2013 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 516 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 12 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderSep 23, 2020
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.
Campaign 20E064000 on NHTSA.gov
Other or unspecifiedSep 25, 2019
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.
If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
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.
Campaign 19V679000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignition, anti-theft, control moduleAug 22, 2019
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."
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.
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.
Campaign 19V615000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalAug 4, 2015
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V483000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearOct 20, 2014
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 14V656000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 7, 2014
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Campaign 14E007000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Other or unspecified, May 1, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHT/SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD IS ALWAYS ON,CHARGING OUTLET NOT WORKING , VW LET US PAY $189.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WANT US TO PAY $500.00 FROM THE REFUND FOR THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO FIX THE AIRBAG PROB. THEY CLAIM IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING CHEWED BY RODENTS.
Power train, Air bags, Service brakes, Apr 14, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR REVERSE, IT WOULD JERK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Air bags, Aug 11, 2015
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED IN UNDER 3 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VW IS REFUSING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A PART DEFECT ON THEIR END AND IS REQUIRING ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND IS GARAGE KEPT AND IN MINT CONDITION.
Air bags, Jun 2, 2015, crash
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 5/27/15 AROUND SUNSET AND TWO DEER JUMPED OVER A BARBWIRE FENCE AT THE END OF ROUND HAY BALES. AT THIS TIME, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN I SEEN THEM, BARELY HAVING TIME TO STOMP ON MY BRAKES. I ESTIMATE I HIT THEM GOING AT LEAST 55 TO 60 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. I AM CONCERNED WITH WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY ESPECIALLY SINCE MY CAR IS POSSIBLY TOTALED. I HIT THE DEER FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY BUMPER TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR, SENDING THE HOOD INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SMASHING THE DRIVER SIDE BACK INTO THE DOORS. THE DAMAGES GO ON AND ON, THANKFULLY I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. BUT SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT THE MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED DO NOT REMOTELY TOUCH THE PAIN: NECK PAIN WITH NUMBNESS THAT COMES AND GOES TO MY HANDS, SEVERE BACK ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY BUTT, PELVIC PAIN WITH NUMBNESS TO MY BUTTOCKS, LEFT SIDED RIB PAIN WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH ESPECIALLY WITH TO MUCH EXERTION AND PAIN WITH DEEP BREATHES, LEFT KNEE/ANKLE PAIN AND THE INABILITY TO BEAR COMPLETE WEIGHT TO KNEE/ANKLE ALONG WITH SWELLING. SEVERE PAIN THAT SHOOTS DOWN BACK TO PELVIC WHEN BENDING OVER, INABILITY TO CROSS LEGS AND ANKLES WITHOUT CAUSING STABBING PAIN IN PELVIC AREA. AS A NURSE MYSELF, I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE MEANT TO DO SO I WOULD NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MANY ISSUES AS I DO NOW. THE PURPOSE OF AIRBAGS ARE TO PREVENT INJURIES AND SINCE MINE DID NOT DEPLOY, I'M SUFFERING SEVERELY WITH CONSTANT PAIN THAT KEEPS MY FROM SLEEPING WELL(CAUSING FATIGUE), THE INABILITY TO STAND OR SIT FOR A PROLONGED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND TO STAND IN CERTAIN POSITIONS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Structure, Dec 11, 2014, crash
I WAS STOPPED AT A SOLID RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I GOT THE GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED STRAIGHT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE (VEHICLE #2) CROSSED MY PATH OF TRAVEL ON THE RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SIDE AND VEHICLE #2 DRIVER'S SIDE CRASHED INTO MY FRONT END. MY VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND COUNTER CLOCKWISE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF VEHICLE #2. AS A RESULT OF THIS CRASH MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE AND PIECES AND PARTS WERE STREWN ALL OVER THE ROAD. FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE OPERATED POST-COLLISION. WITH THE HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND SIDE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM. THE WARNING SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION MULTIPLE TIMES AT RANDOM. THE KEY ALSO BECAME STUCK IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000.