GarageIntel

2019 Volkswagen Jetta: problems, recalls and what it’s worth

11 recall campaigns to confirm with a dealer. A lot of owner complaints, 30% about transmission & drivetrain.

Before you buy Ask for the VIN and check it, then get a pre-purchase inspection.

Looking at a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta for sale?

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The full report adds this car’s market value and what to offer.

Known problems on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

No generation-wide weak spot is flagged in GarageIntel’s research for this year and model. A specific car can still have its own problems, so get it inspected.

2019 Volkswagen Jetta recalls

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.

Show all 11
  • Suspension

    If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Details 19V188000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.

  • Tires & wheels

    The excessive stress can cause steering, traction or other stability issues or breakage relating to the front wheels, and increase the risk of a crash.

    Details 19V879000

    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.

    Fix: 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.

  • Lights

    A reduction in the driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

    Details 18V671000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The passenger side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing the driver's visibility when it is dark. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side headlight, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L1.

  • Electrical

    If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.

    Details 18V824000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. 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 (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.

  • Suspension

    If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Details 18V904000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.

    Fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J2/42J3.

2019 Volkswagen Jetta safety investigations and free repairs

No open safety investigations.

Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):

A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.

Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.

2019 Volkswagen Jetta safety and fuel

5 of 5 starsNHTSA overall crash rating
34 mpgEPA combined
$1,900 a yearEPA fuel-cost estimate (15,000 miles a year)

From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.

What owners complain about

548 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, which is a lot.

Transmission & drivetrain30%
Electrical28%
Engine & cooling27%
Brakes5%
Fuel system5%

Share of complaints that mention each area. One complaint can mention several.

What a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is worth

Rough trade-in values — roughly what a dealer would pay — by mileage, from published trade-in guides. Private sales and dealer prices run higher. For the exact car, add its VIN.

MileageTrade-in (rough)
80,000 mi$9,943
160,000 mi$9,225
$0$5k$10k$15k80k mi160k mi80,000 miles: $9,943160,000 miles: $9,225$9,943$9,225
Trade-in value by mileage

Other Volkswagen Jetta years

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Looking at a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta for sale?

No VIN? Paste the ad for a fair-price check.

The full report adds this car’s market value and what to offer.