2019 Volkswagen Jetta: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
On the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 700 miles. The earliest to appear is torque converter failure, reported by a median of 300 miles. Overall it scores 88 out of 100, severe risk for a 2019.
Severe risk for a 2019 — 1st riskiest of the 245 2019 vehicles we can rate. 796 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
Owners have reported 71 named failure modes on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, and the three most-reported carry 35% of everything filed.
Other powertrain problem leads with 114 reports, about 13 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 100 to 7,500 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 89 reports, usually reported between 200 to 7,500 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
Other electrical problem follows with 79 reports, usually reported between 6k to 55,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (157), electrical (149) and engine (132).
The mileage the reports cluster at
387 of the reports on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 5,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 90% by 50,000 miles, 98% by 100,000 miles and 99% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 4 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 65% of the dated reports.
88% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: torque converter failure around 300, other engine problem around 700, other powertrain problem around 748 and other brake problem around 10k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 71. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 4 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 35 mention a crash, 5 a fire and 35 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.01, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure at $250–$1,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
38% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 114 | 88 | 100 | 748 | 8k | 12.7 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 89 | 54 | 200 | 700 | 8k | 9.9 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 79 | 18 | 6k | 21k | 57k | 8.8 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 58 | 11 | 25k | 72k | 79k | 6.5 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 27 | 19 | 100 | 300 | 4k | 3.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 21 | 12 | 5k | 10k | 25k | 2.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 16 | 8 | 6k | 15k | 29k | 1.8 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 15 | 6 | — | 6k | — | 1.7 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 15 | 5 | — | 5k | — | 1.7 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 15 | 10 | 2k | 15k | 33k | 1.7 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 14 | 5 | — | 8k | — | 1.6 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 13 | 2 | — | 2k | — | 1.4 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 12 | 2 | — | 112k | — | 1.3 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 12 | 5 | — | 18k | — | 1.3 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 11 | 3 | — | 78k | — | 1.2 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 11 | 10 | 8k | 14k | 17k | 1.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 10 | 5 | — | 2k | — | 1.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Manual clutch or hydraulics failure | transmission | 9 | 6 | — | 375 | — | 1.0 | $900–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 8 | 2 | — | 3k | — | 0.9 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 8 | 3 | — | 100 | — | 0.9 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 8 | 4 | — | 20k | — | 0.9 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 7 | 5 | — | 7k | — | 0.8 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 7 | 6 | — | 10k | — | 0.8 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 7 | 4 | — | 1k | — | 0.8 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 6 | 1 | — | 100 | — | 0.7 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 6 | 1 | — | 17k | — | 0.7 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 6 | 6 | — | 7k | — | 0.7 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 6 | 6 | — | 12k | — | 0.7 | $200–$900 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 6 | 5 | — | 10k | — | 0.7 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 6 | 4 | — | 6k | — | 0.7 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.6 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 5 | 1 | — | 44k | — | 0.6 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.6 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 5 | 4 | — | 367k | — | 0.6 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 5 | 3 | — | 6k | — | 0.6 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Turbocharger or supercharger failure | engine | 4 | 2 | — | 600 | — | 0.4 | $1,500–$4,500 | High |
| Transmission fluid leak | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 2k | — | 0.4 | $300–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 4 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.4 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 600 | — | 0.4 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Blind spot monitor failure | adas | 4 | 3 | — | 60 | — | 0.4 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Oil leak | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 2k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 92k | — | 0.3 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 16k | — | 0.3 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 18k | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 3 | 3 | — | 9k | — | 0.3 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 3 | 3 | — | 10k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 2 | 1 | — | 60k | — | 0.2 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 44k | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 60k | — | 0.1 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Automatic braking for no reason | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.1 | $0–$1,500 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 9k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Windshield cracking | glass | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 70 | 23 | 200 | 940 | 10k | 7.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta draws about 89 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 98th percentile of complaint rates among 2019 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 8,971 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2019 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other powertrain problem
There is an issue with the transmission in the 2019 jettas (automatic). When driving in low RPM's between 25-30mph, there is a loud grinding sound coming from the car. This affects how you must drive. As someone else stated you must drive more aggressively to eliminate the sound. There are several reports of this with other jetta owners in my area. This happens constant. It is not an isolated event. I have report this to my dealership as well.
There is a loud and prominent grinding noise that presents itself when accelerating, usually through 5th gear. It can be minimized by accelerating very aggressively, but any less and the grinding noise will be heard.
Recalls on the 2019 model year
NHTSA has issued 11 recall campaigns covering the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, affecting an estimated 30,095 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover fuel system, gasoline, electrical system: instrument cluster/panel, electrical system:ignition:switch and tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
261,257 vehicles 2024-02-14- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. 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.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
8 vehicles 2023-09-06- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, "Theft Protection."
- Consequence
- Without an audible warning, the driver may be unaware that the key is left in the ignition, which can increase the risk of vehicle theft or a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90W7.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
62,538 vehicles 2023-08-30- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
- Consequence
- Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
296,044 vehicles 2022-10-31- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure…
- Consequence
- An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
WHEELS
8 vehicles 2019-12-11- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta GLI, Golf Alltrack, and Golf GTI vehicles. The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.
- Consequence
- The excessive stress can cause steering, traction or other stability issues or breakage relating to the front wheels, and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40P1. Note: The affected owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repairs have been made.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
113 vehicles 2019-09-25- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. 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.
- Consequence
- If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
56,173 vehicles 2019-03-06- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
- Consequence
- If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4 vehicles 2019-02-20- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. An incorrect driver frontal airbag may have been installed during a service/repair visit.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the wrong air bag may not work correctly, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag with the correct part, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y7.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
6,322 vehicles 2018-12-19- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
- Consequence
- If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J2/42J3.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
73,549 vehicles 2018-11-26- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
- Consequence
- If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
28 vehicles 2018-09-26- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- A reduction in the driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side headlight, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L1.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2019 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
Severe risk for a 2019 — 1st riskiest of the 245 2019 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 56 and 2019 worst at 88, with 2019 itself at 88.
If the model year is negotiable, 1996, 1997, 2025, 2018, 1998, 1999, 2023, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2007, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2013, 2011, 2002, 2005, 2003, 2024, 2022, 2009, 2014, 2020 and 2015 score lower than 2019 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2018–2020 generation specifically, 2018 is the strongest year at 66 and 2019 the weakest at 88.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2018-2020 generation, 2018 Volkswagen Jetta scores best at 66 and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta worst at 88.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other powertrain problem from about 100, torque converter failure from about 100, other engine problem from about 200 and other body or interior problem from about 2k.
On a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other powertrain problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
796 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 796 reports, 387 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 49% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (114 reports, median 700 miles), other engine problem (89 reports, median 700 miles) and other electrical problem (79 reports, median 20,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems start?
Torque converter failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 300 miles and a quarter of reports before 100 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 5,000 miles.
Is the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
It scores 88 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 1st riskiest of the 245 2019 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2019 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Volkswagen Jetta is best?
Within the 2018–2020 generation, 2018 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2019 worst at 88. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed