2013 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems
Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 54,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (7% of reports).
- 112engine complaints
- 54,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $7,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 8 of 112 complaints (7%)
- Mechatronic unit: mentioned in 6 of 112 complaints (5%)
- Able restart: mentioned in 6 of 112 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta at $7,350, and half of them between $1,850 and $8,300.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2021), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 84 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 112 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Volkswagen Jetta engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta | 1 | 17% | — |
| 2025 Jetta | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2024 Jetta | 11 | 24% | 17,600 |
| 2023 Jetta | 11 | 26% | 2,000 |
| 2022 Jetta | 12 | 28% | 4,500 |
| 2021 Jetta | 5 | 7% | 4,000 |
| 2020 Jetta | 12 | 22% | 14,000 |
| 2019 Jetta | 147 | 27% | 700 |
| 2018 Jetta | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2017 Jetta | 32 | 20% | 64,560 |
| 2016 Jetta | 43 | 27% | 38,000 |
| 2015 Jetta | 43 | 22% | 32,706 |
| 2014 Jetta | 108 | 28% | 64,335 |
| 2013 Jetta | 112 | 22% | 54,000 |
| 2012 Jetta | 84 | 17% | 45,000 |
| 2011 Jetta | 90 | 15% | 51,500 |
| 2010 Jetta | 117 | 14% | 65,592 |
| 2009 Jetta | 96 | 11% | 80,600 |
| 2008 Jetta | 20 | 11% | 96,000 |
| 2007 Jetta | 16 | 8% | 104,293 |
| 2006 Jetta | 39 | 7% | 123,543 |
| 2005 Jetta | 27 | 11% | 112,750 |
| 2004 Jetta | 11 | 5% | 116,500 |
| 2003 Jetta | 16 | 4% | 90,000 |
| 2002 Jetta | 7 | 1% | 93,000 |
| 2001 Jetta | 9 | 1% | 90,821 |
| 2000 Jetta | 8 | 2% | 166,500 |
| 1999 Jetta | 2 | 1% | 87,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Hairline crack developed in the accumulator housing of the transmission (mechatronic unit), leaking and leading to insufficient transmission oil pressure. There is loss of power to the wheels. Was never notified and on last inspection they told me it was my fault. Recall code 34J6. The only thing…
The car has turned off at idle and at low speeds, almost causing accidents and to be rear ended in busy streets and during stop and go traffic on the highway. After numerous mechanic diagnostics at both Volkswagen Dealership service departments and third party mechanic shops, no one seems to be…
Car one day decided to have issues. It wouldn't turn over. So we called a row truck to come take it and run diagnostics. The tow truck driver showed up and on his decision making as im not a professional like he is he said can it turn on I said no so he pursued with saying that he is going to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Volkswagen Jettas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 112 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta (22% of the 517 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 54,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,350 (half paid between $1,850 and $8,300), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 8 of 112 complaints, followed by “mechatronic unit” (6).
Other 2013 Volkswagen Jetta problems
- Electrical System problems (148)
- Power Train problems (141)
See all 2013 Volkswagen Jetta problems or engine problems across all Jetta years.