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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 516

Of the 2013 reports, 12 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system148 reports · 29% of complaints
Owner complaints516Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship6 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system148
  2. Power train140
  3. Engine112
  4. Other or unspecified98
  5. Steering37
  6. Fuel/propulsion system34
  7. Air bags31
  8. Service brakes22

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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: fuel/propulsion system

34 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 7, 2016

    I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 3/2013, BY 5/2016 THE AC COMPRESSOR FAILED AND I HAD TO PAY $1,000 TO REPLACE, 2 WEEKS LATER THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE I HAD MY CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT AND WE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE VW REFUSES TO REPAIR BECAUSE A THEY SAY IT'S NOT A DEFAULTY FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER SERVICE STATES IT SHOULD BE APPROVED AND COVERED FOR FULL REPAIR. NOW, I HAVE A $4,000 BILL I CAN'T PAY, A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE AND A CAR PAYMENT FOR A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. I NEED HELP WITH THIS DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.

  2. Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 4, 2015

    THE PROBLEM SHOWING ERROR CODE P0087, P0387 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, THE COST OF EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, DIFFICULT TO MEET WARRANTY RELATED POWER-TRAIN & ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN TWOCE BREAK DOWN. ITS THIRD BREAK DOWN. IT ONLY 62K MILEAGES ON IT. VW WANT TO WORKING ON IT DUE OF OUT OF WARRANTY COST. I AM NOT HAPPY THAT VW IS NOT QUALIFY TO INSPECT PART PROBLEM CAUSE. I HOPE IT IS AFFECT OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SIMPLY PROBLEM WITH HPFP.

  3. Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 23, 2015

    WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I DROVE AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND LOST ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER AND SAW MY GLOW PLUG LIGHT ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND THEN TRIED RESTARTING IT. NO LUCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST VW DEALER IN MY AREA AND THE NEXT DAY WAS TOLD MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND BEFORE THEY WOULD FIX THE ISSUE A FUEL SAMPLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TESTED. I ASKED WHY AND THEY SAID THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH MISFUELING WITH UNLEADED GASOLINE AND THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED I DID NOT MISFUEL MY CAR BUT WERE FOLLOWING VW'S NEW SERVICE PROTOCOL. IT HAS BEEN 16 DAYS AND I WAS TOLD THEY SENT MY FUEL SAMPLE TO THE WRONG PLACE AND IT NEVER MADE IT TO THE "INDEPENDENT" LAB. SO NOW I WAIT AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED. MY VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY UNTIL THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HPFP AND MY CAR IS UNDER THE NEW CAR WARRANTY STILL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH THIS AND BE TOLD IF THE DIESEL IS NOT UP TO SPECS THAT I RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GUESTIMATED $7,000 BILL. THERE ARE SO MANY CASES OF THIS ISSUE AND EVEN THE DEALER ADMITTED THE CAR IS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE QUALITY OF FUEL WE HAVE IN THE U.S. AND IT MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT CAR SHOULD NOT BE PRODUCED IF IT CANNOT HANDLE OUR FUEL, ROADS, EMISSIONS TESTING, ETC.. I AM ABSOLUTELY FRUSTRATED, UPSET, AND DO NOT TRUST THE SERVICE BY THE DEALERSHIP ANY LONGER AND DO NOT EVENT WANT TO OWN MY CAR ANYMORE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW AGAIN.

  4. Suspension, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 10, 2015

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSTIC MONITORING MACHINE INDICATED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE ALSO INDICATED THE SAME FAILURE. SINCE THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE WHILE AT THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V656000 (SUSPENSION). AFTER TAKING TO THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE, EVEN THOUGH THE REAR END SUSTAINED VISIBLE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

  5. Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 19, 2015

    HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NOISE. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS PUMP FAILURE DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL. VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN FUELED AT HIGH VOLUME DIESEL OUTLET. FUEL OUTLET HAS LOCAL GOVT. FUEL CONTRACTS AND MONITORS FUEL ON STRICT SCHEDULES AS PER THEIR CONTRACTS. VOLKSWAGEN OF LEE'S SUMMIT FIXED PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY BUT INDICATED THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" THAT I PAID EXTRA FOR WOULD NOT HONOR THIS REPAIR AT ANY LATER DATED WHEN THIS PUMP FAILS AGAIN. (DUE TO BAD FUEL) ? *TR

  6. Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 27, 2014

    SEVERAL LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH PRECEDED BY A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CAR LOST POWER, STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO START ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER, AT WHICH POINT IT DIED COMPLETELY. WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE HPFP HAD FAILED AND WAS CONTAMINATED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. TOTAL REBUILD OF THE HPPFP. THE HPFP FAILED AGAIN AT 31,8883, THIS TIME WITH NO WARNING EXCEPT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF I-80. WAS AGAIN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED. THEY SAID A BOLT FAILED AND THE SYSTEM WAS AGAIN REBUILT. *TR

  7. Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 15, 2014

    WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF BUT RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS WERE STILL ON ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH FINALLY GOT CAR STOPPED AND STARTED BACK UP FINE SERIOUS PROBLEM NEEDS FIXED.... *TR

  8. Fuel/propulsion system, May 19, 2014

    CAR IS A DIESEL/TDI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) AND ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME CAR (ONCE AGAIN IN MAY OF 2014 - EXACT SAME PROBLEM). *JS

  9. Fuel system, Other, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 28, 2013

    MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL BETWEEN SOME CONSTRUCTION CONES BEFORE IT LOST POWER COMPLETELY. UPON TOWING TO A DEALER, I WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. VW WARRANTY WILL COVER ALL DAMAGE, BUT IT IS CONSIDERABLE. ALL FUEL INJECTORS, PUMPS, LINES ETC WILL BE REPLACED. I SOON LEARNED FROM FRIENDS THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THEIR TDI MODEL VEHICLES AS WELL. ALL INFORMATION THAT I FIND DATES TO 2011, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. I AM VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHERE I FILL UP AND STILL EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. IN SPITE OF BEING ASSURED BY THE VW MECHANIC THAT MY CAR WILL BE "PERFECT," I FEEL THAT I NEED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. *TT