2014 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 7, 2026 · 387 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Jetta years
More complaints than other years 12th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 387 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. That ranks 12th out of 32 Jetta model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (108 complaints, 28%), typically at around 64,335 miles. Complaints mention 20 crashes, 2 fires, 18 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Volkswagen Jetta
A 2025 Volkswagen Jetta SEL photographed in Flushing, Queens , New York, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2014 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine108 · ~64,335 mi
Electrical System94 · ~56,400 mi
Power Train74 · ~70,000 mi
Unknown or Other71 · ~60,875 mi
Fuel/propulsion System38 · ~72,186 mi
Air Bags37 · ~55,268 mi
Exterior Lighting24 · ~55,500 mi
Service Brakes18 · ~9,124 mi
Steering17 · ~57,838 mi
Vehicle Speed Control11 · ~73,900 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine problems10828%64,335“timing chain” (7%)—
Electrical System problems9424%56,400“key gets stuck” (14%)—
Power Train problems7419%70,000“transmission oil” (8%)$10,200
Unknown or Other7118%60,875——
Fuel/propulsion System3810%72,186——
Air Bags3710%55,268——
Exterior Lighting246%55,500——
Service Brakes185%9,124——
Steering174%57,838——
Vehicle Speed Control113%73,900——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)103%60,450——
Suspension92%24,505——
Structure72%46,765——
Engine and Engine Cooling62%4,400——
Seat Belts51%35,000——
Tires41%14,289——
Visibility/wiper41%26,300——
Fuel System, Diesel31%1,985——
Seats31%45,000——
Visibility31%34,200——
Wheels31%1,800——
Equipment10%———
Forward Collision Avoidance10%———
Fuel System, Gasoline10%30,000——
Latches/locks/linkages10%4,700——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2019, with 78 complaints
2013: 2201322014: 362014362015: 252015252016: 232016232017: 482017482018: 452018452019: 782019782020: 362020362021: 202021202022: 312022312023: 142023142024: 152024152025: 9202592026: 520265

n = 387 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2014 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module; steering:column locking:anti-theft deviceAug 22, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V615000 · 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.

Air bags:frontalAug 4, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V483000 · 415,825 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel railJan 23, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V028000 · 44,658 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and linesApr 15, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V182000 · 26,452 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.

Risk: The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38B9/9V.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Air Bag Clockspring Failure (EA18003) — opened Apr 18, 2018, still open.
  • Air Bag Clockspring Failure (RQ17009) — opened Nov 13, 2017, closed May 4, 2018.
  • Air Bag Clockspring Failure (PE15010) — opened Mar 24, 2015, closed Sep 28, 2015, led to recall 15V483000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with low pressure in the transmission and the mechanic associated the failure to NHTSA Campaign…

Power Train · received Oct 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769585

I was leaving my house to head to work. When I turned on the highway. The car randomly stopped accelerating. No warning or anything just stopped going. Pulled over to the side and shut it off for five mins. Turned it back on by the car won’t move at all. Not forward not back. Call a tow truck and…

Unknown or Other · received Apr 20, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11732453

I am experiencing multiple safety-related issues with the driver's side door latch/lock assembly on my Volkswagen vehicle. These problems are isolated to the driver's door and appear linked to a known defect involving water intrusion and freezing. Symptoms include: In cold mornings (around 7:30…

Electrical System · received Jan 16, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11711464

the auxiliary heater had burned through the heat shield and melted into the cabin causing a small fire and now some smoke to enter the cabin

Electrical System · received Jan 5, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11708912

According to the mechanic to whom we took the vehicle, there was a massive short in the mechatronics component of the transmission. The mechanic also informed us that there was no proactive action we could have taken prior to this incident to prevent its occurrence. The car and its components are…

Power Train · received Jan 1, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11708232

Other Volkswagen Jetta years

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See all Volkswagen Jetta problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners most often report engine, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 108 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Jetta model years, the 2014 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.