The Breakdown:
- Volkswagen will recall 48,165 Jetta sedans due to a fire risk.
- The vehicles might have an unconnected transmission ground wire that can increase the risk of a fire.
- VW is aware of three engine compartment fires.
Volkswagen will recall 48,165 Jetta sedans due to a fire risk. The affected vehicles might have an unconnected transmission ground wire. This can cause an open circuit and excessive current draw, increasing the risk of fire.
According to the recall report, during manufacturing, some of the affected vehicles were built without a properly connected transmission ground wire, which is used to close the electric circuit of the oil pressure unit. There are no warnings or indications that would reveal the defect in the Jetta.
Volkswagen first learned of a potential issue in December 2025. Two field cases suggested that the ground wire may not have been connected properly. In February, the automaker confirmed that an unconnected ground wire could result in an open circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. In early March, VW decided to issue a recall.
The automaker says it is unaware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths related to the defect, but it is aware of three incidents involving the oil pressure unit wires and connector melting, and three engine compartment fires. VW will fix the issue for free, inspecting the transmission ground wire and repairing it, if necessary.
Motor1’s Take: Volkswagen's latest recall is serious if it's aware of potentially three related fires. It's nice that the automaker is quickly attempting to resolve the issue.
