NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 12 complaints against the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2025 Volkswagen Jetta complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has generated 12 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Volkswagen pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Fuel and propulsion system defects can cause stalling, fuel leaks, or power loss — all substantial impairments of use and safety. The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. Owner reports include: “I am reporting a safety concern involving unintended acceleration in a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta SE (VIN [XXX] ) Te vehicle has experienced two separate incidents in which it surged forward unexpectedly when shifting from park to drive while my foot depressed the brake pedal. The first incident occurred in approximately August 2025 while attempting to move the vehicle into a residential garage. When the transmission was shifted into Drive, the vehicle accelerated forward despite continued brake application and traveled approximately 30 feet before stopping. A collision with a structural wall was narrowly avoided. The second incident occurred on [XXX]. When shifting from Park into Drive with my foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle again surged forward unexpectedly and struck a storage cabinet inside the garage, causing property damage. A family member was nearby at the time. Following these incidents, the vehicle was taken to an authorized Volkswagen dealership (Garnet Volkswagen of West Chester, Pennsylvania) on December 15, 2025 for inspection. The dealership preformed diagnostic scans and reported no stored fault codes and was unable to duplicate the condition. The vehicle was returned without repair. The vehicle was later presented to another authorized Volkswagen, Pohanka Volkswagen of Salisbury, Maryland in February 2026 for additional evaluation without any solution. I subsequently notified Volkswagen Group of America and requested a manufacturer-level engineering review to determine whether a defect exists and whether the vehicle is safe to operate. Volkswagen declined to conduct any further manufacturer-directed investigation. Because the problem has not been resolved, I remain concerned that an intermittent mechanical or electronic defect may exist. The vehicle has relatively low mileage and is less than one year old. I am submitting this complaint so that the incident is documented as a potential safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11723060)
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Drove for 1.5 hours in 70 degree weather at 55-70 mph average highway driving. There was no impact, crash, or other form of collisions. No bolts, rocks, or debris were visualized coming from the car in front of me >300 ft. The sunroof spontaneously exploded with a very loud noise then showering of glass. Passenger was cut from falling glass. Glass shards/dust/chunks were present in all seats. No warning lights, messages, or symptoms before failure. Sunroof in working mechanical condition in drive prior to event. No known external cause of failure, likely intrinsic to glass. Car not inspected by police or insurance. VW dealership refusing to inspect window.” (NHTSA Complaint #11671889)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “After only 312 miles new and only driven vehicle for 5 days. I received a warning about my forward collision warning system was a problem. Weather has been good. Not wet, temp was 72 degrees. I just started my car and had not driven yet. Chicago area. I set up a maintenance service to see the cause of it. Never saw this before on any of my previous vehicles especially brand new 2025 model” (NHTSA Complaint #11670016)
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 1 NHTSA complaint have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “2025 Volkswagen Jetta SE with 12,000. Developed transmission whine from 1200-2000 RPM. During low speed acceleration and when engine is under slight load. It is whining sound coming from transmission.” (NHTSA Complaint #11724859)
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has generated 1 NHTSA complaint for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “At least 5 times I have had my finger caught in the drivers side interior door handle release. It seems to catch my fingers in the back of the handle. I’ve owned 4 other VW Jettas and this has never happened. It ‘s mostly aggravating but it also hurts!” (NHTSA Complaint #11719955)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta by the NHTSA or Volkswagen. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 8, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 97TC. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2025 Volkswagen Jetta:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Volkswagen to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Volkswagen must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2025 Volkswagen Jetta qualifies as a lemon under California law, Volkswagen may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Volkswagen a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Volkswagen dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Volkswagen pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Volkswagen a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Volkswagen is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
Get a free case evaluation. Volkswagen pays our fees if you win — you pay nothing upfront.
Check My Refund Amount →