YearToAvoid

2008 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 45 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, 24% of all 188 complaints for this model year. That is #12 highest electrical complaint count among 21 Jetta model years. These complaints report 1 fire and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 90,000 miles.

Electrical System complaints
45
24% of 188
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
90,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2008 Volkswagen Jetta electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 25, 2009, latest Jul 3, 2026.

2008 Volkswagen Jetta electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2009Jan 2012Mar 2013May 2014Dec 2015Jul 2017Jun 2020Dec 2022
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2009 to Jul 2026; peak Jun 2012 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta

  1. NHTSA 07V442000Sep 24, 2007Electrical System340,000 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." some vehicles may not have had a required cap installed which disables the headlight horizontal aim and some vehicles may contain a cap that disables the vertical aiming screw.

    Risk: Noncompliance can inhibit proper headlamp aim adjustment for roadway illumination, improperly aimed headlamps could cause reduced road visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect for the presence of a cap in the socket of the low beam horizontal aiming screw and install one if missing, and inspect for the presence of a cap in the socket of the vertical aiming screw and if present, the cap will be removed. The recall will begin on october 31, 2007. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.

Electrical System complaints by Jetta model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200557 (23%)
  2. 2006138 (24%)
  3. 200749 (24%)
  4. 200845 (24%)
  5. 2009115 (13%)
  6. 2010237 (28%)
  7. 2011205 (34%)
  8. 2012144 (29%)
  9. 2013160 (31%)
  10. 2014109 (28%)
  11. 201553 (27%)
  12. 201638 (24%)
  13. 201736 (23%)
  14. 20183 (10%)
  15. 2019162 (30%)
  16. 202017 (33%)
  17. 202113 (19%)
  18. 202210 (23%)
  19. 20239 (21%)
  20. 20246 (14%)
  21. 20254 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 45 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, 24% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 90,000 miles.
Which Volkswagen Jetta year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta has the most electrical complaints (237), compared with 45 for the 2008.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta concerns the electrical: 07V442000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.