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.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 3, 2013
I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE OUTLINED IN COMPLAINT NUMBER [XXX]PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C (B)(6)., UNSAFE ACCELERATOR LAG GAS PEDAL DELAY NO RESPONSE, FROM MY VW JETTA. I AM TRYING TO GET A COPY OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB#01-13-14, NHTSA#10052336. EDMUNDS DIRECTS YOU TO ALL DATA DIY, ALLDATA.COM, TO GET TSBS. ALL DATADIY DOES NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE, 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, IN THEIR DROP DOWN LIST AND AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE ATTACHED EMAIL "THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN THERE DATABASE YET". SO I ASKED THEM FOR THE TSB 01-13-14, AKA NHTSA ID 10052336, FROM THE 2012 JETTA DATABASE, SINCE THIS TSB# SEEMS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH MOST 2008-2013 MODELS OF VW JETTA, GOLF, RABBIT, BEETLE, EOS, CC, PASSAT, GTI, R32, TIGUAN, TOUAREG AND THE 2011 TOUAREG HYBRID. ACCORDING TO THE EMAIL REPLY FROM ALLDATADIY THERE IS NO SUCH SERVICE BULLETIN. WHEN DO THEY SYNC WITH YOUR SYSTEM? SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. ATTACHED EMAIL: FROM ALLDATA SUPPORT FOR LOG ID:15679419 1 MESSAGE SUPPORT@ALLDATA.COM <SUPPORT@ALLDATA.COM> TUE, SEP 3, 2013 AT 1:30 PM TO: [XXX] REFERRING TO OUR CALL LOG ID:15679419 THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ALLDATADIY.COM UNFORTUNATELY, THE INFORMATION YOU REQUESTED IS NOT AVAILABLE IN OUR DATABASE. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED. THANK YOU, ALLDATADIY SUPPORT TEAM ****************************************************************************************** THANK YOU FOR GETTING BACK TO ME. I AM LOOKING ONE SPECIFIC SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ID 10052336 OTHERWISE REFERRED TO AS SERVICE BULLETIN 01-13-14 I KNOW THAT THIS SAME SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTS FOR THE 2012 JETTA. IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUST GET A COPY OF THE ONE SERVICE BULLETIN. HOW MUCH WOULD THAT COST. THANK YOU SO MUCH.*JB
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
Vehicle speed control, Aug 28, 2013
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10537724 THE SERVICE BULLETIN ID IS 01-13-14 THE NHTSA ID NUMBER IS 10052336 I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONFUSION. COMPLAINT NUMBER 10537724 SHOULD READ USING THE ABOVE SERVICE BULLETIN ID AND NHTSA ID NUMBER. *TT
Vehicle speed control, Aug 28, 2013
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES AS OUTLINED IN COMPLAINT ID 10535696. I HAVE AN OPEN CASE WITH VW CORP, CASE NUMBER 130565794. I HAVE ASKED FOR THE NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN 100552336, SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED ON MY CAR, AS I CONTINUE TO HAVE NEAR ACCIDENT MISSES DUE TO THE MISFIRE (WHICH HAPPENS WHEN THE AC IS ON) AND THE NON-RESPONSIVE GAS PETAL (WHEN THE AC IS OFF). VW CORP IS TRYING NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN AND REFUSES TO PERFORM THE SERVICE TO MY CAR. THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I HAVE INFORMED THEM AND HAVE DOCUMENTED ON MY SERVICE INVOICE THE SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER AND MY COMPLAINT NUMBER. SO IF THEY WERE NOT AWARE BEFORE, THEY ARE NOW, BUT STILL DENY ME THE SERVICE OUTLINED IN YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN ID 100552336. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THEIR POSSESSION SINCE THE 23RD, THIS IS MY SECOND VISIT AND I NOW HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH VW CORP (SEE CASE NUMBER ABOVE). I CONTINUE TO BE UNABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE IN EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY DRIVING SITUATIONS. *TT
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 25, 2013
MY VEHICLE WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC HAS A DELAY OF 1-2 SECONDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. WHEN I AM TRYING TO GET ON/OFF A HIGHWAY AND THAT DELAY HAPPENS, THE TRAFFIC HAS TO SLOW TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME AS BY THE TIME IT HAPPENS THEN SURGES, IT IS TOO LATE TO STOP. MY SPEED NEEDLE WAS SO INACCURATE AND BOUNCED SO MUCH I GOT A SPEEDING TICKET. IT WAS 14 MPH OFF. THEY REPLACED THE CLUSTER, BUT NOW BOTH THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BOUNCE ENOUGH TO NOT BE SURE YOUR SPEED. ELECTRONIC FAN STAYED ON FOR THE ENTIRE 90 MINUTES I WAS IN A COFFEE SHOP AFTER DRIVING ONLY 5 MILES AND HAD BEEN RUNNING AC. AC WHEN NOT ON FULL FAN WILL HAVE PERIODS OF HOT AND HUMID LIKE THE SYSTEM TEMPORARILY SHUTS DOWN, AND OF COURSE, THE CAR HOPS AND SURGES AT SLOW SPEEDS IN ADDITION AS YOU ARE DECELERATING WITH THE FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL JERK YOU DOWN AS IT SHIFTS DOWN. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Aug 16, 2013
I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. IT CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHERE I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND LET THE TRAFFIC PASS BY, THEN PUT THE CAR IN MANUAL SHIFT SO THAT I COULD ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE HAPPENS USUALLY AROUND SPEEDS OF 40 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WILL BE IN 6 GEAR AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND FAILS TO DOWN SHIFT WHEN THE GAS IS PRESSED. THIS RESULTS IN A LOSE OF POWER AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE IN EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. *TR
Engine, Jul 13, 2013
WE WERE TRAVELING IN CENTER LANE ON I-75 IN FL DOING 70 MPH. DASH LIGHT INDICATOR SHOWED DOUBLE CIRCLE ERROR LIGHT. ENGINE QUIT AND CAR LOST ALL POWER. COASTED TO BREAKDOWN LANE. *TR
Power train, Jun 15, 2013
ENGAGING VEHICLE INTO FIRST FROM A STOP,WOULD NOT GO,IT WAS STUCK IN REVERSE FOR A MINUTE. FINALLY WENT INTO FIRST AFTER PLAYING WITH THE SHIFTER AND GETTING IT UNSTUCK. NEW CAR,VOLKSWAGEN IS PATHETIC. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 13, 2013
