Volkswagen
Volkswagen Jetta years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2014 and 2019. Best years: 2018, 2020 and 2022.
The 2014 and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2014 has 348 complaints (27 for each year on the road) and 2019 has 549 complaints (69 for each year on the road), against a median of 15 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2019 is stalling (130 reports).
- 1,411complaints
- 26recall campaigns
- 5model years with a page
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
Best years
2018
Too few complaints for a page of its own.
2020
Too few complaints for a page of its own.
2022
Too few complaints for a page of its own.
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2019 has the most complaints of any Volkswagen Jetta year here: 549 of 1,411 (39%).
- Problem across the years
- The top problem moves around from year to year. Stalling leads in 3 of the 5 model years and has the most reports overall, 234. Pooled across the years, half of the 114 owners who gave a mileage for stalling were under about 47,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 8% of Volkswagen Jetta complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2016, 24 of its 161 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- 3 of the 5 model years where owners report stalling have a recall on the same system. The 2014 and 2019 have none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 321 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 84. So far in 2026, 51 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sixth generation (A6, Mk6)
Photo: Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Model years with too few complaints for a page of their own: 2018 (31), 2020 (53), 2021 (69), 2022 (43), 2023 (43), 2024 (44), 2025 (29).
Year by year
2019 Volkswagen Jetta avoid
549 owner complaints, 69 for each year on the road (4.7 times the model median). Most reported: stalling (130 reports, median 10,000 miles), infotainment (62 reports, median 65,000 miles) and A/C failure (30 reports). 19 reports involved a crash and 36 people were hurt. 11 recalls, including 19V-879 on the wheels (do not drive) and 24V-110 on the fuel system.
2017 Volkswagen Jetta
159 owner complaints, 16 for each year on the road (1.1 times the model median). Most reported: airbag (21 reports, median 32,000 miles), stalling (20 reports, median 61,000 miles) and brake wear (15 reports, median 25,000 miles). 18 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 20V-648 on the fuel system and 20E-064 on the brakes.
2016 Volkswagen Jetta
161 owner complaints, 15 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (23 reports, median 38,000 miles), misfire (16 reports, median 71,000 miles) and stalling (14 reports). 18 reports involved a crash and 14 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 20E-064 on the brakes and 20V-648 on the fuel system.
2015 Volkswagen Jetta
194 owner complaints, 16 for each year on the road (1.1 times the model median). Most reported: stalling (20 reports, median 20,000 miles), brake wear (19 reports, median 31,000 miles) and airbag (17 reports, median 42,000 miles). 8 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. 8 recalls, including 19V-615 on the electrical system and 15V-705 on the engine.
2014 Volkswagen Jetta avoid
348 owner complaints, 27 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: stalling (50 reports, median 70,000 miles), airbag (34 reports, median 56,000 miles) and misfire (26 reports, median 82,000 miles). 18 reports involved a crash and 18 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 19V-615 on the electrical system and 15V-028 on the fuel system.
Recalls that cover several model years
The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.
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.
A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Compare the Jetta with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- Jetta vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2019
- Jetta vs Honda Civic2014 to 2019
- Jetta vs Volkswagen Passat2014 to 2017
Questions
What Volkswagen Jetta years should you avoid?
The 2014 and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2014 has 348 complaints (27 for each year on the road) and 2019 has 549 complaints (69 for each year on the road), against a median of 15 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2019 is stalling (130 reports).
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Jetta?
The 2018, 2020 and 2022 draw the fewest complaints for their age: 2018 has 31 (3 a year), 2020 has 53 (8 a year) and 2022 has 43 (9 a year). Model years before 2016 aren't called best, because complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads and their counts run short.
What is the most common problem on the Volkswagen Jetta?
Stalling, with 234 reports across the 5 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2014, 2015 and 2019.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Jetta have?
26 recall campaigns cover the Volkswagen Jetta model years 2014 to 2019 on this site. The widest, 19V-615 on the electrical system, covers 4 model years.
How many Volkswagen Jetta complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
8% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2016 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for stalling on the Volkswagen Jetta?
On 3 of the 5 model years where owners report it: 2015, 2016 and 2017.