Volkswagen Recalls Certain New Jettas To Fix Wiring

from The Wall Street Journal Blog

Volkswagen of America Inc. said today it is recalling certain 2011 Jetta models to fix a potential problem with the wiring of its anti-theft system and horn. The car maker says the recall affects 71,043 Jettas built between March of 2010 and March of 2011.

The company says the problem stems from the a fuse that protects the car’s anti-theft alarm and the converter box that operates the windshield wipers and headlights. Under certain rare circumstances a short circuit in the horn can cause the lights and wipers to stop working, which could increase the risk of a crash.

The recall is a glitch in the roll-out of a vehicle whose success is critical to Volkswagen. The auto giant reworked the Jetta for 2011 with the goal of making the car appealing to a wider audience, in part by cutting its price. Critics including some longtime Jetta fans said Volkswagen’s redesign took some of the fun and a lot of the quality out of the car. Volkswagen says the car is an all-around improvement over past versions.

Under the recall, dealer service technicians will reconfigure the wiring layout so that the horn and converter box do not share the same fuse. The company says no injuries or accidents have been reported as a result of the flaw.

Volkswagen will notify owners of affected vehicles will be notified via first class mail about the corrective measures and the anticipated repair timeline. Customers with questions can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.