Reliable Auto DB

2013 Volkswagen Jetta reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 516 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta over 14 years — 34 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Jetta years here — over the median of the other years, which is 14. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Brake master cylinder, Unknown or other, and Control module.

2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Photo by ChengH, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

516

Per year

34

Recalls

6

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (148 of 516), then Powertrain (140) and Engine (112). Those filings include 12 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Jetta has 526 complaints, 41 per year, and the 2014 has 386 complaints, 29 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (6)

Recall Brake master cylinder 2020-09-23 · NHTSA campaign 20E064000
Summary Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
Remedy Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.
Recall Unknown or other 2019-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 19V679000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Recall electrical system, ignition, anti-theft, control module 2019-08-22 · NHTSA campaign 19V615000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Recall air bags, frontal 2015-08-04 · NHTSA campaign 15V483000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Recall suspension, rear 2014-10-20 · NHTSA campaign 14V656000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Recall Engine 2014-03-07 · NHTSA campaign 14E007000
Summary The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Remedy Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Complaints by component (516 total)

Electrical system
148
Powertrain
140
Engine
112
Steering
37
Fuel and propulsion system
34
Air bags
31
Service brakes
22
Exterior lighting
17
Speed control
16
Structure
15
Suspension
14
Tires
9
Visibility and wipers
8
Diesel fuel system
7
Electronic stability control (ESC)
7
Engine and engine cooling
4
Visibility
4
Latches, locks, and linkages
3
Wheels
3
Fuel system, other
2
Seat belts
2
Seats
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

12

Fire-flagged

3

Injury reports

8

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220122020133920144020155520165720176520184920196220203520213420222420232120249202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Airbags did not deploy..as per police report"
    Air bags, Structure · filed 2026-08-09
  • "Driving vehicle on highway, vehicle lost engine power, no acceleration possible. Attempt to restart vehicle resulted in no start. Subsequent evaluation of fault revealed high pressure fuel pump failure."
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-02
  • "The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle decelerated and nearly caused a crash on the freeway.…"
    Steering, Electrical system · filed 2026-02-27
  • "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…"
    Tires · filed 2026-02-05
  • "I am submitting this complaint regarding Safety Recall 34J6, which is listed as INCOMPLETE for my 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. I brought my vehicle to Volkswagen of Murfreesboro, Tennessee to have this recall…"
    Powertrain, Unknown or other · filed 2025-12-08

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 33 26 MPG $3050
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 24 34 28 MPG $2300
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 29 37 32 MPG $2950
Jetta 2.5L, 5-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 31 26 MPG $2500
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 23 29 25 MPG $2600
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 24 32 27 MPG $2950
Jetta 2.5L, 5-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 23 33 26 MPG $2500
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 29 39 32 MPG $2950
Jetta hybrid 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) Front-wheel drive 41 48 44 MPG $1800
Jetta SportWagen 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 29 39 32 MPG $2950
Jetta SportWagen 2.5L, 5-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 23 33 26 MPG $2500
Jetta SportWagen 2.5L, 5-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 31 26 MPG $2500
Jetta SportWagen 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 29 37 32 MPG $2950

Specs and fitment

Mk6 (A6), 2012–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil VW 502.00/504.00 5W-30 or 0W-20 (engine dependent) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 205/55R16, 225/45R17 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 20V648000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak. A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire. Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Next year 2014 Volkswagen Jetta See every Volkswagen Jetta model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

Owners have filed 516 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta over 14 years — 34 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Jetta years here — over the median of the other years, which is 14. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Brake master cylinder, Unknown or other, and Control module.

What are common problems with a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (148 of 516), then Powertrain (140) and Engine (112). Those filings include 12 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Jetta has 526 complaints, 41 per year, and the 2014 has 386 complaints, 29 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta been recalled?

The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners have filed 516 complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta is 29.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Volkswagen Jetta use?

VW 502.00/504.00 5W-30 or 0W-20 (engine dependent)

What does NHTSA recall 20V-648 cover on the Volkswagen Jetta?

NHTSA safety recall 20V648000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

What generation is the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?

Mk6 (A6) (2012-2018).