2025-2026 Volkswagen Jetta Wiring Recall (26V138)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 48,165 vehicles · Reported March 11, 2026
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 48,165 2025-2026 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit. An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V138 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V138000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 97TC |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 11, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2025-2026 Volkswagen Jetta |
| Units affected | 48,165 |
| Component | Electrical System > Wiring |
| Safety risk | An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Jetta in recall 26V138?
The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
Is it safe to drive a 2025-2026 Jetta with recall 26V138?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Jetta shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the wiring, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V138?
Recall 26V138 covers 48,165 vehicles: 2025-2026 Volkswagen Jetta.
NHTSA lists 48,165 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | Volkswagen | Jetta |
What is the fix for the Jetta wiring recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97TC. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 13, 2026.
When was recall 26V138 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 26V138 to NHTSA on March 11, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 31, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 17, 2026 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| March 11, 2026 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V138000. |
| March 31, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 6 months ago. If your Jetta was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Jetta is part of recall 26V138?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V138 is open on your Jetta, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Jetta owners do about recall 26V138?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V138000 applies to your Jetta.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any wiring symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Jetta owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 6 of them about the electrical system.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the electrical system have been filed since recall 26V138 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 35 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 6 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Volkswagen Jetta: 29 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
- 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: 6 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
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.
2026 Volkswagen Jetta owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11711130, filed January 15, 2026
The vehicle says it’s overheating and will go into limp mode it has also been reported that other 2026 Jettas have had the same issue…
2026 Volkswagen Jetta owner, OR, NHTSA complaint 11755445, filed August 7, 2026
"My 2025 Volkswagen Jetta is subject to Safety Recall 26V185 (90Z5). The vehicle's instrument cluster fails to display speed, RPM, and safety warnings upon startup, creating a severe safety hazard. I visited Heritage Volkswagen Catonsville on 04/07/26, and they officially documented that the 'REPAIR NOT YET AVAILABLE.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11729887, filed April 8, 2026
Can recall 26V138 make my Jetta a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 26V138000 does not automatically make your Jetta a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2025-2026 Volkswagen Jetta back, and the problem shows up again.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Jetta went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Jetta been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volkswagen Jetta recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V138
Is the 26V138000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed March 31, 2026.
How do I know if my Jetta is part of recall 26V138000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 26V138000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Volkswagen. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.