2020 Volkswagen Jetta reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta holds 52 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 7 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Jetta years here — under the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline, Switch, and Tire pressure monitoring.

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

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 52), then Engine (12) and Powertrain (7). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Jetta has 548 complaints, 96 per year, and the 2021 has 69 complaints, 10 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

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 2020 Volkswagen Jetta. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (6)

Recall Fuel system, gasoline 2024-02-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V110000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

Remedy Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.

Recall electrical system, ignition, switch 2023-08-30 · NHTSA campaign 23V604000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.

Remedy Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.

Recall tires, tire pressure monitoring 2022-10-31 · NHTSA campaign 22V815000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Remedy Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Recall air bags, air bag control module 2021-06-30 · NHTSA campaign 21V492000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.

Remedy Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CK.

Recall Seats 2020-08-26 · NHTSA campaign 20V505000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.

Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.

Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2020-06-17 · NHTSA campaign 20V359000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2020 Jetta vehicle. The front brake caliper bolts may come loose.

Remedy Volkswagen will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace all four front brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47Q2.

Complaints by component (52 total)

Electrical system

Engine

Powertrain

Service brakes

Fuel and propulsion system

Speed control

Steering

Air bags

Forward collision avoidance

Suspension

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Seats

Structure

Tires

Visibility

Visibility and wipers

Show 8 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"On 2 separate occasions (in recent 2 months); the car would not restart and error messages would include printing the electrical parking brake engagement. Attempts to reset were futile. Car had to be towed. After 2nd…"
Electrical system · filed 2026-09-10
"Volkswagen mandatory software update/campaign 24Fi corrupted the OCU/Telematics firmware on my vehicle. This firmware corruption deactivated the critical emergency SOS safety system (Automatic Crash Notification),…"
Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-05-20
"Rear left coil spring snapped mid driving, breaking off a 3 inch piece. Car now rattles when it goes over bumps. Upon looking under the car, the right rear coil spring is corroded and snapped as well."
Suspension · filed 2026-04-26
"There was a warning light for the emergency call function unavailable please service immediately."
Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-07
"Upon “starting” car, all systems turn on and car tells me the engine is on; however, if I put into any gear nothing. Only once I press the ignition one more time does the engine actually start."
Engine · filed 2026-02-12

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Jetta	1.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Front-wheel drive	30	40	34 MPG	$1900
Jetta	2L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	25	33	28 MPG	$2300
Jetta	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Front-wheel drive	25	32	28 MPG	$2300
Jetta	1.4L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	30	40	34 MPG	$1900

Specs and fitment

Mk7 (A7), 2019–present

Body styles Sedan

Oil VW 508.00 0W-20 (1.4L/1.5L turbo; see manual for 2.0L) , 4.8 qt capacity

Tire size 205/55R17

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-904 covers certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles among other VW models: rear coil springs may prematurely fracture and damage a rear tire, causing loss of control; dealers replace the rear axle coil springs. Recall 18V-671 covers certain 2019 Jetta vehicles with LED headlights: the passenger-side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing nighttime visibility and failing FMVSS headlamp aim requirements; dealers replace the passenger-side headlight. Confirm VIN applicability because related campaigns also list Atlas and other nameplates under shared totals.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Volkswagen Jetta Next year 2021 Volkswagen Jetta See every Volkswagen Jetta model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

What are common problems with a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 52), then Engine (12) and Powertrain (7). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta been recalled?

The 2020 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 2020 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners have filed 52 complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta is 31 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).