2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (48) · Service Brakes (7) · Engine (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
69 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2019-12-06 · campaign 19V866000 · 2,167 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Jetta Hybrid vehicles equipped with a DQ200 7-Speed DSG Automatic Transmission. Hairline cracks can develop within the transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit), causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure.
Risk: A decrease in transmission oil pressure can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit and, as necessary, replace affected parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 34J6.
Unknown Or Other 2019-09-25 · campaign 19V679000 · 113 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Power Train 2013-11-14 · campaign 13V568000 · 3,837 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Jetta Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 2012 through October 2013 and equipped with a DQ-200 direct-shift gearbox. Due to gearbox fluid additives, the control module within the gearbox may corrode. The deposits from this corrosion may cause an electrical short and result in a stall-like condition.
Risk: This sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gearbox oil with a non-corrosive version, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 34F6/4V.
Service bulletins (600)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Electrical System 2026-07-15 · VOS-26-42 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the issue: da 0019 - hotfix 12-v battery test(s) – no battery diagnosis - inconclusive test result.
Engine 2026-07-09 · V1718062017813_24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
oil consumption measurement and electronic oil consumption measurement
Showing the 6 most recent of 600 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-01-29 · Power Train · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated while driving 25mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate. the contact attempted to shift into another gear however, the vehicle failed to respond. the driver pulled to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. the contact was able to restart the vehicle after several minutes, a…”
2023-10-27 · Power Train · 126,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle began to vibrate and hesitate. the contact stated that the transmission and hybrid warning lights and several other warning lights were illuminated. the contact pulled over and turned the vehicle off. the contact turned the vehicle…”
2023-04-06 · Power Train · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power after the clutch disengaged. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. the vehicle was able to restart. the vehicle was taken to an unknown l…”
2022-12-21 · Power Train · 114,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failu…”
2022-12-02 · Power Train · 86,097 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated while starting the vehicle, the hybrid system fault message was displayed. the contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and the hybrid system fault message was off however, the check engine warning light was illuminated. the contact continued driving to his resid…”
2022-10-21 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette · 111,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated, and the horn was inoperable. the failure was constant. the contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the clock spring needed to be replaced. the contact was infor…”
2022-09-19 · Power Train · 70,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle failed to shift into drive or reverse. the vehicle was stuck in neutral and failed to move. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmissio…”
2022-09-16 · Power Train · 86,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated that upon exiting his driveway, the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact then stated that he attempted to restart the vehicle however, the engine revved but failed to operate as needed. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagn…”
2022-09-15 · Power Train · 108,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the vehicle was previously serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 19v866000 (power train) however, the failure recurred while his father was driving at an undisclosed speed, and the vehicle went into limp mode. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. the manufa…”
2022-08-24 · Power Train · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen jetta hybrid. the contact stated that after shifting to drive(d), the vehicle would not accelerate or respond as needed. the contact attempted to shift into another gear however, the vehicle failed to respond. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be repla…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.