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
516 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2018
IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK IN ON POSITION, CAN'T TURN CAR OFF
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Aug 31, 2018, crash
TAKATA RECALL VW JETA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FREEZING RAIN IN JANUARY 2017 (KNOXVILLE, TN). VW SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR CAUSING IN EXCESS OF $5,000 DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. COMPLETE FAILURE IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM/COMPRESSOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKS/UNLOCKS DOORS WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ROLLS DOWN WINDOWS FOR NO REASON. THIS BEGUN 70K MILES
Electrical system, Aug 22, 2018
THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH THE CAR ON AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION.
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 22, 2018
THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY, ALL THEY DO IS CLICK TRYING TO LOCK AS I DRIVE - FROM TIME TO TIME, IF THEY DO LOCK - I CAN'T UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR, AND HAVE TO CRAWL OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IN THE EVENT I NEED TO EXIT THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON A 2009 JETTA - AND I IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET - THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S A DESIGN FLAW FROM VW - AND IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW - AND I'M SURE VW KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT HAS FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. I FEEL THE ONLY WAY VW WILL FIX THE ISSUE IS IF THE NTSB FORCES THEM TO DO A RECALL - PLEASE HELP US ? ALSO, I'M NOT ABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. THANK YOU, *TR
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.
Electrical system, Aug 2, 2018
KEY WILL NOT TURN BACK TO OFF POSITION TO SHUT OFF THE CAR WHILE PARKED.
Engine, Aug 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAY RIDGE VOLKSWAGEN (4TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11209), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2018
IGNITION KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. CAR IS RUNNING AND CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF.
Electrical system, Jul 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN MODULE HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,137.
Electrical system, Jul 26, 2018
CAR KEEPS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AT 10MPH. HAD MY RIGHT REAR LATCH REPLACED, NOW MY LEFT REAR IS DOING THE SAME THING
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 26, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS 5X WITHIN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WHEN REPLACE ONLY WORKS FOR ABOUT 6-9 MONTHS THEN I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. ONE TIME I WAITED FOR 1YR TO REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT AND MAGICALLY IT CAME BACK ON. I WAS LIKE WOW, REALLY. NOW MY DOORS AND HORN IS GONE OUT. MY HORN ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY DOORS LOCK BUT IT TAKES A WHILE FOR IT TO FIGURE IT OUT. YOU HAVE TO HIT THE BOTTOM LIKE 3X BEFORE IT WORKS.
Steering, Jul 12, 2018
IGNITION CYLINDER. KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING IT ON, ITS ALSO DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY. RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TALKING ABOUT A REIMBURSEMENT IF REPLACED OUT OF POCKET, HOWEVER VERY SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY RECALLED YET.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 12, 2018
EPC LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. VEHICLE LOSES ALL THROTTLE, NO POWER. ENGINE IS ON BUT ELECTRICAL AND GAS PEDAL NO AFFECT. SHUTS DOWN. DRIVE 10-20MINS SHUTS DOWN. HAZARD
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.
Electrical system, Jul 2, 2018
IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE WON'T TURN OFF, KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED.
Electrical system, Jul 2, 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.
Engine, Jun 27, 2018
THE TENSIONER IN MY VEHICLE FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP TEETH WHICH SENT THE PISTONS CRASHING INTO THE VALVES AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTING IN ME NEEDING AN ENTIRE NEW ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE ROW FORD AUBURN MAINE DEALERSHIP AND VW OF AMERICA. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW INVOLVING THIS DEFECTIVE TENSIONER. ALSO MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 1230 MILES OVER THE 60,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE AND FALL HOWEVER I'M NOT RECEIVING ANY HELP WITH THIS AND I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP AND VW SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS INFO SINCE THEY'VE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT NEVER ISSUED A RECALL .
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 26, 2018
LESS THAN 30000 MILES REPLACED TRANSMISSION, AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON ,NO HORN,NO STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS.SAME THING RECALLED FOR JETTA, BUT NOT JETTA HYBIRDS..
Steering, Jun 25, 2018
MY CAR KEY GOT STUCK AND THE CAR WONT TURN OFF NOW AND IT WAS ON PARKED
Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 13, 2018
TRANSMISSION REPLACED,STEERING WHEEL CONTROL NOT WORKING,MODULE FAILED
Engine, Jun 12, 2018
MY CAR WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND IT MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER READ A P00166 CODE AND TORE DOWN THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED A FAILED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WHICH CAUSED THE CHAIN TO SLIP AND CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE HEAD. I WAS QUOTED $6,200 FOR REPAIR OF A KNOWN FAULTY PART THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF ENGINE AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT.
Electrical system, Jun 12, 2018
SATIONARY VEHICLE OFF, TRYING TO TURN IT ON THE IGNITION STICKS MAKING IT HARD TO TURN BACK ON.