2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)5551.9%
- Engine1413.2%
- Electrical98.5%
- Brakes87.5%
- Driver assistance65.7%
- Fuel system43.8%
- Airbags32.8%
- Transmission21.9%
- Visibility21.9%
- Other / unspecified10.9%
- Body & structure10.9%
- Steering10.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 25MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact attempted to shift into another gear however, the vehicle failed to respond. The driver pulled to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several minutes, and the vehicle drove as intended. The vehicle was driven to a nearby dealer, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V866000 (Power Train) in 2023; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate and hesitate. The contact stated that the transmission and hybrid warning lights and several other warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned the vehicle off. The contact turned the vehicle on and was able to place the vehicle into drive (D) and began to move forward however, he observed that the check transmission light was blinking. The contact stopped the vehicle shifted into park (P), then shifted into reverse (R) however, the vehicle failed to respond while shifting through PRNDL. The contact turned the vehicle off and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The local dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the mechatronic unit and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V866000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the "Pull Your Vehicle Over Immediately" message appeared on the instrument panel and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The check engine warning light, the battery warning light, and the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he veered to the side of the road. The contact stated he was able to restart the vehicle and drive however, the vehicle would not exceed 60 mph. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND WAS JERKING. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JIM ELLIS VOLKSWAGEN KENNESAW (950 ERNEST W BARRETT PKWY NW, KENNESAW, GA 30144, 678-616-9946) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I DROVE HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR WAS PERFECTLY FINE. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE PARKED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT MORNING I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE AFTER I LET OFF THE BRAKE. SO I SHIFTED THE CAR BACK INTO PARK AND AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED FORWARD AND THEN THE ENTIRE CAR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF.
DURING DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE STALLS THEN SPEEDS UP ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE SURGES WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THE VW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS CORROSION OF THE CONTROL MODULE WITHIN THE GEARBOX. THIS WAS THE EXACT PROBLEM THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR UNDER VW RECALL NUMBER 34F6/4V IN NOVEMBER 2013. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN IN DEC. 2013 PER THE RECALL TO CHANGE THE GEARBOX OIL BUT ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. NOW, THE CORROSION CAUSED THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL TRIED TO PREVENT. THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX IS $8500! SINCE IT OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD, VW WILL NOT PAY. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW NEEDS TO CORRECT. THE RECALL FIX OF CHANGING THE TYPE OF GEARBOX OIL DID NOT STOP THE CORROSION WHICH DAMAGED THE CONTROL MODULE.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKING IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE NEARLY CAUSES AN ACCIDENT DAILY. CAR SWITCHES BETWEEN REGENERATIVE BRAKING/FRICTION BRAKES CONSTANTLY AND MAKES IT HARD TO PROPERLY SLOW THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.
2013 JETTA HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *JS
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON ACCELERATION ONTO A HIGHWAY OR FROM A LIGHT, THE CAR WILL ONLY ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY, THEN LOSES POWER AND JUST COASTS. IT REQUIRES SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS ISSUE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER SAFELY TO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND THE SERVICE REMINDER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDLAND VOLKSWAGEN OF COLUMBIA (655 BROAD RIVER ROAD, COLUMBIA, SC 29210, 803-988-1000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION OR "E MACHINE" NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEIR MECHANICS WERE NOT SKILLED ENOUGH TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GASOLINE SMELL WHEN ENGINE STARTS. MORE OFTEN WHEN VERY COLD. ALSO WHEN CAR SHIFTS FROM ELECTRIC MOTOR TO GASOLINE POWER WHEN CAR IS MOVING OR STOPPED. AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER COULD FIND NO FUEL LEAK WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICE IN MAY 2018. THIS HAS PROBABLY HAPPENED 12 TIMES SINCE 1/1/2019.
TAKATA RECALL: THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE ENGINE STILL RAN BUT I COULDN'T DRIVE. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated, and the horn was inoperable. The failure was constant. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the clock spring for the vehicle was on national back order. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) IN 2015. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARNET VOLKSWAGEN (1620 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382 (610) 361-8500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CLOCKSPRING FAILURE THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN CLOCKSPRING RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MECHATRONIC ACCUMULATOR HOUSING SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.
2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MECHATRONIC ACCUMULATOR HOUSING SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2019. THE MECHATRONIC ACCUMULATOR HOUSING WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME STUCK IN PARK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIPERS FAIL TO WORK DURING COLD TEMPS...START WORKING AGAIN ONCE IT WARMS UP. HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED AND CAUSED ME TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR OTHER JETTA OWNERS.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A MYSTERY LEAK COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND HAS SAID THAT IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE LEAK IN THE SUNROOF DRAIN, FRONT WINDSHIELD DRAIN, OR AC CONDENSER DRAIN THAT IS SOMEHOW MANAGING TO LEAK INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN CAUSE SEVERE WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD ISSUES THAT COULD IN TURN CAUSE A HEALTH HAZARD FOR THOSE ALLERGIC OR HAVE ISSUES WITH MOLD. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The contact shifted the vehicle into PARK and restarted the vehicle however, while driving, the failure recurred. The hybrid system failure warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as the transmission and stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A MYSTERY LEAK COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND HAS SAID THAT IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE LEAK IN THE SUNROOF DRAIN, FRONT WINDSHIELD DRAIN, OR AC CONDENSER DRAIN THAT IS SOMEHOW MANAGING TO LEAK INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN CAUSE SEVERE WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD ISSUES THAT COULD IN TURN CAUSE A HEALTH HAZARD FOR THOSE ALLERGIC OR HAVE ISSUES WITH MOLD. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V866000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING CEASED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE, THEN TO PIGNATARO VOLKSWAGEN (10633 EVERGREEN WAY, EVERETT, WA 98204) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,936.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .