2014 Volkswagen Jetta problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about engine. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
130
Recalls
4
Crashes
6
Fires
2
Injuries
8
Median mileage
90,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 49 of 130 complaints (38%).
  • Transmission & Drivetrain (42) and electrical system (24) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 90,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 6 crashes, 2 fires and 8 injuries.
  • The 2014 Volkswagen Jetta has 4 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 3rd of 22 Volkswagen Jetta model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 32% fewer complaints than the 2013 model year (190).

2014 Volkswagen Jetta problems by category

  • Engine · 1 crash
    49 complaints
  • 42 complaints
  • 24 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    23 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    14 complaints
  • Airbags · 5 crashes
    12 complaints
  • Brakes
    7 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    5 complaints
  • Suspension · 1 crash
    5 complaints
  • Steering · 1 crash
    4 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    3 complaints
  • Lighting
    2 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    2 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    2 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Engine47
Power train42
Unknown or other23
Electrical system21
Fuel/propulsion system13
Air bags11
Service brakes7
Suspension5

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k110k–30k1030k–60k1760k–100k21100k–150k2150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2014 Volkswagen Jetta complaints that list mileage.

2014 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (4)

  • Recall 19V615000Aug 22, 2019679,027 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE · STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

    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.

    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.

  • Recall 15V483000Aug 4, 2015415,825 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 15V028000Jan 23, 201544,658 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 14V182000Apr 15, 201426,452 vehicles
    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • EA18003Opened Apr 18, 2018Open

    Air Bag Clockspring Failure

    In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel…

  • RQ17009Opened Nov 13, 2017Closed May 4, 2018

    Air Bag Clockspring Failure

    In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel…

  • PE15010Opened Mar 24, 2015Closed Sep 28, 2015led to recall 15V483000

    Air Bag Clockspring Failure

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while allowing for the turning of the steering wheel.Complainants alleged that that the clock spring failed while driving and without warning.When the SCCM fails electrically, an air bag war…

NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2014 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Recent 2014 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Oct 7, 202697,000 miCATransmission & Drivetrain
    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 Number: 19V866000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
    NHTSA complaint #11769585 · source
  2. Filed Apr 20, 2026COOther / Unknown
    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 took it to a shop. There I was told there was a recall on the mechatronic system of these cars and someone didn’t take this one into be fixed. Call VW to inquire about the recall.…
    NHTSA complaint #11732453 · source
  3. Filed Jan 16, 2026MTElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
    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 AM), the driver's door latch frequently freezes shut, likely due to moisture ingress that freezes in sub-freezing conditions—preventing opening from the exterior and sometimes the…
    NHTSA complaint #11711464 · source
  4. Filed Jan 5, 2026MNFireElectrical System
    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
    NHTSA complaint #11708912 · source
  5. Filed Jan 1, 2026COTransmission & Drivetrain
    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 still available for inspection. The short caused the vehicle to immediately lose power while being driven between 60 and 65 mph on an Interstate Highway, and the vehicle had to be…
    NHTSA complaint #11708232 · source
  6. Filed Dec 17, 2025100,000 miAZEngineVisibility & Wipers
    The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the heater and the defroster were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the heater core was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was determined that the vehicle was designed with a silica bag near the coolant reservoir, and the silica bag had ruptured, causing silica to leak into the engine compartment and to…
    NHTSA complaint #11705543 · source
  7. Filed Dec 3, 2025IACrashTowedAirbagsSteeringSuspension
    On October 17, 2025, I was driving my 2014 Volkswagen Jetta at approximately 25–30 mph on the bypass in Muscatine, Iowa. Another vehicle cut into my lane and struck the front driver-side of my car. My vehicle suffered significant front-end impact, including wheel/tire damage, bumper and fender damage, and visible suspension impact. During the crash, the driver-side airbag did NOT deploy, even though the impact was directly to the front driver-side area where the crash…
    NHTSA complaint #11702637 · source
  8. Filed Nov 5, 2025MNFire2 injuredElectrical System
    Auxiliary Heater, Part# 1KO 963 235 H, Melted at the grounding post, potentially damaging wiring harness. Fire started in driver side footwell on 11/5/2025. Included is a photo of where the fire originated from. Medium burning to hands, and smoke inhalation from my passenger.
    NHTSA complaint #11697713 · source

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Other 2014 Volkswagen models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology