Short answer
Among Volkswagen Jetta model years through 2024, 2023 and 2024 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2019 has the most (11). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volkswagen Jetta: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 55
- Fewest recalls
- 2023 and 2024 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2019 (11)
- Most recalled system
- Exterior lighting (20)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 10 more years
Volkswagen Jetta Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Electrical system |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2022 | 1 | 5 stars | Equipment |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 11 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Suspension, Air bags |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 6 | 5 stars | Equipment, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2014 | 7 | 5 stars | Power train, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 7 | 4 stars | Air bags, Power train, Electrical system |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Fuel system, diesel |
| 2011 | 8 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel system, diesel |
| 2009 | 6 | Not rated | Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel system, diesel |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2007 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2006 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2005 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, diesel, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, diesel |
| 2003 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2002 | 5 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2001 | 6 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2000 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Equipment |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20252 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20230 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20214 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 201911 recalls
- 20182 recalls
- 20176 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20158 recalls
- 20147 recalls
- 20137 recalls
- 20126 recalls
- 20118 recalls
- 20105 recalls
- 20096 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20074 recalls
- 20064 recalls
- 20054 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20032 recalls
- 20025 recalls
- 20016 recalls
- 20004 recalls
Volkswagen Jetta: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volkswagen Jetta recalls are exterior lighting (20), electrical system (16), air bags (14), fuel system, gasoline (14) and power train (12). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 27 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 10 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Volkswagen Jetta Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Jetta?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2023 and 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Volkswagen Jetta model years have the most recalls?
2019 has the most, with 11 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Jetta", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy