2013 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
82,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 36 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 22.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 13.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 5; Power Train: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Suspension: 3; Fuel System, Diesel: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 7; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10895966 · 2016-08-15 (August 15, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON POWER AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT RESTARTED AND RAN FINE. WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LUCKILY IT WAS NOT BUSY. ON JULY 31 THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME THE CAR WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION COMING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALONG W…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253142 · 2019-09-04 (September 4, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE CAR STALLED WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART ALTHOUGH STARTER ETC WERE WORKING FINE. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPORTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED LEAVING METAL THROUGH OUT MY FUEL SYSTEM, A PROBLEM THEY'VE SEEN WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL IN THE PAST. AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT NOT COMMON ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL AND WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR WHICH WAS OVER $5000, MORE THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR IN GOOD CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10902961 · 2016-08-31 (August 31, 2016)
MY WIFE AND HER MOTHER WERE OUT SHOPPING IN SAN DIEGO. THEY SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND SUBSEQUENT STALL OF OUR 2013 JETTA TDI SPORTWAGON. THIS RESULTED IN OUR VEHICLE BLOCKING A TWO LANE BUSY BOULEVARD. THIS STREET IS A NO STOPPING ANYTIME ROADWAY CLEARLY MARKED WITH SIGNS. MY WIFE CHRISTINE, PULLED TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE SHOULDER AS POSSIBLE. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE FOR MY WIFE AND MOTHER IN LAW. THE VW WAS TOTALLY DEAD AND REQUIRED TOWING TO A VW DEALER REPAIR FACILITY. THE SERVICE REP AT VW DIAGNOSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10902961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10935112 · 2016-12-13 (December 13, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE TO WORK IT STARTED TO DECELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY, LOSE POWER, AND STUMBLE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND GLOW PLUG LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AT A REDUCED HIGHWAY SPEED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE TO A PARK AND RIDE TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE CAR WAS STUMBLING OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND STARTING TO DIE OUT, BUT NOT STALLING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945934 · 2017-01-18 (January 18, 2017)
DSG TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT112,00 MILES
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11278338 · 2019-11-05 (November 5, 2019)
WARM OR COLD ENGINE. LIGHT THROTTLE USE SIMILAR TO IN TOWN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS ANY GEAR (IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AROUND 10-40 MPH STEADY SPEED AND WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM ACCELERATION TO COAST TO ACCELERATION, AND OCCASIONALLY UNDER HARD ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO "HICCUP" OR LOSE POWER AND GO THROUGH A THROTTLE CUT AND FOLLOW ON "CONFUSED" STATE (PULSING ON AND OFF THE THROTTLE) REQUIRING THE OPERATOR TO LET OFF THE THROTTLE UNTIL IT STOPS BEING "CONFUSED". COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT DUE TO INABILITY TO ACCELERATE IF NEEDED OR UNEXPECTED "…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403337 · 2021-03-16 (March 16, 2021)
BRAKE SOMETIMES NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON LOW SPEED LESS THAN 20 M/H. I FEEL THE FRONT BRAKE IS NOT WORKING SOMETIMES. I VISIT THE CAR REPAIR CENTER AND THEY SAID IT IS FINE. BUT I READ THE SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FORUM. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKE OIL OR MASTER CYLINDER OR BRAKE ROTOR AND DISK BUT THEY JUST SPENT MONEY AND NOTHING IMPROVED. I NEED YOUR HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11467232 · 2022-06-02 (June 2, 2022)
While about to drive my vehicle to work which had been parked in my driveway for about 48 since the last drive made a horrible grinding noise in both drive and reverse moving a few feet. I immediately put the vehicle in park to find the rear driver side suspension collapsed and the tire was pressed against the wheel well. Additionally unidentified parts from either the brake system or wheel well had abraded off. The car was jacked up in place and it was immediately apparent that the spring had broken and had shattered in a section. The sp…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11467232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11553299 · 2023-11-02 (November 2, 2023)
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an auto parts store that used a handheld scanner and determined that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer due to engine failure. The contact stated that the engine failure was intermittent at first but had become recurring and at various speeds. Additionally, the vehicle started to have electrical issues and a failure with…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11553299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11615469 · 2024-09-19 (September 19, 2024)
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle turned off and restarted independently while the vehicle was still in motion, resulting in a momentary loss of control over the vehicle. The contact also stated that the battery was being drained quickly. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular failure. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined an electrical short was causing t…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11615469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11458153 · 2022-03-24 (March 24, 2022)
clock spring / clock part: 5k0953569al Air Bag light is on... steering click.... dealer says parts are nowhere to be found as there are over 5000 back orders right now.. I am not a rich person... what do we do? I am afraid to drive it.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11458153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11481856 · 2022-08-29 (August 29, 2022)
According to the dealership my car has a broken clock spring switch in the steering wheel. This part is covered under an warranty extension issued in 2018. Without this switch all of the controls located in the steering wheel are inoperative. I have no driver side airbag and no horn, both of which are safety issues. The dealership stated that the parts to fix this problem are on perpetual backorder. The dealership stated they had another car with the same problem that has had parts on backorder for over a year. That seems like a long tim…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481856 at NHTSA ↗