One of the last sedans in the U.S. market has a potential fire risk, prompting VW to recall 2025-2026 Jetta models.
Even as many of its former rivals have pulled out of the market, the Volkswagen Jetta is still one of the handful of affordable sedans left on the market today. Volkswagen refreshed the model for 2025, though now there’s a new recall to which owners will want to pay attention, affecting 48,165 examples in total, between model years 2025-2026.
According to what VW told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during production. Workers in the factory are supposed to connect this particular ground wire to the left side member stud on an Oil Pressure Unit (OPU), and failure to do so could leave an open electrical circuit. The ungrounded circuit may, according to the automaker, “increase the risk of excessive current draw, possibly increasing the risk of a fire.”
Two field cases first came to VW’s attention in December 2025, after which it investigated and eventually confirmed the issue on February 19, 2026. To-date, the automaker is aware of six confirmed claims within the U.S. and Canada of incidents involving the Oil Pressure Unit. In three of those cases, the OPU wires or wiring harness melted, while the other three (two in the U.S. and one in Canada) resutlted in an engine fire. There were no accidents, injuries or deaths related to the issue, but the problem did obviously damage the impacted vehicles.
What’s the fix?
Specifically, Volkswagen told the NHTSA this recall includes 48,165 Jettas built between March 3, 2025 and February 17, 2026. The company says less than 1% of the recall population actually have this defect, though it appears it will have its dealers inspect all of them, just to be sure.
Once owners get a recall notice, they can take their Jetta to a dealer where technicians will inspect and repair the transmission ground wire, if needed, free of charge. VW also says the repaired part (OPU HW 06) is different to the part under recall (OPU HW 05).
Dealers were made aware of the issue on March 13, while notices to owners should go out on May 8, 2026. Affected owners can check their VIN with the NHTSA’s recall website, Volkswagen’s recall website or by calling VW customer care at (800) 822-8987 for more information.
