2013 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle decelerated and nearly caused a crash on the freeway. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, restarted, and the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING); one month before the failure; however, the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the failure was associated with the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was provided with the cost for a diagnostic test and the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 152,000.

NHTSA ID

11720919

Incident

Feb 25, 2026

Mileage

152,000 mi

The key will not come out of the ignition

NHTSA ID

11684135

Incident

Aug 30, 2025

I am Filing a complaint against Volkswagen group of America, I called they for assistants in fixing an issue with one of their dealers to replace an ignition switch. Volkswagen said they stand by their dealer and would not let me speak to the Zone Reps for that area or the Dealer Reps that assist the customer in coming to a solution. The Ignition switch is a safety item and the dealer is trying to charge me a high price for a new key because they own a monopoly in the area.

NHTSA ID

11590597

Incident

May 20, 2024

Ignition cylinder failure. Key would come out while driving, car would stay on, key would not turn in the ignition. Finally wheel locked and key will not turn at all therefore I can’t put my car in neutral.

NHTSA ID

11561886

Incident

Dec 23, 2023

This vehicle and other vehicles of the same model have a faulty ignition cylinder lock housing causing the key to be unable to turn the car to off and be removed from the ignition. This does not allow the driver to park and leave the car as the key remains stuck and unable to turn. This problem has been reported by a dealer as an issue that is fixed weekly on other vehicles of the same make and model in shop.The vehicle has been inspected by the Volkswagen dealership and determined to be a failure within the vehicle. The key in the ignition has occasionally become stuck but, now remains in the vehicle for consistently after each drive for up to 30 minutes of trying to remove it.

NHTSA ID

11540805

Incident

Aug 4, 2023

my steering wheel locked up

NHTSA ID

11538238

Incident

Aug 13, 2023

The key gets stuck in the ignition switch and the car is not able to turn off. In order to remove the key you have to jiggle it several times which could be minutes or up to an hour. Could be a safety issue if I’m somewhere and need to turn the car off immediately. Was told this is a costly repair but if this is a known issue (and it is) why is this not a recall when possible damage or injury could occur.

NHTSA ID

11537164

Incident

May 22, 2023

The clock spring in this vehicle has failed in a vehicle that currently has less than 36k miles. There were no warnings or lights prior to failure. The controls on steering wheel and the vehicle’s horn no longer work as a result. When inspected by the local dealership, they also informed us that the airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident. The dealership also told us that the replacement part is backordered and that they could not provide a date that the part would be available. The vehicle feels unsafe to drive since we do not know if the airbag works or not. VW seems to be in no hurry to provide a fix.

NHTSA ID

11462983

Incident

Feb 2, 2022

Ignition key difficult to pull out from starter. Sometimes difficult to start car, but it can be wiggled in or out with some effort. Dangerous if it can get removed and engine continues working. Key can be reinserted to turn off. Sometimes difficult to start. Taken to local (Tucson AZ) dealership and told that there is no VW recall for this issue. I believe there is a recall. Dealership refused to fix it. Not covered as part of warranty either. We had to pay to get it fixed. Dealership appeared not to know of existence of a recall for the ignition key problem. We request a refund. Please inform them that such a recall exists. Chapman Volkswagen 4426 E 22nd .St. Tucson, AZ (520) 445-4024 Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11449833

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT DOWN ELECTRICALLY, AS IF A FUSE SHORTED, ALMOST ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED ON, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE BRAKES WENT UNRESPONSIVE, NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION. ONCE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT WAS TURNED OFF IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL. AFTER TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, THE SAME DASHBOARD LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO MORE THAN 40MPH, CREATING ANOTHER ACCIDENT RISK DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE HOME.

NHTSA ID

11384295

Incident

Dec 19, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF. IT FIRST STARTED WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, NOW IT SHUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11366544

Incident

Oct 23, 2020

Mileage

86,000 mi

I KEEP GETTING PHONE CALLS OF VEHICLE RECALLS I HAVE A 2013 JETTA SE 2.5. I DO NOT TIMBER THE DATE OF THE RECALLS BUT I KNOW THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL ON MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11353991

Incident

Sep 9, 2020

MY CAR STALLED ON ME 4 TIMES BETWEEN MAY 2018- DECEMBER 2019. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IT FEELS LIKE THE ENTIRE CAR CEASES TO HAVE POWER. 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. 1 OUT OF 4 TIMES ANOTHER CAR WAS HIT DUE TO THE STALL. IN ANOTHER 1 OUT OF 4 TIMES, THERE WAS ALMOST A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT AS THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I ENDED UP ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD OF TRAFFIC. TRANSPORTATION CANADA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS (I AM LOCATED IN TORONTO, ON, CANADA AND ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN TORONTO). VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND HAVE NOT PROVIDED A SOLUTION OR A NORMAL COURSE OF ACTION TO THIS SAFETY CONCERN. I AM PREGNANT NOW AND EVEN MORE CONCERNED. MY CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2013 AND HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT VOLKSWAGEN - IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION BESIDES THIS REOCCURRING SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11289021

Incident

Dec 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY INSERT AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ORDER TO START AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11278492

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000( ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED NHTSA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MADE HARD SHIFTS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11278014

Incident

Oct 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED NHTSA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11271095

Incident

Oct 25, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER NEEDED TO BE CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED NHTSA FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11271057

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF PANAMA CITY (LOCATED AT 3605 E 15TH ST, PANAMA CITY, FL 32404, (850) 763-5495) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11268668

Incident

Jun 27, 2019

TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL AT VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THEY "FORGOT" TO DO RECALL ON AIRBAG. NEXT TIME THEY PERFORMED RECALL BUT STEERING WHEEL IS CLICKING, HORN DOES NOT WORK, NONE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS FUNCTION AND AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. TOOK CAR FOR AN EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPAIR AND I TOLD THEM THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED AS THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY TOLD ME THE OTHER VOLKSWAGEN MARKED IT AS COMPLETE AND IT WOULD COST ME $2000 BECAUSE AIRBAG HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT AND DISCONNECTED. SO I HAVE NO HORN, NO STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION KEYS, A STEERING WHEEL THAT CLICKS WHEN A HARD TURN IS MADE AND A RIPPED, DISCONNECTED NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

11115734

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS 5X WITHIN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WHEN REPLACE ONLY WORKS FOR ABOUT 6-9 MONTHS THEN I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. ONE TIME I WAITED FOR 1YR TO REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT AND MAGICALLY IT CAME BACK ON. I WAS LIKE WOW, REALLY. NOW MY DOORS AND HORN IS GONE OUT. MY HORN ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY DOORS LOCK BUT IT TAKES A WHILE FOR IT TO FIGURE IT OUT. YOU HAVE TO HIT THE BOTTOM LIKE 3X BEFORE IT WORKS.

NHTSA ID

11113830

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

IGNITION CYLINDER. KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING IT ON, ITS ALSO DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY. RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TALKING ABOUT A REIMBURSEMENT IF REPLACED OUT OF POCKET, HOWEVER VERY SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY RECALLED YET.

NHTSA ID

11111019

Incident

Jul 10, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

LESS THAN 30000 MILES REPLACED TRANSMISSION, AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON ,NO HORN,NO STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS.SAME THING RECALLED FOR JETTA, BUT NOT JETTA HYBIRDS..

NHTSA ID

11103940

Incident

Apr 28, 2018

MY CAR KEY GOT STUCK AND THE CAR WONT TURN OFF NOW AND IT WAS ON PARKED

NHTSA ID

11103914

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

50 mi

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WITH CAR STILL ON AND IN PARK. CANNOT GET CAR TURNED OFF OR KEY OUT.

NHTSA ID

11096449

Incident

May 17, 2018

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WITH CAR STILL ON AND IN PARK. CANNOT GET CAR TURNED OFF OR KEY OUT. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS OF THE ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO RECALL PART. CAR NEEDS NEW IGNITION CYLINDER. AUTO TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO GET THE KEY OUT, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. SO MUCH SO, THAT THE FRONT DESK PERSON KNEW EXACTLY HOW HE DID IT AND ASKED ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11044208

Incident

Nov 7, 2017

Mileage

65,000 mi