There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Jettain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Car one day decided to have issues. It wouldn't turn over. So we called a row truck to come take it and run diagnostics. The tow truck driver showed up and on his decision making as im not a professional like he is he said can it turn on I said no so he pursued with saying that he is going to Jumpstart the battery in his words he says that's mainly the issue is a dead battery so he wanted to jump it with his portable jumper box as we are hooking it up to the vehicle I am inside and he connects the cables and tells me to try and turn it over in doing so the intake manifold had completely blown up. Right in front of the tow truck driver and it sounded like a cannon went off. He told me after he could hear again as well as me. We both have never experienced anything like that before. The pictures I'm providing are the damages of what jump starting the vehicle did.
2013 Jetta TDI with 92k miles. I am the third owner of this car which has been regularly maintained since new with all service records, including a 2019 emissions modification per VW recall. I bought this vehicle less than a year ago. My son was driving to work when the car shut off without warning. He was able to restart it and park safely and had it towed home. After replacing the battery and a fuse, the car continued to show a code for the ECM Power Relay Load Circuit . We took it to the mechanic to have it inspected, and learned that the high pressure fuel pump had imploded and metal shavings were found throughout the entire fuel system. This is evidently a common and very costly issue that VW has an obligation to fix. They knowingly continue to use a defective part that is essentially a ticking time bomb without regard to the owners safety and the financial ramifications of the repair. All VW vehicles with this defect should be covered by VW, not just selected model years and models. This causes catastrophic damage and VW is completely negligent by not doing what is right by the customer. The VW dealer quoted a $9,000. repair and VW North America declined any assistance with the vehicle. The car is not worth that, and it would be absurd to pay out of pocket for the repair; especially since VW continues to use a defective designed HPFP that can eventually fail again. VW was selective in the model years that they recalled, but only after the parts failed. They should have applied the recall and repairs to ALL vehicles proactively. I now have a 2013 paperweight in my driveway. The reason I purchased this specific car was for the longevity that diesels are known for. What a shame that VW does not rectify the situation in lieu of the previous diesel scandal. I'll be going back to Volvo or Subaru, two companies that I have had great experiences with, both in safety and reliability. VW should do the right thing, but I guess that's of no importance anymore.
Hairline crack developed in the accumulator housing of the transmission (mechatronic unit), leaking and leading to insufficient transmission oil pressure. There is loss of power to the wheels. Was never notified and on last inspection they told me it was my fault. Recall code 34J6. The only thing the service department did was update the software, the issue was that before the update it was already damaged and they refused to replace the “MECHATRONICS UNIT” The car is not drive able, and is just sitting in my drive way.
My vehicle was not included in several recalls (e.g. 36F6/4V and 34J6) that were made for identical cars (2013-2015 Jetta Hybrid). As result, the transmission is approaching its end of life (I was quoted $9600 + tax for the replacement). I called VW customer service and they could not offer a reason why some cars are not recalled; they just tried to spin it. The transmission is one big part that is manufactured in Germany and comes sealed. The 2013 recall 36F6 (change the transmission oil because is corrosive) would have saved the transmission.
Transmission is about to fail: at ODO 98800 the CEL indicates code P177B - Clutch Tolerance limit reached. The DSG transmission mechatronic unit was changed at ODO 46734 because the engine was loosing power. Volkswagen's has a recent recall 34J6 for this problem and vehicle type, but mine is not included in the recall.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the check engine and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact went to an auto parts store and replaced the battery however, the warning light illuminated again. Occasionally, the vehicle would fail to start immediately. The contact also stated that occasionally while driving, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing belt failed due to damage to the water pump. The contact was informed that the water pump and timing belt needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E007000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side road and was able to continue driving to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and unknown sensors were replaced, but the failure persisted. On another occasion while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the electrical control module was replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, approaching a stop sign with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The vehicle was restarted but failed to move. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to work on the model of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