APPROACHED TRAFFIC LIGHT (WHICH WAS RED). WHEN LIGHT CHANGED, ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. NO POWER FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS, THEN ACCELERATED THROUGH THE LIGHT AND ALL WAS NORMAL. NOW HAVE ABOUT 1500 MILES ON THE CAR AND SIMILAR SITUATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. ESTIMATED THAT WE HAD ABOUT 15 REPEATS OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER FOUND NO CODES AND COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM. DEALER SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A CODE WAS RECORDED BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE WITH A COLD ENGINE AND THE REST OF THE TIME WHEN THE ENGINE WAS THOROUGHLY WARMED UP. FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. WE COULD MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO APPROACHING TRAFFIC AND BE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION.. AM AFRAID TO HAVE MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR. *TR
Fuel system, Diesel, May 29, 2013
THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER WHILE IN MOTION AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE TDI (DIESEL) FUEL SYSTEM HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE AND IMPLODED INTO MANY VERY SMALL METAL PARTS. VW IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT NOT THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE METAL IN THE FUEL LINES IS CAUSE FOR A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AS THEY CANNOT PROVE THE CONTAMINATION WAS LIMITED TO THE FUEL LINES. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 5500 MILES TOTAL. *TR
Power train, Engine, May 23, 2013
JETTA HYBRID. LOSS OF TRACTION WHILE ASCENDING STEEP DRIVEWAY. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE EVEN WITH ANOTHER HYBRID. *TR
Power train, Apr 22, 2013
A TWO WEEK OLD 2013 VW JETTA BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE AFTER BEING IN PARK AND THEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF AN EXTREMELY BUSY STREET IN BROOKLYN, NY. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FROM REVERSE AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. I HEARD FROM OTHERS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY IT IS NOT A REGISTERED RECALL WITH NHTSA AND WHY I HAD TO EXPERIENCE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR A KNOWN DEFECT. I AM NOT SURE IT WILL BE FIXED AS IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE VW SERVICE CENTER. *TR
Engine, Apr 17, 2013
BASED UPON MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OTHER OWNERS COMMENTS FOUND ON THE THE WEB, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH VARIOUS EXHAUST LEAKS ON LATE MODEL JETTA TDI'S WHICH ALLOWS DANGEROUS DIESEL SULFUR FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Mar 22, 2013
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER BUYING THIS NEW VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT HUNDREDS OF FOGGY LOOKING SPOTS WOULD APPEAR IN THE REAR WINDSHIELD AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY. WHEN THESE SPOTS APPEAR IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THIS WINDSHIELD OR INTO IT . THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AROUND DAWN AND AROUND DUSK THOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED AT OTHER TIMES OF THE DAY ALSO. I HAVE PURSUED HAVING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED BY CONTACTING THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WINDOW BEING POLARIZED AND THAT THE WINDOW IS UP TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. PRETTY MUCH THEY HAVE TOLD ME, TOO BAD THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. I HAVE EXPRESSED TO THE DEALER AND TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF OR IN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THESE FOGGY SPOTS ARE THERE. AFTER MONTHS OF TRYING TO GET THEM TO AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY FINALLY SENT AN EXECUTIVE DOWN TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEIR LAST TIME I HEARD FROM THEM, THEY SAID THEY WOULD TINT THE REAR WINDSHIELD SO THAT I WOULDN'T SEE THE PROBLEM. TO ME THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. IF YOU TRY TO COVER UP THE PROBLEM YOU DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER UP A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND IGNORING SAFETY ISSUES. I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TALK TO OR WHERE TO GO FROM HERE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH THEM. I AM READING ABOUT OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN VW FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND AM SURE THERE MUST BE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND AM WONDERING IF OTHERS HAVE SENT COMPLAINTS INTO THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
Power train, Dec 22, 2012
DSG TRANSMISSION ISSUES: WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC, I COASTED UP TO THE LIGHT WHEN IT WAS MY TURN, THEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. IT CROSSED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 2 MPH. IT TOOK 5 TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE POWER TO RETURN. IT FELT LIKE IF YOU ARE DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAVE THE CAR IN 4TH OR 5TH GEAR WHEN TRYING TO START MOVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT QUITE A FEW INTERSECTIONS. ALSO IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING THEN HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR DUE TO A VEHICLE SLOWING IN FRONT OF ME, I RE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR AND THERE WAS NO POWER FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. *TR
Power train, Oct 18, 2012
WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTS WAGON WITH DIESEL TDI ENGINE AND DSG TRANSMISSION. DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 110 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT HAS FAILED. THE SYMPTOM OF THE FAILURE WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WITH NO NOTICE AND THE CAR HAD SEVERALLY REDUCED POWER AVAILABLE (LESS THAN 10 MPH). RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS BEFORE. IT SEEMS VERY SERIOUS TO ME TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FAIL ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. *TR