Recall Date: 3/11/2026
NHTSA ID: 26V138
MFr. Campaign Number: 97TC
Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Affected Components: Transmission Ground Wire / Oil Pressure Units (OPU HW 05)
Units Affected: 48,165
Which Volkswagen Jetta Vehicles are Affected?
The recall covers 2025-2026 model year Volkswagen Jetta vehicles produced between March 3, 2025, and February 17, 2026. A total of 48,165 vehicles are potentially involved, though Volkswagen estimates that less than 1% of those vehicles actually carry the defective condition.
The issue stems from an assembly error at the Volkswagen de Mexico production facility. During manufacturing, the transmission ground wire on some vehicles was not connected to the left side member stud. When that unconnected wire is combined with an Oil Pressure Unit (OPU HW 05) that is grounded, the result is an open electrical circuit with no reliable path for current to flow properly.
What Drivers Need to Know
There are no warning signs. Volkswagen lists the identification of any warning as "NONE," which means drivers cannot detect this condition on their own until something fails.
An open circuit of this type can cause excessive current draw. In confirmed cases, excessive draw has led to OPU wires and connectors melting, and in several instances, engine compartment fires. As of the recall submission date, Volkswagen has confirmed six field claims in the US and Canada, including three engine compartment fires. No injuries have been reported, but vehicle damage has occurred.
The fix is free. At no cost to owners, dealers will inspect the transmission ground wire and repair it if necessary. The remedy replaces the OPU HW 05 component with an HW 06 unit. Because affected vehicles are still within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period, no separate reimbursement plan is offered. Volkswagen notified dealers on March 13, 2026. Owner notification is scheduled to begin May 8, 2026. VINs became searchable in the NHTSA database on March 13, 2026.
Volkswagen Recall Background
The first field cases surfaced in December 2025. By February 19, 2026, Volkswagen confirmed the root cause: the transmission ground wire, left unconnected due to human error during assembly, creates an open circuit when paired with the OPU HW 05 component. The North American Region Product Safety Committee escalated the issue on February 26, and the formal recall decision came on March 4, 2026. Volkswagen corrected the assembly process on February 17, 2026.
For a full view of recall activity across all OEMs this quarter, BizzyCar's most recent quarterly recall report covers volume trends, top components, and what dealers need to know.
Read the latest BizzyCar Quarterly Recall Report
How BizzyCar can help
A fire risk recall with no warning signs and a months-long gap before owner notification is exactly the situation where outreach speed matters. VW Jetta owners in your market are already in the recall population. They just do not know it yet.
BizzyCar's Recall Outreach product identifies vehicles with open recalls in a dealer's customer database and automatically initiates two-way SMS outreach. Owners can check their recall status and schedule service without a phone call or a mailer. By the time the official owner notification arrives in May, the dealers using BizzyCar will have already converted a portion of that population into booked appointments. Book a demo.