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Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2018 Volkswagen Jetta

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 31 safety complaints about the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the gasoline fuel system and the electrical system.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 6 complaints, 19% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 40,000 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2019 to July 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

31 complaints on file

31

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 · 26%
AIR BAGS 6 · 19%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 19%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 10%
ENGINE 2 · 6%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 · 6%
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness 1 · 3%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 · 3%
TIRES 1 · 3%
WHEELS 1 · 3%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 31.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 7.

8 6 4 2
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2018 Volkswagen JETTA, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 11.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

20V648000 · October 21, 2020

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.
The risk
A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 218,192 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

19V615000 · August 22, 2019

The defect
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."
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 679,027 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed · 40,700 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, THE CONTACT STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND THE VEHICLE COME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO ONE SEEKED MEDICAL ATTENTION. CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT DEFLATE AFTERWARDS; WHEN INSPECTING THE SIDE AIRBAGS ON FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD "RIPS" ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE

NHTSA complaint 11386640, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

towed · 51,723 miles

The contact's mother owns a 2018 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that her mother's vehicle had failed to start up with an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, her mother discovered that an unknown fluid had leaked from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a leak in the fuel rail. The failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V648000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 51,723.

NHTSA complaint 11512432. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle has an active, federally mandated safety recall for a fuel rail leak (Recall 24Gi / 20V648000), which is a documented fire hazard. The vehicle now has an active "EPC" (Electronic Power Control) dashboard light and a fuel odor. When I called my local authorized Volkswagen dealership—Southern Team Volkswagen at 6520 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, VA—to schedule the safety repair, the service department flat-out refused to take the vehicle. The representative stated that they "are not taking new clients" and "will not be repairing" the vehicle. They left me stranded with an active, dangerous safety hazard on my property and refused to comply with the federal recall mandate. When

NHTSA complaint 11750939, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Leaking gas. And charcoal canister problems. I’m not sure why this vehicle is not recalled but the vw gti is and same years as other vw models but not this one. There has to be a recall with this vin vehicle no one was harmed or injured yet since this problem is scary and leaks gas I am unable to drive car due to risk of fire and injury.

NHTSA complaint 11747315. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
I buckled my 2.5 year old daughter into her carseat and secured the magnetic chest clip. It very easily popped back open WITHOUT pressing the buttons. I attempted to get it to securely close several times and with light pressure it opens back up. This is extremely unsafe as it would likely not stay clipped in a crash or a child could very easily open the chest clip. After a quick online search, it appears that several others have had this issue. I just noticed it yesterday but I have no idea how long this has been occuring and, unless checked thoroughly every time, could happen to anyone.

NHTSA complaint 11742734. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My car made a loud banging noise and would not move even though engine was running. Had towed and was told car needs new transmission I brought to another mechanic for second opinion and was told the same thing code P073300

NHTSA complaint 11728653. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The car makes a loud popping/ clicking sound in the back of the car (near exhaust) whenever I accelerate or let off the gas.

NHTSA complaint 11718601. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On Monday [XXX] my 2018 VW Jetta S started gushing gas from the bottom of the car. I immediately pulled over and called AAA to have my car towed to my nearest VW dealer which was National City Volkswagen 3131 Mile of Car National City, Ca. The issue my car was having looked similar to a recall due to fuel rails coming loose. My car ended up having faulty gas rails which is part of a recall for my vehicle. I was told it was already corrected 4 years ago so i had to pay out of pocket for it. Yet the repairs or corrected recall are not on the carfax, for one. And for two, I did not own the car when said repairs were completed and I cannot find any record of it. I believe VW is still

NHTSA complaint 11682295, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Jetta

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 6 1 —
2025 29 2 —
2024 44 0 —
2023 43 0 —
2022 43 1 —
2021 69 4 2
2020 53 6 —
2019 549 11 —
2017 159 6 1
2016 161 4 —
2015 194 7 —
2014 386 4 —
2013 516 4 —
2012 499 5 —
2011 607 7 —
2010 852 4 —

Other 2018 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 155 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst