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Volkswagen Jetta.

The best Volkswagen Jetta years are 2018, 2020, 2015. Years to avoid: 2009, 2019, 2006. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 111, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

111Lemon Index · 100 = average car

About average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.1× the average car's complaints.

Best year 2018 · Worst year 2009

Volkswagen Jetta
Photo shows a 2022 Volkswagen Jetta. Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

20001561.6× the complaints20012512.5× the complaints20022822.8× the complaints20032252.2× the complaints20041171.2× the complaints20051221.2× the complaints20063053× the complaints200792about average2008801.2× fewer complaints20094384.4× the complaints20102862.9× the complaints20111331.3× the complaints201293about average2013871.1× fewer complaints2014781.3× fewer complaints2015571.8× fewer complaints2016591.7× fewer complaints2017631.6× fewer complaints2018812.5× fewer complaints20193103.1× the complaints2020362.8× fewer complaints2021761.3× fewer complaints2022601.7× fewer complaints202376early read · 1.3× fewer complaints202474early read · 1.4× fewer complaints202582early read · 1.2× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2018.

2018812.5× fewer complaints than average2020362.8× fewer complaints than average2015571.8× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2009.

20094384.4× the average car's complaints20193103.1× the average car's complaints20063053× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Volkswagen Jetta a good car?

It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 111; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2018 and the worst is 2009.

What are the best Volkswagen Jetta years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2018, 2020, 2015.

What Volkswagen Jetta years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2009, 2019, 2006.

How many recalls does the Volkswagen Jetta have?

143 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2019 (11), 2011 (10), 2012 (8). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Volkswagen Jetta problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, engine and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
20001561.6× the average car's complaints249engine (28%)5—19–33
20012512.5× the average car's complaints386engine (17%)7—19–33
20022822.8× the average car's complaints419electrical (24%)7—19–33
20032252.2× the average car's complaints234seats (26%)4—22–39
20041171.2× the average car's complaints101transmission & drivetrain (26%)5—22–32
20051221.2× the average car's complaints88transmission & drivetrain (31%)7—22–33
20063053× the average car's complaints219transmission & drivetrain (51%)6—22–33
200792about average81service brakes, hydraulic (52%)6—22–25
2008801.2× fewer complaints than average77transmission & drivetrain (47%)6—24–25
20094384.4× the average car's complaints380fuel system, diesel (38%)7—24–32
20102862.9× the average car's complaints388fuel system, diesel (36%)5—25–32
20111331.3× the average car's complaints275fuel system, diesel (29%)10★★★★☆25–32
201293about average180electrical (24%)8★★★★☆25–32
2013871.1× fewer complaints than average179engine (23%)8★★★★☆25–44
2014781.3× fewer complaints than average140electrical (25%)5★★★★★25–44
2015571.8× fewer complaints than average80electrical (24%)8★★★★★26–44
2016591.7× fewer complaints than average73brakes (26%)5★★★★★27–44
2017631.6× fewer complaints than average77electrical (25%)7★★★★★27–33
2018812.5× fewer complaints than average8transmission & drivetrain (38%)3★★★★★27–33
20193103.1× the average car's complaints318transmission & drivetrain (44%)11★★★★★28–34
2020362.8× fewer complaints than average28electrical (43%)6★★★★★28–34
2021761.3× fewer complaints than average51brakes (35%)4★★★★★28–34
2022601.7× fewer complaints than average33brakes (33%)1★★★★★33–35
2023761.3× fewer complaints than average43engine (26%)0★★★★★33–35
2024741.4× fewer complaints than average46engine (26%)0★★★★★33–34
2025821.2× fewer complaints than average30automatic emergency braking (37%)2★★★★★33

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Volkswagen Jetta transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data