2013 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 37about this part
- Share
- 7%of 518 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,950miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the 518 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,950 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car displays no problems on the dash, there are no lights on but when I am driving the car stalls and sometimes just shuts off locking my brakes and steering. Usually happens when the car is going under 20mph. After it shuts of I have to put it in park to restart and it restarts without a problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10893236, filed 2016-08, 66,200 miles“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“Steerlock- I drove my car for a few minutes on 6/11/2016 to the store, then returned home. At the store the key had worked fine. When I returned home and put the car in park the key to my car would not turn off. I repeatedly tried to turn the car off, and the key refused to turn off. I called the local volkswagon dealership in marion, il to see if I could get some possible fixes, the service techs were gone for the day since it was a saturday. The salesman said he would contact a technician to see if they had any fixes for me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10874008, filed 2016-06, 55,900 miles“I went through some water (not much) andthen when I came to a stop light I stopped the car. After less than a minute of being stopped the car stalled and the battery light came on. The battery is new and I just purchased this car in december 2013 and it is a year model 2013. I have never had any issues until now. I went to turn a corner and the light came back on, car stalled, and steering became very tight. I am not sure what this issue is, but the car is only about a year old (if even that). Very frustrating.”
NHTSA complaint #10599015, filed 2014-06, 38,000 miles“I am having trouble getting my key to turn off again. The car will turn on with ease but when I park and go to take the key out it's stuck in the on position and I have a hard time turning off to get the key out of the ignition switch. The car was under the original manufacturers warranty the first time this happened and a local dealer replaced the ignition switch january 2015. I am now having the same issue however the car is out of both the manufacturer's warranty period and also the 1yr. Warranty for the replacement switch, and by only 6 months I might add.”
NHTSA complaint #10874682, filed 2016-06, 50,800 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10235284Apr 27, 2023This Document was revised. The model year chat was removed for VWP-18-11 for the Steering Wheel Clock Spring Limited Warranty Extension
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 | 2 | 4% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2022 | 7 | 16% |
| 2021 | 3 | 4% |
| 2020 | 4 | 7% |
| 2019 | 12 | 2% |
| 2017 | 14 | 9% |
| 2016 | 11 | 7% |
| 2015 | 15 | 8% |
| 2014 | 17 | 4% |
| 2013 | 37 | 7% |
| 2012 | 42 | 8% |
| 2011 | 23 | 4% |
| 2010 | 13 | 2% |
| 2009 | 24 | 3% |
| 2008 | 3 | 2% |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% |
| 2006 | 10 | 2% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% |
| 2003 | 1 | 0% |
| 2002 | 8 | 1% |
| 2001 | 5 | 1% |
| 2000 | 8 | 2% |
| 1999 | 8 | 2% |
| 1998 | 12 | 6% |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% |
| 1996 | 3 | 10% |
| 1995 | 14 | 6% |
| 1994 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 2 | 6% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
148 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
141 complaintsEngine
112 complaintsOther or unknown
98 complaintsFuel system
43 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsBrakes
22 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsVisibility (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 Oct 30, 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