Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2020-06-15 and 2026-05-20. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2019) drew 71.0 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 11.8 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 16 complaints, 72% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (23.5% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.6%) and Interior & equipment (15.7%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “epc”, “ignition”, “fault”, “engine” and “light”. 1 reports (2.0%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 42 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (37% of incidents). 6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for this model year. 45% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)” (opened 2023-12-12, closed 2024-07-01).
Safety recalls (6)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Campaign 24V110000 · 2024-02-14
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Campaign 23V604000 · 2023-08-30
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS Campaign 22V815000 · 2022-10-31
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE Campaign 21V492000 · 2021-06-30
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.
Risk: Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CK.
SEATS Campaign 20V505000 · 2020-08-26
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
Risk: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Campaign 20V359000 · 2020-06-17
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2020 Jetta vehicle. The front brake caliper bolts may come loose.
Risk: If a brake caliper bolt comes loose, it may affect the vehicle's brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace all four front brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47Q2.
How to check whether your car has an open recall ›
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta?
51 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta, or about 7.6 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 23.5% of complaints.
Does the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)” (opened 2023-12-12, closed 2024-07-01).
Is the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta still generating complaints?
6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 51 owner complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta, or 7.6 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.18, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #14 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Volkswagen models its rate is 74% lower; against other Compact cars it is 67% lower.