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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
586 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (33% of complaints, typically reported near 68k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#223 of 530Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev ranks #223, scoring higher than 57% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Volkswagen Jetta HEV 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 12%
4 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (36) · Airbags (32)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Transmission & drivetrain
33%195 complaints · typically near 68k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“Vehicle can be shut off even when gear shifter is not in P position.”
Electrical system
27%156 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that whenever the temperature fell below 20 degrees, the windshield wipers became inoperable. The contact …”
Engine
21%125 complaints · typically near 57k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“The car has turned off at idle and at low speeds, almost causing accidents and to be rear ended in busy streets and during stop and go traffic on the highway. After nu…”
Fuel system
6%38 complaints · typically near 71k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“Cp4 pump failed on car with 85,000 miles on it sending metal pieces throughout the fuel system causing damage and a $9,000 bill to fix a car worth $9,000 so it is esse…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 586 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 20 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Volkswagen before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 68k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Volkswagen JETTA HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Jetta Hev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.