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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, most often about the transmission (72% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Jetta Hybrid model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.

Complaints79
Recalls3
Crashes reported3
Fires reported0
Injuries reported0

Most common 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid problems

  1. Transmission

    57 complaints · 72%

    Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.

    When driving car it just stops out of nowhere,on highway and on street. Very dangerous. Then it doesn't start up right away ,and I have to wait between 5 and 20 minutes. This happens in motion
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 80,000 miles
    Parked vehicle in a parking spot at apartment complex. Waiting for friend. While engine is running, hybrid system failure error occurs. Vehicle began rolling back when placed in any gear outside of park. Engine was running, but transmission would not engage. Vw customer care case 181143163.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 81,000 miles

  2. Engine

    14 complaints · 18%

    Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.

    When driving car it just stops out of nowhere,on highway and on street. Very dangerous. Then it doesn't start up right away ,and I have to wait between 5 and 20 minutes. This happens in motion
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 80,000 miles
    I pulled off the highway and was turning around. The car suddenly stalled while driving, bucked and then would not go into gear. I took it to the dealership and they said the transmission needs to be replaced. My hybrid has a dsq transmission that is so faulty, vw has extended the warranty on this part in every…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 90,000 miles

  3. Electrical

    9 complaints · 11%

    Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: horn.

    We own a vw Jetta Hybrid have approx. 70k miles. Vw has advised we need to replace a mechatron unit to the cost of approx. $2000. Have been reading that there are massive issues with this part and that this should be a recall. Please advise.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 70,000 miles
    I was driving on a 2 lane street when the check hybrid flashed on my dash. The car still continued to drive normal on engine power but would no longer switch into hybrid mode. I took the car to the dealer the next day and was told that the clutch that switches the electric motor to the transmission was bad and the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 73,000 miles

  4. Brakes

    8 complaints · 10%

    Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles.

    The brakes constantly squeal when braking. I have complained to south coast santa ana vw 3 times and brought the car in and they insist there is nothing wrong with the brakes and that it's just part of the material they manufacture the brakes with. They claim that the squealing is normal and caused by brake dust. The…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 19,500 miles
    At 45 miles per hour on a four lane street the engine turned off. The car continued to function on lithium ion battery with epc and battery icons lit, until the charge went to zero and all electrical functions including gauges ceased. The car was dead but rolling. I had a quarter mile with no traffic in front of me to…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 20,301 miles

  5. Speed control

    5 complaints · 6%

    The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid premium. The contact stated that the electronic control warning light illuminated as the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact was at a complete stop when the vehicle then independently accelerated to 5 MPH but the contact was unable to accelerate any higher…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 32,000 miles
    I was driving on the highway and the car stopped moving. It was a transmission issue with the gear box. The same recall that the Volkswagen has but when I look up my VIN it doesn't come. However I had the same issue happen as the one described in the recall. I replaced the transmission but the car is still jerking…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 65,000 miles

  6. Fuel system

    4 complaints · 5%

    Error code p309d, experienced loss of power while driving. Car would not go into hybrid mode, then 1 day later, experienced loss of power while driving. Volkswagen has recalled same model and year, however they said my VIN was not included. Gear shift box replaced under recall in 2014. Volkswagen customer service will…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 115,000 miles
    As I am driving the car on highway or street the car just stalls and turns off. Nrought it to dealer and was told out of warranty and would have to pay $9500 to repair hybrid battery system and new transmission. The usual that the VIN number is not included in recall which is just not right. And of course mileage over…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 76,000 miles

  7. Air bags

    3 complaints · 4%

    Parts named most often: frontal.

    My airbag was disabled by a faulty clock spring in the steering wheel. This is the same issue that caused Volkswagen to recall 420k cars, including non-hybrid jettas. For reason unknown to me the hybrid jetta was not included in the recall, but it seems that have the exact same issue as other jettas.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 40,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated, and the horn was inoperable. The failure was constant. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the clock spring needed to be…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2022, at 111,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid recalls

  1. Transmission: automatic transmission

    NHTSA 19V866000 · December 6, 2019 · 2,167 vehicles

    Risk: A decrease in transmission oil pressure can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit and, as necessary, replace affected parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 25, 2021. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 34j6.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 jetta hybrid vehicles equipped with a dq200 7-speed dsg automatic transmission. Hairline cracks can develop within the transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit), causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure.

  2. Other: unknown or other

    NHTSA 19V679000 · September 25, 2019 · 113 vehicles

    Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began november 6, 2019. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01d7. Note: this recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18v-329.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 volkswagen passat, 2018 tiguan lwb, 2007-2009 jetta sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 jetta, 2013 jetta hybrid, 2008-2009 jetta sportwagen, 2015 golf sportwagen, 2013 golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 beetle and beetle convertible, 2008-2010 beetle, and beetle convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

  3. Transmission: power train

    NHTSA 13V568000 · November 14, 2013 · 3,837 vehicles

    Risk: This sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gearbox oil with a non-corrosive version, free of charge. The recall began on december 6, 2013. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 34f6/4v.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 jetta hybrid vehicles manufactured october 2012 through october 2013 and equipped with a dq-200 direct-shift gearbox. Due to gearbox fluid additives, the control module within the gearbox may corrode. The deposits from this corrosion may cause an electrical short and result in a stall-like condition.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

Questions about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid?
By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (57 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles); electrical (9 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid have?
3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 6, 2019 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2013 a bad year for the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid?
It is the most complained-about Jetta Hybrid model year since 2000, with 79 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid years

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid problems by year