2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN has 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

11 complaints

23%

• 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
• 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
• WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE CAR STALLED WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART ALTHOUGH STARTER ETC WERE WORKING FINE. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPORTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED LEAVING METAL THROUGH OUT MY FUEL SYSTEM, A PROBLEM THEY'VE SEEN WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL IN THE PAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

13%

• 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 STUMBL
• ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF. CAR IS IN PARK, I TRY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, KEY COMES OUT BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING.
• WARM OR COLD ENGINE. LIGHT THROTTLE USE SIMILAR TO IN TOWN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS ANY GEAR (IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AROUND 10-40 MPH STEADY SPEED AND WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM ACCELERATION TO COAST TO ACCELERATION, AND OCCASIONALLY UNDER HARD ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO "HICCUP" OR LOSE POWER AN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 STUMBL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

13%

• clock spring / clock part: 5k0953569al Air Bag light is on... steering click.... dealer says parts are nowhere to be found as there are over 5000 back orders right now.. I am not a rich person... what do we do? I am afraid to drive it.
• This is on recall and on backorder. They are calling it an extended warranty? What is going on as I drive this car with no clock spring and a defective airbag? I was told by the dealer that the part is ordered and it is a recall. I paid for the diagnosis and this was supposed to be covered lat
• According to the dealership my car has a broken clock spring switch in the steering wheel. This part is covered under an warranty extension issued in 2018. Without this switch all of the controls located in the steering wheel are inoperative. I have no driver side airbag and no horn, both of whic

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“clock spring / clock part: 5k0953569al Air Bag light is on... steering click.... dealer says parts are nowhere to be found as there are over 5000 back orders right now.. I am not a rich person... what do we do? I am afraid to drive it.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

11%

• ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF. CAR IS IN PARK, I TRY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, KEY COMES OUT BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING.
• 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, AN
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF. CAR IS IN PARK, I TRY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, KEY COMES OUT BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

• KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
• WARM OR COLD ENGINE. LIGHT THROTTLE USE SIMILAR TO IN TOWN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS ANY GEAR (IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AROUND 10-40 MPH STEADY SPEED AND WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM ACCELERATION TO COAST TO ACCELERATION, AND OCCASIONALLY UNDER HARD ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO "HICCUP" OR LOSE POWER AN
• RAIN GUTTERS INEFFECTIVE CAUSING FLOODING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 47 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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 STUMBL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: clock spring / clock part: 5k0953569al Air Bag light is on... steering click.... dealer says parts are nowhere to be found as there are over 5000 back orders right now.. I am not a rich person... what do we do? I am afraid to drive it.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF. CAR IS IN PARK, I TRY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, KEY COMES OUT BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)