INTAKE MANIFOLD LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION NUMBER VWP-20-03. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION IS FOR CERTAIN 2015 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN, CC AND EOS WITH ENGINE CODES CBFA AND CCTA. I HAVE A 2013 VW JETTA GLI WITH AN ENGINE CODE OF CCTA THAT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MANIFOLD FAILURES AS THE ABOVE MENTIONED BULLETIN. I HAVE CALLED VW AND THEY STATE MY CAR WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ON THE VW FORUM, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEAR, MAKES AND MODELS CONCERNING THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER FLAP THAT PLAGUES SO MANY THOUSANDS OF GEN1 2.0T TSI ENGINES. THE LINKAGE WITHIN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER FLAP THAT CONNECTS TO THE VACUUM ACTUATED ARM CAN BREAK AT IT'S DRIVE HEX, AND ALLOWS THE LEVER ARM TO "POP" OUT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, SOMETIMES CREATING A MASSIVE AIR LEAK WHILE BECOMING DISCONNECTED FROM THE DRIVE HEX. BY SIMPLY PUSHING THE LEVER ARM BACK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE DRIVE HEX RECONNECTS TO THE LINKAGE AND WILL OPERATE THE TUMBLE FLAPS BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW OPEN AGAIN ONCE UNDER BOOST, CREATING A MASSIVE AIR LEAK. THIS FAILURE EVENT IS SO COMMON THAT AFTERMARKET PARTS MANUFACTURERS HAVE DESIGNED A FIX/PREVENTION KIT TO THE COMMON FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER FLAP LINKAGE. PREVIOUSLY THE ONLY REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD, COSTING HUNDREDS IN PARTS AND LABOR. VW NEEDS TO PERFORM FURTHER CONTAINMENT ACTIONS THAT IDENTIFIES OTHER MODELS AND YEARS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE FACTORY INSTALLED FAULTY MANIFOLD AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMMON ISSUE BY WAY OF EXTENDING THE MANIFOLD WARRANTY TO OTHER MAKES SUCH AS GOLF (V, VI), JETTA (V, VI,) AND PASSAT B6. FOLLOW LINK TO AFTERMARKET FIX AND DESCRIPTION: HTTPS://WWW.ECSTUNING.COM/B-ECS-PARTS/VW-AUDI-P2015-20T-TSI-INTAKE-MANIFOLD-LEVER-ARM-FIX-KIT/021071ECS01~A/
TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT THEN STALL. ONCE IT ALSO STARTED TO SHAKE, WON'T GO OVER 30 MPH. ITS EXACTLY AS WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 19V866, HOWEVER MY VIN DOESN'T SEEM TO QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL. QUOTE IS OVER 5K - WHEN MY VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC RAN, THERE ARE 3 RECALLS SHOWING, HOWEVER WHEN I PUT MY VIN IN, IT SHOWS 0. THERE'S ALSO A NEW RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE - BUT HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING REGARDING MY SPECIFIC VIN
IN MOTION IN DRIVE THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR OR MOVE. I WAS ON A BUSY STREET WITH CARS ALL AROUND ME. IT IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL 19V866
ENGINE STARTS AND DRIVES FOR A BIT THEN CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF LOOSING ENGINE POWER I HAVE TO THROW IT INTO NEUTRAL OR IT TRYS TO STOP AND LOOSES POWER STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. HAPPENS GOING SLOW, TURNING, ON THE HIGHWAY ALL THE TIME JUST RANDOMLY WITH NO ENGINE CODES.
WENT TO START THE VEHICLE LAST WEEK, IT STARTED, RPMS JUMPED BETWEEN 3-4, THEN THE ENGINE DIED. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHERE HE STATED THE TENSIONER WITH THE TIMING CHAIN CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE WITH THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE READ THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE, BUT THE TIMEFRAME HAS PASSED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING IN THE MAIL STATING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS. IF I HAD, I WOULD OF TAKEN IT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I WOULD LIKE VOLKSWAGEN TO REPLACE MY ENGINE, FREE OF COST, OR TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK. *TR
THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WILL COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE IS A LAWSUIT FOR THIS ISSUE GOING ON NOW. HOWEVER, MY VIN NUMBER IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT PART OF IT. I DO NO SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT IS A CLEAR MANUFACTURING ISSUE FOR THE MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF THIS CAR?
IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID IS UNDRIVEABLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAIRLINE CRACKS AND THERE IS NO FIX YET. I THINK THIS HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO TO, WHEN I WAS FORCED TO PAY OVER $6000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I TOOK THE CARE TO GET SERVICED A YEAR AGO. THE DEALER COULDN'T GET THE CAR STARTED AND AFTER THREE WEEKS, THEY DID, BUT WHEN I DROVE IT, THE CAR COULD NOT EXCELLERATE
I HAVE A VW 2013 JETTA WITH APPROX 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WITH IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN PHOENIX, AZ. I AM DRIVING AT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A STOP THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THERE WAS NO LIGHTS THAT TURNED ON ON THE DISPLAY PANE. LAST SATURDAY WHILE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP MY WIFE AGAIN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AS DESCRIBED, BUT THIS TIME, IT APPEARED ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE PANEL. I HAD TO PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS, PUT IT ON PARK TO START THE VEHICLE. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT LARRY MILLERS FOR INSPECTION AND TOLD THEM WE HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE.
ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE IN MOTION AT 45 MPH AND STALLED AND AGAIN AT APPROX 30MPH AND 25MPH WITHIN A WEEK.
I WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGE. I DID COMPLAIN STRANGE NOISE FROM MY ENGINE AND I MENTIONED MY ENGINE IS 2.0 TSI. IT MAY HAS A RECALL ON TIMING CHAIN EXTENSIONER. THEY CHECK THE VIN AND SAID MY CAR HAS NO RECALL AT ALL. THEY REFUSE TO PUT THAT NOTE ON MY REGISTATION. I CAN HEAR THE CHAIN NOISE WHEN I SPEED UP TO 30 MILE. ALSO SOMETIME I START THE CAR, THE BANGING STRANGE NOISE COME OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND GLOW PLUG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF OCALA (5135 SW COLLEGE ROAD, OCALA, FL 34474) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,890.
THE TENSIONER IN MY VEHICLE FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP TEETH WHICH SENT THE PISTONS CRASHING INTO THE VALVES AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTING IN ME NEEDING AN ENTIRE NEW ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE ROW FORD AUBURN MAINE DEALERSHIP AND VW OF AMERICA. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW INVOLVING THIS DEFECTIVE TENSIONER. ALSO MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 1230 MILES OVER THE 60,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE AND FALL HOWEVER I'M NOT RECEIVING ANY HELP WITH THIS AND I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP AND VW SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS INFO SINCE THEY'VE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT NEVER ISSUED A RECALL .
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026