Volkswagen Jetta and Golf key removable when not in Park

NHTSA campaign 19V615000 · Reported Aug 22, 2019 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

Taking the key out while the shift lever is somewhere other than Park raises the chance that the vehicle rolls away on its own, which can cause injury or a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	19V615000
Reported to NHTSA	Aug 22, 2019
Manufacturer	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Part affected	Electrical System:ignition:anti-Theft:control Module
Vehicles covered	9 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2019
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Volkswagen is recalling certain Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI and Jetta vehicles that have an automatic transmission, a manual handbrake and keyless entry. On these cars, a build-up of silicate on the contacts of the small switch at the shift lever can let the key be pulled out of the ignition even when the shift lever is not in Park. Dealers will install an extra switch and circuit board at no cost.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your vehicle is covered. 2. Call a Volkswagen dealer to book the repair, or contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 (recall number 37M2). 3. The additional switch and circuit board are installed free of charge.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 19V615000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (9)

2018 Volkswagen Beetle
2018 Volkswagen GTI
2018 Volkswagen Golf
2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
2018 Volkswagen Jetta
2019 Volkswagen Beetle
2019 Volkswagen GTI
2019 Volkswagen Golf
2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen

Who to contact

Volkswagen — official Volkswagen recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-893-5298

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Volkswagen Electrical Recalls Involve Battery Fires and Drive Power Loss · all 18 Volkswagen recalls in this area

Other Volkswagen Jetta recalls

Mar 25, 2026Volkswagen Jetta and Taos Instrument Panel Display Failurehigh
Mar 11, 2026Volkswagen Jetta Ground Wire May Cause Fire Riskcritical
Feb 14, 2024Audi, VW Fuel Tank Seal May Cause Leakscritical
Sep 6, 2023Volkswagen Jetta may not chime for key left in ignitionlow
Aug 30, 2023VW Golf, GTI, Jetta Ignition Switch Can Failhigh
Oct 31, 2022Volkswagen and Audi Tire Pressure Monitor Software Issuemedium

All 22 Jetta recalls

Official notice

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
Summary: 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."
Safety 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.
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.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.