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Volkswagen Jetta 2019–2025 problems by year and mileage
Mk7 (A7) · Typ BU (MQB)
NHTSA data through 24 September 2026828 complaints, 318 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 4,500 mi
- Complaints filed
- 548
- Recalls naming this year
- 11
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Transmission and driveline162 reports · median 887 mi
- Electrical system154 reports · median 31,000 mi
- Engine147 reports · median 700 mi
11 recall campaigns name the 2019: Fuel system, gasoline; Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 52
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2020
- Electrical system17 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise13 reports
- Engine12 reports
6 recall campaigns name the 2020: Fuel system, gasoline; Electrical system — ignition; Tires — pressure monitoring and regulating systems. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 71
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2021
- Brakes25 reports
- Electrical system13 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise12 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2021: Equipment — electrical; Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Seats — critical fasteners. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 43
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2022
- Engine12 reports
- Brakes12 reports
- Electrical system10 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2022: Equipment — electrical. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 43
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2023
- Engine11 reports
- Brakes10 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise10 reports
The 2024 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 43
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2024
- Engine11 reports
- Brakes10 reports
- Transmission and driveline7 reports
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 28
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2025
- Forward collision avoidance6 reports
- Transmission and driveline6 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise5 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2025: Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel; Electrical system — wiring. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. 6 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2019–2025 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 5,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 52,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 318
- Recalls
- 19
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Electrical system25.6% of complaints · median 25,000 mi
- Engine24.0% of complaints · median 970 mi
- Transmission and driveline22.5% of complaints · median 909 mi
Owners filed 828 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019–2025 Volkswagen Jetta; the electrical system leads with 25.6% of them, and half of the 318 that record an odometer reading came by 5,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
69% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 0.9 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. On a generation this new that is expected: few examples have been driven further yet, so the timing says little about design or wear so far.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2019–2025 Volkswagen Jetta last?
The newest model years (2024–2025) are too young to have reached high mileage; most reports with an odometer reading come from the earlier years of the generation.
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2019–2025 Volkswagen Jetta, half of the 318 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 5,000 miles and 90% by 52,000 miles.
3 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 2 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Jetta reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Volkswagen Jetta 2019–2025 · 318 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 203 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 69% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 75
- 25%
- 300
- Median
- 5,000
- 75%
- 16,700
- 90%
- 52,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 203 | 63.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 45 | 14.2% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 17 | 5.3% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 12 | 3.8% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 9 | 2.8% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 8 | 2.5% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 8 | 2.5% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 6 | 1.9% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 2 | 0.6% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Jetta problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Volkswagen Jetta 2019–2025
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline186 reports909115–9,000Transmission and driveline: 186 reports, median 909 miles, middle half 115 to 9,000 miles.
- Engine199 reports970300–9,000Engine: 199 reports, median 970 miles, middle half 300 to 9,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise141 reports2,000200–10,000Problems owners could not categorise: 141 reports, median 2,000 miles, middle half 200 to 10,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control28 reports2,000300–9,000Throttle and speed control: 28 reports, median 2,000 miles, middle half 300 to 9,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system53 reports6,000400–8,000Fuel and propulsion system: 53 reports, median 6,000 miles, middle half 400 to 8,000 miles.
- Brakes94 reports10,0003,500–26,000Brakes: 94 reports, median 10,000 miles, middle half 3,500 to 26,000 miles.
- Electrical system212 reports25,0006,000–68,000Electrical system: 212 reports, median 25,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 68,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 212 | 25.6% | 25,000 | 6,000–68,000 |
| Engine | 199 | 24.0% | 970 | 300–9,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 186 | 22.5% | 909 | 115–9,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 141 | 17.0% | 2,000 | 200–10,000 |
| Brakes | 94 | 11.4% | 10,000 | 3,500–26,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 53 | 6.4% | 6,000 | 400–8,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 47 | 5.7% | — | — |
| Exterior lighting | 29 | 3.5% | — | — |
| Steering | 29 | 3.5% | — | — |
| Airbag system | 28 | 3.4% | — | — |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 5,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 25.6% of complaints (212 reports, 49 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 25,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,000 and 68,000 miles.
A single system taking 25.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine accounts for 24.0% of complaints (199 reports, 82 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 970 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 300 and 9,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 22.5% of complaints (186 reports, 128 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 909 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 115 and 9,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 17.0% of complaints (141 reports, 37 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 2,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 200 and 10,000 miles.
The brakes account for 11.4% of complaints (94 reports, 24 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 10,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,500 and 26,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (53 reports, 10 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 6,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 400 and 8,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2019–2025 Jetta
Engine
No large systemic failure pattern established. Scattered turbocharger and water pump complaints on the 1.4/1.5 TSI.
Transmission
8-speed automatic hesitation and rough low-speed shifting complaints.
Before you buy a 2019–2025 Jetta: the 3-minute check
Generated from 318 mileage-tagged complaints, 19 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at an authorized dealer.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 19 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for engine repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 970 miles — a newer example may not have reached that mileage yet, so ask what was repaired under warranty and what the warranty still covers.
- Ask for transmission and driveline repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 909 miles — a newer example may not have reached that mileage yet, so ask what was repaired under warranty and what the warranty still covers.
- Check engine. No large systemic failure pattern established. Scattered turbocharger and water pump complaints on the 1.4/1.5 TSI.
- Check transmission. 8-speed automatic hesitation and rough low-speed shifting complaints.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer of a newer example: 69% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, and many of these cars have not covered that yet. The early window may still be ahead, so check what the factory warranty still covers and whether any recall on the VIN is open.
On inspection, the electrical system and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 970, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Jetta problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi90% below | At 90k mi97% below | At 120k mi98% below | At 150k mi99% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 6,000–68,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 300–9,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 115–9,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 200–10,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 3,500–26,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 400–8,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 300–9,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Volkswagen Jetta 2019–2025 · 318 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 90% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.6% of reports (2) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2019–2025 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (19)
NHTSA records 19 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (5), the airbag system (2), seats (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Mar 2026 · 2025 · Electrical SystemAn instrument panel that does not display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
What can happen. An instrument panel that does not display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen…
Mar 2026 · 2025 · Electrical SystemAn open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
What can happen. An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
Feb 2024 · 2019–2020 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024.…
Sep 2023 · 2019 · Electrical SystemWithout an audible warning, the driver may be unaware that the key is left in the ignition, which can…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail…
What can happen. Without an audible warning, the driver may be unaware that the key is left in the ignition, which can increase the risk of vehicle theft or a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will update the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
Aug 2023 · 2019–2020 · Electrical SystemIgnition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature…
What can happen. Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's…
Oct 2022 · 2019–2020 · TiresAn undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross…
What can happen. An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi’s customer…
Jul 2022 · 2021–2022 · EquipmentA rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory…
What can happen. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at…
Jun 2021 · 2020–2021 · Air BagsIncorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.
What can happen. Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
Feb 2021 · 2021 · SeatsThe seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
What can happen. The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen…
Nov 2020 · 2021 · Back Over PreventionA black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or…
What can happen. A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
Aug 2020 · 2020 · SeatsIn the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been…
What can happen. In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may…
Jun 2020 · 2020 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf a brake caliper bolt comes loose, it may affect the vehicle's brake performance, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2020 Jetta vehicle. The front brake caliper bolts may come loose.
What can happen. If a brake caliper bolt comes loose, it may affect the vehicle's brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace all four front brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
Dec 2019 · 2019 · Wheels do not driveThe excessive stress can cause steering, traction or other stability issues or breakage relating to the front…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta GLI, Golf Alltrack, and Golf GTI vehicles. The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel…
What can happen. The excessive stress can cause steering, traction or other stability issues or breakage relating to the front wheels, and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen…
Sep 2019 · 2019 · Other or unspecifiedIf the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and…
What can happen. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this…
Mar 2019 · 2019 · SuspensionIf a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
What can happen. If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
Feb 2019 · 2019 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the wrong air bag may not work correctly…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. An incorrect driver frontal airbag may have been installed during a service/repair visit.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the wrong air bag may not work correctly, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag with the correct part, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer…
Dec 2018 · 2019 · SuspensionIf a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
What can happen. If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
Nov 2018 · 2019 · Electrical SystemIf the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that…
What can happen. If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
Sep 2018 · 2019 · Exterior LightingA reduction in the driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark. As such, these…
What can happen. A reduction in the driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side headlight, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 828 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 31 (3.7%)
- Fires
- 4
- Injury reports
- 27
- Fatality reports
- 2
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Jetta problems by model year
The 2019 drew the most complaints of this generation, 548, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2025 the fewest, 28. A typical year drew about 43.
That makes the 2019 stand out at roughly 12.7 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 548 | 281 | 4,500† | Transmission and driveline (162) | 11 |
| 2020 | 52 | 16 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (17) | 6 |
| 2021 | 71 | 8 | under 30 reports | Brakes (25) | 4 |
| 2022 | 43 | 4 | under 30 reports | Engine (12) | 1 |
| 2023 | 43 | 4 | under 30 reports | Engine (11) | 0 |
| 2024 | 43 | 5 | under 30 reports | Engine (11) | 0 |
| 2025 | 28 | 0 | under 30 reports | Forward collision avoidance (6) | 2 |
What Jetta owners reported
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud booming sound coming from the roof of the vehicle. The contact later discovered that the glass sunroof had exploded outward from the roof. At the time of the failure, the sunroof was closed. The cause…
2024 · 13,000 miles · Visibility equipment
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Starter System Failure" was displayed and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with ignition failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact associated the…
2019 · 80,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owned a 2022 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact heard a dinging noise twice coming from the instrument panel. The driver assist not avaiable warning light was illuminated. An Independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it…
2022 · 75,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was exposed to high-temperatures, the instrument panel failed to function properly, rendering the speedometer and turn signals inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact…
2019 · 62,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 318 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Jetta generations
- Jetta 1993–1998 112 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Jetta 1999–2004 1,681 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Jetta 2005–2010 2,660 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Jetta 2011–2018 1,937 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system