Problems · NHTSA complaints

2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Owners filed 552 complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA between Aug 2018 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (163).

Complaints
552
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
36
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train163
  2. Electrical system154
  3. Engine147
  4. Service brakes29
  5. Exterior lighting26
  6. Fuel/propulsion system25
  7. Structure23
  8. Visibility/wiper18
  9. Suspension17
  10. Air bags16
  11. Vehicle speed control16
  12. Steering12
  13. Forward collision avoidance12
  14. Visibility8

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 3, 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
201819
2019156
202081
202132
202230
202396
202458
202540
202640

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

163 reports3 crashes
“2019 Volkswagen Jetta. While the vehicle was in Drive, it moved in reverse without the driver selecting reverse., this happened when the driver stopped to take a parking ticket in the garage on a slope. The driver again moved the dear to parking and back to drive but same thing happened. Ultimately, driver switched off the ignition and started the car again and drive mode worked”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2026Power trainODI 11774532

Electrical system

154 reports2 crashes3 related recalls
“My problem is the same as Recall 28H7/or 23V604. I have the some make and model and ignition as the Jettas with the recall but for some reson it is not a part of the recall. When the car gets hot the ignition cuts off while I'm driving and I have not speedometer, turn signals or wippers. Please make my VIN a part of the VW recall for this problem”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2026Electrical systemODI 11764620

Engine

147 reports4 crashes2 fires
“I bought a VW 2019 Jetta used in 2023 from a Volkswagen dealer in Bayside, Queens with about 20k miles on it. There was a recall on the car for a faulty ignition switch and prior to getting my car inspected recently, it needed to be taken care of to pass inspection as well as an oil sensor contributing to a check engine light. Both were taken care of by VW Platinum Service in Hicksville and the car passed inspection with a mileage now with about 62k miles. Since then, my car on two extremely hot days has shut off on me completely while driving. The first time it happened, they inspected the car again and assured me after several tests there were no issues with the car. I had the car back for about 2 weeks and then this past Friday 7/17, the car shut off on me again and I towed it to the same service center. They keep claiming it has nothing to do with the recall and provide me with service reports that say "no codes found" after their inspection. They want to charge me for additional tests and "mechanical diagnostics" as per the owner of the center. There is ample evidence online that suggests the symptoms I am experiencing with my car are exactly attributed to…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11751785

Service brakes

29 reports6 crashes
“DRIVING ON WESTLAKE DRIVE IN WIMAUMA FL PREPARING TO TURN LEFT TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PUT FOOT ON CLUTCH PUT CAR IN 2ND GEAR WITH FOOT ABOVE BRAKE TO MASH DOWN, PCOULD WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN HIT ELECTRIC POLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CAR WAS IN SHOP PRIOR TO ACCIDDENT AT BOB BOAST VOLKSWAGEN IN BRADENTON FL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2026Service brakes, Lane departureCrash reportedODI 11746925

Exterior lighting

26 reports1 related recall
“I was driving my car on a 100 degree day and and after about a block, a warning popped up on the little screen behind the steering wheel that said "Ignition switch off, safely stop the vehicle". I feel like the engine may have shut off, but I'm not sure as I just rolled to the side of the road and turned off my car as fast as a could. I waited a few minutes and turned it on, drove about a block, and it said, "Starter system faulty, please service vehicle". I once again turned it off, waited a few minutes. I googled on my phone instances of this and people saying they were still able to drive that car, so I turned it back on and started to drive it the two blocks back to my house, the "Starter system faulty" message popped up again and suddenly all of the electrical in the car shut off (the engine was still running). My radio, speedometer, everything was just off. I made it home, got on my computer and found an article about a recall that match my car's make, model, year, and key rather than button ignition. It described my exact experience. I looked up my car to see if it had a recall and it didn't. I called the dealership and they were no help, so I called the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11680499

Fuel/propulsion system

25 reports1 fire
“It will not take fuel. I try very slowly to put fuel in it and it keeps shutting off at the pump. I took it to the VW Dealership and they said it was a stuck valve in the tank. That I would need a new gas tank and wanted to charge me $2000 to fix it. I took it to another place and they said it was a venting problem. They put a camera down in the tank and pushed the stick valve open and it wasn’t stuck as much as it had pressure built up in the tank from not getting holding the valve shut. I’m not sure what to do. I don’t know if it’s a stuck valve or a venting problem.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11728131
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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