How common are electrical problems in a Volkswagen Jetta?
From what I’ve heard (and seen) – very. It seems that loose wiring located under the dash is a very common complaint amongst owners of the Jetta. The electrical issues affect everything from the dash lights and buzzers to the windows, locks, wipers, and starters.
Always make sure your battery connectors are clean and on tight. Watch your fuses and listen for any weird ticks or snapping sounds. If you are having issues, get an electrical diagnostic. Some auto parts stores offer these for free.
There have been a few recalls related to electrical issues. Two were for the brake lights sticking and causing battery drainage. Another was for frayed fuel lines, and yet another for headlight issues. A visit to your VW dealer should ease your mind.
As a qualified VW technician and electrician since 1976 and an owner of Beetles, Passats, Audi 80’s, VW Kombi’s, Golf 1 petrol and diesel, and Golf 2 1989 ( present car) I have worked on thousands of Volkswagens and thousands of other makes of cars and trucks, and electrican problems with VW vehicles are no more common than with any other vehicles. Age and climatic conditions can cause corrosion problems with bulb, fuse and plug connections but this applies to all vehicles. Fitting the wrong amperage fuse is also a problem. There is no problem with VW electrical components and wiring as installed by the manufacturer. Unqualified repairers can cause many problems trying to find a problem by messing with the wiring, or rewiring unnecessarily. This is the most common cause of wiring problems, and then blaming the car. I worked on a Passat once with fuel and temperature gauges working intermittantly which the owner had taken to several dealers to repair, unsuccessfully, over a two year period. Luckily, I quickly traced it to brass washers being left off the studs holding the printed circuit to the back of the instrument panel, thus the intermittent connections. A problem caused by someone who had worked on it before.
