CarComplaints.com Notes: VW updated the Jetta's interior and added new features like backup cameras to certain trims. Time will tell if these adjustments start falling apart.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,520 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 5 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #39

Mar 222018

Jetta

  • 75,037 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. While attempting to park, the vehicle independently moved, even when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the vehicle drove over a curb. The vehicle was taken to winn Volkswagen (39695 balentine dr, newark, ca 94560) where it was diagnosed that the throttle body assembly had potentially failed; however, only a software update was performed. After the software update, the check engine warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where the throttle body assembly was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 75,037.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #38

Feb 162018

Jetta

  • 84,000 miles
While driving on highway epc and check engine lights up and the car suddenly loose power and start jerking step on gas to speed up only engine revved up high but theres no acceleration or speed gain I was able to pull over to the side of the road safely but what if its rush hour and theres a car following behind me it sure going to slam into my car. I heard a lot of complaint similar to what I experienced. In my opinion its a manufacturers defect that should be look on and needs a thorough investigation in order to avoid accident and road mishaps.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #37

May 202017

Jetta

  • miles
Takata recall: Driving VW Jetta hybrid with my family as I remember passing 2 set of lights as we left our house, when we stopped on the third red light my engine started idling, like every second gas engine would stop and turn back on. So it keeps doing it all the time on D position, and when transmission on N position the engine just keeps going. The sad thing is that you think the car with 22,000 mi on it, should not have major issues like this.

- Scarborough, ME, USA

problem #36

Mar 052018

Jetta

  • 70,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A few months back an error came up on my dash saying "hybrid workshop." I called the dealership and they said it was regular for my car to say that at about 68K and that I would soon need a hybrid systems check. That light went off the very next day so I didn't stress it. Soon after my car began acting funny when coming to complete stops, the vehicle would jolt back into motion causing a hard breaking motion to occur. Soon after my transmission failed as I was parking. I was in reverse and the car suddenly stopped reversing and began to rev loudly before jumping back into reverse and then back to revving. After transmission failure, I brought it to the dealer and the dealership said it may be my mechatronics unit, after taking the mechatronics unit out they determined it was indeed the transmission. I've read of a recall for this very same problem hundreds of times online after searching it, yet my VIN isn't connected to any recalls on vws website.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #35

Jan 022018

Jetta

  • 69,000 miles
Received a hybrid system error on 01/02/2018 while driving to work just within my neighborhood, then it disappeared and I noticed the gas mileage was getting way out of control (usually get 50/gal, then got less than 30/gal). I knew something was off especially since I have been asking the dealer to check the transmission at 53K (had a previous Jetta with transmission issues). After keeping my car for a month, the dealer put in a clutch only to call back to say they now needed a full transmission and it would have to be inspected and tested by the warrant company. Another 15 days and the transmission was finally added. The transmission has been fixed but the gas millage has not been restored. Called the dealer and said that I am bringing it back at the end of the week. After have both a regular 2009 and a 2013 Jetta hybrid with the same issue, I no longer want anything to do with VW vehicles.

- Suitland, MD, USA

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problem #34

Apr 172017

Jetta

  • 36,000 miles
We purchased our 2013 Jetta in November 2016 from casey Chevrolet, a "certified used vehicle" dealership in our area. A couple months after the purchase, we were having trouble with the car stalling as well as transmission troubles. The vehicle has stalled on my pregnant wife and 2 year old at least four times. Once she was at a stop light and it completely shut down, the next she was in a fast food drive-through line, the third time she was trying to maneuver a turn, and the final time she was backing out of the babysitters drive way. With respect to the transmission, there have been many instances where either she or I would be attempting to merge or just need to pick up speed and in between shifts the car would hesitate and then shift very aggressively. We have contacted the dealership multiple times and each time we take it in they can't find a problem so they give us the car back. On the other hand, they have "solved" the transmission problem twice only for it to reappear at a later time. They have refused to replace the vehicle or refund us the purchase price. We have also contacted Volkswagen who likewise refuses to refund or replace their product. Right now the car is parked in our driveway because we do not feel it is safe to drive. My wife is now driving my truck and I am in my older car from college. All the while, payments still have to be made which is very frustrating. I feel that two companies I thought were trustworthy have taken advantage of my family and I.

