Home · 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev · Complaints

What 586 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (586)Crash / fire / injury (20)Transmission & drivetrain (195)Electrical system (156)Engine (125)Fuel system (38)Steering (36)Airbags (32)Brakes (30)Speed control (21)Lights (17)Body & structure (15)

156 of 586 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 3 of 7

Oct 25, 2019SteeringElectrical system

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 ODI 11271095

Oct 15, 2019SteeringElectrical system

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 ODI 11268668

Oct 6, 2019Electrical systemEngine

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI 11266614

Sep 14, 2019Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. CAN'T TURN OFF ENGINE. ALSO, OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TURN KEY FROM 'OFF' TO 'ON' POSITION; KEY GETS STUCK IN 'OFF' POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11255504

Sep 10, 2019Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, WON'T TURN OFF UNLESS I PULL THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO KILL THE ENGINE. IT'S THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENS AND UNREAL HOW MUCH WE GOTTA PAY TO REPLACE IT NOT MENTIONING THE REPROGRAM KEYS, I'VE READ THE SAME THING FROM SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MAYBE IT SHOULD CONSIDERED A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11254539

Sep 6, 2019Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11253746

Jul 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

DRIVING ON CITY STREET, THE ENGINE QUIT. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE AUTO HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR STATION. REPAIR WAS JX1 POWER ELECTRONIC OUTPUT MODEL WHICH WAS CODED AND ADAPTED TO VEHICLE. :(PER BRUNSWICK AUTO MART DOCUMENT). IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS VEHICLE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. IF THE FAILURE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY DURING HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC A SERIOUS ISSUE WOULD OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI 11240888

Jul 14, 2019Electrical system

MY KEY CONSTANTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MY CAR TURNS ON BUT NOT OFF WHICH LEAVES ME TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY AND TAKE OUT FUSE SO NO ONE STEALS MY CAR OVERNIGHT. A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW WITH JETTAS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUES. I THINK IT IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY HORN DOES NOT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID DOESNT WORK, MY PASSENGER WINDOW AS WELL! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ASAP !

NHTSA ODI 11231683

Jul 14, 2019Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE. STATIONARY IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11231758

Jun 19, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11221118

May 30, 2019Electrical system

IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN OFF. HAD TO MONKEY WITH THE KEY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE ISSUE RECALL. ALSO NOTED THAT THE KEY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN AT TIME SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR A MONTH AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11216941

Apr 12, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel system

ON DECEMBER 8, 2016 WE PURCHASED A 2013 VW JETTA HYBRID WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. WITHIN 3 MONTHS IT WAS LOSING POWER, JUMPY AND NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. THIS WAS FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD SON. IT WOULD LOSE COMPLETE POWER ON THE STREET. NOT IDEAL FOR A BRAND NEW DRIVER. TOWED IT TO DEALER, TOLD NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. FOUR WEEKS LATER WE FINALLY GOT CAR BACK. STILL NOTICED A JUMPY FEELING WHEN DRIVING BUT ASSUMED DEALER FIXED CORRECTLY. IN NOVEMBER 2017 SAME THING HAPPENED, LOSS OF POWER, JUMPY, NOT SAFE AT ALL. TOWED IN TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY SAID VEHICLE NEEDED REPAIRS OF 12K AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I COULD NOT PAY THAT NOR COULD I NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T COVERED??? DEALER SAID CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND THEY GAVE US 500.00. I STILL OWE 11K ON THE LOAN. PLEASE HELP, I AM JUST SICK ABOUT THE WAY I WAS TREATED AND THE DEBT I INCURRED FOR NO REASON. I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS WAS A LEMON.

NHTSA ODI 11195794

Apr 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, LOSING POWER TO THE ENGINE. AT FIRST, IT BEGAN TO HAPPEN MONTHLY (50,000 MILES) ONLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (AT STOP LIGHTS OR IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY). THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED LURCHING ACCELERATION AT LOW GEARS. IT WOULD NOT TRIGGER ANY CODES (FOR EITHER ISSUE), AND MULTIPLE VW DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE STALLING THEN OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING (70,000 MILES), CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ON A FREEWAY AT 70 MPH; THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE FREEWAY BY AN OFFICER AND THEN TOWED. STILL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT PRODUCE ANY CODES. AFTER OVER 1 MONTH AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND REPLACEMENT OF 4 DIFFERENT WIRES THAT APPEARED CORRODED, AND THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, THE SAME ISSUES PERSISTED. THE STALLING BEGAN TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY, BOTH WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING, AND BEGAN TO TRIGGER THE EPC LIGHT (80,000 MILES). BY THIS TIME IT WAS CLEARLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOT WILLING TO RENT A CAR FOR AN UNKNOWN DURATION FOR THE SERVICE CENTER TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11194348

