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Volkswagen Jetta SportwagenModel year report

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Problems

Compared with other Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen years

Typical for this model

38/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
82,250miles, 20 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 2.5L 5-cyl FWD · 24 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. The part named most often is fuel system, with 11 complaints (31% of the total), followed by air bags (6) and electrical system (5). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 5% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 82,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1,014 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 69 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 15 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 38 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Body and structure (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Dear sirs; the washington state attorney general advised that I contact you in regards to Volkswagen group of america 2.0-liter class action settlement my claim made during the recall was accepted then later denied. I now have no incentive to have the car modified to conform with the environmental standards the rest of the car industry must abide by. Also, I had gone through the trouble of buying another car, which I needed for work, in anticipation that Volkswagen would honor the contract they made with me. …”

NHTSA complaint #11316080, filed 2020-03, 45,000 miles

Air bags: “Airbags failed to deploy during severe front impact crash. Car is supposed to be picked up from body shop by my insurance company tomorrow Thursday 4/13/2023. Don't know if it would be available for inspection after that day. Driver safety was at risk without airbag deployment. Problem was confirmed by auto body shop which is a service First body shop for my insurance carrier. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #11516809, filed 2023-04

Electrical system: “On a cold morning, I started my car by turning the key in the ignition, then locked the doors manually from the exterior with another key, in order to allow the car to warm up and defrost before the commute to work. When I returned 10 minutes later, the car was emitting gray smoke from the hood, and upon opening the driver's door, I discovered that the entire cabin of the vehicle was filled with gray smoke as well. I reached in and removed the key from the ignition, then left the vehicle with the driver door open to allow the smoke to air out. …”

NHTSA complaint #11279947, filed 2019-11, 60,100 miles

Engine: “While driving this vehicle to work it started to decelerate on the highway, lose power, and stumble. The check engine and glow plug lights came on the dash. The car was able to be driven at a reduced highway speed for a short distance to a park and ride to be towed to a dealer. The car was stumbling occasionally when accelerating and starting to die out, but not stalling.”

NHTSA complaint #10935112, filed 2016-12, 89,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

5% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 63,000 and 112,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–255%25–5035%50–7525%75–10025%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (20 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 82,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2016201720192020202120227202320242025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Jetta Sportwagen · wagon FWDnot rated———4 · 12.1% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Jetta SportWagen FWD2.5L 5-cyl6-speed automatic243126$2,600
Jetta SportWagen FWD2.5L 5-cyl5-speed manual233326$2,600
Jetta SportWagen FWD2.0L 4-cyl · diesel6-speed automatic293732$3,000
Jetta SportWagen FWD2.0L 4-cyl · diesel6-speed manual293932$3,000

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,014 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,014 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20143477,3121—2685 · MoreFalling
20133682,2501—2638 · TypicalStable
20122770,0001—2644 · TypicalFalling
20113380,0001—2755 · TypicalFalling
201023106,2761—25—Falling
200916107,0281—25—Stable

All Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 11 complaints (31% of the total), followed by air bags with 6.

Has the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen (Jetta SportWagen, 2.5L 5-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 24 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen reported?

Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 82,250 miles and the middle half falls between 63,000 and 112,000 miles; 5% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.