2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 548 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, filed between 2018-08-06 and 2026-09-16. The most common problem areas are the power train (162, 30%), electrical system (154, 28%) and engine (147, 27%). Owners reported 19 crashes, 3 fires and 36 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 11 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2019 Volkswagen Jetta complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 162 | 30% | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 154 | 28% | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine | 147 | 27% | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown or other | 95 | 17% | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Service brakes | 29 | 5% | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 26 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 25 | 5% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 22 | 4% | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Visibility/wiper | 17 | 3% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 16 | 3% | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| Suspension | 16 | 3% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 3% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 2% | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Steering | 12 | 2% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 8 | 1% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Power train: 162 complaints
- 162 complaints of 548 (30%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 32 of them also name the engine; owners reported 3 crashes and 5 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta covers this system.
Electrical system: 154 complaints
- 154 complaints of 548 (28%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 41 of them also name the engine; owners reported 2 crashes and 6 injuries in these complaints.
- 3 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta; the latest, campaign 23V619000, says: “The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open.”
Engine: 147 complaints
- 147 complaints of 548 (27%) name the engine.
- 41 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 4 crashes, 2 fires and 4 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta covers this system.
Service brakes: 29 complaints
- 29 complaints of 548 (5%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 7 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 6 crashes and 6 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta covers this system.
Exterior lighting: 26 complaints
- 26 complaints of 548 (5%) name the exterior lighting — headlights, tail and brake lights and turn signals.
- 18 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 injury in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta; the recall, campaign 18V671000, says: “The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark.”
Fuel/propulsion system: 25 complaints
- 25 complaints of 548 (5%) name the fuel/propulsion system — the fuel tank, pump, lines, injectors and fuel-system controls.
- 9 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 fire in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 156 |
| 2020 | 81 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 96 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 40 |
| 2026 | 36 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names JETTA, model year 2019. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta's most common problem areas are the power train (162 of 548 complaints), electrical system (154 of 548 complaints) and engine (147 of 548 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta have?
NHTSA has 548 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, including 19 reported crashes and 3 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta's problems?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta; 2 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.