2019 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical System Problems
Owners filed 162 Electrical System complaints for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, 30% of all 548 complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 26,500. Four related recalls cover the instrument cluster, ignition switch, and headlights.
- Electrical System complaints
- 162
- 30% of 548
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 7
- Median mileage
- 26,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 4
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Faulty or incorrectly positioned LED headlights that stayed dim or required repeated dealer visits without a fix.
- Random stalling with no warning, sometimes tied to an air control sensor malfunction that cuts engine power.
- Infotainment system shutting off and disabling the backup camera when a warning about operating conditions appears, including while the car is moving.
- Automatic headlights turning on or off with no dashboard indicator to tell the driver their status.
- Loss of saved radio presets and a touchscreen that freezes.
- Sharp-edged tail light housings that owners describe as a physical cutting hazard during cleaning.
When 2019 Volkswagen Jetta electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 28, 2018, latest Sep 16, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
- NHTSA 23V619000Sep 6, 2023Electrical System8 vehicles
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without an audible warning, the driver may be unaware that the key is left in the ignition, which can increase the risk of vehicle theft or a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90W7.
- NHTSA 23V604000Aug 30, 2023Electrical System62,538 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
- NHTSA 18V824000Nov 26, 2018Electrical System73,549 vehicles
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
- NHTSA 18V671000Sep 26, 2018Electrical System28 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A reduction in the driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side headlight, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L1.
Electrical System complaints by Jetta model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems in the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?
- NHTSA lists 162 Electrical System complaints for the 2019 Jetta, which is 30% of the 548 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2019 Jetta?
- Yes. NHTSA lists four related recalls: campaign 23V619000 for the instrument cluster audible warning, 23V604000 for the ignition switch, 18V824000 for the instrument cluster reprogram, and 18V671000 for LED headlight positioning.
- At what mileage do electrical failures usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 26,500 miles.
- Have electrical problems caused crashes or injuries in the 2019 Jetta?
- NHTSA data links 2 crashes and 7 injuries to Electrical System complaints for the 2019 Jetta, with no reported fires.
- Is the 2019 Jetta worse than other years for electrical complaints?
- The 2019 Jetta's 30% electrical complaint share is close to 2011 (34%) and 2020 (33%), but higher than 2018 (10%) and recent years like 2024 (14%).