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What 30 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta

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 (30)Crash / fire / injury (1)Fuel system (7)Airbags (6)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Electrical system (3)Engine (2)Brakes (1)Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness (1)Seat belts (1)Tires (1)Wheels (1)

7 of 30 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Jun 29, 2026Fuel system

Leaking gas. And charcoal canister problems. I’m not sure why this vehicle is not recalled but the vw gti is and same years as other vw models but not this one. There has to be a recall with this vin vehicle no one was harmed or injured yet since this problem is scary and leaks gas I am unable to drive car due to risk of fire and injury.

NHTSA ODI 11747315

Feb 17, 2026Fuel system

The car makes a loud popping/ clicking sound in the back of the car (near exhaust) whenever I accelerate or let off the gas.

NHTSA ODI 11718601

Aug 22, 2025EngineFuel system

On Monday [XXX] my 2018 VW Jetta S started gushing gas from the bottom of the car. I immediately pulled over and called AAA to have my car towed to my nearest VW dealer which was National City Volkswagen 3131 Mile of Car National City, Ca. The issue my car was having looked similar to a recall due to fuel rails coming loose. My car ended up having faulty gas rails which is part of a recall for my vehicle. I was told it was already corrected 4 years ago so i had to pay out of pocket for it. Yet the repairs or corrected recall are not on the carfax, for one. And for two, I did not own the car when said repairs were completed and I cannot find any record of it. I believe VW is still responsible for this as it is the same parts that were repaired for the recall. Plus, I missed a whole day at work because of this. ($30hr×8=$240) plus the $1438.26 I had to pay out of pocket. Thank you for your time and consideration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11682295

Mar 17, 2025Fuel system

Engine stalled and car emitted fuel smell and leaked from engine area. Vehicle towed to shop. Mechanic found fuel leak near Cylinder #4. Removed intake manifold and found fuel rail loose and leaking from #4 injector. Left upper fuel rail retaining bolt was broken and left lower bolt was loose.

NHTSA ODI 11648748

Oct 28, 2024Fuel system

Car's warning lights came on with initial start, followed by strong fuel smell. Shut off engine and walked around car to find large puddle of fuel coming from engine compartment under fuel rail.

NHTSA ODI 11622261

Sep 28, 2023Fuel system

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start on the first attempt. Upon starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality. However, the contact stated that the failure had since become a regular occurrence. The contact also stated that the infotainment system operated erratically, symptomatic of a possible electrical issue. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11547215

Mar 17, 2023Fuel system

The contact's mother owns a 2018 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that her mother's vehicle had failed to start up with an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, her mother discovered that an unknown fluid had leaked from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a leak in the fuel rail. The failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V648000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 51,723.

NHTSA ODI 11512432

Working with the data? Download all 30 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 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 2018 Volkswagen Jetta verdict →