Volkswagen Jetta years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 31 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2019, 2010, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2012 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 6 | — | 1 | 0 | Too new to judge |
| 2025 | 32 | 16 | 1.0 | 2 | 4 | Typical |
| 2024 | 46 | 15 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 | Typical |
| 2023 | 43 | 11 | 0.7 | 0 | 1 | Typical |
| 2022 | 43 | 9 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | Typical |
| 2021 | 71 | 12 | 0.7 | 4 | 3 | Typical |
| 2020 | 54 | 8 | 0.5 | 6 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2019 | 552 | 69 | 4.3 | 11 | 19 | Most complaints |
| 2018 | 32 | 4 | 0.2 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2017 | 160 | 16 | 1.0 | 7 | 18 | Typical |
| 2016 | 164 | 15 | 0.9 | 5 | 18 | Typical |
| 2015 | 196 | 16 | 1.0 | 8 | 8 | Typical |
| 2014 | 388 | 30 | 1.9 | 5 | 20 | Typical |
| 2013 | 518 | 37 | 2.3 | 6 | 12 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 527 | 35 | 2.2 | 8 | 24 | Most complaints |
| 2011 | 640 | 40 | 2.5 | 10 | 28 | Most complaints |
| 2010 | 875 | 51 | 3.2 | 5 | 24 | Most complaints |
| 2009 | 905 | 50 | 3.1 | 7 | 31 | Most complaints |
| 2008 | 190 | 10 | 0.6 | 6 | 4 | Typical |
| 2007 | 201 | 10 | 0.6 | 6 | 11 | Typical |
| 2006 | 580 | 28 | 1.7 | 6 | 15 | Typical |
| 2005 | 248 | 11 | 0.7 | 7 | 8 | Typical |
| 2004 | 233 | 10 | 0.6 | 5 | 15 | Typical |
| 2003 | 463 | 19 | 1.2 | 4 | 25 | Typical |
| 2002 | 711 | 28 | 1.8 | 7 | 32 | Typical |
| 2001 | 677 | 26 | 1.6 | 7 | 41 | Typical |
| 2000 | 451 | 17 | 1.0 | 5 | 27 | Typical |
| 1999 | 354 | 13 | 0.8 | 7 | 33 | Typical |
| 1998 | 194 | 7 | 0.4 | 3 | 11 | Fewest complaints |
| 1997 | 141 | 5 | 0.3 | 2 | 15 | Fewest complaints |
| 1996 | 183 | 6 | 0.4 | 2 | 17 | Fewest complaints |
- 20266 complaints · 1 recallToo new to judge
- 202532 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 202446 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 202343 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 202243 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 202171 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 202054 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
- 2019552 complaints · 11 recallsMost complaints
- 201832 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 2017160 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2016164 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2015196 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
- 2014388 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2013518 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 2012527 complaints · 8 recallsMost complaints
- 2011640 complaints · 10 recallsMost complaints
- 2010875 complaints · 5 recallsMost complaints
- 2009905 complaints · 7 recallsMost complaints
- 2008190 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2007201 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2006580 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2005248 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2004233 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2003463 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2002711 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2001677 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2000451 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1999354 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 1998194 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 1997141 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 1996183 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
Fewest complaints for their age: 2018, 1997, 1996, 1998, 2020.
About this comparison
What Volkswagen Jetta years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2019, 2010, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2012 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 31 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.