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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, most often about the fuel system (31% of complaints, typically around 79,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Jetta Sportwagen model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.

Complaints36
Recalls1
Crashes reported1
Fires reported1
Injuries reported0

Most common 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems

  1. Fuel system

    11 complaints · 31%

    Half of these problems showed up before 79,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.

    While driving the vehicle was low on power and the glow plug light was flashing. This was the second time that this exact thing happened. The first time I turned the car off and let it set for a few minutes and it restarted and ran fine. We were on the highway and had to make our way through traffic to the side of the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 79,500 miles
    My wife and her mother were out shopping in san diego. They suddenly experienced engine malfunction and subsequent stall of our 2013 jetta tdi sportwagon. This resulted in our vehicle blocking a two lane busy boulevard. This street is a no stopping anytime roadway clearly marked with signs. My wife christine, pulled…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 78,000 miles

  2. Engine

    6 complaints · 17%

    While driving this vehicle to work it started to decelerate on the highway, lose power, and stumble. The check engine and glow plug lights came on the dash. The car was able to be driven at a reduced highway speed for a short distance to a park and ride to be towed to a dealer. The car was stumbling occasionally when…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 89,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an auto parts store that used a handheld scanner and determined that the vehicle needed to be taken…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2023, at 136,000 miles

  3. Air bags

    6 complaints · 17%

    Parts named most often: frontal.

  4. Electrical

    5 complaints · 14%

    On a cold morning, I started my car by turning the key in the ignition, then locked the doors manually from the exterior with another key, in order to allow the car to warm up and defrost before the commute to work. When I returned 10 minutes later, the car was emitting gray smoke from the hood, and upon opening the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 60,100 miles
    The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an auto parts store that used a handheld scanner and determined that the vehicle needed to be taken…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2023, at 136,000 miles

  5. Other or unspecified

    4 complaints · 11%

  6. Transmission

    4 complaints · 11%

    My vehicle only has about 80,000 miles and there is a very loud sound coming from the dual mass flywheel when idling, both when parked or in drive. This seems premature for this transmission.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2020, at 87,000 miles

  7. Suspension

    3 complaints · 8%

    Heard strange noise while driving in town. Found passenger rear coil spring was broken. Upon further review the shop also found that the drivers side front spring was broken. Minimal corrosion was present on the coils and the car only has ~50,000 miles.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2020, at 50,000 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 Sportwagen recalls

  1. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 16V078000 · February 10, 2016 · 659,493 vehicles

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on april 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 golf, 2007-2010 passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 passat sedan and eos, 2009-2014 cc, 2009-2012 audi q5, 2010-2012 s5 cabriolet and 2010-2012 audi a5 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

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 Sportwagen

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen?
By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (11 complaints, typically around 79,500 miles); engine (6 complaints); air bags (6 complaints).
How many recalls does the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen have?
1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 10, 2016 (air bags). 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 Sportwagen?
It is the most complained-about Jetta Sportwagen model year since 2000, with 36 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 Sportwagen years

Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems by year