NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2013 Volkswagen Jetta (Page 1 of 7)

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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,467 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #130

Aug 102022

Jetta

  • miles

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

The door locks will try to auto-lock once the vehicle has passed a set speed but fail, making an audible double-lock sound. The car will continue to try and auto-lock after each stop (stop sign, stop light, etc) and continue to fail. Happens intermittently.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #129

Dec 032022

Jetta

  • miles
Vehicle would not shift, OBD2 code P037B "stuck in gear 6." Vehicle towed to a auto mechanic that said they spoke with VW dealer and confirmed it was a crack in the transmission and was undriveable. I have contacted VW who have said there are recalls for many transmissions of this Jetta but not for my VIN. I have also had issues with the clock spring (replaced) and an air bag sensor (malfunction light still on) and now the transmission. There are recalls for Hybrid Jettas of this year but apparently not for my VIN. It seems like a large coincidence and feels like it should be investigated, especially considering the other issues VW was investigated for at this time of production.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #128

Sep 012021

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shut off without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle would intermittently fail to restart soon after failure. Due to the failure, the vehicle had been towed and driven to various independent mechanics and dealers and none had been unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #127

Jul 022021

Jetta

  • miles

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

NHTSA recall no: 19V-866 Manufacturer Recall no: 34J6 Volkswagen is refusing to replace my mechatronic unit.

- Norridge, IL, USA

problem #126

Feb 022022

Jetta

  • miles
The clock spring in this vehicle has failed in a vehicle that currently has less than 36k miles. There were no warnings or lights prior to failure. The controls on steering wheel and the vehicle-€™s horn no longer work as a result. When inspected by the local dealership, they also informed us that the airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident. The dealership also told us that the replacement part is backordered and that they could not provide a date that the part would be available. The vehicle feels unsafe to drive since we do not know if the airbag works or not. VW seems to be in no hurry to provide a fix.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #125

Mar 162022

Jetta 4-cyl

  • miles
-The Jetta Hybrid relies on a control unit, called the "Mechatronic unit" to decouple the gasoline engine from the transmission. This, in turn, transfers propulsion to the electric motor, inside the transmission housing. The "Mechatronic" is a highly specialized component, the "brains" of the Jetta's hybrid powertrain, and, therefore, can only be found in the Jetta Hybrid. -Market sales data says that a scant 8,515 Jetta Hybrids were manufactured across model years 2013 - 2016. -An open NHTSA safety recall, 34J6, has been applied to a cross section of the total 8,515 Jetta Hybrids produced. -Per recall 34J6, exactly 2,149 Jetta Hybrids have been included by VIN# in this recall. -Safety recall 34J6 specifically addresses the "Mechatronic Accumulator Housing". -Recall description: Hairline cracks may develop in the accumulator housing of the transmission (mechatronic unit), leaking and leading to insufficient transmission oil pressure. If this happens, the transmission warning light will illuminate in the instrument panel. If the warning light is ignored and the vehicle is driven, the clutch may not engage. There could be a sudden loss of power to the wheels, potentially leading to a vehicle crash.  -This describes EXACTLY the problem we have had TWICE with our 2013 Jetta Hybrid. -Mechatronic unit failed and had to be replaced on our dime at 70,683 miles; 30 June 2016 -Mechatronic unit has failed us again on 16 March 2022 at 142,758 mi. -Exact diagnosis from the VW dealer reads: [error code] P0841 Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor / Switch. MECHATRONIC UNIT HAS FAILED INTERNALL. CAN NOT GET SEPARATE FROM TRANSMISSION. NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION $7,163. -Our vehicle's VIN# was NOT included as part of 34J6, despite the part that is subject of recall 34J6 having failed us twice. -$7,136 repair estimate is more than the resale value of the vehicle. -We request that NHTSA extend safety recall 34J6 to include our VIN# to compel VW to fix the vehicle. Since Volkswagen no longer stocks the "Mechatronic

- Morris, IL, USA

problem #124

Feb 052022

Jetta

  • miles

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

The clock spring in the steering wheel has failed, causing the air bag and horn (along with the steering wheel-controlled electrical systems) to stop working. This has been confirmed by a local Volkswagen dealership service department. The part is under extended warranty due to a prior recall, but in reality this recall apparently isn-€™t worth much, as the part has been backordered for several months and won-€™t be obtainable for up to another 6 months, or more; no actual date has been committed to. The Volkswagen service department also stated they cannot/will not temporarily fix or ameliorate the current failure of basic safety features.

- Lafayette , LA, USA

problem #123

Apr 022021

Jetta

  • miles
The mechanics at Volkswagen found a hairline crack in my mechatronics unit for my Volkswagen Jetta hybrid 2013. They would not fix it even though it was the software that caused it. -€œSummary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Jetta Hybrid vehicles equipped with a DQ200 7-Speed DSG Automatic Transmission. Hairline cracks can develop within the transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit), causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure. Consequence: A decrease in transmission oil pressure can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the transmission software, free of charge. The software remedy is currently under development. The recall is expected to begin February 4, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 34J6. The problem is my unit already had the hairline crack before they updated the software. They were saying it was my fault and I have to pay out of pocket.

- Norridge, IL, USA

problem #122

Oct 012021

Jetta

  • miles
The ABS lights go on and the speedometer stopped working and all the lights have activated. the abs module has been reported that there is a defect in most of the jettas and so i believe that this should be a recall issue.

