The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
The risk
Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen | 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE | STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
Other electrical system recalls in 2019
88 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the electrical system; Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed 321 campaigns in all.
| 19V922000 27 Dec 2019 | Autocar, LLC |
| 19V888000 12 Dec 2019 | General Motors LLC |
| 19V883000 11 Dec 2019 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 19V876000 11 Dec 2019 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 19V882000 11 Dec 2019 | Indian Motorcycle Company |
| 19V881000 11 Dec 2019 | Polaris Inc. |
| 19V871000 9 Dec 2019 | Proterra Inc. |
| 19V861000 4 Dec 2019 | REV Recreation Group |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019