Feb 8, 2019Electrical systemEngine

TWICE STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, CURRENTLY HAS ENGINE MALFUNCTION CODE P2015 FOR INTAKE FLAP VALVE FAILURE. VW STATES IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE CCTA ENGINE CODE FOR 2011-2012 VW 2.0T TSI ENGINES. HOWEVER SINCE IT WASN'T EXTENDED TO MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE SAME THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE NHTSA DIDN'T IDENTIFY MY VEHICLE YEAR YET.

NHTSA ODI 11175702

Jan 23, 2019Electrical system

FAULTY HORN IN BOTH STATIONATY AND MOVING POSITIONS. WILL WORK AND THEN SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. REPLACED HORN RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE, BUT CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS LATER.

NHTSA ODI 11171749

Dec 29, 2018Electrical systemEngine

MY CAR WHILE ON THE BUSY INTERSTATE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. IT WAS RUNNING BUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SHOULDER. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED 5 MIN, & TURNED IT BACK ON. THE EPC LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS ABLE TO THEN MANEUVER SLOWLY TO A NEARBY TRUCK STOP TO CALL FOR A TOW. THE CAR SURGED THE WHOLE TIME. 1 WEEK LATER THE VW DEALERSHIP SAYS ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILURE & THAT IT WILL COST ME $1200. OF COURSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY & NO RECALLS. THIS IS DANGEROUS & COSTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11163988

Oct 16, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR CUT OFF THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON . I MANAGED TO RESTART AND PULL OVER AND THEN AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS THE CAR STARTED AND STAYED ON . THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY THE CAR REPAIR SHOP THAT I WAS NEAR OUT OF FEAR OF DRIVING; BUT NO SOONER DID I GET THE CAR BACK THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING TO THE VEHICLE( WHILE IN MOTION THE CAR STALLS NO LIGHT NECESSARILY COME ON WITH EXCEPTION OF THE EPC LIGHT WHICH DOES NOT STAY ON. OPPOSE TO ME POURING MONEY INTO THE CAR I READ ABOUT RECALLS AND THIS SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN OTHER MODELS BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED AND I WANT IT INCLUDED THIS IS DANGEROUS AND INCONVENIENANT PLEASE HELP ME

NHTSA ODI 11140603

Sep 30, 2018Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE (VEHICLE STATIONARY).

NHTSA ODI 11132324

Sep 16, 2018Electrical system

IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK IN ON POSITION, CAN'T TURN CAR OFF

NHTSA ODI 11129768

Aug 31, 2018Electrical systemAirbagsEngineCrash

TAKATA RECALL VW JETA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FREEZING RAIN IN JANUARY 2017 (KNOXVILLE, TN). VW SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR CAUSING IN EXCESS OF $5,000 DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. COMPLETE FAILURE IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM/COMPRESSOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKS/UNLOCKS DOORS WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ROLLS DOWN WINDOWS FOR NO REASON. THIS BEGUN 70K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11123870

Aug 22, 2018Electrical systemLatches & locks

THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY, ALL THEY DO IS CLICK TRYING TO LOCK AS I DRIVE - FROM TIME TO TIME, IF THEY DO LOCK - I CAN'T UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR, AND HAVE TO CRAWL OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IN THE EVENT I NEED TO EXIT THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON A 2009 JETTA - AND I IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET - THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S A DESIGN FLAW FROM VW - AND IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW - AND I'M SURE VW KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT HAS FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. I FEEL THE ONLY WAY VW WILL FIX THE ISSUE IS IF THE NTSB FORCES THEM TO DO A RECALL - PLEASE HELP US ? ALSO, I'M NOT ABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ODI 11121561

Aug 22, 2018Electrical system

THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH THE CAR ON AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11121573

Aug 2, 2018Electrical system

KEY WILL NOT TURN BACK TO OFF POSITION TO SHUT OFF THE CAR WHILE PARKED.

NHTSA ODI 11115320

Jul 26, 2018SteeringElectrical system

"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 ODI 11113830

Jul 26, 2018Electrical system

CAR KEEPS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AT 10MPH. HAD MY RIGHT REAR LATCH REPLACED, NOW MY LEFT REAR IS DOING THE SAME THING

NHTSA ODI 11113881

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Working with the data? Download all 586 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hev verdict →