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Volkswagen Jetta: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Volkswagen Jetta problems by model year, from 4,421 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (57%, 292 drivetrain complaints), 2014 (57%, 214 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (56%, 326 drivetrain complaints). 13 of the 14 Volkswagen Jetta years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (24%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (41%) to 2021 (24%), down 17 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (363 of 1,867 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Volkswagen Jetta year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Jetta | high | 45% | 363 | 875 | 7/14 | 6 |
| 2011 Jetta | elevated | 38% | 211 | 640 | 10/14 | 11 |
| 2012 Jetta | elevated | 36% | 170 | 526 | 11/14 | 8 |
| 2013 Jetta | high | 56% | 326 | 632 | 3/14 | 7 |
| 2014 Jetta | high | 57% | 214 | 440 | 2/14 | 6 |
| 2015 Jetta | high | 42% | 73 | 197 | 8/14 | 8 |
| 2016 Jetta | high | 51% | 78 | 164 | 4/14 | 5 |
| 2017 Jetta | high | 47% | 63 | 159 | 6/14 | 7 |
| 2018 Jetta | high | 48% | 12 | 31 | 5/14 | 3 |
| 2019 Jetta | high | 57% | 292 | 549 | 1/14 | 11 |
| 2020 Jetta | high | 41% | 21 | 53 | 9/14 | 6 |
| 2021 Jetta | no elevated signal | 24% | 15 | 69 | 14/14 | 4 |
| 2022 Jetta | elevated | 34% | 14 | 43 | 13/14 | 1 |
| 2023 Jetta | elevated | 36% | 15 | 43 | 12/14 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Volkswagen Jetta years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Volkswagen Jetta engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns on the Volkswagen Jetta involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 42 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2009 | 09V333000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2010 |
| Dec 2010 | 10V621000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2010 |
| Sep 2011 | 11V466000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system | 2011 |
| Sep 2011 | 11E036000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2011 | 11V490000 | fuel system, diesel | 2010–2012 |
| Mar 2014 | 14E007000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2011–2013 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V182000 | power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 2014 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V028000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail | 2014–2015 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V705000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2015–2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V403000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail | 2016 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V070000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2017 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V648000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail | 2016–2018 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V110000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2019–2020 |
29 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2011 | 11V196000 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2011 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V656000 | suspension: rear | 2011–2013 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V670000 | seats | 2015 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V790000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2015 |
| Aug 2015 | 15V483000 | air bags: frontal | 2011–2014 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V627000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2015 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V078000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V913000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2010 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V136000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V137000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017 |
| May 2017 | 17V352000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V671000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2019 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V824000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V904000 | suspension: rear: springs: coil springs | 2019 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V110000 | air bags: frontal | 2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V188000 | suspension: rear: springs: coil springs | 2019 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V615000 | electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module | 2011–2018 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V679000 | unknown or other | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V879000 | wheels | 2019 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V359000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2020 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V505000 | seats | 2020 |
| Sep 2020 | 20E064000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2010–2018 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V716000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2021 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V038000 | seats | 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V492000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2020–2021 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V514000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2021–2022 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V815000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2019–2020 |
| Aug 2023 | 23V604000 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2019–2020 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V619000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Volkswagen Jetta
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Volkswagen Jetta
What are the worst years for the Volkswagen Jetta?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Volkswagen Jetta years are the 2019 (57% of relevant complaints, high), the 2014 (57% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2013 (56% of relevant complaints, high). 13 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Jetta?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Volkswagen Jetta years are the 2021 (24%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Volkswagen Jetta have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,867 of 3,990 relevant NHTSA complaints (47%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 13 of 14 Volkswagen Jetta years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 47% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Volkswagen Jetta years we track, out of 42 in total: 17V070000 (Feb 2017, 2017), 20V648000 (Oct 2020, 2016–2018), 24V110000 (Feb 2024, 2019–2020), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.