2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

The 2014 Volkswagen Jetta has 441 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, most for the engine (117), followed by the electrical system (102). Fuel economy is 25 to 44 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $9,150 to $15,480 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall. There are 7 recall campaigns covering transmission and drivetrain, electrical system, steering, and others; they may apply to this car.

Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.

Fuel economy
25–44 mpgcombined; city 23–41, highway 29–48; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,150–$15,480U.S. average; Ohio $8,620–$14,670 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
7over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
441filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2014 Jetta. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 441 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Jetta. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine117503
Electrical system102324
Power train92302
Unknown or other75301
Fuel/propulsion system45202
Air bags4113014
Exterior lighting24000
Service brakes20301
Steering20300
Suspension19100
Vehicle speed control13100
Electronic stability control (ESC)10000
14 more parts
Structure8100
Engine and engine cooling6000
Fuel system, diesel5000
Seat belts5100
Tires5101
Visibility/wiper5000
Seats3102
Visibility3000
Wheels3000
Equipment1000
Forward collision avoidance1000
Fuel system, gasoline1000
Latches/locks/linkages1000
Service brakes, hydraulic1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006580
  2. 2007201
  3. 2008190
  4. 2009905
  5. 2010875
  6. 2011640
  7. 2012527
  8. 2013632
  9. 2014441
  10. 2015197
  11. 2016164
  12. 2017160
  13. 201831
  14. 2019549
  15. 202054
  16. 202169
  17. 202243
  18. 202343
  19. 202445
  20. 202530
  21. 20266

Every Jetta year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2014 Jetta over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Power train: automatic transmission; Power train: clutch assembly

NHTSA campaign 19V866000 · reported Dec 6, 2019 · 2,167 vehicles potentially affected

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Jetta Hybrid vehicles equipped with a DQ200 7-Speed DSG Automatic Transmission. Hairline cracks can develop within the transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit), causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure.

Risk: A decrease in transmission oil pressure can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit and, as necessary, replace affected parts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 34J6.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: ignition; Steering: column locking

NHTSA campaign 19V615000 · reported Aug 22, 2019 · 679,027 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 16V078000 · reported Feb 10, 2016 · 659,493 vehicles potentially affected

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 15V483000 · reported Aug 4, 2015 · 415,825 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

NHTSA campaign 15V028000 · reported Jan 23, 2015 · 44,658 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 14V182000 · reported Apr 15, 2014 · 26,452 vehicles potentially affected

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's record and documents

Power train

NHTSA campaign 13V568000 · reported Nov 14, 2013 · 3,837 vehicles potentially affected

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Jetta Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 2012 through October 2013 and equipped with a DQ-200 direct-shift gearbox. Due to gearbox fluid additives, the control module within the gearbox may corrode. The deposits from this corrosion may cause an electrical short and result in a stall-like condition.

Risk: This sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gearbox oil with a non-corrosive version, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 34F6/4V.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,714 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2014 Jetta, the latest on Sep 17, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (688), electrical system (377), engine and engine cooling (308), engine (160), power train (129).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Defect petition DP22005
Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
Electrical systemJan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023
Petition withdrawn
NHTSA's record and documents
Engineering analysis EA18003
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Air bagsApr 18, 2018Open
NHTSA's summary names recall 15V483000
NHTSA's record and documents
Recall query RQ17009
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Air bagsNov 13, 2017Closed May 4, 2018
Upgraded to EA18003
NHTSA's summary names recall 15V483000
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE15010
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Air bagsMar 24, 2015Closed Sep 28, 2015
NHTSA's summary names recall 15V483000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2014 Jetta.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2014 Volkswagen Jettas for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: compact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 6–10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (AM-S6)Diesel29 / 37 / 32
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 6-spdDiesel29 / 39 / 32
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline26 / 36 / 30
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline25 / 36 / 29
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline24 / 34 / 28
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (AM-S6)Premium Gasoline24 / 32 / 27
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline23 / 33 / 26
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline23 / 29 / 25
Jetta Hybrid
Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (AM-S7)Premium Gasoline41 / 48 / 44
Jetta SportWagen
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 6-spdDiesel29 / 39 / 32
Jetta SportWagen
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (AM-S6)Diesel29 / 37 / 32
Jetta SportWagen
Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 5 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline23 / 30 / 26
Jetta SportWagen
Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 5 cylManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline23 / 33 / 26

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data