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Campaign 11V490 Posted October 3, 2011 168,275 units

2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta/Golf/A3 Recall 11V490: Fuel Leak

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 2, 2026

Recall 11V490 covers 168,275 2009-2012 Jetta, A3, and Golf vehicles for cracked diesel injector lines and fuel-leak fire risk. Repair is free at Volkswagen dealers.

Volkswagen is recalling 168,275 2009-2012 Jetta, A3, and Golf vehicles with 2.0L TDI diesel engines because fuel injection pulses can stress injector line number 2. That line can crack and leak fuel near an ignition source, increasing fire risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The fuel system on the 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, A3, and Golf uses a 2.0L TDI common rail diesel engine. In that system, pressurized diesel fuel moves through injector lines to the injectors. Each injector sends fuel into the engine in timed pulses, so the engine can burn the right amount of fuel at the right moment.

On affected vehicles, the injection pulses line up with the natural frequency of injector line #2 under specific load and RPM conditions. That vibration is called resonance. Instead of the line absorbing normal engine movement, the repeated pulse adds extra stress to the fuel line.

There is no warning sign before failure. The recall does not identify a dash light, sound, smell, or drivability change that reliably appears before the injector line is stressed beyond its normal design.

Who's affected?

Spans Jetta, Golf, and A3 models across 2009-2012, all tied to the diesel fuel system.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta fuel system
2012 Volkswagen Jetta fuel system
2010 Audi A3 fuel system
2009 Volkswagen Jetta fuel system
2012 Audi A3 fuel system
Units affected168,275

The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.

What's the safety risk?

Small cracks in injector line number 2 can allow fuel to leak. Fuel that reaches an ignition source can lead to a fire. No warning sign is listed for owners before the leak, so schedule the recall repair soon and stop using the vehicle if you smell or see fuel. Repair will be free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, A3, or Golf is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to ask whether the free fuel-injector-line repair is open for your VIN.
  3. Schedule the improved cylinder 2 fuel-injector-line installation and injector-line damper service that reduces fuel-line stress and leakage risk.
  4. Bring the owner letter if Volkswagen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 11V490 when you call.
  5. Avoid driving if you smell fuel or see a diesel leak. Call Volkswagen or the dealer for repair instructions before moving the vehicle.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician installs an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder on covered vehicles and adds vibration dampers to the injector lines. The final dealer repair is free once available, with parts and labor covered by the recall. The work addresses added stress in the injector line caused by fuel injection pulses matching the line's natural frequency under specific load and RPM conditions.

Timeline

October 3, 2011 NHTSA published the recall
November 15, 2011 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 11V490?

Recall 11V490 covers 168,275 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, A3, and Golf vehicles with 2.0L TDI diesel engines. Injector line number 2 can crack from resonance stress, causing a fuel leak and fire risk. Volkswagen will replace the affected line and add vibration dampers for free.

What should I do if my 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, A3, or Golf is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 11V490. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer and ask for the injector line and vibration damper recall repair. Reference recall number 11V490 when you call. The repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 11V490, Volkswagen will install the improved fuel injector line for cylinder 2 on certain vehicles and vibration dampers on all injector lines free of charge.

What is the safety risk in recall 11V490?

The safety risk is fuel leakage and fire. In recall 11V490, resonance stress can crack injector line number 2. If diesel fuel leaks near an ignition source, it can lead to a fire. Check your VIN and arrange the free dealer repair if your vehicle is included.

What if I bought my Volkswagen Jetta, A3, or Golf used?

The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in recall 11V490, then call a franchised Volkswagen dealer for the free repair.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V490000
Volkswagen customer service1-800-822-8987
NHTSA recall #11V490
NHTSA recall # (full)11V490000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →