Volkswagen Jetta Problems by Year

We compared every Volkswagen Jetta model year from 1995–2026 using 9,704 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 60 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2019, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2010, which drew far more complaints than other Jetta years at the same age. The best years are 2018, 2020 and 2022.

32model years
9,704complaints
60recalls
2019, 2011worst years
2018, 2020best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’262203154192349439668704458233248580201188889852607500518387194161160315495469434346306
Owner complaints per model year, Volkswagen Jetta. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
20266−38%1ElectricalAverage
202530−34%2Collision AvoidanceAverage
202446−43%—EngineGood
202343−54%—EngineGood
202243−70%1Collision AvoidanceGood
202169−66%4BrakeGood
202054−81%6ElectricalGood
20195492.2×11TransmissionAvoid
201831−90%2Fuel SystemGood
2017160−54%6Fuel SystemGood
2016161−55%4EngineGood
2015194−48%7ElectricalGood
20143871.3×4EngineAverage
20135181.7×4ElectricalCaution
20125001.7×5ElectricalCaution
20116072.0×7ElectricalAvoid
20108522.9×4Fuel SystemAvoid
20098892.8×6Fuel SystemAvoid
2008188−56%4TransmissionGood
2007201−53%4ElectricalGood
20065801.9×4TransmissionCaution
2005248−43%4TransmissionGood
2004233−47%2EngineGood
20034581.4×2ElectricalCaution
20027042.4×5ElectricalAvoid
20016682.3×6EngineAvoid
20004391.5×4EngineCaution
19993491.2×6EngineAverage
1998192−48%2ElectricalGood
199754−86%1ElectricalGood
199631−93%1Window & WiperGood
1995220−41%4ElectricalGood

* Complaints compared with the median Jetta year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Volkswagen Jetta problems

Latest Volkswagen Jetta recalls

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA recall 26V-185 · Mar 25, 2026 · 75,323 vehicles

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 Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."

Remedy: 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.

Electrical system › Wiring

NHTSA recall 26V-138 · Mar 11, 2026 · 48,165 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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 1-800-893-5298.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA recall 24V-110 · Feb 14, 2024 · 261,257 vehicles

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, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA recall 23V-619 · Sep 6, 2023 · 8 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical system › Ignition › Switch

NHTSA recall 23V-604 · Aug 30, 2023 · 62,538 vehicles

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 environments.

Remedy: 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.

All 60 Volkswagen Jetta recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Volkswagen Jetta should you avoid?

2019, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2010 and 2009 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Jetta years at the same age, led by transmission & drivetrain problems in the 2019.

What is the best year for the Volkswagen Jetta?

2018 has the fewest complaints compared with other Jetta years at the same age, followed by 2020 and 2022. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Volkswagen Jetta problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the electrical system (2,099), engine & cooling (1,933) and transmission & drivetrain (1,602). Electrical complaints peak in the 2010 model year.

How many recalls has the Volkswagen Jetta had?

60 recalls across 1995–2026. The model year with the most is 2019. See all Volkswagen Jetta recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.