2023 Volkswagen Jetta Problems & Complaints

Better than average54% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Jetta at the same age

Owners have filed 43 complaints about the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 54% fewer than a typical Jetta model year at the same age, making the 2023 one of the better Jetta years. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (12 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles).

43complaints
0recalls
1crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2023 Volkswagen Jetta problems

  • Engine & cooling~43,000 miles
    1228%
  • Brakes~20,000 miles
    1126%
  • Other / not specified
    1023%
  • Electrical system
    921%
  • Driver assistance~0 miles
    819%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    37%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    37%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    25%
  • Steering
    12%
  • Body & structure
    12%
  • Air bags
    12%
  • Suspension
    12%

Share of the 43 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Volkswagen Jetta 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).

Best Jetta years: 2018, 2020, 2022. Years to avoid: 2019, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2010. Compare all years →

What 2023 Volkswagen Jetta owners say

Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the engine coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir, but one week later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that engine coolant had leaked into the head gasket and that the head gasket and sealant needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 43,000.

43,000 miles · Sep 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH in traffic, the vehicle lost motive power and shut off. The contact was able to steer into a parking space. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cam magnet needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that an expert would be contacted for assistance with repairing the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

2,000 miles · Jan 2024

Brakes

The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the rear brake pads and rotors. The contact was informed that the rear brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: VWP-22-18. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 20,000.

Foundation components › Disc › Pads · 20,000 miles · Oct 2023

I would like to report a safety issue with my wife's new 2023 VW Jetta sedan with standard transmission. It has a hill hold feature that clamps the brakes on for approximately three seconds after you remove your foot from the brake pedal, if you are on a hill. Three seconds is way too long and often causes the following: you see an opening to pull into traffic, move your foot to the accelerator and start letting the clutch out. The car stalls, leaving you in the middle of the road with the electronic parking brake now applied where it was not before. This is very dangerous. Both of us have been driving standard transmission vehicles for many years. Our previous VW models with standard transmissions and hill hold, as well as my present 2014 VW GTI, did not have this safety defect. They released the brakes quickly and smoothly on hills and never caused us to stall or roll back. …

Jul 2023

Electrical system

The backup camera in my 2023 VW Jetta has been malfunctioning since the car was new. It intermittently fails to display an image when shifted into reverse, creating a serious safety hazard. Backup cameras are federally required safety equipment, and when it doesn't work, visibility behind the vehicle is completely lost. This failure also affects all associated safety systems, including rear cross traffic alerts and lane assist, reducing driver awareness and increasing the risk of a collision. We were advised early on that the issue would probably be resolved through a future software update, but that never happened. The issue continues without warning and has been documented on video. Despite this, Murdock Volkswagen in Logan Utah refuses to perform warranty repairs because no diagnostic trouble codes are present. They have been offered video proof but declined to review it. …

Aug 2024

The follow failed module faults have REPEATEDLY FAILED: U010400 lost communication with cruise control module, U112100 databus missing message & U112300 databus error value received, C110BF0 Adaptive Cruise Control Sensor, C111207 Haldex Clutch Pump Mechanical Malfunction, P030400 Cyl 4 Misfire, ***P085000 Park/Neutral Switch Input Circuit Open or Short***, U105400 Information Electronics Control Module 1 No Communication. I've had it repaired once by VW. Been at dealership multiple times for all of these issues. Currently, they are not helpful. My car does not recognize PARK, it thinks it's in NEUTRAL.

Jan 2024

2023 Volkswagen Jetta engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.5L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticFWD31 / 41 / 35
1.5L 4-cyl turbo6-speed manualFWD29 / 42 / 34

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta a good car?

Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 Jetta rates better than average: 54% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Jetta at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta?

The engine & cooling — 12 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (11) and electrical system (9).

How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Jetta?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2020 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2010. See the full Volkswagen Jetta years comparison.

At what mileage do 2023 Volkswagen Jetta problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.