2023 Volkswagen JettaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 43 owner complaints for the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta. Most complaints involve engine (11) and service brakes (10). The EPA rates it 33–35 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Engine11
- Service brakes10
- Electrical system9
- Forward collision avoidance5
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Lane departure2
- Power train2
- Suspension1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Jetta model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 183 |
| 1997 | 141 |
| 1998 | 194 |
| 1999 | 354 |
| 2000 | 451 |
| 2001 | 677 |
| 2002 | 711 |
| 2003 | 463 |
| 2004 | 233 |
| 2005 | 248 |
| 2006 | 580 |
| 2007 | 201 |
| 2008 | 190 |
| 2009 | 905 |
| 2010 | 875 |
| 2011 | 640 |
| 2012 | 527 |
| 2013 | 518 |
| 2014 | 388 |
| 2015 | 196 |
| 2016 | 164 |
| 2017 | 160 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 552 |
| 2020 | 54 |
| 2021 | 71 |
| 2022 | 43 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 | 6 |
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Deaths reported
- 0
What owners report most
Engine
“Car was started on afternoon of XXX and the Low Coolant alert sound and dashboard light came on. Opened hood and car was completely out of coolant. Took to Royal Automotive, Vestavia Hills, AL on Wednesday XXX to be fixed. Dealer assessment was “PERFORMED COOLING SYSTEM LEAK TEST. THE VEHICLE PASSED TEST. CHECK FOR VISUAL LEAKS. FOUND NO LEAKS, BUT FOUND SEEPAGE AT THE HEAD GASKET. VOLKSWAGEN SAID THIS WAS NORMAL PER 00-26-01 - DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLUID LEAKAGE AND SEEPAGE. TOP OFF COOLING SYSTEM.” The car was purchased new by me in October 2022 and my warranty expires in October 2022. It has just over 17,100 miles on it. Further, Volkswagen published a Technical Service Bulletin 15-23-01 - Head Gasket Leakage on XXX documenting known problems with head gaskets for my car’s engine. Despite dealership stating the head gaskets is leaking, Volkswagen stated to the dealership it doesn’t warrant repair. I believe Volkswagen should repair at their expense the defect of their vehicle. The dealership acknowledged the head gasket is clearly “seeping” coolant. Coolant shouldn’t be leaking at all from a closed loop system. This is causing a potential safety issue for my…”
Service brakes
“At only 24,000 miles, the rear brakes are already showing significant wear. When checked by the dealer, they were 2mm, while the front brakes were 12mm. The service representatives at the dealership have said this is a known problem with this model year, and they have already seen several cars with the same issue of brakes wearing out way too quickly. If a driver wasn't getting regular inspections, they would assume that their brakes would still be in great condition with this mileage, and it could pose a large safety risk.”
Electrical system
“The SOS Module failed three times and was replaced three times under warranty. The failure mode is a battery that cannot be ordered due to manufacturer issues. The failed module limits crash reporting. I have attached the three work orders for this vehicle.”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
- Engines
- 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Transmissions
- Automatic (S8) · Manual 6-spd
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 41 | 35 | $1,850 | 256 |
| Jetta Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 42 | 34 | $1,900 | 265 |
| Jetta Sport/SE/SEL Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 40 | 33 | $1,950 | 268 |
- 35mpg comb.
- 34mpg comb.
- 33mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 4 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 13.0%
- Frontal crash
- 4 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 133.0%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2023 Jetta questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Nov 3, 2026.
What are the most common 2023 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (11), service brakes (10), electrical system (9). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta at 33–35 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).
How safe is the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta 5 out of 5 stars overall.