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)

Newest first · 586 complaints · page 5 of 24

Dec 29, 2021Engine

Transmission is about to fail: at ODO 98800 the CEL indicates code P177B - Clutch Tolerance limit reached. The DSG transmission mechatronic unit was changed at ODO 46734 because the engine was loosing power. Volkswagen's has a recent recall 34J6 for this problem and vehicle type, but mine is not included in the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11445452

Dec 27, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated that she was at work when she went to start her vehicle and the vehicle was unable to shift into reverse. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle several times before the vehicle returned to normal operation. The vehicle was then driven to the dealer. The contact stated that she was advised by the dealer that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacture was contacted, and she was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11445083

Dec 27, 2021Electrical systemAirbagsBrakes

The ABS lights go on and the speedometer stopped working and all the lights have activated. the abs module has been reported that there is a defect in most of the jettas and so i believe that this should be a recall issue.

NHTSA ODI 11445121

Dec 11, 2021Electrical systemFuel system

1. Fuel pump control module shorted out and electrical fuse was blown. 2. Yes, the part is available for inspection. 3. Vehicle completely shut off while driving on the road without any prior dashboard indicators or symptoms of something going wrong. 4. Part #1K0-906-093-J manufactured by Kuhnke a tier 1 supplier for VW. Fuel pump control module is mounted on top of gas tank area and was melted and shorted out, and a thorough inspection, and replacement was done by the VW dealer: Diehl Toyota/VW, Butler, PA. 5. This same issue was a recalled on 281,000 VW models as per NHTSA bulletin #20AE. VW recall #17V509000. 6. VW said my VIN is not included in the recall. But, it the exact same failure, part, and manufacturer of the part for VW/Audi. So WHY? is my VIN not included. It doesn't seem to be batch related, but a design defect. 7. Vehicle would not restart and could not be driven. It was flat-bedded to the dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11443426

Nov 23, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

E-Engine and Transmission Problem. In August of 2021, while performing normal driving, the car refused to get in gear and the engine just revved; the Check Engine and Hybrid Systems Failure lights came on, and the car would not work properly. I had it towed to a VW Dealership in Springfield, VA for repairs and was quoted $15,000 for a new E-Engine and Transmission. No Recalls, but online forums show that this is a classic failure of Jetta Hybrids and is due to the corrosive transmission oil used in the sealed transmissions of the Hybrids. Car has remained on VW Dealership lot while a decision is made on the vehicle. November of 2021 I was contacted about a different recall (38C4) for the Jetta; it is a software issue with a European Calibration instead of a US. I am looking to have that repaired to see if it fixes the problem in the car. I am inquiring about the Volkswagen recall 34J6 (or 34J6/4V) for 2013/2014 VW Jetta Hybrids. My VIN does not appear on the list. According to forums, it has experienced the same failure as others that are. This one is for hairline cracks that may form in the Transmission causing it to fail. No warning signs were given before the failure. It was a well maintained car; I was the only owner and drove it for 121,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11441430

Nov 21, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

While driving on freeway going 80mph in carpool with my toddler in backseat the car turned off losing all power to car. engine stopped, steering did not work, brakes did not work, and all lights on dash turned off along with headlights and break lights. i pulled into emergency lane and pulled key out. the car restarted back up but no lights were on dash to indicate anything was wrong with it. took the car into local mechanic they could not duplicate issue, and didnt find any codes. car was returned not fixed. it has happened 6 more times 5 times while driving and one time while sitting in a starbucks drive through each time taking key out and able to restart car. took car into vw dealership, and told them the issue with no light saying anything. checked for codes. no codes where found mechanic still now trying to duplicate issue. this is very dangerous issue that needs attention to if it wasn't for just a few cars on the freeway my son and myself would have been gone from a malfunction from the vehicle. I hope no one else encounters this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11441174

Nov 19, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control

I was driving on the street and my check engine light came on, as I was making a turn at about 35 miles an hour my car acted like it kicked into neutral and when pressing the gas just revved the engine. I safely pulled over to the side and had the car towed to a mechanic. He took a look and said there was a significant leak coming from the transmission and I should take it to a VW dealership because there are a lot of recalls for this type of stuff. I had it towed to VW and they said it was a hairline crack in the transmission that caused an oil leak into the electronic gearbox which caused the loss of control and power. They said there is no recall and it would be a $12,000.00 fix. The car has 47K original miles on it, no wrecks, and I've never missed an oil change.

