2018 Volkswagen Jetta: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
31
Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
12.9
Severity index
Severity index 12.9 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 | 25.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 6 | 19.4% |
| AIR BAGS | 6 | 19.4% |
| POWER TRAIN | 5 | 16.1% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 | 9.7% |
| ENGINE | 2 | 6.5% |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 2 | 6.5% |
| GASOLINE | 2 | 6.5% |
The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 8 of 31 complaints (25.8%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 5 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.3x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V648000 | 21/10/2020 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak. |
| 20E064000 | 23/09/2020 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficien |
| 19V615000 | 22/08/2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless e |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.