2013 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

112Engine complaints

21.7%Of all 515 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM143 · 27.8%

POWER TRAIN139 · 27%

ENGINE112 · 21.7%

Unspecified / other98 · 19%

STEERING37 · 7.2%

Share of the 515 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta overview page.

What owners report

“THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIP OR HESITATE ESPECIALLY IN LOW GEARS OR WHEN ACCELERATING…”NHTSA complaint 10818715 — filed 01/07/2016

“THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T RUN CORRECTLY IT REFUSES TO MOVE WHILE IN DRIVING”NHTSA complaint 10789658 — filed 11/10/2015

“THE PROBLEM SHOWING ERROR CODE P0087, P0387 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, THE COST OF EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, DIFFICULT TO MEET WARRANTY RELATED POWER-TRAIN &…”NHTSA complaint 10746266 — filed 08/04/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta: 112 of 515 complaints on file (21.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta have in total?

515 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.