NHTSA ODI 11441057

Nov 15, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated that after stopping at a red traffic light and attempting to move off, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause for the failure. The contact had the vehicle taken to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V866000 (Power Train) which the contact believed was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

NHTSA ODI 11440457

Nov 2, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V866000 (Power Train). The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer for the recall repair however, when the dealer inspected the vehicle the dealer informed the contact they would not be able to perform the recall repair due severe wear and tear on the 1st clutch. The dealer recommended that the transmission be replaced prior to performing the recall repair. The contact was informed that replacing the transmission would be an out of pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,801.

NHTSA ODI 11439088

Nov 2, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

Car was purchased recently from used car dealer Unique Imports in Tucson. Car was being driven by my wife onto I10 at about 50mph and suddenly lost drive. There was no power being transmitted either from the electric motor or the gasoline engine. With foot on the gas pedal as the car lost speed the gas engine was heard revving but there was no drive. She stopped the car put hazards on and called me. I drove to the car, swapped with her and waited an hour. I was able to start the car and by that time drive had returned so I retrieved the car and returned the short distance home. Then on 10/29 the car was being driven along Tangerine Road and the same problem recurred. A complete loss of drive without warning, necessitating a careful pull over without power onto the hard shoulder. A sudden loss of drive like this is dangerous but fortunately this did not happen on the Interstate this time. Again I drove out to the stranded car, swapped cars and waited. I was able to return home a distance of about 5 miles although the problem recurred twice on the way and each time I had to pull over on the dirt shoulder and wait with hazard signal active for some time for the transmission to restore drive. When it did, it took longer each time. I called VW North America to see if this vehicle was subject to the recall for the mechatronic unit malfunction that causes clutch drivetrain failures exactly like this one. This car had no open recalls in spite of the symptoms, failure mode and driving risk all matching NHTSA 19V-866 https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCLRPT-19V866-3182.PDF I was informed by VW NA that there was a recall work undertaken by VW North Scottsdale earlier in 2021 pertaining to this issue. The car is not safely driveable until this issue is resolved. Clearly this is not an isolated event. This dangerous failure mode is a systematic problem with this model of vehicle that should be fully addressed by the manufacturer despite the previous recall

NHTSA ODI 11439107

Oct 30, 2021

Key stuck in ignition when attempting to turn off engine.

NHTSA ODI 11438768

Sep 28, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

This is the same as Campagin number 19V866000 (VW recall number 34J6). Hairline cracks have developed in the mechatronic unit, causing transmission oil leaks and decreases in oil pressure. Loss of power greatly increases the risk of a crash, because the issue is largest at low speeds or after stopping.

NHTSA ODI 11434722

Sep 22, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

There is a recall on 2013-2015 VW Jetta Hybrid transmissions. I have a 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid. on September 21, 2021, the transmission malfunctioned, causing the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in the car being unable to drive. My wife was driving the car by herself on a a busy interstate in Denver, Colorado (I-25) at approximately 3 PM. She was stranded on a highway in rush hour traffic for approximately 15 minutes as our stalled car held up traffic and was dangerous for my wife to sit in the car during this time. It was a stressful situation for my wife that threatened not only her safety but of others that drove on I-25 that afternoon. After approximately 15 minutes the clutch was able to engage again and the car was able to drive. The car is available for inspection. I believe the problem has been identified because there is a recall out for the 2013-2015 VW Jetta Hybrid! They have not contacted me about repairing this recall. I asked the local VW dealer about this and they have not addressed the problem. The vehicle has been inspected by the local dealer, but not police, insurance representatives or others. No known issues occurred with this car for the 8 years I have owned it and been the sole owner.

NHTSA ODI 11433976

Aug 27, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 119,450.

NHTSA ODI 11430725

Aug 13, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 11428963

Aug 11, 2021Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11428637

Aug 5, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

The vehicle's transmission failed to go into reverse when my daughter was driving. We took the Jetta to the Dansbury Volkswagen dealer in CT.

NHTSA ODI 11427894

Aug 2, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 11427401

Jul 12, 2021Transmission & drivetrainHybrid Propulsion System

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.

