Volkswagen Jetta
Owners filed 10,129 complaints across 37 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta. The 2009 drew the most (888); the 2026 the fewest (5).
Model years37
Complaints10,129
Recalls193
Fires311
Deaths19
Every Volkswagen Jetta model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 1 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2025 | 28 | 2 | — | 4 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2024 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2023 | 43 | 0 | — | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2022 | 42 | 1 | — | 1 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2021 | 68 | 4 | — | 3 | Service Brakes | Fatalities reported | |
| 2020 | 52 | 6 | — | 1 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2019 | 548 | 11 | 3 | 19 | Power Train | Do not drive | |
| 2018 | 31 | 3 | — | 1 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2017 | 159 | 7 | 3 | 18 | Engine | Fatalities reported | |
| 2016 | 161 | 5 | 5 | 18 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2015 | 194 | 8 | 1 | 8 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2014 | 386 | 5 | 2 | 20 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2013 | 516 | 6 | 3 | 12 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2012 | 499 | 8 | 6 | 24 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2011 | 607 | 10 | 9 | 27 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2010 | 852 | 5 | 5 | 23 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2009 | 888 | 7 | 8 | 31 | Fuel System, Diesel | Above average | |
| 2008 | 188 | 6 | 4 | 4 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2007 | 201 | 6 | 7 | 11 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2006 | 580 | 6 | 6 | 15 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2005 | 248 | 7 | 14 | 8 | Power Train | Above average | |
| 2004 | 231 | 5 | 20 | 15 | Electrical System | High concern | |
| 2003 | 457 | 4 | 70 | 25 | Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler | Fatalities reported | |
| 2002 | 702 | 7 | 71 | 31 | Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler | Fatalities reported | |
| 2001 | 668 | 7 | 12 | 40 | Air Bags › Side/Window | Fatalities reported | |
| 2000 | 439 | 5 | 14 | 27 | Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | Fatalities reported | |
| 1999 | 349 | 7 | 9 | 33 | Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | Above average | |
| 1998 | 192 | 3 | 8 | 11 | Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | Routine | |
| 1997 | 141 | 2 | 5 | 15 | Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | Fatalities reported | |
| 1996 | 174 | 2 | 5 | 17 | Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | Fatalities reported | |
| 1995 | 220 | 6 | 11 | 21 | Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch | Above average | |
| 1994 | 117 | 7 | 5 | 7 | Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | Routine | |
| 1993 | 17 | 6 | — | — | Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch | Routine | |
| 1992 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 4 | Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline | Routine | |
| 1991 | 31 | 7 | — | 2 | Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core | Routine | |
| 1990 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 1 | Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core | Routine |
Which Volkswagen Jetta years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2009 is the weakest year on record, with 888 complaints concentrated in the fuel system, diesel. It carries 7 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.