Lemberg Law is investigating widespread consumer complaints relating to the 2023 and 2024 VW Jetta engines misfiring. These engine misfire issues occur during cold starts. They often trigger the check engine light and are associated with diagnostic codes that relate specifically to various cylinder misfires. Dealerships tend to blame “bad fuel,” spark plugs, and other components. However, many owners report that none of these solutions help to fix the problem, which continues to recur.
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What’s the Problem?
Many owners of both the 2023 and 2024 VW Jetta complain about cold start misfires, sometimes directly after they have taken ownership. Commonly, a misfire will trigger the check engine light (CEL). Despite all the efforts of various dealerships, most owners who experience this problem vouch that recurs at some stage.
Since it is a cold start misfire and not a constant misfire, it is potentially less serious. It usually happens during the first few moments after starting the engine, typically when the engine is cold (e.g., after sitting overnight). Generally, drivers experience rough idling for a short while and the symptoms disappear when the engine warms up. It is common for the CEL to flash or stay on if the issue persists. However, it stands to reason that it’s important not to ignore cold start misfires as they could lead to long-term problems.
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the 2023 and 2024 models, as well as discussions on the VWVortex forum, and Reddit tell us more about the issue, its symptoms, and dealership responses.
A technical service bulletin (TSB) sent by VW to dealerships on September 11, 2024, provides the only official explanation of the problem, together with a suggested solution. It relates to both the 2023 and 2024 VW Jetta as well as to 187 other VW products. In total, there are 24 models affected and a wide range of model years.
So Jetta owners are not alone!
TSB 00-17-13: Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
Applicable only to VW vehicles with gasoline engines, the TSB explains that fuel quality impacts the operating performance, efficiency, and service life of the engine. “The use of poor-quality fuels may result in deposit build-up on the fuel injectors and intake valves. This may result in a rough running condition, sporadic misfires, or cold start misfire faults stored in the ECM fault memory.”
Dealerships are instructed to use the fuel additive if they find sporadic cylinder misfires but no “P130A Hide Cylinder fault.” VW assumes that the problem “may be related to poor quality fuel and/or deposit build-up on the fuel injectors and intake valves.”
If there are no misfire concerns when they test drive the Jetta, dealerships are told to advise customers to “use quality detergent gasoline from a Top Tier fueling station as noted in their owner’s manual.”
If the misfire faults return during the test drive, they are instructed to “follow Technical Bulletin 2033805 Engine, Misfire Diagnostic Aid to further diagnose the concern.” This TSB was released in 2022 and advises that misfires are commonly related to:
Loose or damaged electrical connections
Circuit grounds
Poor fuel quality
These certainly aren’t all the diagnoses that dealers give, as you will see from quoted complaints and comments. At the end of the day, it appears that dealers are just as confused as affected VW Jetta owners are — for good reason!
What Are Owners Are Saying
When owners start their Jetta vehicles after they have been standing for some time, this “cold start” sometimes results in a CEL warning message. Other codes may also be displayed indicating problems with the vehicle cylinders: P0300 (random/multiple cylinder misfire), P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire), P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), and P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire). While the misfires don’t last long, some owners report that it feels as if the engine is running rough.
Those who have experienced the problem, and taken their vehicles to dealerships, are frustrated by the varied diagnoses and general lack of solutions.
Some have resorted to buybacks; others are considering buybacks.
Example NHTSA Complaints
The owner of a 2024 Jetta from South Carolina states that he keeps getting a cylinder 1 and 4 misfire on a 6MT (6-speed manual transmission) on a cold start. “I previously had another 2024 Jetta GLI and it had the exact same problem as this one. The dealer confirmed the problem and bought the car back — and now it is happening on the new car.”
An owner from Missouri states in an August 2024 complaint that a multiple-cylinder misfire started after 800 miles. “VW dealerships haven’t been able to figure out why. At first, they said bad fuel, then bad plugs. They have tried to treat both and it has not been fixed. They will clear the light and it comes back almost immediately.”
After being told that “I put bad gas in the car when the dealer filled it up” after the CEL came on 300 miles, the dealer added VW’s fuel additive and reset the codes. Since then, he has only used 91 chevron fuel. However, at about 600 miles, the CEL came back on with the same issue. “They put my car in transport mode and back out. Reset codes and told me to not let the car idle on startup. For a brand new car?” Guess what? At 1,300 miles, he experienced the same issue yet again! When he submitted his complaint on August 19, 2024, the owner was waiting for feedback from VW.
2023 Complaints
The owner of a 2023 Jetta states that the CEL comes on “due to it misfiring on cold starts. The dealer seems to have fixed it by replacing the coil packs. Many others also have this issue and haven’t been able to get it fixed. This is a serious issue that seems to be only happening on 2023 and newer model year Jetta GLIs.”
Some owners take the issue more seriously than others. For example, an owner from Massachusetts states that the Jetta has been misfiring on the interstate “putting (the) driver at very high risk of a crash. This vehicle has been serviced (four times) for this problem and also for a coolant leak.” However, “They were unable to find any problem. Right now, this vehicle is at (the) dealership, and they said, the engine has a blown head gasket.”
