⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Jetta› 2017
Volkswagen · Compact Sedan

2017 Volkswagen Jetta

Gas
Compact Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints18 crash · 3 fire · 9 injured · 1 died reported 160
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 33 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 160 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volkswagen Jetta — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volkswagen Jetta · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
JettaGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo284033$2,050
JettaGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo283832$2,100
JettaGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl turbo253529$2,300
JettaGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$2,500
JettaGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233327$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37918, 37917, 37976, 37974, 37975.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Jetta6 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Jetta7 / 10LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Jetta8–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Jetta8–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.4 L

Engine Output

Horsepower150 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionManual/Standard
Transmission speeds5

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: GLI, S, SE, SEL, SEL Premium). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length183.1 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.1 in
Height57.1 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Track, front60.2–60.6 in
Track, rear60.2–61.0 in
Curb weight2,804–3,311 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door Sedan 1.8L Tsi, 4-door Sedan 2.0L, 4-door Sedan Turbo Hybrid, GLI 4-door Sedan 2.0L. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2017 Jetta
Other years The 2027 Jetta Recalls Volkswagen recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

24Gi
218,192 vehicles 68% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak. Risk A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V648000 reported Oct 21, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Steering

37M2
679,027 vehicles 49% reported repaired built Jul 11, 2014 – Dec 9, 2017
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park." Risk Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V615000 reported Aug 22, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

06A8
2 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jan 16, 2017 – Jan 16, 2017
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles. The affected vehicles have Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) markings on the body that do not match the VIN plate near the windshield. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification." Risk The mismatched VINs make the vehicle noncompliant with regulatory requirements. Fix Volkswagen has notified owners and has replaced the vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 06A8.
NHTSA campaign 17V352000 reported May 31, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

01B8
4,875 vehicles 58% reported repaired built Jun 30, 2016 – Nov 30, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B8
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V137000 reported Mar 2, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

01B9
797 vehicles 55% reported repaired built Jun 21, 2016 – Nov 18, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Beetle and Jetta GLI vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B9.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V136000 reported Mar 2, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

10F4
2 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Nov 25, 2016 – Nov 30, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Jetta vehicles equipped with a 1.4L engine. These vehicles have an engine that may seize due to an improper casting of the block. Risk If the engine seizes, the wheels may suddenly lock up, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will either buy back the vehicle or replace the engine block, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F4.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V070000 reported Feb 3, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Jetta

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Jetta →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
160complaints filed

18 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 9 injuries · 1 deaths reported

11 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 141,620 Jetta built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 8 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 25 · 2020: 25 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 18 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 42
Engine 35
Electrical System 33
Unspecified 25
Air Bags 21
Power Train 15

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Vehicle consistently pulling to right while driving at any speed on any surface street.. Increases at acceleration. Aligned x 4 in 2018, tires balanced, rotated, still same pull. Purchased 4 new michelin tires on 11/5/2018. Vehicle still pulls to right. Vehicle has been in and out of Volkswagen service department.
Steering at 21,000 miles Nov 9, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11150254
Upon placing in reverse, the engine bogs down, lowering the front end of the vehicle and causes a bad vibration. Shifting into any other gear from reverse causes a hard jerking motion as if it has trouble releasing from reverse gear. This is worse upon just starting the vehicle, or starting and stopping for several trips in one day
Power Train at 18,700 miles Nov 6, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11149807
While traveling down the road I realized dead ended, I attempted to apply my brakes at which time they did not work, I looked to ensure nothing was under it and when I seen there was nothing attempted to apply again, unfortunately they did not work again.
Service Brakes at 48,000 miles Aug 10, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11118907
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 65 MPH, all the warning indicators illuminated, including the air bag indicator. The contact was concerned that the air bag would deploy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,750
Air Bags at 6,750 miles Jun 27, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11104289
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 60 MPH, a fuel odor was detected coming from the air conditioning vents. The contact felt nauseous, light headed, and dizzy. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs.
Fuel/Propulsion System at 6,742 miles Apr 3, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11082645
Vehicle was purchased with check engine light on, returned to dealership and was told it was the gas cap. The vehicle was stalling after that. Vehicle stalled while driving on parkway, all of the dash lights came on and the ability to brake and steer was gone causing an accident. Airbags did not deploy on the front end collision.
Electrical System at 1,100 miles Jan 24, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11064703

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volkswagen itself: 35 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 38 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 25 per 100,000 built. Every Jetta model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 38k

miles, typically

Half the 90 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 18,000 and 65,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 16
10k–20k 8
20k–30k 11
30k–40k 12
40k–50k 7
50k–60k 8
60k–70k 12
70k–80k 3
80k–90k 3
90k–100k 5
100k–150k 4
150k + 1

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine2365,0001.12×
Fuel/Propulsion System2261,0001.65×
Electrical System1736,5001.04×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2017-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: fuel/propulsion system (1.65×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 720
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 709 service bulletins, 8 others, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

  • V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Engine
  • Suggested fuel additive
  • 2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
  • 2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
  • Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
  • V0026012081638_2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • Differences between a leak and seepage
  • V4823022072282_3 Service bulletin
    2026-08-03 · Steering
  • Clean and install an additional plastic "ring" to prevent ingress of dirt,hair. Foreign bodies into the clock spring.
  • VOS-26-42 Service bulletin
    2026-07-15 · Electrical System
  • 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.
  • V1718062017813_24 Service bulletin
    2026-07-09 · Engine
  • Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
  • TT 13-20-01_3 Service bulletin
    2026-06-18 · Engine
  • Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0420
P0420 on Volkswagen →		The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Equipment · Catalytic converter →22 bulletins
P0430
P0430 on Volkswagen →		The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Equipment · Catalytic converter →22 bulletins
P0463
P0463 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment9 bulletins
P2407
P2407 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Latches/Locks/Linkages · Door lock actuator →8 bulletins
P0087
P0087 on Volkswagen →		Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →6 bulletins
P0148
P0148 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →6 bulletins
P053F
P053F on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →6 bulletins
P0441
P0441 on Volkswagen →		The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.Unknown Or Other · EVAP purge valve →5 bulletins
P0556
P0556 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins
P2421
P2421 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →5 bulletins
P0496
P0496 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other4 bulletins
P04F0
P04F0 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other4 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta failed the emissions check on 2.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.0% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 2.3%

failed emissions

4,033 initial inspections of 3,950 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 JettaEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.3%3.7%4,025
Failed the safety inspection3.0%2.1%4,033
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.52%0.25%4,033
Miles driven a year10,09910,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer93,79193,238odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Jetta by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 34 mpg2026 B 1 6 34 mpg2025 B 2 30 33 mpg2024 A 0 46 34 mpg2023 A 0 43 35 mpg2022 A 1 43 35 mpg2021 B 4 70 34 mpg2020 D 6 54 34 mpg2019 F 11 549 Do not drive2018 B 2 32 33 mpg2017 this page D 6 160 33 mpg2016 C 4 164 44 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 Jetta

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 17V070000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (68/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, the best EPA combined figure is 33 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

Transport Canada measured it at 183.1 in long, 70.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 104.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,804–3,311 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about fuel/propulsion system, engine, electrical system. Of those, 18 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 9 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta runs 6 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV70, PZEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

The manufacturer has filed 720 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta failed the emissions check on 2.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.0% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates5 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints160NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins720NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Jetta The Jetta model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Volkswagen recall on file All campaigns filed against Volkswagen vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Jetta by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API