Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the compliance recall Campaign Number: 3M02 was completed. The contact stated that while attempting to remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle was in drive(D), the key came out smoothly. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle and entering the key in the ignition switch, the Electronic Power Control (EPC) and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the recall failed to fix the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated that after stopping at a red traffic light and attempting to move off, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause for the failure. The contact had the vehicle taken to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V866000 (Power Train) which the contact believed was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
On 05/21/2021 while merging onto the I-5 freeway in Olympia at high speed the EPC dash light came on and the car lost all acceleration and had to swerve off onto the shoulder to avoid any collision (felt like car had stalled). Luckily it was in early AM so traffic was not as bad as normal. Once on the shoulder the car would not move. Contacted Geico and had car towed into the closest Volkswagon service center once they opened. After the inspection (05/24/2021) was told that the mechatronic unit had failed and there were metal shards throughout the transmission that couldn't be removed, so the entire transmission would need to be replaced. There was no warning of the failure; there was a check engine light on previously for a different mechanical issue (vacuum pump) that began 03/10/2021. …
I'm hoping you can help me. I have a 2013 Jetta Hybrid SE 1.4L auto pzev with 47,000 original miles. I'm the second owner and I purchased it with 19,000 original miles. I've never missed an oil change and always kept it up to date with maintenance. I was driving on the street and my check engine light came on, as I was making a turn at about 35 miles an hour my car acted like it kicked into neutral and when pressing the gas just revved the engine. I safely pulled over to the side and had the car towed to a mechanic. He took a look and said there was a significant leak coming from the transmission and I should take it to a VW dealership because there are a lot of recalls for this type of stuff. I had it towed to VW and they said it was a hairline crack in the transmission that caused an oil leak into the electronic gearbox which caused the loss of control and power. …
There is a recall on 2013-2015 VW Jetta Hybrid transmissions. I have a 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid. on September 21, 2021, the transmission malfunctioned, causing the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in the car being unable to drive. My wife was driving the car by herself on a a busy interstate in Denver, Colorado (I-25) at approximately 3 PM. She was stranded on a highway in rush hour traffic for approximately 15 minutes as our stalled car held up traffic and was dangerous for my wife to sit in the car during this time. It was a stressful situation for my wife that threatened not only her safety but of others that drove on I-25 that afternoon. After approximately 15 minutes the clutch was able to engage again and the car was able to drive. The car is available for inspection. I believe the problem has been identified because there is a recall out for the 2013-2015 VW Jetta Hybrid! …
E-Engine and Transmission Problem. In August of 2021, while performing normal driving, the car refused to get in gear and the engine just revved; the Check Engine and Hybrid Systems Failure lights came on, and the car would not work properly. I had it towed to a VW Dealership in Springfield, VA for repairs and was quoted $15,000 for a new E-Engine and Transmission. No Recalls, but online forums show that this is a classic failure of Jetta Hybrids and is due to the corrosive transmission oil used in the sealed transmissions of the Hybrids. Car has remained on VW Dealership lot while a decision is made on the vehicle. November of 2021 I was contacted about a different recall (38C4) for the Jetta; it is a software issue with a European Calibration instead of a US. I am looking to have that repaired to see if it fixes the problem in the car. …
I was driving on the street and my check engine light popped on as I was making a turn at about 35 miles an hour my car kicked into neutral and when pressing the gas just revved the engine. I was fortunate there was no oncoming cars as I made the turn or I would have been killed. Had this happened on the highway I could of caused a major reck killing multiple people. I was fortunate and pulled over to the side and had the car towed to a mechanic. He took a look and said there was a significant leak coming from the transmission and I should take it to a VW dealership because there are a lot of recalls for this type of stuff. I had it towed to VW and they're professional mechanic said it was a hairline crack in the transmission that caused an oil leak into the electronic gearbox which caused the loss of control and power. They said there is no recall and it would be a $12,000.00 fix. …
The Jetta hybrid relies on a control unit, called the "mechatronic unit" to decouple the gasoline engine from the transmission. This, in turn, transfers propulsion to the electric motor, inside the transmission housing. The "mechatronic" is a highly specialized component, the "brains" of the Jetta's hybrid powertrain, and, therefore, can only be found in the Jetta hybrid. -market sales data says that a scant 8,515 Jetta hybrids were manufactured across model years 2013 - 2016. -an open NHTSA safety recall, 34j6, has been applied to a cross section of the total 8,515 Jetta hybrids produced. -per recall 34j6, exactly 2,149 Jetta hybrids have been included by VIN# in this recall. -safety recall 34j6 specifically addresses the "mechatronic accumulator housing". …
I am submitting this complaint regarding Safety Recall 34J6, which is listed as INCOMPLETE for my 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. I brought my vehicle to Volkswagen of Murfreesboro, Tennessee to have this recall performed. The dealership refused to complete the repair, claiming it was "too old" - a statement that is factually and legally incorrect. Federal law and NHTSA regulations require manufacturers and their dealerships to repair open safety recalls at no cost, with no expiration. The dealership's refusal is a direct violation of these requirements and represents a serious safety risk to me and potentially to other drivers. I have already contacted Volkswagen Customer CARE, but the dealership has refused to perform the recall despite clear evidence that it remains open. Their inaction demonstrates noncompliance with federal safety regulations and unlawful denial of a mandated repair. …
There is an open recall on 2013 Volkswagen Jetta hybrid for known electrical and power train issues. My car was purchased last year and kept up on in maintenance . I have had it in the shop multiple times for checks due to the lights on my dashboard all going off. Nothing was found until recently the hybrid and engine light turned on out of no where and the cause was the clutch failing which is one of the known recalls. My VIN Isn't listed under this recall and I have been in contact with Volkswagen and they are refusing to help even thought it's a known issue with this years make and model. The car is unsafe to drive and could likely result in an accident due to the behavior of the car from these issues. The car will randomly buck when driving and when coming to a complete stop and trying to accelerate it will buck as well. …
Transmission complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 141 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, 27% of the model year's 518 complaints. The component named most often is clutch assembly (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Volkswagen Jetta transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Volkswagen Jetta transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.