The Lemon Index2019 Volkswagen Jetta.
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 318 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 310, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 28 to 34 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Jetta year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 549 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Jetta year. 2019 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 16K miles on the car (281 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 0K–9K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 6K–75K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 0K–8K miles
Recalls 11
- fuel system, gasoline 2024
Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
- electrical 2023
The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open.
- electrical 2023
The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Show all 11 recalls
- tires 2022
The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously.
- wheels 2019
The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.
- unknown or other 2019
Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
- suspension 2019
The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
- airbags 2019
An incorrect driver frontal airbag may have been installed during a service/repair visit.
- suspension 2018
The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
- electrical 2018
The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open.
- lights 2018
The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 758 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Water leaks from the sunroof/overhead light console area, Park distance to sensitive to…
- Transmission noise description and clarification
- 1.4L DGXA Engine: 1
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedFuel leak due to suction jet pump failure within fuel tank (remedy effectiveness of recall 16v647)2023–2024
- ClosedVehicle stalling - manual transmission2019–2020
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1900–2300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
While driving, there is a grinding sound from the transmission at the lower/mid rpms
2019 Volkswagen Jetta owner · NHTSA complaint 11302679
More owner reports
The car makes a grinding noise when accelerating between 25-40 mph and it changes gear. It does it in the city or highway.
NHTSA complaint 11282282
2 second delay for transmission to downshift when passing cars. Dangerous when passing cars on 2 lane highway due to lack of power. .
NHTSA complaint 11361194
Quick answers
Is the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 3.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 310; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Jetta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (44%), engine (28%) and electrical (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta have?
11 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta get?
28 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 200 and 16,100 miles. The middle report was at 4,500 miles, from 281 complaints.
Does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 44% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta have?
1.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Volkswagen Jetta year is better than the 2019?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works