2019 Volkswagen Jetta
The 2019 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 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 545 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 30 | 40 | 34 | $1,850 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 30 | 40 | 34 | $1,850 |
| Jetta GLI | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 32 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Jetta GLI | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 32 | 28 | $2,250 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39875, 39876, 41202, 41203.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (11)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
90W7Electrical System
28H7Tires
AU:45J7,VW:45J6,45J8Wheels
40P1Unknown Or Other
01D7Suspension
42J5Air Bags
69Y7Suspension
42J2/42J3Electrical System
90L3 / 90L4Exterior Lighting
94L1NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) closed
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0 with an improved version, Version 1.1. The SJP is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system. VW’s recall filing stated the SJP may have been damaged during assembly, which
Opened Dec 12, 2023 · closed Jul 1, 2024 · action RQ23007
Power Train:Manual Transmission — Vehicle Stalling - Manual Transmission closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a defect petition received on 14 August 2019 requesting an investigation of an alleged defect of the manual transmissions in Model Year (MY) 2019 Volkswagen (VW) GTI, Golf GTI and Jetta GLI vehicles. The stalling incidents cited occurred without warning as the vehicle slows to a stop or prepares to make a turn across traffic with the clutch pressed in and the vehicle in neutral.The hazard posed by a vehicle stalling event is manifested in the inability of the vehicle to move with the flow of surrounding traffic. Two factors have a major impact on the potential hazard to the vehicle, its occupants and surrounding vehicles:
Opened Sep 3, 2019 · closed Jun 30, 2020 · action DP19003
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database19 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 36 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2018: 19 · 2019: 156 · 2020: 81 · 2021: 32 · 2022: 30 · 2023: 96 · 2024: 58 · 2025: 40 · 2026: 33
Most-cited components
What owners describe
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
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 13% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Jetta model years
2027 Volkswagen Jetta
0 recalls · 0 complaints
B2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1 recalls · 5 complaints
C2025 Volkswagen Jetta
2 recalls · 28 complaints
A2024 Volkswagen Jetta
0 recalls · 43 complaints
A2023 Volkswagen Jetta
0 recalls · 43 complaints
A2022 Volkswagen Jetta
1 recalls · 42 complaints
C2021 Volkswagen Jetta
4 recalls · 67 complaints
F2020 Volkswagen Jetta
6 recalls · 51 complaints
C2018 Volkswagen Jetta
2 recalls · 31 complaints
F2017 Volkswagen Jetta
6 recalls · 159 complaints
F2016 Volkswagen 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. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.