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: other or unspecified
98 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Oct 14, 2018
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. NO WAY TO TURN KEY, TO SHUT OFF ENGINE. VEHICLE STATIONARY RUNNING IN PARK.
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2018
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
Steering, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2018
TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL AT VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THEY "FORGOT" TO DO RECALL ON AIRBAG. NEXT TIME THEY PERFORMED RECALL BUT STEERING WHEEL IS CLICKING, HORN DOES NOT WORK, NONE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS FUNCTION AND AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. TOOK CAR FOR AN EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPAIR AND I TOLD THEM THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED AS THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY TOLD ME THE OTHER VOLKSWAGEN MARKED IT AS COMPLETE AND IT WOULD COST ME $2000 BECAUSE AIRBAG HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT AND DISCONNECTED. SO I HAVE NO HORN, NO STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION KEYS, A STEERING WHEEL THAT CLICKS WHEN A HARD TURN IS MADE AND A RIPPED, DISCONNECTED NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAG.
Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2018
IGNITION KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. CAR IS RUNNING AND CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF.
Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2018
VEHICLE AC NO LONGER WORKS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2018
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2018
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE. ALSO WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT TURN. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND PARKED - WHETHER TRYING TO START OR TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, May 21, 2018
I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STAYED GOING AT THE SPEED I WAS DRIVING IT WOULD NOT EXHILARATE OR BRAKE IT STAYED FROZEN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 14, 2018
CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR TURNED OFF AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC VOLKSWAGEN SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVING THE CAR JERKING AND TURNING OFF, BOTH TIMES VOLKSWAGEN WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS USING THIS VEHICLE AS A DAILY DRIVER.
Other or unspecified, May 4, 2018
AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A MAIN ROAD AT ABOUT 25-30MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WOULDN'T LATCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE A FAILED DOOR LATCH. AFTER FIXING THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCH, THEY PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF THEIR GARAGE AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH FAILED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR SPENDS MOST OF IT'S LIFE INSIDE OF A GARAGE AND IS METICULOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF. I JUST TURNED 60,000 ON THE ODOMETER THE DAY PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.
Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2018
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CAN'T TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS PARKED WHILE I'M TRYING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE ENGINE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Apr 2, 2018
THE HORN STOPPED WORKING 1 WEEK AGO. I AM ALSO REPLACING BULBS EVERY 2 MONTHS. I CAN'T USE MY HORN AND THE DEALER IS CHARGING ME A CRAZY FEE TO FIX THIS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S GOING THROUGH THIS
Other or unspecified, Mar 21, 2018
THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHUT OFF; THEN THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN; NOW THE KEY IS NOT TURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2018
OVERUSED OF SOY WIRING HAS CAUSED HUNDREDS OF NEEDLESS DOLLARS OF REPAIR WORK. WIRING IS BEING CHEWED ABOUT BY RODENTS SINCE RODENTS LIKE SOY PRODUCTS.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Mar 7, 2018
A FEW MONTHS BACK AN ERROR CAME UP ON MY DASH SAYING "HYBRID WORKSHOP." I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS REGULAR FOR MY CAR TO SAY THAT AT ABOUT 68K AND THAT I WOULD SOON NEED A HYBRID SYSTEMS CHECK. THAT LIGHT WENT OFF THE VERY NEXT DAY SO I DIDN'T STRESS IT. SOON AFTER MY CAR BEGAN ACTING FUNNY WHEN COMING TO COMPLETE STOPS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT BACK INTO MOTION CAUSING A HARD BREAKING MOTION TO OCCUR. SOON AFTER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS PARKING. I WAS IN REVERSE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED REVERSING AND BEGAN TO REV LOUDLY BEFORE JUMPING BACK INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK TO REVVING. AFTER TRANSMISSION FAILURE, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT MAY BE MY MECHATRONICS UNIT, AFTER TAKING THE MECHATRONICS UNIT OUT THEY DETERMINED IT WAS INDEED THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE READ OF A RECALL FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM HUNDREDS OF TIMES ONLINE AFTER SEARCHING IT, YET MY VIN ISN'T CONNECTED TO ANY RECALLS ON VWS WEBSITE.
Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2018, fire
CSPC:MY 2013 VW JETTA CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THERE WAS NOT OVERHEATING OR ANY OTHER SIGNS THAT IT WAS GOING TO GO IN FLAMES. ALL THE WARNING SYSTEMS SEEMED TO BE WORKING, BUT IT STILL DIDN'T SHOW ANY SIGNS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC WIRING OR ANYTHING ELSE. *DT *JS
Other or unspecified, Jan 10, 2018, fire
THIS VEHICLE GOT SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION (FIRE) FROM THE LEFT-FRONT HOOD WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2017, crash
I HIT A TREE ON A CITY STREET AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY THAT TIME EITHER AND I HAD A CUT ON MY HEAD I HAD INJURY TO MY KNEE AND MY ACHILLES TENDON BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN SURGERIES. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER ACCIDENTS SINCE NEITHER TIME NEITHER I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER ACCIDENTS SINCE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH OF THOSE WERE IN PARKING LOTS. I AM 84 AND HAVE FALLEN TWICE SINCE THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF MY INJURIES AND SUSTAINED HEAD TRAUMA AND MEMORY LOSS. I WILL TRY TO LOCATE THE ACCIDENT DATE. IT WAS IN 2016.
Other or unspecified, Nov 20, 2017
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, EITHER WHEN TURNING ON OR TURNING OFF. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE AT 19000 MILES AND THE PART WAS REPLACED. IT BEGAN EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS EARLY THIS YEAR AND HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN TO THE POINT OF IT BEING STUCK FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. IT HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY, EITHER PREPARING TO TURN THE CAR ON OR OFF. IVE BEEN STRANDED AWAY FROM HOME WHILE TRYING TO GET IT TO TURN. SOMETIMES IT DOES RELATIVELY EASY AND OTHER TIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT ISN'T GOING TO BUDGE. I HAVE NO OTHER KEYS OR EVEN A KEY CHAIN ATTACHED. ITS JUST THE IGNITION KEY.
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Oct 18, 2017
A FEW MONTHS AGO , THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT WENT OFF , WITH REPLACEMENT AND NEVER TURNED ON .TODAY THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS OFF AND WON'T TURN ON. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WORK .
Other or unspecified, Oct 17, 2017
KEY CAN'T TURN IGNITION ON AND KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE
Other or unspecified, Oct 2, 2017
THE IGNITION WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE TO THE OFF POSITION. THE KEY HAS TO BE WIGGLE, PULLED, OR WHATEVER NECESSARY TO TURN OFF. AFTER OR UP UP TO 3 HOURS THE CAR FINALLY RELEASES THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE NEED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Aug 15, 2017
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF ENGINE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2017
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2017
FREQUENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK,KEY WILL NOT TURN, THIS IS HAPPENING ALMOST EVERYDAY, DRIVE TO WORK PARK THE CAR, AT END OF DAY THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP, HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH IT CONSTANTLY, IF I GET OUT A JAR THE CAR BACKWARDS OR FRONTWARDS IT MAY UNLOCK THE KEY AND WHEEL AND MAY NOT. THIS OCCURS ALMOST EVERYDAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING.