MODELYEARINDEX

Volkswagen Jetta

3,317 complaints across 12 scored model years and 43 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Volkswagen Jetta Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2010 vs model median 4.1×
Model median3× median
Fuel System 249
Engine 122
Electrical 89
Avoid

2010 · 2019

Best

2018 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
4.12× 667 F
2011
2.49× 455 F
2012
1.60× 300 D
2013
1.57× 300 D
2014
1.20× 229 D
2015
0.66× 138 C
2016
0.78× 133 C
2017
0.80× 151 C
2018
0.07× 14 A
2019
3.01× 555 F
2020
0.32× 63 B
2021
0.39× 88 B
2022 P
0.30× 71 A
2023 P
0.29× 65 A
2024 P
0.25× 59 A
2025 P
0.16× 29 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG33
City / Highway29 / 39
Engine1.5L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$1,850

Recalls

43 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
19V615000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE 2011–2018 679,027
14V656000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2011–2013 442,066
15V483000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2011–2014 415,825
22V815000 TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS 2019, 2020 296,044
24V110000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2019, 2020 261,257
10V621000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2010 228,236
20V648000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL 2016–2018 218,192
11V490000 FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 2010–2012 168,275

+ 35 further campaigns

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura ILX
20142016
C
Audi A3
20152017
C
BMW 1 Series
none flagged
C
BMW I3
none flagged
C
Buick Verano
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Bolt EV
2017
C
Chevrolet Cobalt
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Cruze
20112012
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 Jetta
Complaints in window
667
Severity-weighted
1,229.5
Model median (weighted)
298
vs model median
4.12×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
5
Open investigations
1
Score 9.2 F