE BECAUSE I WAS IN CARPOOL LANE. HAD LIMITED SHOULDER AREA TO STOP. NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. ONCE STOPPED TRIED TO START ENGINE. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. CONTINUED ATTEMPTS CAUSED ENGINE PRESSURE WARNING. HAD TO BE TOWED FROM BUSY INTERSTATE LEFT LANE. NOW THE CAR HAS FAILED LIKE THIS WHILE ON THE ROAD 3 TIMES. THERE IS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF FAILURE. CAR JUST DIES. ALL THREE INCIDENTS WHERE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. 2 WERE ON HILLS NEAR STOP SIGN AND I HAD TO ROLL VEHICLE BACK AROUND OTHER CARS TO SAFE PLACE. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. NOTICED ROUGH IDLE AND POOR ACCELERATION ON MY MORNING COMMUTE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 2 - 5. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT EVENING. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED $900 OF REPAIRS ON THE CAR AND THEN DECLARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD STRETCHED, CAUSING THE MISFIRES). THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS HAD IT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY, INSTEAD OF SURFACE STREETS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2005/2006 JETTAS (DOCUMENTED AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5457990-CLASS-ACTION-AGAINST-VW-FOR-TIMING-CHAIN-PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FORUMS). I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 16,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. A TIMING CHAIN FAILING AT 76,000 MILES IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND IS NOT LISTED WITH A SERVICE INTERVAL PER THE OWNERS MANUAL (LATER ADDED AT 105K MILES ON NEWER CARS). VEHICLE FAILED JUST UNDER 76,000 MILES. *TR

I TRIED TO PULL ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE ENGINE DIED. IT WAS BUCKING AND KEPT STALLING OUT WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR ACROSS TO GET OUT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

AT ROUGHLY 7500 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT. FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED, OR STRETCHED, RESULTING IN POOR IDLE AND A $2700 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. LOOKED IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST 2-3 TIMES LONGER. SINCE I'M OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD I AM OUT OF LUCK. TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE NOT TO FAIL AROUND 75000 AND I CHECKED THE OTHER COMPLAINT AND IT LOOKED LIKE ALOT OF OTHER 05 TO 06 OWNERS HAS THE SAME ISSUE . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SPROCKETS HAD BEEN SHAVED DOWN, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE TIMING CHAIN SPROCKETS AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,005. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AT ROUGHLY 6500 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT. FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED, OR STRETCHED, RESULTING IN POOR IDLE AND A $2700 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. LOOKED IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST 2-3 TIMES LONGER. SINCE I'M OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD I AM OUT OF LUCK. VW OFFERED $1500 CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW VW. THIS IS NOT ACPETABLE. MY LAST JETTA LASTED 180000 MILES BEFORE ANY ISSUES. IF MORE PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE COMPANY. BE WARY OF VW'S. *TT

DRIVING MY DAUGHTER HOME FROM SCHOOL, HOT COOLANT STARTED SPEWING INTO WHERE HER FEET REST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

AS EMPHASIS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5457990-CLASS-ACTION-AGAINST-VW-FOR-TIMING-CHAIN-PROBLEM), VOLKSWAGEN DESIGNED A FLAWED SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL PRE-MATURELY. IN FACT, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THIS MOTOR, A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WILL DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY LEAD TO OTHER CATASTROPHIC ISSUES SUCH AS A BENT VALVE IN MY SITUATION. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR, I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN LESS THAN 1 MONTH LATER (11/16/11). *TR

2005.5 VW JETTA, 2.5L 5 CYL ENGINE. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT STEADY, NOT FLASHING. STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN SPEED. PULLED OFF ROAD AND IDLE WAS VERY ROUGH. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IDLE WAS WORSE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL LIT AND NOT FLASHING. VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE VEHICLE UNDER ITS OWN POWER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP FOUND TROUBLE CODE P1340 AND AFTER MORE DIAGNOSTIC THAT TIMING WAS INCORRECT. CAM TIMING WAS VERY FAR OFF AND STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN SUSPECTED. COMPRESSION TEST REVEALED BENT VALVES AS WELL. LOCAL INDY MECHANIC AND LOCAL VW DEALER HAVE BOTH SEEN THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES WITH 2005.5 AND 2006 MODEL JETTA AND RABBIT VEHICLES WITH THE 2.5L ENGINE, AND SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES ARE OUTLINED IN SEVERAL PLACES ONLINE. THE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN WAS VERY SUDDEN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR