AI Damage2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 36
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 22% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 17% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 8% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 8 complaints (22% of all).
- Air bags: 6 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 36 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Airbags failed to deploy during severe front impact crash. Car is supposed to be picked up from body shop by my insurance company tomorrow Thursday 4/13/2023. Don't know if it would be available for inspection after that day. Driver safety was at risk without airbag deployment.
I had lost power driving over the grapevine on Highway and then recently I had difficulty putting vehicle in gear and it would make a loud noise. Independent service center confirmed that the TCM was faulty.
My Bosch CP4 fuel pump failed causing my engine to stall while turning at a very busy/fast intersection. This can occur at speed without any warning of sudden failure, putting everyone on the road at risk. Fault code P0087 and P0191 were present, along with a flashing glow plug.
The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined an electrical short was causing the battery to drain and other electrical issues. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance.
The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to respond as needed.
Walked out to the garage where the vehicle had been shut off for a number of minutes to conduct another dayâs personal investigation (canât leave it outside when it rains unfortunately - moonroof leaks). This time: exterior lights on & found the interior lights in what looked to be an odd cycling.
The Service Act/Recall for the glow plug was NOT reported to Experian by Volkswagen when it was repaired on 12-11-2014 AND it was incorrectly installed by the VW Dealership in Tulsa who serviced it. It was not disclosed to me and we paid over $1400 this year for an "incorrect" glow-plug, same exact part number.
The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an auto parts store that used a handheld scanner and determined that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer due to engine failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,253 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Jetta Sportwagen has 19 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 36, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 36. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (19%), warning lights, check engine (17%), stalls while driving (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.