2013 Volkswagen JETTA HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
79 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 79 complaints (69.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 59.5% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 22.8% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 55 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Power Train: 55; Engine: 14; Electrical System: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Air Bags: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 22; 2019: 9; 2020: 1; 2021: 8; 2022: 13; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10537296 · 2013-08-26 (August 26, 2013)
HELLO, THE BRAKES ON THE NEW 2013 JETTA HYBRID ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WHEN I TOLD MY DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES BEHAVED AS INTENDED. A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "JETTA HYBRID BRAKES FEEL WEIRD" SHOWED MULTIPLE REPORTS ON STRANGE BEHAVING BRAKES. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT COME TO A SMOOTH, STEADY STOP. EITHER IT IS TOO FAST OR TOO SLOW AND I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AT THE END. I THINK VW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE BRAKES ON THE JETTA HYBRID SAFER AND RETROFIT VEHICLES ALREADY ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDER…
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542358 · 2013-09-06 (September 6, 2013)
ON THE FREEWAY, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. THE STANDARD ABS DISK BRAKES, WITHOUT REGENERATIVE BRAKING, ARE NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY INSTANCE SUCH AS THIS. THIS IS EITHER AN ISSUE WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES INITIALIZING WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED (WHICH IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HYBRID MODEL OF THE 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA), OR THE STANDARD ANTI-LOCK DISK BRAKES NOT BEING SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR ACC…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556252 · 2013-12-16 (December 16, 2013)
ACCORDING TO THIS RECALL: SAFETY RECALL 34F6/4V 7-SPEED DSG AUTO TRANSMISSION W/TIPTRONIC (DQ-200 DIRECT-SHIFT GEARBOX) 2013-2014 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED, BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MY VW DEALERSHIP AND VW CUSTOMER CARE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS RECALL, BUT NO ONE AT VW WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565584 · 2014-02-24 (February 24, 2014)
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A MYSTERY LEAK COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE. THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND HAS SAID THAT IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE LEAK IN THE SUNROOF DRAIN, FRONT WINDSHIELD DRAIN, OR AC CONDENSER DRAIN THAT IS SOMEHOW MANAGING TO LEAK INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN CAUSE SEVERE WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD ISSUES THAT COULD IN TURN CAUSE A HEALTH HAZARD FOR THOSE ALLERGIC OR HAVE ISSUES WITH MOLD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578477 · 2014-04-09 (April 9, 2014)
AFTER FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES OR LESS, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A FULL STOP, ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR A LEAST 3 TO 5 SECONDS MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE SAME DSG TRANSMISSION ON 2014 VW JETTA DIESEL MODELS. IT FELT LIKE A CHOPPY STUTTER. IT WAS WORSE WHEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643705 · 2014-10-09 (October 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID PREMIUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE THEN INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO 5 MPH BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE ANY HIGHER THAN 5 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR REPAIRED. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10662906 · 2014-12-08 (December 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED SHORTLY AFTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V568000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 01/09/15*LJ UPDATED 01/21/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10662906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704444 · 2015-04-08 (April 8, 2015)
JETTA HYBRIDS -SEVEN-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION THAT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DRIVE. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND WHAT APPEARS ON THE RECALL. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND A COAST AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. I WAS FORCED TO GET A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. I AM SERIOUSLY WONDERING WHY MY JETTA IS NOT "INCLUDED" IN THE 2013 VW JETTA HYBRID RECALL??? I HAVE BEEN TO THE ANTWERPEN VW DEALERSHIP IN GLEN BURNIE, MD ON 2 OCCASIONS AND THEY CONTEND MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. EVEN THOUGH WHEN I CALLED, I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704444 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V568000 · Power Train
Reported: 2013-11-14 (November 14, 2013)
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.
Consequence: This sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V679000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 2019-09-25 (September 25, 2019)
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 regulatory requirements.
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V866000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Power Train:Clutch Assembly
Reported: 2019-12-06 (December 6, 2019)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