NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 17 recalls, 530 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta.
34 mpg combined
6.9 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2019 Jetta, the powertrain draws the most complaints by a significant margin. Owners frequently report transmission hesitation and failure to engage, particularly when shifting into reverse, with some describing the vehicle simply refusing to move as expected. Valve body and wiring harness repairs come up in these accounts. The electrical system is the second most-reported area, with multiple owners describing a pattern where electronics shut down while driving, especially in hot weather: the instrument panel goes dark, features stop responding, and in some cases the engine stalls entirely. A "starter system faulty" dashboard message appears repeatedly in these heat-related complaints. Engine stalls, sometimes linked to the same high-temperature conditions, round out the main complaint picture. Steering column lock failure also shows up in a handful of reports, with owners describing sudden looseness in the wheel followed by the car shutting off and refusing to restart.
530
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
22
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta has 17 recalls, the most serious involving front wheel bearings on GLI models that can break or seize, causing sudden loss of steering control, and a separate ignition fuse or switch failure that can cut engine power while driving and disable the airbag system.
The GLI is also covered by a recall for front-wheel-drive models where a fuel line can leak near an ignition source, raising the risk of a fire. Two overlapping recalls address rear coil springs that can fracture while driving and puncture a rear tire, causing loss of vehicle control. On the airbag side, an incorrect driver's frontal airbag may have been installed during a past service visit on certain vehicles, meaning it may not deploy properly in a crash.
Several recalls involve visibility. The passenger-side headlight on vehicles with LED headlights may be aimed incorrectly, reducing forward visibility at night. The right front daytime running light on certain vehicles may be dim or non-functional, making the car harder for other drivers to see. A related issue involves the tire pressure monitoring system, which may fail to detect a sudden loss of pressure in all four tires at once.
Two lower-severity recalls concern the instrument cluster on vehicles without keyless entry: it may not chime when a key is left in the ignition with the door open. There is also a broader compliance recall covering a range of model years across several Volkswagen nameplates, including the Jetta, for unspecified regulatory requirements.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
A faulty seal on the suction pump inside the fuel tank allows fuel to flow into the emissions control system and potentially leak from the charcoal canister.
What the fix does
The suction pump will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument cluster may not beep to alert you when the ignition key is still inserted and a door is open.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram your instrument cluster at no cost to restore the warning function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuse inside the ignition switch may fail, causing the engine to stall while driving and disabling the airbag system and turn signals.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will replace the ignition switch at an authorized dealership at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ignition switch may fail, particularly in high-temperature environments, affecting 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta models with conventional ignition switches.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ignition switch at no cost. Contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or reference recall 28H7.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect when air pressure drops in all four tires at the same time, failing to alert you in time.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the tire pressure monitoring system software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right-front daytime running light may not work or be bright enough to meet Canadian safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the right-front headlight and replace the heat sink or complete headlight assembly as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
One or both front wheel bearings may be defective, potentially causing poor driving performance or wheel failure.
What the fix does
Replacement of front wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During internal evaluation, modifications were made to these vehicles that may prevent them from meeting all applicable safety and emissions regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will repurchase the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified and can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right-front daytime running light may not work or may not be bright enough to meet Canadian regulations.
What the fix does
A dealer will replace the right headlight to restore proper operation and brightness.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear coil springs may break prematurely, potentially affecting vehicle handling and stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrect driver frontal airbag may have been installed during a previous service or repair visit.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag with the correct part at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver-side front airbag installed during a past service visit may be incorrect for your vehicle. An incompatible airbag may not deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
A dealer will replace the driver-front airbag with the correct part for your vehicle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear coil springs may break prematurely, potentially affecting vehicle handling and safety.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument cluster may not alert you with a sound when the key remains in the ignition and a door is open.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster at no cost to restore the audible warning.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side LED headlight may be positioned incorrectly, reducing visibility in dark driving conditions.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger side headlight at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right headlamp may be positioned incorrectly, reducing light projection and visibility at night, which could increase crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the right headlamp to correct the positioning.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
