Reliable Auto DB

2014 Volkswagen Jetta reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta holds 386 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 29 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 5 recalls on file, including Brake master cylinder, Control module, and Frontal.

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

386

Per year

29

Recalls

5

Years on the road

13

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (108 of 386), then Electrical system (94) and Powertrain (73). Those filings include 20 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 14 that report an injury.

Next to 2013 and 2015

The 2013 Jetta has 516 complaints, 34 per year, and the 2015 has 194 complaints, 18 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

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 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (5)

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 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 gasoline fuel system, fuel injection, fuel rail 2015-01-23 · NHTSA campaign 15V028000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, cooling unit and lines 2014-04-15 · NHTSA campaign 14V182000
Summary Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38B9/9V.

Complaints by component (386 total)

Engine
108
Electrical system
94
Powertrain
73
Fuel and propulsion system
38
Air bags
37
Exterior lighting
24
Service brakes
18
Steering
17
Speed control
11
Electronic stability control (ESC)
10
Suspension
9
Structure
7
Engine and engine cooling
6
Seat belts
5
Tires
4
Visibility and wipers
4
Diesel fuel system
3
Seats
3
Visibility
3
Wheels
3
Equipment
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

20

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

14

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220133620142520152320164820174520187820193620202020213120221420231520249202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I was leaving my house to head to work. When I turned on the highway. The car randomly stopped accelerating. No warning or anything just stopped going. Pulled over to the side and shut it off for five mins. Turned it…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-20
  • "I am experiencing multiple safety-related issues with the driver's side door latch/lock assembly on my Volkswagen vehicle. These problems are isolated to the driver's door and appear linked to a known defect involving…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-01-16
  • "the auxiliary heater had burned through the heat shield and melted into the cabin causing a small fire and now some smoke to enter the cabin"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-01-05
  • "According to the mechanic to whom we took the vehicle, there was a massive short in the mechatronics component of the transmission. The mechanic also informed us that there was no proactive action we could have taken…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-01-01
  • "The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the heater and the defroster were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the heater core was replaced; however, the failure…"
    Engine and engine cooling, Visibility · filed 2025-12-17

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Jetta 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 36 29 MPG $2250
Jetta 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 26 36 30 MPG $2150
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 23 29 25 MPG $2600
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 24 32 27 MPG $2950
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 29 39 32 MPG $2950
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 23 33 26 MPG $3050
Jetta 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 29 37 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 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 29 37 32 MPG $2950
Jetta SportWagen 2.5L, 5-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 23 30 26 MPG $2500
Jetta SportWagen 2.5L, 5-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 23 33 26 MPG $2500

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 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Next year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta See every Volkswagen Jetta model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta holds 386 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 29 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 5 recalls on file, including Brake master cylinder, Control module, and Frontal.

What are common problems with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (108 of 386), then Electrical system (94) and Powertrain (73). Those filings include 20 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 14 that report an injury.

Is the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Jetta has 516 complaints, 34 per year, and the 2015 has 194 complaints, 18 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

Has the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta been recalled?

The 2014 Volkswagen Jetta has 5 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 2014 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners have filed 386 complaints about the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta is 29.9 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).