NHTSA ODI 11424498

Jul 8, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

I'm hoping you can help me. I have a 2013 Jetta Hybrid SE 1.4L auto pzev with 47,000 original miles. I'm the second owner and I purchased it with 19,000 original miles. I've never missed an oil change and always kept it up to date with maintenance. I was driving on the street and my check engine light came on, as I was making a turn at about 35 miles an hour my car acted like it kicked into neutral and when pressing the gas just revved the engine. I safely pulled over to the side and had the car towed to a mechanic. He took a look and said there was a significant leak coming from the transmission and I should take it to a VW dealership because there are a lot of recalls for this type of stuff. I had it towed to VW and they said it was a hairline crack in the transmission that caused an oil leak into the electronic gearbox which caused the loss of control and power. They said there is no recall and it would be a $12,000.00 fix. The car has 47K original miles on it, no wrecks, and I've never missed an oil change. Had I not quickly reacted I could of caused a car accident injuring or killing myself or someone else. This is unbelievable that VW is not being held responsible for this. There is a recall for this exact problem Recall Number: 34J6 but for some reason it does no include my specific Jetta. How is that possible?

NHTSA ODI 11423977

Jul 7, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

What component or system failed. Mechatronics unit on 2013 VW Hybrid SEL Premium. Available for inspection. Yes Safety. Driving the vehicle with a cold engine will cause a complete loss of power Reproduced by dealer or ISC. Somewhat. They've confirmed a loss of transmission pressure which is in line with Recall 34J6 in May/June 2021, but my specific VIN doesn't apply to the 34J6 recall. Due to VW, the dealership was unable to inform me exactly what was wrong with the transmission but only that it needed to be replaced at a cost of $7400. Campaign / Recall 38C4 was applied to the vehicle 04/25/20 @ 55,579 miles. Inspected by VW Dealership. Warning Lamps: "Error Hybrid system Contact Dealer now!" "Automatic transmission malfunction" Automatic transmission malfunction (flashing wrench symbol & selector symbol)" First noticed October 2020.

NHTSA ODI 11423749

Jun 24, 2021

There was a legal settlement between the US and VW in 2016. This settlement provided mandates upon the company to perform repairs and give warranty to owners of VW vehicles, so the vehicles are in a safe and emissions responsible manner. This settlement info can be seen at www.vw.courtsettlement.com The main part that applies to our situation is: We purchased a 2013 VW Jetta TDI on 12/30/20 with 179,109 miles. Prior to that, it had the Emissions Modification done to it. We purchased vehicle from the original owner, and we are the 2nd owner, per VIN report Our purchase was the 1st resale transaction done after the modification completed We purchased the vehicle in good faith and for purposes other than resale We purchased the vehicle due to the warranty. The vehicle currently should have a 4 year 48,000 mile court ordered warranty starting 12/30/20 and at 179,109 miles. If followed by court order, this warranty is good until 12/30/24 or 227,109 miles. Since this vehicle was purchased 6 months 14,000 miles into warranty, it still has 34,000 miles or good until 12/30/2024. VW has refused to honor there court ordered warranty. This potentially is putting a vehicle that is in need of safety repairs at risk of a danger on roadway by not honoring warranty. Term of agreement at www.vwcourtsettlement.com Not only are they not fulfilling there obligations as they should under the terms of settlement, they are egregiously allowing vehicles to be driven around with clogged filters emitting more pollution that they should, when they have since agreed to fix them as they were rigged unlawfully to settle the VW corporate violations within the US They should immediately honor this warranty with this VW owner and recompense me for warranty related expenses they incurred of approx $750. The VIN for this vehicle is 3VWLL7AJ0DM[XXX] One owner of the vehicle is [XXX] Contact info [XXX] [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11422169

Jun 11, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

This is a hybrid VW Jetta 2013 Transmission loss of reverse , 2nd, 4th, 6th, gears . I read there is a recall 34J6 for transmission supposedly to be in effect may 31, 2021

NHTSA ODI 11420543

Jun 6, 2021

The key gets stuck in the ignition cant turn the car off been hoping on for a week k ow

NHTSA ODI 11419851

Jun 3, 2021Engine

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, approaching a stop sign with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The vehicle was restarted but failed to move. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to work on the model of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11419532

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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 →