2020 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 53 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 1 involved a crash. 2 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasolineFeb 14, 2024
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
Campaign 24V110000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignition, switchAug 30, 2023
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
Campaign 23V604000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsOct 31, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Campaign 22V815000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 30, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.
Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CK.
Campaign 21V492000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsAug 26, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.
Campaign 20V505000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperJun 17, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2020 Jetta vehicle. The front brake caliper bolts may come loose.
If a brake caliper bolt comes loose, it may affect the vehicle's brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace all four front brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47Q2.
Campaign 20V359000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
12 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Feb 12, 2026
Upon “starting” car, all systems turn on and car tells me the engine is on; however, if I put into any gear nothing. Only once I press the ignition one more time does the engine actually start.
Engine, Oct 11, 2025
October 9, 2025 EPC light on. October 10, 2025, called Brown's VW in Charlottetown, PEI and brought the car in. The EPC light was off. The scan revealed that turbo on the vehicle had a seized wastegate. The cost of repair is $4,026.85 and a wait for parts. If the EPC light was flashing, the vehicle would buck and stop in the middle of the road causing a safety issue. There were no warnings previous to the EPC light going on. the vehicle is out of warranty but low mileage. Please note I spend 6 months a year in PEI, Canada and 6 months in the US. My address in Canada is: 81 Kilkenny Rd., Rte 250, Harrington, PE CIE 3A5. The vehicle is registered in PEI and had a RIV certificate. I was also told by an independent source that the above problem is common in the Atlantic Provinces because of the position of the wastegate and also the salt in the air in the Atlantic Provinces. I am certain in sea coast areas of the US, there is a similar problem with this VW turbo and the VW Tiguan is also affected. Many years of the VW Jetta have the same problem.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Jan 27, 2025
When I start the car Multiple times the car will throw over half of all the error code and could not start the vehicle. Driving in the highway doing 65mph with the cruise control on the car completely shut off and I had to limp it to the shoulder and was unable to start the car. Each time I cleared the fault codes then was able to start the car. If I didn’t have my scanner I would have had to get towed each time to the dealer. I see there is an ignition switch recall on the 2019 and the 2020 cars but for some reason I don’t see my 2020 included in that. Now the proximity sensor is at fault and I have to take it to the dealer again. Please let me know what I should do
Engine, Dec 3, 2024
My check engine light came on on Sunday Dec 1. I immediately took it to a diagnostic service station in my local area. They diagnosed that my car has a vent control valve malfunction. This issue is a KNOWN problem to Volkswagen. They do not replace this part if it fails after 60K miles. This makes zero sense to me. I purchased my car, used with 63K miles on it. It now has 80K. At no time was I made aware that this part would/could fail! The vent control valve is over $250 and labor will be another $200. When I called VW they said they don't issue recalls, only NTHSA does. Furthermore, VW also said that if I am to get reimbursed, should they see fit to issue this recall, that I must take it to a VW dealer. All well and good, but VW wants $238 to diagnose a problem that already cost me $130. I was also told that there are currently 11K cars waiting on this part. That is not a statistical anomaly. Therefore, NTHSA needs to issue a recall and help VW owners get their vent valve control replaced before our engines are damaged.
Engine, Feb 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving uphill at 55 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly shut off with an unknown warning light flashing on the instrument panel. Despite the failure, the contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to the residence. The vehicle was later taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed but no defect was found. The contact then stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle eventually restarted after several attempts. The dealer was contacted about the failure and the contact was promised a callback. The contact had not yet heard back from the dealer. The manufacturer was also notified about the failure and the contact was referred to another dealer for service. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 46,625.
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 70-80 MPH, the electronic parking brake engaged independently. The message "Driver's Side Door Fault" and a message indicating that the auto Start/Stop feature was unavailable were displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving at various speeds, while making turns, and while coming to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the driver's side door wiring harness had failed and caused the module to experience an electrical shortage. The dealer informed the contact that the electronic parking brake had engaged because the door was securely closed while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,789.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 3, 2022
When vehicle goes over 60mph starts to shake really bad and warning not enough power for engine light is on
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 21, 2021
Was is merging onto interstate i95 and the Jetta wouldn’t accelerate no matter how hard I pushed the gas pedal eventually took my foot off and had to turn on emergency lights then The Jetta started slowly moving as if it was just going to stall almost got rear ended and then the car wanted to send me in to another lane. Due to the angry driver behind me.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Apr 11, 2021
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN PARKING SPOT AND UPON IGNITION BEGAN REVVING UNCONTROLLABLY AND THREW UP ERROR CODES "ENGINE SPEED MAX. 4000 RPM" AND "START-STOP SYSTEM ERROR", ALONG WITH EPC AND ENGINE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE WAS ALSO DEPRESSED. UPON PUTTING INTO REVERSE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. SOON AFTER, ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER BUT NOT TURN OVER WITH THE SAME ERROR CODES ON DISPLAY.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 3, 2021
I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND HAD MY CAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT IT INTO FIRST AT A GREEN LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO POWER, THE ENGINE HAD CUT OFF. I DRIVE A MANUAL AND HAVE FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE. THERE WAS NO LURCHING OR ANYTHING, JUST A SILENT CUT. HARD TO GET IT TURNED BACK ON, THE VEHICLE SEEMED CONFUSED WHEN I HIT THE START BUTTON... WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Jan 19, 2021
AS I WAS DRIVING HOME LATE LAST NIGHT FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET , MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN SPEED WHILE IN MOTION BUT YOU CAN HEAR THE CAR ACCELERATE WHEN I WAS PUSHING ON THE GAS. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR HAS TURNED OFF BECAUSE THEN MY STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD WAS HARD TO MOVE WHILE IN MOTION. CAUSE OF PROBLEMS IS UNKNOWN BUT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE IF IT CONTINUES
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 28, 2020
THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN REVVING UP THE ENGINE TO OVERTAKE CARS. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BOGS DOWN AND ENGINE RPMS ARE LIMITED TO 3000 WHEN LIGHT IS ON. IT COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND FORCES ME TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. THE ONLY WAY FOR THE LIGHT TO COME OFF IS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON. I VISITED A LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME OF A FAULT CODE P227900 INTAKE AIR SYSTEM LEAK PASSIVE/SPORADIC. THEY PERFORMED AN AIR INTAKE SYSTEM TEST AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS EPC LIGHT COMES ON. IF IT HAPPENS A 4TH TIME I WILL ONCE AGAIN TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IF SOMETHING COMES ON. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING THAT I CAN'T REV MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR ELSE THIS LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON.