Volkswagen Jetta problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Jetta from 1990 to 2026: 10,140 owner complaints and 144 recalls across 37 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2009 (889), 2010 (852), 2002 (702). Best fuel economy: 38 mpg combined (2003).
Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5 | 22 | 34 | |
| 1991 | 5 | 31 | 34 | |
| 1992 | 2 | 30 | 33 | |
| 1993 | 4 | 17 | 23 | |
| 1994 | 5 | 117 | 23 | |
| 1995 | 4 | 220 | 24 | |
| 1996 | 1 | 174 | 38 | |
| 1997 | 1 | 141 | 37 | |
| 1998 | 2 | 192 | 37 | |
| 1999 | 6 | 349 | 37 | |
| 2000 | 4 | 439 | 38 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 668 | 38 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 702 | 38 | |
| 2003 | 2 | 457 | 38 | |
| 2004 | 2 | 231 | 36 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 248 | 35 | |
| 2006 | 4 | 580 | 33 | |
| 2007 | 4 | 201 | 25 | |
| 2008 | 4 | 188 | 25 | |
| 2009 | 6 | 889 | 32 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 852 | 32 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 607 | 32 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 500 | 32 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 517 | 32 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 387 | 32 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 194 | 35 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 161 | 33 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 159 | 33 | |
| 2018 | 2 | 31 | 33 | |
| 2019 | 11 | 549 | 34 | |
| 2020 | 6 | 53 | 34 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 69 | 34 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 43 | 35 | |
| 2023 | 0 | 43 | 35 | |
| 2024 | 0 | 44 | 34 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 29 | 33 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 6 | 34 |
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Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Volkswagen Jetta.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Volkswagen Jetta?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2009 (889), 2010 (852), 2002 (702).
How many recalls has the Volkswagen Jetta had?
Across 1990–2026, NHTSA lists 144 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).