2020 Volkswagen Jetta problems and recalls

Owners have filed 51 complaints on the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta, and NHTSA has issued 6 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (16 complaints).

51
Complaints
6
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
53.6
Severity index

Severity index 53.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 56 of 103 by severity index among 2020 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 46% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2020 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 16 complaints (31.4%)16 31%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 13 complaints (25.5%)13 25%EngineEngine: 12 complaints (23.5%)12 24%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (13.7%)7 14%Power TrainPower Train: 7 complaints (13.7%)7 14%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 5 complaints (9.8%)5 10%SteeringSteering: 3 complaints (5.9%)3 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (5.9%)3 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1631.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1325.5%
ENGINE1223.5%
SERVICE BRAKES713.7%
POWER TRAIN713.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM59.8%
STEERING35.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL35.9%

Complaints filed per year

07142020: 72021: 92022: 52023: 72024: 142025: 52026: 4 (partial year)2021222324142526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20207
20219
20225
20237
202414
20255
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (26 against 21).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V50500026/08/2020SEATSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
21V49200030/06/2021AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.
20V35900017/06/2020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2020 Jetta vehicle. The front brake caliper bolts may come loose.
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.
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

Other Volkswagen Jetta model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.