NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 631 owner complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta (including the hybrid). It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: powertrain, electrical system, air bags, and suspension. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (84 complaints, 13%). Most-reported area: powertrain (201 complaints, 32%; median mileage when it happened: 74,000).
One of the Jetta years to avoid
The 2013 drew 112 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 54 for a typical Jetta year: twice as many.
Years to avoid: 2010 to 2013 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Jetta Hybrid vehicles equipped with a DQ200 7-Speed DSG Automatic Transmission. Hairline cracks can develop within the transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit), causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure.
Risk: A decrease in transmission oil pressure can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit and, as necessary, replace affected parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 34J6.
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 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix and full notice
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 recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.
Risk: The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Jetta Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 2012 through October 2013 and equipped with a DQ-200direct-shift gearbox. Due to gearbox fluid additives, the control module within the gearbox may corrode. The deposits from this corrosion may cause an electrical short and result in a stall-like condition.
Risk: This sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gearbox oil with a non-corrosive version, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 34F6/4V.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA also lists 2 equipment recalls for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Brakes: foundation components, master cylinder (Tenneco Automotive, 20E-064); Engine and cooling: engine (The Gates Corporation, 14E-007).
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Air bag clockspring failure
Engineering analysis EA18003Open since Apr 18, 2018
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure… NHTSA's full summary
Recall query RQ17009Closed May 4, 2018 (opened Nov 13, 2017)
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure… NHTSA's full summary
Preliminary evaluation PE15010Closed Sep 28, 2015 (opened Mar 24, 2015)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA ties this investigation to recall 15V-483, listed above.
NHTSA listings: JETTA, JETTA HYBRID. Components: Air bags; Electrical system.
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. A recall query is a review of whether a recall covered the right vehicles or whether its fix works. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 631 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Jetta. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Stalling or shutting off84 · 13%
Median 55,000 miles at failure, from 75 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode74 · 12%
Median 70,000 miles at failure, from 57 reports with mileage
Transmission failure or replacement59 · 9%
Median 86,000 miles at failure, from 42 reports with mileage
Check engine light57 · 9%
Median 75,000 miles at failure, from 45 reports with mileage
Jerking, lurching or harsh shifting29 · 5%
Median 65,000 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
Shifter errors or stuck in gear23 · 4%
Median 95,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration22 · 3%
Median 70,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Median 74,000 miles at failure, from 130 reports with mileage
Electrical system162 · 26%
Most named: horn (6) · Median 57,900 miles at failure, from 115 reports with mileage
Engine131 · 21%
Median 61,200 miles at failure, from 101 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system46 · 7%
Median 69,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
Air bags40 · 6%
Most named: frontal, driver clockspring/spiral cassette (3) · Median 45,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Steering40 · 6%
Median 56,000 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Brakes31 · 5%
Median 43,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Unknown or other103 · 16%
Median 68,500 miles at failure, from 60 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Volkswagen Jetta recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2013 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2010 Jetta drew the most (299) and the 2013 drew 112.
Owner complaints
2013: 631 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Volkswagen Jetta
Model year
Complaints
2010
875
2011
640
2012
526
2013
631
2014
440
2015
197
2016
164
2017
159
2018
31
2019
549
2020
53
2021
69
2022
43
2023
43
2024
44
2025
29
2026
6
Safety recalls
2013: 7 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Volkswagen Jetta
Model year
Recalls
2010
5
2011
8
2012
6
2013
7
2014
7
2015
8
2016
4
2017
6
2018
2
2019
11
2020
6
2021
4
2022
1
2023
0
2024
0
2025
2
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 631 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, the problems described most are stalling or shutting off (84), loss of power or limp mode (74), and transmission failure or replacement (59). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta: air bag clockspring failure (EA18003, opened Apr 18, 2018). It has closed 2 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Jetta has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Volkswagen dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: JETTA, JETTA HYBRID, JETTA SPORTWAGEN.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.