2008 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, and owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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4 safety recalls for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7.…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5l engines. The jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the underhood fuel line. Additionally, depending on the vehicle model, dealers will either remove the plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir, or inspect the…
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Driveshaft (power train)
Volkswagen is recalling 25,594 my 2006-2009 jetta 5th generation equipped with 2.01 engine. The fastening screw contact surfaces on the driveshaft cover plate may not have been manufactured to factory specifications. Some screws may not have been torqued properly during assembly and could loosen over time, causing a knocking sound when…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driveshaft screws and replace the screws free of charge. The recall began on june 24, 2009. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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.
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…
188 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 66,809 miles. Complaints peaked in 2009 with 33 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Ignition key is stuck in the vehicle with the ignition on will not come out”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 3, 2026 · Electrical system
“Sometimes I feel as if my car is possessed I own a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta and sometimes the passenger headlight works sometimes it doesn't I've replaced the bulbs doesn't matter. My sunroof All of a su”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 14, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta (Jetta SportWagen). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–22 / 29 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/5 cyl, 2/2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Volkswagen Jetta model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Jetta model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
How do I know if my 2008 Volkswagen Jetta has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 07V442000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
- Cc983 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.