An owner from California complained after experiencing issues in his 2023 Jetta SA a second time. “The fault happens when the car is being driven after approximately 15 minutes. The EPC (electronic power control) light, Check Engine Light, and Yellow Warning Light illuminate. Also sounds like a misfire when limping off the road. Codes read at (the) dealer are P0304, P0363, P1D74, and P1D75. All of these codes relate to a cylinder 4 misfire.” Since this is a commuter car, the complaint states that it is only driven at highway speeds.
Forum Comments
Discussion Starter
In June 2024 the owner of a new 2024 Jetta GLI with about 400 miles described his experience. It started with the CEL when starting the car. This appeared to be a cylinder misfire on 1 and 4. Using a basic scan tool, the owner “cleared the faults and swapped coil 1 with 2, and 4 with 3. The faults are currently popping up as pending codes but they are staying on cylinders 1 and 4.” Having read about fuel issues, he added that “when the check engine light first illuminated, I was still on half a tank from whatever the dealer filled it up with. I have since topped it off with 93 octane.”
At first, the dealer said there were “defective” spark plugs on cylinders 1 and 4 and replaced them. But this didn’t help, and the cylinders continued to misfire. “The check engine light is back. Same codes. This was all during the elevated idle.”
At 700 miles, the dealer said there was “nothing mechanically wrong with the car.” He started questioning what fuel the owner used, “even though it started misfiring on the same tank of fuel they sold me the car with. I also brought up the fact that if it was poor quality fuel it wouldn’t just misfire on 2 cylinders.” A week later, the dealership informed him they had replaced the engine control module (ECM) and there had been no misfires on start-up. That didn’t work either.
His last comment on the group, after getting a loaner, was: “It seems as if for some reason the misfire recognition is too sensitive with the software on this model year, that’s just my guess. That’s why so many people with this issue are getting random parts replaced because there isn’t an actual fix.”
Other Comments
Adding to the conversation, another owner states: “I have a 24 GLI Autobahn 6MT, and this happened to me on the very first tank of gas (the one that the dealer delivered the car to me with). CEL came on for engine misfires. It’s happened two more times since then — and the car only has 1,200 miles on it. So far the dealer hasn’t fixed the problem.”
Another owner who was told fuel was the issue states that the dealer checked the spark plugs and coil packs and they were all fine. They sent a fuel sample to VW and then said they would need to drain and clean the tank for $650. “This is kind of insane that this is what they are going with given it seems to be occurring on quite a few 24 GLIs.”
Then there was another owner who had the ECM replaced. Within days the CEL came back on! “Back to the dealer tomorrow.”
And another: “I got my 24 GLI Autobahn 6MT back from the dealer yesterday. They replaced the ECM and then drove it several times and reported no misfires. It still feels like the engine runs rough right after a cold start, so I don’t think this actually fixed the problem. No CEL yet, but I’m guessing that it will get triggered again before long.
“The dealer said they had two other cars with the same problem. I really like the car and would like to keep it, but I think I’m going to put in for a buyback. All of this makes me nervous about other problems down the road.”
Other Online Discussion
The conversation on Reddit is much the same.
“I have been having the exact same issue. The very first moment off the lot I noticed the CEL, so I brought it back around. The manager of the dealership was shaking trying to explain to me that it was something to do with the fuel they initially put in from the manufacturer, but it should be fine now as they topped it up with their own gas. I was skeptical but took it as it was, I bet he was worried I would react poorly.” It happened again two weeks later! “I’m worried this will keep happening.”
Another owner supplied the service history of his Jetta GLI 40th Anniversary Edition:
At 500 miles: First random misfire CEL occurred. Dealership said the possible reason was bad gas, even when I told them I only use top-tier 91 octane. They simply cleared the CEL.
At 1400 miles: Starting out with 2 cylinders misfiring, all 4 ended up misfiring after another 500 miles. Dealership eventually diagnosed a minute coolant leak and replaced the head gasket.
At 2900 miles: 2 cylinders misfire again. Dealership said a sample of my gas was verified to be bad. They proceeded to drain the tank and insisted I refilled with a specific brand of gas.
But, it happened again after the dealership had drained and refilled the Jetta. This time, “they simply cleared the CEL and issued a request to Engineering for ideas.
“One thing I did notice: if I were to start the car and drive off right away, I would never run into the issue. Only if I stay put and wait for the RPM to drop from 1500 down to around 800, the chance of getting the CEL is higher.”
Is your Jetta Misfiring? Here Are Your Options
If your 2023 or 2024 VW Jetta exhibits misfiring issues, Lemberg Law would like to hear from you. Please call our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll get back to you. We need as much information as you can supply so that we can assess your case and determine whether you are eligible to join our new class action investigation.
You won’t have to pay a cent for our input because the law says VW must pay the legal bills for lemon law cases.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
