2018 Volkswagen Jetta

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

Fuel economy
27–33 mpgcombined; city 24–28, highway 33–40; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,840–$12,030U.S. average; Ohio $8,790–$10,750 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
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
31filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2018 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 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 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
Unknown or other8000
Air bags6100
Fuel/propulsion system6000
Power train5000
Electrical system3000
Engine2000
Fuel system, gasoline2000
Chest clip, buckle, harness1000
Seat belts1000
Service brakes1100
Tires1000
Wheels1000

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 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 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.

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

NHTSA campaign 20V648000 · reported Oct 21, 2020 · 218,192 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

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.

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

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 658 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 Jetta, the latest on Sep 17, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (283), electrical system (138), engine and engine cooling (103), engine (73), unknown or other (48).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

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 2018 Jetta.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2018 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: 6–8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive		1.4 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline28 / 40 / 33
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive		1.4 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline28 / 38 / 32
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive		1.8 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline24 / 33 / 28
Jetta
Front-Wheel Drive		2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (AM-S6)Regular Gasoline24 / 33 / 27

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