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.
Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2017
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF
Steering, Aug 9, 2017
KEY REMAINS STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAR CANNOT WILL NOT TURN OFF VW DEALER SAID THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FROM OVER USE!!! DIDN'T KNOW YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR!!
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 6, 2017
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
Electrical system, Jul 29, 2017
THE KEY GETS STUCK SO IT WONT TURN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. IF ABLE TO GET IT TO TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK SO YOU CAN'T TAKE IT OUT. TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK.
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.
Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2017
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES IN 6 WEEKS. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE WIRING BULBS JUST KEEP BURNING OUT. IT APPEARS THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. VW DEALERSHIPS OFFER NO SOLUTIONS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2017
KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
Electrical system, Jul 19, 2017
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF ENGINE.
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2017
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION! THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER COMING TO A STOP. AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WIGGLING, TURNING, PULLING OR JERKING WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. SOMETIMES IT TAKE UP TO 20 MINUTES BY A STRONG PERSON TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY HOWEVER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND VW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER VW USA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL NOR PAY TOWARDS THE REPAIR COST WHICH HAS BEEN QUOTED AT $800 BY THE DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Jul 12, 2017
WHILE CAR IS IN PARK, KEY WILL GET STUCK IN IGNITION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN CAR OFF. UNABLE TO TURN KEY TO THE OFF POSITION.
Electrical system, Jul 2, 2017
IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK BOTH WHEN STARTING AND WHILE STOPPING, HAD TO LET MY CAR RUN FOR HOURS BEFORE I HAD TO WIGGLE OUT THE KEY, DONT THINK THIS WILL WORK FOR LONG.
Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2017
THE CAR WAS TURNED ON BY A MECHANIC TO BE MOVED TO BE WORKED ON. HE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. HE CALLED THE VW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM/DEFECT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ESPECIALLY IF OUT OF TOWN OR OUT LATE AT NIGHT. THE PART WILL TAKE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO GET IN STOCK AT A COST OF OVER $600.00.
Power train, Jun 29, 2017
VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A VIOLENT LURCHING ACTION AROUND 50,000 MILES, EITHER WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OR DEPRESSING BRAKE AFTER SITTING AT A STOP. DEALER "RESET" TRANSMISSION AND PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS. HAPPENS ONCE A DAY NOW. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS BEING REAR ENDED. NOW HAVE 100,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2017
REPEAT OCCURRENCE KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. NEW IGNITION WAS REPLACE LESS THAN TWO YEARS, AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND IN NEED OF NEW IGNITION AGAIN.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 25, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 94 THE EPC AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TURNED ON. AT MY 55MPH, MY SPEED DECREASED IMMEDIATELY AT 20 MPH. MY SON AND I FELT UNSAFE, AS THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME DRIVING AT THEIR PROPER SPEED LIMIT. IT WAS SCARY AS THESE CARS COULD OF CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE AS MY GAS PEDAL LOST IMMEDIATE SPEED.
Electrical system, Jun 19, 2017
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD TO CUT THE CAR OFF. BUT I ASSUMED IT WAS THE KEY . THIS WEEKEND AFTER GETTING MY OIL CHANGED WE COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION.THE IGNITIOJ SWITCH WOULDN'T CUT OFF. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR TO GET THE KEY OUT.THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE KEY HAS EVER GOT STUCK LIKE THAT. AND SINCE THEN IT HAS STALLED 3 MORE TIMES. IT DOES REQUIRE A LOT OF PRESSURE OR SHAKING OF THE KEY IN THE SWITCH FOR THE IGNITION TO FINALLY CUT OFF.
Seat belts, Jun 4, 2017
REAR SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES ARE FRAYED. CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. BACK SEATS ARE RARELY IF EVER USED SO IT ISN'T FROM WEAR OR MISUSE. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS.
Electrical system, May 21, 2017
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. I HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY A BUNCH TO GET IT OUT. ONCE I GOT THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT WAS VERY HOT. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY.
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2017
UNABLE TO TURN OFF ENGINE. KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION (STATIONARY).
Power train, May 9, 2017
MECHATRONICS UNIT FAILURE, CAUSING FAILURE OF DSG TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS, OR ACCELERATING THROUGH TRAFFIC. COMMON FAILURE YET VW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON DSG TRANSMISSIONS IN PAST MODEL YEARS
Electrical system, Apr 26, 2017
WHILE PARKED, KEY GETS STUCK ON IGNITION AND WHILE TRYING TO TURN OF THE ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO MAJOR RESISTANCE WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION TO START THE CAR. A FEW TIMES IT TOOK MORE THAN 20 MIN OF TRYING IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVE THE KEY, ALTHOUGH TURNING OFF THE CAR DOES NOT MEAN THE KEY WILL NOT BE STUCK.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 19, 2017
REPLACED VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID. FELLS LIKE ENGINE WANTS TO SHUT OFF IDLES RUFF. AFTER REPLACEMENT HAVING SAME ISSUE WITH CAR. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
Engine, Apr 17, 2017
CAR SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS GOES INTO "LIMP MODE". WILL START BACK UP FINE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN.
Electrical system, Apr 13, 2017
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME THE IGNITION HOUSING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT.