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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is associated with 545 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 11 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 109 reports (20% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.4l 4-cyl and 2l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 28 to 34 MPG combined. The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta belongs to the 7th generation (A7 / Typ BU) Jetta platform spanning model years 2019–2026.

Platform Architecture: 7th Generation (A7 / Typ BU) • Production Span: 2019–2026 • Platform Code: MQB • Lifecycle Note: Pre-Facelift (2019–2021) / Facelift 1 (2022–2024) / Facelift 2 (2025–2026)
Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 545 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 11 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Powertrain (109 / 20%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 19 crash / 3 fire / 23 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 28–34 MPG across 4 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Jetta 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 30 MPG 40 MPG 34 MPG — $1,800 / yr
Jetta 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 30 MPG 40 MPG 34 MPG — $1,800 / yr
Jetta GLI 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 25 MPG 32 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Jetta GLI 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) 25 MPG 32 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR FWD 13.100000000000001%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2019 Volkswagen Jetta models.
View complete 2019 Volkswagen Jetta crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?

Summary of 545 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
545
Crash Reports
19
Fire Reports
3
Complaints w/ Injury
23
Total Injuries
36

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 109 complaints (1 crash)
Electrical System 63 complaints
Engine 54 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 24 complaints
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 19 complaints (1 crash)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2019 Volkswagen Jetta problems & component breakdown (105 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #19V879000 Active Recall
Affected Component: WHEELS

Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta GLI, Golf Alltrack, and Golf GTI vehicles. The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40P1. Note: The affected owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repairs have been made.
NHTSA Campaign #24V110000 Active Recall
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
NHTSA Campaign #23V619000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, "Theft Protection."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90W7.
View all 2019 Volkswagen Jetta recalls & campaign history (11 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

How many safety recalls does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta have?

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is associated with 11 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?

NHTSA records list 545 consumer defect complaints for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Powertrain, appearing in 109 filings (20% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta range from 28 to 34 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.