Home · 2019 Volkswagen Jetta · Complaints

What 537 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 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 (537)Crash / fire / injury (34)Transmission & drivetrain (161)Electrical system (149)Engine (144)Brakes (29)Fuel system (29)Lights (26)Visibility & wipers (23)Body & structure (22)Airbags (16)Speed control (16)

7 of 537 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jun 25, 2026AirbagsBody & structureBrakesCrash1 injury

There was an intersection, I hit a car head on and no airbags went off

NHTSA ODI 11746389

Apr 16, 2025Electrical systemAirbagsDriver assistanceCrash4 injuries

While traveling on [XXX] in Van Buren, Arkansas, I was involved in a hit-and-run accident. The impact caused significant front-end damage and resulted in physical injuries. The vehicle’s dashboard/electrical system indicated AIRBAG:ERROR, and the police report reflects that airbag deployed yet we have photo evidence that the airbag did not deploy. However, photo evidence clearly shows that no airbags deployed for any occupants. The airbags remained completely intact following the crash. The vehicle is a certified pre-owned 2019 Volkswagen Jetta that was still under warranty at the time. This raises serious safety concerns regarding the accuracy of the airbag deployment system and the failure of the airbags to function during a serious collision. The vehicle is being held for preservation at the co-part yard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11655105

Feb 29, 2024AirbagsCrash1 injury

1. Was rear ended on [XXX]. The air bag in my vw jetta 2019 did not deploy. The car is currently at the Ritchey Automotive 5320 I-55 North in Jackson, MS... It is available for inspection upon request. 2. No. 3. No. The car was sent to the collision center for rear bumper repair and cosmetics. 4. No. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11574620

Feb 5, 2023AirbagsDriver assistanceCrash1 injury

I was in a head on collision where the other person crossed the line and two empty lanes to hit me head on. This WAS in may 2021. Not one single warning was used by forward collision sensors. No emergency braking was applied. My airbags were not deployed and this man hit me doing at least 35 miles an hour and also I was forward moving even though I was applying my brakes. The car was totaled. Yet not a single warning sound or light or indicator once went off. I also paid extra for the Volkswagen carnet services. Never once did they come over the speaker to ask if I was ok. To tell me I had been in an accident or ask if I needed them to send help. In essence these services failed me completely. I do not understand why I was not included in any of the airbag recalls or settlement information I have heard about. All of the Extra features and functions I paid all the extra money to have - every single one failed me when I needed it. This vehicle left me without the protections it promised.

NHTSA ODI 11505669

Jan 18, 2023AirbagsWheelsDriver assistanceCrash

https://www.hometownsource.com/classifieds/press_news/community/announcements/legal/notice_of_sales/2019-volkswagon-jetta-burdas-towing/pdfdisplayad_0e7d0609-179e-5fd0-9b71-1f5cd42e9757.html

NHTSA ODI 11502305

Jul 22, 2022AirbagsCrash

I was in a collision in my 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. Upon impact the airbags deployed, however the airbag that deployed from the steering wheel gave me a severe laceration/burn on my forearm in the shape of the Volkswagen emblem. This is problematic, as the function of airbags is to keep you safe, not to provide additional injury.

NHTSA ODI 11475318

Jan 31, 2020AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

VEHICLE REAR-ENDED ON A BUSY DAY BETWEEN 5:00 PM TO 6:00 PM ON A THURSDAY. ALL THE AIR-BAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR-BAG STAYED INFLATED FOR A LONG TIME, AND THE RIGHT SIDE AIR-BAG ALSO DID NOT DEFLATE. INFLATED AIR-BAG HELD THE DRIVER SO TIGHT, AND THE DRIVER COULD NOT EXIT OUT OF THE ACCIDENT CAR. SIMULTANEOUSLY SEAT ALSO HELD THE DRIVER SO TIGHT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT INJURY FRACTURING HIS STERNUM. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 40 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER DOWNLOADED THE ELECTRONIC DATA RECORD FROM THE CAR AND NEVER SHARED IT WITH THE DRIVER DESPITE THE WRITTEN REQUEST. DRIVER FEELS BRAKE MAY HAVE FAILED. DRIVER HAS TO SLIDE OUT OF THE CAR AS THE SIDE AIR BAG STAYED INFLATED. PICTURE ATTACHED SHOWS AIR-BAG STAYING INFLATED EVEN AFTER 10-25 MINS AND STARTED TO GO DOWN SLOWLY.

NHTSA ODI 11306408

Working with the data? Download all 537 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 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 2019 Volkswagen Jetta verdict →