VW recalling 25,000+ Jetta sedans over faulty driveshafts
Volkswagen has announced that it will recall some 25,594 examples of its 2006-2009 Jetta over a potential driveshaft issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cars with the company's 2.0-liter inline-four may have driveshaft cover plates that weren't manufactured properly, with the consequence that their screws may not be torqued correctly. If the screws back out, drivers may experience a knocking sound while in motion. In the extreme, the driveshaft could conceivably detach from the gearbox, which could cause all kinds of problems that might lead to a crash.
Owners of 2006-2009 Jettas with the 2.0-liter engine should contact their VW dealer for a free inspection and/or replacement of the screws. Affected parties can also contact Volkswagen directly at 1-800-822-8987 to learn more. The recall is set to officially begin on June 19, 2009. The full NHTSA report is after the jump.
[Source: NHTSA]
Press Release:
Report Date : May 21, 2009 at 03:41 PM
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V164000
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
VOLKSWAGEN / JETTA 2006-2009
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC Mfr's Report Date: MAY 13, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V164000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Potential Number of Units Affected: 25594
Summary:
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 THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.
Consequence:
IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 19, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Notes:
VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 40J2/S4. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
homunculus 9:09AM (5/22/2009)
This is why you buy VWs from Germany, not Mexico.
Reply
Jared 9:28AM (5/22/2009)
Final assembly location is not the issue. I had a 2000 GTI GLX that was built in Germany. In the first 40,000 miles it had the following issues:
- rear struts and shock top mounts replaced twice (and needed it again)
- replaced starter motor
- replaced mass airflow sensor
- replaced spark plugs and spark plug wires
- replaced coil pack
- replaced rear brakes at 20,000 miles
- replaced thermostat
- replaced A/C condensor
- replaced nearly all of the turn signal bulbs and running lights
I'm sure I'm forgetting other things that went wrong with that car.
I suspect VW quality control has improved somewhat since 2000, but my point is the same -- the quality issues were not related to final assembly location.
Ligor 10:22AM (5/22/2009)
it's just VW quality
even the ones coming out of Germany have issues
lately VW has improved quality but i'm still on the boat that takes me as far away from VWE as I can. i likely will not buy a VW at least for another 5-7 years till they've come up to levels where Ford is today
Tomac 11:11AM (5/22/2009)
I have to agree with Ligor. We own a 4Motion Passat that has been plagued with quality issues. And it's not high-tech items that have failed in most cases (something I could perhaps partially understand), it's a failure in multiple basic components that have been integral to vehicle design for decades. VWs may have great initial perceived quality, but the engineers have not focused enough attention on durability and reliability. It takes a true fanboy to drive one for a few years and not want to run it into a tree and watch it burn.
We will begin new-car shopping soon, and I've told my wife she can get whatever she wants so long as it is NOT a Volkswagen (ok, admittedly I excluded Chryslers as well, but she wouldn't look at those anyway).
boost4 4:57AM (5/23/2009)
I currently own a 2000 model Golf with 215K miles and it drives just as tight and solid as my previous 2000 Golf that only had 115K on it. One made in Germany, the other in Brazil. Looking through records since new, there were some teething issues like power window regulators and glow plug wiring-but if there is a Japanese car that gives zero issues in 200k miles (and I'm sure there have been), I'm still not the least bit interested. If that makes me a fan boy, all I can tell you is if your used to Corollas and Civics and drove my Golf on a trip achieving 50 MPG, you would be too.
smarkle 9:13AM (5/22/2009)
What about Audis with the same engine? I have an '07 Audi A3 with the 2.0T and DSG.
Reply
Quattroporte 9:17AM (5/22/2009)
The A3 is made in Germany. If the recall had covered all cars with that drivetrain, the Passat and GTI would have been recalled as well.
Colin Smith 9:23AM (5/22/2009)
Just remember when the Fiats arrive that august makes, (cough), have recalls and faults too.
Reply
John Johnson 9:24AM (5/22/2009)
And who says Mexican build quality is bad? Lol I love when Jetta/Beetle owners try to pull that. I won't say the German cars are recall-free (R32 anyone), but if you look at the cars, the Jettas always fall apart quicker, have bigger body panel gaps, the most complaints about squeaks and rattles, etc.
Reply
Zamafir 10:49AM (5/22/2009)
I'm not so sure, my .:R32 has collected more squeeks in 18.000 miles than my jetta (2.0t) managed in 40.000
Jason 9:34AM (5/22/2009)
I thought the US models had the 2.5 liter engine...and the GLI model was the only one to have the 2.0...i could be wrong but I can't recall seeing a Jetta in the states with a badge other than 2.5 on the back corner...
Reply
Gavin 9:50AM (5/22/2009)
The Wolfsburg edition also has the 2.0T engine.
Zamafir 10:32AM (5/22/2009)
Not just the Wolfsburg, the plain jetta had the2.0t for a while (starting in 06)
Avinash machado 9:38AM (5/22/2009)
Remember years ago the term "German Engineering" was a badge of honor.
Reply
dukeisduke 10:08AM (5/22/2009)
It wasn't for me, back in the late '70s. I had a '78 Audi Fox, 1.6l with automatic, and Bosch K-Jetronic (CIS) injection, which I bought brand new, and it had issues. I replaced, in the first 49,000 miles (I sold it after that):
- Fuel pump (twice!)
- Warm-up regulator
- Thermo time sensor
- Fuel distributor (cast iron block and plunger, rust-sensitive about moisture in fuel)
- Fuse panel work
- Exhaust system
In addition, the tranny would slip on 1-2 shifts during left-hand turns. I enjoyed driving the car, but it was definitely not reliable.
John 9:43AM (5/22/2009)
NHTSA reports recalls every single day. It's very rare NHTSA forces a recall; almost all are done voluntarily and initially reported to NHTSA by the OEM.
I do not know why Autoblog is cherry picking only certain ones, or why this is really even news.
Reply
Kitko 10:03AM (5/22/2009)
Many folks in the US believe that if VW is not made in Mexico, it's made in Germany.
Very likely, it's not.
VW Touaregs (all Touaregs + chassis for Cayenne) are Made in Slovakia, in Devinska Nova Ves near Bratislava. This manufacturing facility has a tradition of producing top of the range VW models including Golfs and Passats...
All Audi TTs are made in Hungary.
Reply
Gavin 10:14AM (5/22/2009)
Other than the Touareg, Jetta & Beetle, all US-bound VW's are made in Germany including the lowly Rabbit.
sparrk 10:33AM (5/22/2009)
US spec VWs must have lower quality than those built for Europe, no matter where they are built. they have to keep the price down somehow.
zamafir 11:29AM (5/22/2009)
@sparrk your logic is flawed, you assume vw's need to make a profit on those cars sold. They don't. They loose hundreds of millions a year, mostly because they don't build them cheaper for the US.