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2018 Volkswagen Jetta

Gas Compact car

202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
C
Safety Signal
77 / 100
CSafety Signal · 77 / 100
2Recalls · 1 critical
31Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
33 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2018 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 31 complaints, most often about unknown or other. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
JettaGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo284033$1,900
JettaGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo283832$1,950
JettaGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl turbo243328$2,250
JettaGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

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Recalls (2)

Fuel System, Gasoline

critical
218,192 vehicles

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.

NHTSA campaign 20V648000 · reported Oct 21, 2020 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Steering

high
679,027 vehicles

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.

NHTSA campaign 19V615000 · reported Aug 22, 2019 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

31 complaints filed

1 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

  • Unknown Or Other — 8
  • Air Bags — 6
  • Fuel/Propulsion System — 6
  • Power Train — 5
  • Electrical System — 3
“The contact's mother owns a 2018 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that her mother's vehicle had failed to start up with an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, her mother discovered that an unknown fluid had leaked from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where…”Mar 17, 2023 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA owner report
“On or about January 24, 2023, Found oil leak and heard noise from engine. No warning lamps or messages prior, mechanic diagnosed and found cam phaser cover bolts loose and leaking. He had to re-torque bolts and check engine. Leaking stopped. Mechanic said they should not have come loose and if bolts came anymore loose,…”Jan 28, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Key locked in ignition at an unsafe area where I was stuck for hours. Car has approximately 89,000 miles and the key being stuck in ignition has happened to me twice recently and I know it will continue to do so until there is a recall for the safety issue that the Ignition causes.”Aug 29, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Jetta model years

A

2027 Jetta

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2026 Jetta

1 recalls · 5 complaints

C

2025 Jetta

2 recalls · 28 complaints

A

2024 Jetta

0 recalls · 43 complaints

A

2023 Jetta

0 recalls · 43 complaints

A

2022 Jetta

1 recalls · 42 complaints

C

2021 Jetta

4 recalls · 67 complaints

F

2020 Jetta

6 recalls · 51 complaints

F

2019 Jetta

11 recalls · 545 complaints

F

2017 Jetta

6 recalls · 159 complaints

F

2016 Jetta

4 recalls · 164 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 39039, 39038, 39228, 39229). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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