AI Damage2013 Volkswagen Jetta: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta filed 518 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 518
- involving a crash
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 27% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 3% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 148 complaints (29% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 141 complaints (27% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 112 complaints (22% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 37 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 34 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 5 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 1.4 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2 L · diesel · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 20 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speednamed in 11 complaints
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speednamed in 11 complaints
- manual, 5-speednamed in 4 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 4 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 518 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 148 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 141 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 112 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 37 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 31 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 9 | 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.
The driverâs side air bags did not deploy; however, the passenger side side-curtain air bags deployed and then deflated. The passenger sustained neck injuries and was taken by ambulance to seek medical attention. The motorcycle rider died on the scene.
Complete failure in air conditioning system/compressor electrical system locks/unlocks doors while driving. Electrical system rolls down windows for no reason. This begun 70k miles
I hit a tree on a city street and the airbag did not deploy that time either and I had a cut on my head I had injury to my knee and my achilles tendon both of which resulted in surgeries. I have had two other accidents since neither time neither I have had two other accidents since and the air bags did not deploy.
While driving 15 mph, the brakes failed and the contact's vehicle rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was not injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a certified independent mechanic and the body damage was repaired.
I estimate I hit them going at least 55 to 60 mph and my airbags did not deploy on impact. I am concerned with why they did not deploy especially since my car is possibly totaled.
Steering wheel gets hard and starts licking oil. Steering wheel has being replaced multiple times. 12/10/13 replaced at 13625 miles, second time replaced 10/10/2014 at 27338 miles. Dec. 2014 I got a recall notice from vw of america due to faulty rear axle.
Tl* the contact rented a 2013 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds and attempting to stop for traffic, the braking system failed to engage and caused the brake pedal to become stuck to the floorboard. The contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle.
Tire size 205/50R17 Tire belt broke without warning and caused a large bubble in the side of my tire. Tire was out of balance and the cars stability was immediately reduced while on the highway. Had to be replaced with only 8,000 miles on it.
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 712 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Jetta has 228 complaints (45 years in the data). This year has 518, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
- Jetta 198513 sources
- Jetta 198614 sources
- Jetta 198718 sources
- Jetta 198819 sources
- Jetta 198928 sources
- Jetta 199022 sources
- Jetta 199131 sources
- Jetta 199230 sources
- Jetta 199317 sources
- Jetta 1994117 sources
- Jetta 1995220 sources
- Jetta 1996174 sources
- Jetta 1997141 sources
- Jetta 1998192 sources
- Jetta 1999349 sources
- Jetta 2000439 sources
- Jetta 2001668 sources
- Jetta 2002702 sources
- Jetta 2003457 sources
- Jetta 2004231 sources
- Jetta 2005248 sources
- Jetta 2006580 sources
- Jetta 2007201 sources
- Jetta 2008188 sources
- Jetta 2009889 sources
- Jetta 2010852 sources
- Jetta 2011607 sources
- Jetta 2012500 sources
- Jetta 2014388 sources
- Jetta 2015194 sources
- Jetta 2016667 sources
- Jetta 2017559 sources
- Jetta 2018443 sources
- Jetta 20191,049 sources
- Jetta 2020537 sources
- Jetta 2021544 sources
- Jetta 2022480 sources
- Jetta 2023377 sources
- Jetta 2024299 sources
- Jetta 2025180 sources
- Jetta 202692 sources
- Jetta 99997 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, engine. Total complaints: 518. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (15%), stalls while driving (10%), loss of power / limp mode (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
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 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.