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Air bagsPart report

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Air bags Problems

Complaints
31about this part
Share
6%of 518 total for the year
Median mileage
45,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of the 518 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Took car in for recall at Volkswagen dealership. They forgot to do recall on airbag. Next time they performed recall but steering wheel is clicking, horn does not work, none of the steering wheel buttons function and airbag light remains on. Took car for an expensive engine repair and I told them the recall was not completed as the recall should have been and they told me the other Volkswagen marked it as complete and it would cost me $2000 because airbag has been ripped out and disconnected. …”

NHTSA complaint #11115734, filed 2018-08, 110,000 miles

“I was stopped at a solid red traffic light and when I got the green light to proceed straight across the intersection I began to accelerate. Halfway through the intersection another vehicle (vehicle #2) crossed my path of travel on the right hand passenger side and vehicle #2 driver's side crashed into my front end. My vehicle was spun around counter clockwise due to the impact of vehicle #2. As a result of this crash my vehicle sustained heavy front end damage and pieces and parts were strewn all over the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #10663732, filed 2014-12, 15,700 miles

“I was driving home from work on 5/27/15 around sunset and two deer jumped over a barbwire fence at the end of round hay bales. At this time, I was driving approximately 65 MPH when I seen them, barely having time to stomp on my brakes. I estimate I hit them going at least 55 to 60 MPH and my airbags did not deploy on impact. I am concerned with why they did not deploy especially since my car is possibly totaled. I hit the deer from the middle of my bumper to the driver side of my car, sending the hood into the windshield and smashing the driver side back into the doors. …”

NHTSA complaint #10722824, filed 2015-06, 15,245 miles

“Takata recall vw jeta was in an accident due to freezing rain in january 2017 (knoxville, tn). Vw slid into another car causing in excess of $5,000 damage; however, the airbags failed to activate. Complete failure in air conditioning system/compressor electrical system locks/unlocks doors while driving. Electrical system rolls down windows for no reason. This begun 70k miles”

NHTSA complaint #11123870, filed 2018-08, 45,000 miles

“My wife must sit on an extra seat cushion in the front passenger seat. But when she does the air bags deactivate. So air bags won't deploy around her seat. Dealer says there is no way to switch the air bags on. This is very dangerous! There should be a way to switch the front passenger air bags on so they will deploy if there is impact.”

NHTSA complaint #10888047, filed 2016-07, 34,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202424%
202312%
202212%
202157%
202024%
2019163%
2018619%
20172113%
201674%
2015179%
20143710%
2013316%
2012347%
2011376%
2010314%
2009354%
20082011%
20073517%
20066511%
20052610%
2004219%
20037717%
200210815%
20019715%
2000419%
1999309%
199895%
199759%
19952210%
199443%
198617%

Other parts of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Electrical system
148 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
141 complaints
Engine
112 complaints
Other or unknown
98 complaints
Fuel system
43 complaints
Steering
37 complaints
Brakes
22 complaints
Exterior lighting
17 complaints
Vehicle speed control
17 complaints
Body and structure
15 complaints
Suspension
14 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology