2015 Volkswagen Jetta Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe starting and key problems — a key that stays in the ignition or will not turn off — along with engine oil consumption, fuel smell around the engine, and broken suspension coil springs. Many reports come in under about 90,000 miles, and the key/ignition complaints cluster in the 18,000-90,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Ignition key stuck or won't shut off

   • 24 complaints (12%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe the key staying in the ignition and the car failing to start or shut off after being placed in park, sometimes requiring repeated wiggling. Some report the steering lock will not release the key so the engine cannot be turned off. Dealers have replaced the ignition cylinder, and owners say they were told the repair was not covered by warranty. Mostly reported between about 1,000 and 90,000 miles, often after the vehicle has been running.

   Recall 19V615000

   What to check: Test that the key releases freely and the engine shuts off in park; ask whether the ignition cylinder or shift lever switch has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The major problem occurred shortly after my 30,000 mile check up, when my key got stuck in the ignition, and I could not turn the car off. I am aware this problem dates back to as early as 2012. I immediately contacted vw customer care since I was at approximately 36,400 miles to see if they would assist in replacing this part. In addition, I was charged 153.63 for the diagnosis. Midday on september 21, 2018, I received a call from customer care denying my claim completely. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11133343, filed 2018-10, 36,400 miles

   “The ignition cylinder/switch is bad. When running, the key will not turn off. This is dangerous for many reasons. There is not a recall on this but there needs to be after reading forums and seeing how many Jetta's have the same exact problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10985707, filed 2017-05, 52,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning and deployment concerns

   • 16 complaints (8%)
   • median 41,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe the passenger airbag light staying on or flickering with no passenger present, and some report airbags not deploying in collisions. Dealers and the manufacturer told some owners their VIN was not included in a related airbag recall, and repairs were not made. Reported from about 28,000 to 114,000 miles, often noticed during normal driving.

   Recall 15V627000

   What to check: Watch the passenger airbag indicator with the seat empty and ask whether the occupant detection system recall applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was is a car accident that totaled my 2015 Jetta tdi. The front end of my car was impacted to the point where the hood blocked my windshield and the engine itself was partially crushed. The airbags did not deploy. I sustained a concussion because my head hit the stearing wheel. This was a three car accident on a highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11231532, filed 2019-07, 43,000 miles

   “The passenger airbag light stays off and on if I do not keep the seatbelt locked, even with no passenger. Thus occurs while I am driving and assume this is an electrical issue, safety issue, and potential airbag issue. This has been occurring off and on for over a year.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321511, filed 2020-04, 30,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell near engine bay

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 31,213 mi at 2.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2023

   Owners describe a strong gasoline or diesel smell around the engine compartment and inside the cabin, sometimes with a check engine light. One owner reported a leaking high-pressure fuel pump on top of the engine and coolant loss after the leak damaged hoses. Some owners were told their vehicle was not included in a fuel-system recall. Reported from under a few hundred miles up to about 80,000 miles.

   Recall 15V028000

   What to check: Smell around the engine bay and under the hood after a drive, check for fuel residue near the rail and pump, and ask whether the fuel-system recall applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About three weeks ago with 16k miles I called vw and indicated that my Jetta smelled like diesel. I was told it was probably just an overfilled fuel tank. It turned out to be a leaky high pressure fuel pump. On the 2015 Jetta, this is located on the top of the engine. This literally means that fuel was leaking directly onto the hot engine and exhaust. The leaking fuel eventually ate through radiator lines and caused a complete loss of coolant. Obviously leaky fuel + hot engine / exhaust = fire risk. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10819249, filed 2016-01, 16,100 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted a strong fuel odor outside of the vehicle nearby the engine compartment. The contact stated that the fuel odor was also present on the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15v028000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373162, filed 2020-11, 80,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 32 complaints (16%)
   • median 26,426 mi at 3.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the oil warning light appearing every few hundred miles and having to add oil regularly. Some say the dealer declined to treat it as a covered problem. A related report describes the engine shutting down with no warning while checks had appeared normal. Reported from very low mileage up past 80,000 miles, with owners adding oil regularly.

   Recall 15V7050002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a service record of an oil consumption test; ask whether a consumption measurement has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every 600 - 700 miles driving the engine oil sign coming up (need to add 1/4 oil every 600 miles). I took the car to the delership they look at it said it is not their problem. I don't know what to do every month I need to add oil in the engine. This absolutly manufacturing problem they don't want fix it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311549, filed 2020-02, 50 miles

   “My car had sudden engine failure with no external signs of trouble (oil level, belts, everything apparently ok). The car rumbled for a few seconds as I was pulling onto an exit ramp off a highway. As I went to pull to the side of the road, the check engine light came on. The manual instructed to try starting again but the car wouldn't. The vw service department I towed the car to first asked me on the phone, is it a 1.8 liter turbo? When I told them that it was, they told me they had no time to look at my car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11327161, filed 2020-06, 85,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Broken suspension coil springs

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a rear or front coil spring breaking, sometimes while driving, leaving the wheel well resting on the tire or a piece of spring on the road. In one case the dealer replaced three springs and later reported the fourth fractured. Dealers have replaced the affected springs. Reported mostly between about 43,000 and 86,000 miles.

   What to check: Have the car inspected on a lift for cracked or corroded springs at all four corners, and listen for squeaks over bumps.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This bw 62,000 miles on it. While driving the left rear suspension coil broke off into the road. Our second vw, the exact same car bought four days earlier, blew a front suspension spring a month earlier. I will report that car separately.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343702, filed 2020-08, 62,000 miles

   “While having the brakes replaced it was determined that the right front suspension spring is broken. This is in addition to my first report of a rear spring breaking while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343743, filed 2020-08, 62,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the ignition key operation, oil level, fuel smell under the hood, and the condition of the coil springs; ask for records of any recall or service bulletin work already completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.