- Suffolk, VA, USA

problem #33

Aug 062017

Jetta

  • 61,352 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #32

Jun 282017

Jetta

  • 50,000 miles
Vehicle began experiencing a violent lurching action around 50,000 miles, either when coming to a stop, or depressing brake after sitting at a stop. Dealer "reset" transmission and problem began again after a couple months. Happens once a day now. Feels like the vehicle is being rear ended. Now have 100,000 miles on vehicle.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #31

May 072017

Jetta

  • miles
Mechatronics unit failure, causing failure of dsg transmission, which is a critical safety concern when traveling at high speeds, or accelerating through traffic. Common failure yet VW refuses to take responsibility. There have been several recalls on dsg transmissions in past model years

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #30

Dec 072014

Jetta

  • 0 miles
In 12/2014 I started realizing issues with auto-transmission in the morning when I start the car. The issue continued to happen every single day. Dealer was not able to diagnose the problem because it only happen first thing in the morning.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #29

Nov 122016

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 74,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ignition would not turn off resulting in having to leave the car running for an extended period of time. Features built in to the car did not permit me to lock the car while the key was in ignition. The car had to be left running with no way to lock the car to prevent theft or children from accessing the car. Vehicle was stationary.

- Scottsville, VA, USA

problem #28

Nov 112016

Jetta

  • 63,883 miles
My timing chain tensioner failed and bent 14 valves. All 4 cylinders had zero compression. Volkswagen represents in the warranty and maintenance schedules that the tensioning system is expected to last for about 120,000 miles without the need for repairs. In fact, according to the plaintiff, owners are provided manuals that do not show any timing chain system inspection or maintenance schedules at all.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #27

Nov 122016

Jetta

  • miles
A failed tensioner causing the timing chain to snap and bend the valves.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #26

Oct 082016

Jetta

  • 65,000 miles
Car jolts on freeway. Driver side mirror protector fell off. As a result of trying to grab fallen off piece over extended arm injury. Due to extending arm out window

- San Clemente, CA, USA

problem #25

Sep 092016

Jetta

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle would reverse while in the drive position. The engine indicator illuminated when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Mokena, IL, USA

problem #24

Jun 172016

Jetta

  • 125,000 miles
While driving suddenly loose power or transmission failure. It'll feel like it's in nuetral. Diagnostic test can't pick it up so what can we do as consumers? keep complaining nobody is hearing us. Damage!!

- Fruitland, NM, USA

problem #23

May 272016

Jetta

  • 65,000 miles
While driving vehicle with dsg transmission in normal "drive" (D) mode the transmission will shift into what feels like neutral with no warning whatsoever and no clear way of making the car driveable again. Car has to come to a complete stop with no power available for transmission to return to working condition. Happens intermittently in varying driving conditions such as while cruising down the highway or while driving at normal commercial street speeds. Took it to dealer but issue could not be replicated.

- Culver City, CA, USA

problem #22

May 202015

Jetta

  • 26,000 miles
When starting to accelerate, my Jetta will randomly shift with a very hard jerk. Took it to the local VW dealer here in germany but they could not duplicate it (my car is us spec, but we are stationed abroad). The service manager sent a message to the engineers for possible solution but it took another 6 weeks to get advice which was to do a reset on the computer. That did not work as now when it happens, it sometimes acts as though it is not in gear, RPM's rev, but car barely moves, making it unsafe on the roadway. When I pull over, turn off the engine, and then restart it, it is usually fine again for a little bit. But because it is a random occurrence and they cannot replicate it, the technicians do not see it as a problem.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #21

Jul 132015

Jetta

  • 43,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 15 mph, the brakes failed and the contact's vehicle rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was not injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a certified independent mechanic and the body damage was repaired. In addition, when the vehicle was in park or reverse, it would jerk. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #20

Apr 072016

Jetta

  • 26,415 miles
While driving with a total of 26,415 miles, the manual transmission suddenly failed. Specifically, after stopping in front of my son's school on a city street to put car into reverse to parallel park, the stick shift would not go into gear. I was stuck in the roadway and had to solicit two men to push my car to the side of the road to await towing to the dealership under the 3 year warranty. Come to find out VW does not warranty the clutch except for the slave cylinder, and thus considers all other mechanical failure to be user wear and tear. I have noted many Jetta owners on the internet complaining of the same problem with as few as 2930 miles driven. In 30 years of driving a manual transmission, the past 13 in vws, I have never had any clutch problems, issues, work or replacements. I am still waiting for them to officially "diagnose" the problem after agreeing to pay $500 to take out and examine the transmission, and bear that cost and all other parts/labor if they determine the cause is anything besides the slave cylinder. Yet my problem is not with the clutch but engaging the stick into gear and thus unlikely to be diagnosed as the slave cylinder. Clearly there is a history of shoddy or cheap clutch parts for which VW fails to take responsibility and instead shifts costs onto its customers claiming user wear and tear. After failing prey to the faulty sunroof problem in a prior 2003 gli and paying to fix it myself after eight years of dealer bandaids and missing the class action lawsuit, you would think I would have learned and bought something else.

- Long Branch, NJ, USA

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