- Santa Rosa, TX, USA

problem #121

Nov 232021

Jetta

  • miles
1. Fuel pump control module shorted out and electrical fuse was blown. 2. Yes, the part is available for inspection. 3. Vehicle completely shut off while driving on the road without any prior dashboard indicators or symptoms of something going wrong. 4. Part #1K0-906-093-J manufactured by Kuhnke a tier 1 supplier for VW. Fuel pump control module is mounted on top of gas tank area and was melted and shorted out, and a thorough inspection, and replacement was done by the VW dealer: Diehl Toyota/VW, Butler, PA. 5. This same issue was a recalled on 281,000 VW models as per NHTSA bulletin #20AE. VW recall #17V509000. 6. VW said my VIN is not included in the recall. But, it the exact same failure, part, and manufacturer of the part for VW/Audi. So WHY? is my VIN not included. It doesn't seem to be batch related, but a design defect. 7. Vehicle would not restart and could not be driven. It was flat-bedded to the dealer.

- Cranberry Township, PA, USA

problem #120

Aug 132021

Jetta

  • miles

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

E-Engine and Transmission Problem. In August of 2021, while performing normal driving, the car refused to get in gear and the engine just revved; the Check Engine and Hybrid Systems Failure lights came on, and the car would not work properly. I had it towed to a VW Dealership in Springfield, VA for repairs and was quoted $15,000 for a new E-Engine and Transmission. No Recalls, but online forums show that this is a classic failure of Jetta Hybrids and is due to the corrosive transmission oil used in the sealed transmissions of the Hybrids. Car has remained on VW Dealership lot while a decision is made on the vehicle. November of 2021 I was contacted about a different recall (38C4) for the Jetta; it is a software issue with a European Calibration instead of a US. I am looking to have that repaired to see if it fixes the problem in the car. I am inquiring about the Volkswagen recall 34J6 (or 34J6/4V) for 2013/2014 VW Jetta Hybrids. My VIN does not appear on the list. According to forums, it has experienced the same failure as others that are. This one is for hairline cracks that may form in the Transmission causing it to fail. No warning signs were given before the failure. It was a well maintained car; I was the only owner and drove it for 121,000 miles.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #119

Jul 252017

Jetta

  • miles
I was driving on the street and my check engine light came on, as I was making a turn at about 35 miles an hour my car acted like it kicked into neutral and when pressing the gas just revved the engine. I safely pulled over to the side and had the car towed to a mechanic. He took a look and said there was a significant leak coming from the transmission and I should take it to a VW dealership because there are a lot of recalls for this type of stuff. I had it towed to VW and they said it was a hairline crack in the transmission that caused an oil leak into the electronic gearbox which caused the loss of control and power. They said there is no recall and it would be a $12,000 fix. The car has 47K original miles on it, no wrecks, and I've never missed an oil change.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #118

Oct 012020

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles
My vehicle for a few years now has stalled out on me and caused it to go in to limp mode. This is very dangerous and I see there is a recall and no fix is available but the hybrid system shuts completely down when it does this and I cannot do anything with the vehicle at that time. It will happen anywhere I am where it's a back road or on the interstate.I feel that Volkswagen should take back this veh because of the faulty system. I feel Volkswagen should pay my loan off so I can get in to another safer vehicle.

- Jonesborough, TN, USA

problem #117

Feb 032021

Jetta

  • 80,000 miles
Clock spring broke when turning wheel 1.5 revolutions while backing the car into a parking spot.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #116

Jul 082020

Jetta

  • 85,000 miles
The doors do not lock when I drive the car and it does not lock with the key remote control. I have been investigated the problem that this car has to secure the doors, and apparently it is very common in these VW cars, although the problem not about security, I do believe that it is, because one believes that it lock all the doors and it is not so, that's why you think it should be repaired by you

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #115

Dec 192020

Jetta

  • 150,000 miles
In the middle of driving on the highway, the car spontaneously shut down electrically, as if a fuse shorted, almost all dashboard lights turned on, the steering wheel locked up, and the brakes went unresponsive, nearly causing a collision. Once the car came to a complete stop, it was turned off in an attempt to regain control. After turning the car back on, the same dashboard lights remained illuminated, and the car wouldn't go more than 40mph, creating another accident risk during the remainder of the drive home.

- Amherst, OH, USA

problem #114

Nov 302018

Jetta

  • 177,000 miles
The mechatronic unit had already had to been replaced previously when the 2nd issue happened I was at the stoplight in the car lost all movement power the ac and all the instruments were also working door locks windows everything I got it towed to the dealership and they say it was the electric motor quoted me nearly $12000

- Lucerne Valley, CA, USA

problem #113

Oct 232020

Jetta

  • 86,000 miles
My vehicle has been shutting off by itself. It first started while stopped at traffic lights, now it shuts off while I am driving.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #112

Aug 172020

Jetta

  • 49,111 miles
There was a recall issues in Dec 2019 for replacement of a hose and/or mechatronic unit. There is no remedy. My car's electric motor stopped working. When clearing the error codes, my car does not work at all. When calling VW, advised that I can put in a new transmission and it will work. When I asked why that isn't the fix to their recall, they said they don't know yet. They advised that if I put in my own transmission and they determine a different part is needed anywhere in the process, they will not be able to compensate me for the recall. The car has been sitting at different shops trying to figure out a fix since July and has been undriveable since Aug 17.

- La Crosse, WI, USA

problem #111

Sep 092020

Jetta

  • miles
I keep getting phone calls of vehicle recalls I have a 2013 Jetta SE 2.5. I do not timber the date of the recalls but I know there is another recall on my vehicle

- Mahopac, NY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?