2019 Volkswagen Jetta: owner complaints and recalls

Complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta are still climbing years after launch. The last three full years account for 194 of the 541 filings on record, which usually means a defect that surfaces with mileage rather than a factory fault.

541
Complaints
11
Recalls
19
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
36
Injuries
70.6
Severity index

Severity index 70.6 - Medium. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 70.6p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

Among the 123 2019 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta ranks 38 of 123 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 69% of its model-year peers. See the full 2019 ranking.

What actually fails

Power TrainPower Train: 162 complaints (29.9%)162 30%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 152 complaints (28.1%)152 28%EngineEngine: 146 complaints (27.0%)146 27%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 94 complaints (17.4%)94 17%Service BrakesService Brakes: 29 complaints (5.4%)29 5%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 26 complaints (4.8%)26 5%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 25 complaints (4.6%)25 5%StructureStructure: 22 complaints (4.1%)22 4%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN16229.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15228.1%
ENGINE14627.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9417.4%
SERVICE BRAKES295.4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING264.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM254.6%
STRUCTURE224.1%

Complaints filed per year

0801602018: 192019: 1562020: 812021: 322022: 302023: 962024: 582025: 402026: 29 (partial year)181915620212223242526
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
201819
2019156
202081
202132
202230
202396
202458
202540
2026 (year to date)29
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.4x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V67900025/09/2019UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and B
18V67100026/09/2018EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark. As such, these vehicles fail to comply
18V90400019/12/2018SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
18V82400026/11/2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in
19V11000020/02/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTALVolkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. An incorrect driver frontal airbag may have been installed during a service/repair visit.
19V18800006/03/2019SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
19V87900011/12/2019WHEELSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta GLI, Golf Alltrack, and Golf GTI vehicles. The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.
22V81500031/10/2022TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas
23V60400030/08/2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCHVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
23V61900006/09/2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the
24V11000014/02/2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 20
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.