MODELYEARINDEX

Which Volkswagen Jetta years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2010, 2019 and 2011 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

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 owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 F 667 reports · median 36,500 mi

  1. Fuel System 249

    The contact owns a 2010 vw jetta tdi. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH when the brakes were applied and an unexpected increase of pressure occurred without warning. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 122

    3 months after purchase car was stalling like it wanted to take off, but was dragging. I was told by dealer slight defect parts were replaced. Recently, car stopped on me twice when I made a complete stop at the light. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 89

    -the contact owns a 2010 volkswagen jetta sportwagen. While driving approximately 55 MPH the horn was engaged repeatedly with a delay response time. The failure occurred at any speed being traveled. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

20 crash · 4 fire · 6 injuries

2019 F 555 reports · median 6,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 147

    There is an issue with the transmission in the 2019 jettas (automatic). When driving in low rpm's between 25-30mph, there is a loud grinding sound coming from the car. This affects how you must drive. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 106

    2019 vw jetta's grinding/rattling noise from the torque converter. It's damaging the value of the vehicle and worse it's a safety issue as it causes accelerated heating and failure rate for the entire transmission… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 72

    My brand new vehicle has been stalling. Engine struggles to turn on after electrical system is down. Vehicle states that the air temperature control sensor is malfunctioning and vehicle completely stalls w/o power. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

30 crash · 5 fire · 39 injuries

The best year for the Jetta

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2018 is the best-scoring Jetta model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 90.7 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2018 0.07× 14 A
2021 0.39× 88 B
2020 0.32× 63 B

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
16V913000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2010 135,683
11E036000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM 2011, 2012 99,322
15V705000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 2015, 2016 91,867
26V185000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 2025 75,323

+ 31 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2010 were reported at a median of 36,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Volkswagen Jetta years should you avoid?
2010, 2019, 2011 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Volkswagen Jetta model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Volkswagen Jetta?
2018 is the best-scoring Volkswagen Jetta model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 90.7 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Jetta have?
43 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Volkswagen Jetta model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

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