Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid problems

Owners filed 585 complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid with NHTSA between Oct 2012 and May 2025. The most-cited component is power train (195).

Complaints
585
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train195
  2. Electrical system156
  3. Engine125
  4. Fuel/propulsion system37
  5. Steering36
  6. Air bags32
  7. Service brakes29
  8. Vehicle speed control21
  9. Exterior lighting17
  10. Structure15
  11. Suspension14
  12. Visibility/wiper9
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)8
  14. Tires8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20122
201323
201443
201544
201661
201763
201887
201958
202063
202143
202246
202326
202422
20254

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

195 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the compliance recall Campaign Number: 3M02 was completed. The contact stated that while attempting to remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle was in drive(D), the key came out smoothly. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle and entering the key in the ignition switch, the Electronic Power Control (EPC) and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the recall failed to fix the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2024Power train, Electrical systemODI 11631281

Electrical system

156 reports4 crashes1 fire
“The car has turned off at idle and at low speeds, almost causing accidents and to be rear ended in busy streets and during stop and go traffic on the highway. After numerous mechanic diagnostics at both Volkswagen Dealership service departments and third party mechanic shops, no one seems to be able to give me an answer or condition to what is causing the problem. With no error codes being brought up nor any other underlying issues that could be causing this issue, with a car having minor wear. This is a problem that has been reported by many other Volkswagen Jetta owners on online forums and no one seems to have a specific answer as to what is causing this accident prone issue!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2025Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineCrash reportedODI 11660505

Engine

125 reports2 crashes
“Car one day decided to have issues. It wouldn't turn over. So we called a row truck to come take it and run diagnostics. The tow truck driver showed up and on his decision making as im not a professional like he is he said can it turn on I said no so he pursued with saying that he is going to Jumpstart the battery in his words he says that's mainly the issue is a dead battery so he wanted to jump it with his portable jumper box as we are hooking it up to the vehicle I am inside and he connects the cables and tells me to try and turn it over in doing so the intake manifold had completely blown up. Right in front of the tow truck driver and it sounded like a cannon went off. He told me after he could hear again as well as me. We both have never experienced anything like that before. The pictures I'm providing are the damages of what jump starting the vehicle did.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2025EngineODI 11644383

Fuel/propulsion system

37 reports
“My car has 80,000 miles on it. The high pressure fuel pump sent metal shavings all through the entire system. Dealer quoted $9,000 to fix. This should have never happened. They said that the extended warranty from the diesel gate situation has expired and there’s nothing they can do. With the car only having 80,000 miles on it they should honor the warranty.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2025Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11640173

Steering

36 reports1 crash
“I am Filing a complaint against Volkswagen group of America, I called they for assistants in fixing an issue with one of their dealers to replace an ignition switch. Volkswagen said they stand by their dealer and would not let me speak to the Zone Reps for that area or the Dealer Reps that assist the customer in coming to a solution. The Ignition switch is a safety item and the dealer is trying to charge me a high price for a new key because they own a monopoly in the area.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2024Steering, Unknown or otherODI 11590597

Air bags

32 reports5 crashes
“The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bags indicator warning alarm sounded as if there was a passenger seated in the seat. The passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2023Air bagsODI 11537775
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.