Loose Transmission Ground Wire May Cause Fire

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.

Risk / consequence

An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97TC. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 13, 2026.

Chronology of events

1. December 2025

   December 2025: Initial 2 field cases reported and on-site inspections were conducted suggesting the possibility that the ground wire in the affected vehicles was not connected properly. Further analysis initiated.

2. Feb 19, 2026

   February 19, 2026: Volkswagen’s analysis confirms that the transmission ground wire, if not connected, leads to an open circuit. In turn, this increases the risk of a fire. Potentially affected vehicles identified.

3. Feb 26, 2026

   February 26, 2026: The topic was reviewed in the North American Region Product Safety Committee and escalated to the Volkswagen Product Safety Committee.

4. Mar 4, 2026

   March 4, 2026: The Volkswagen Product Safety Committee decided a recall campaign. Volkswagen is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths associated with this defect.

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

Mar 13, 2026 - Mar 13, 2026 No Dealers

Owner notification

May 08, 2026 - May 08, 2026 Phased Recall