Lights come on when car is parked and off in cold weather

sounds like a bad tempature sensor or possibly a relay is defective and responding to the cold. Is it only the lights that come on or does anything else turn on aka does the car start can you hear things running aka fans or heater or stereo? This can also be a problem with the alarm system in the car.

I have a 2011 jetta and ahe same thing is happening. Today, the temp dropped to 16 degrees at 1am and I looed oitside and my lights were on. I went out and started the car and let it run for a minute, turned the car off and they went out. Checked again around 3pm and they were back on. This has happened several times before and I had to call AAA to start the battery 2 times. No ome knows whats wrong.

I checked out a few links and seems some one had an issue the same thing. There problem was moisture freezing in the dash unit. If you can get vw to check this out it may be covered. the water when it frove was expanding and triping the switch.

Thanks. I'll see if that works. Each time I take it to the dealership they keep it for days only to tell me there is no issue. Since VW has not issued an alert on it, the technicians don't know what to do.

tell them you suspect that some water or condensation may have built up in your dash unit and you want them to check it out tell them you found an fourm link to a simalur issue and direct um to the link if they ask for it. my other pc seems to get different search results from google but you can direct them to this link.

2nd time it happened to me. 2011 Jetta TDI. This time it killed the battery. Temp. outside around zero F. Having it towed to dealer. 128,000 Miles.

Likely cause is the light switch if your problem is a light issue. there is a running defect with the 2011 -2013 modals head light switches. It collects moisture during warmer weather then during cold weather the water expands and pulls the contacts away from the switch plates. the following video should tell you how to remove the switch and you can check it yourself if you like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v-RKI5X5Zw

I had it happen again...14F last night and lights came on. while running car to recharge battery, found that just touching the headlight switch, the low lights come on. I mean just barely touching the switch while it is in off position blinks lights, and interior lights on dash while car and switch are in the off position. This problem is a cheap crap headlight switch from VW. Replacing it with genuine VW parts won't do any good cause they won't change the design of the switch, if they don't do proper cold weather testing. Cheap VW crap. Time to trade up to a Toyota!

get the dealer to replace the part. Bring in your receipt and complain its defective. they should swap it for another in such a short time.

I have a 2011 Jetta 2.0 with the same issue. Just replaced battery and light switch but I’m not confident the problem is fixed.

Same problem here, 2012 jetta. It 26 degrees Fahrenheit and it's done it....AGAIN. I replaced the battery a couple of months ago due to the battery being sucked of its juice because of this issue.

I have a 2012 beetle and my lights have been having the same Iasue for the past 3 winters. This winter was extremely bad being negative for weeks. I just got a new battery a few weeks ago, and woke up this weekend to my headlights on both saturday and sunday! I have also taken my car in- they kept it for 3 days and can not figure out the light issue- instead just put in a new battery for it to kill! I am so glad i found this post- i know my car is not a jetta, but it is doing the same thing as all these other peoples cars. Im happy to finally maybe offer something for the mechanics to look at. Has anyone taken theirs in offering this issue? And what was the outcome?

2012 jetta doing the same thing when it gets cold, I will try to replace or manipulate the switch to see if it stops