Volkswagen

Jetta

Compact Cars · model years 2010 to 2025

Includes Jetta and Jetta Hybrid as listed by the EPA.

See all 78 Jetta trims All Volkswagen cars

The verdict

Best year: 2024. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 20; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 2012. complaints: 525, about 6.7x this model's typical 78; recalls: 8, about 8x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Volkswagen Jetta
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	Top complaints
2010	6Diesel, Gas	26	170	$2,500	0	0	4 (1 open)	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 59 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	6Diesel, Gas	27.5	140	$2,425	0	0	5 (1 open)	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 59 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	8Diesel, Gas	26.5	155	$2,450	8	525	5 (1 open)	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, ENGINE 12%
complaints: 525, about 6.7x this model's typical 78 recalls: 8, about 8x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	9Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	27	128	$2,450	0	0	4 (1 open)	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 88 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	9Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	29	170	$2,450	5	386	4 (1 open)	ENGINE 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 386, about 4.4x this model's typical 88 recalls: 5, about 5x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	9Diesel, Gas, Hybrid	29	143	$2,250	8	193	1	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, ENGINE 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 193, about 2.2x this model's typical 88 recalls: 8, about 8x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	7Gas, Hybrid	29	170	$2,150	5	160	1	ENGINE 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 160, about 2.4x this model's typical 68 recalls: 5, about 5x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	5Gas	29	160	$2,150	0	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 49 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	4Gas	30	150	$2,075	0	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 39 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	34	147	$1,850	11	533	2	POWER TRAIN 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, ENGINE 19%
complaints: 533, about 26.7x this model's typical 20 recalls: 11, about 11x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 35 NHTSA advised parking the 2019 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	4Gas	31	147	$2,025	0	0	1	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 39 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	33.5	147	$1,875	4	63	0	SERVICE BRAKES 26%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 63, about 3.2x this model's typical 20 recalls: 4, about 4x this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	34.5	158	$1,825	1	39	0	SERVICE BRAKES 19%, ENGINE 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%
complaints: 39, about 2x this model's typical 20 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Gas	34.5	158	$1,825	0	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 20 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Gas	34	158	$1,850	0	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 20 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Gas	33	158	$1,900	2	20	0	POWER TRAIN 19%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%
complaints: 20, about 2x this model's typical 10 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 19 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2010: 26 to 2025: 33

Owner complaints2010: 0 to 2025: 20

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Volkswagen Jetta to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.