Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, transmission, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Volkswagen Jetta: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 34 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | FWD | 28 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Engines shut off while driving, sometimes at highway speed, with messages such as "ignition switch off" or "check starter system." Several reports tie this to the car sitting in hot sun, and restarts often work only after waiting or clearing codes. Other filings describe the EPC light cutting power, the electronic parking brake engaging on its own, and sudden braking on a freeway. Dealers often find no fault. Emergency SOS and telematics modules fail, with parts on back order. Bluetooth drops, navigation position errors, and call echo round out the list.
Power cuts out without warning, leaving cars stalled at green lights or unable to accelerate while merging, with near rear-end collisions reported. Manual-transmission cars grind when shifting into reverse, and the dealer called this a documented issue. Another transmission shakes on shifts, and a software flash made it worse. One car shut down completely after hitting a pothole and logged a communication fault between engine and transmission computers. A surge in engine speed that forced hard braking also appears.
Sudden shutoffs while driving, including uphill at highway speed, need several restart attempts, and dealers report finding no defect. One car shows the engine as running on start but will not move until the start button is pressed again. EPC and check engine lights lead to costly repairs outside warranty: a seized turbo wastegate quoted at $4,026.85 with a wait for parts, and a failed vent control valve at around 80K miles.
Cars drift right at highway speed, sometimes abruptly toward lane lines, while the steering wheel stays straight. Another report describes heavy shaking above 60 mph alongside a low engine power warning. One car lost acceleration on a city street even as the engine revved, and the steering then became hard to turn while moving. Each pattern carries loss-of-control risk at speed.
Fuel pumps fail early. One maintained car needed both the pump and pump module at 14,000 miles. Fueling problems also appear: a tank that will not accept fuel and leaks gas back out at the pump, and a fuel door that will not open at all. In the fuel door case, the car had to be towed, the actuator was broken to gain access, and the door now hangs open.
Front brakes grind when a faulty caliper wears the inner pad down to metal, after long-standing odd brake noise that a dealer and mechanic called normal. The repair cost $541.07 out of pocket. Another report describes rainwater collecting inside the doors, followed by a stack of warnings: front assist unavailable, electronic parking brake fault, and transmission emergency mode. That owner had already received a replacement transmission.
Neither filing describes an air bag failure. One is a parts-shortage complaint. The owner received an air bag repair notice, but the dealer had no parts to do the work, and the delay dragged on without a fix. That owner had not experienced any failure. The other filing reports a sunroof that exploded while driving, which matches the shattering-glass pattern described under other categories.
Excerpts from complaints Jetta owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Vehicle has been displaying "Emergency services unavailable" along with lights for steering and braking systems, Intermittently since new. The dealer stated no problem found.. Now that the vehicle is out of warranty they tell me it needs a new computer module. I believe they said Telematics control unit.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
The built-in navigation and apple carplay periodically show the wrong location, offset by several hundred feet from the real one. A huge number of cases on the Internet, Volkswagen does nothing about it. They update the software, but it doesn't help.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
Internal Component on Transmission has failed, Vehicle is Available for inspection (Niello Volkswagen has already confirmed). The vehicle shakes when shifting which could potentially cause an accident. Yes, Niello Volkswagen confirmed the issue. Dealer for Manufacturer has confirmed issue. No vehicle warning or Lights or messages, check engine light didn't trigger. Dealership attempted to "Flash" Transmission and ECM which made the issue worse.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
Was is merging onto interstate i95 and the Jetta wouldn’t accelerate no matter how hard I pushed the gas pedal eventually took my foot off and had to turn on emergency lights then The Jetta started slowly moving as if it was just going to stall almost got rear ended and then the car wanted to send me in to another lane. Due to the angry driver behind me.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2021
Upon “starting” car, all systems turn on and car tells me the engine is on; however, if I put into any gear nothing. Only once I press the ignition one more time does the engine actually start.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks third for owner complaints among 8 Jetta years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the third model year of the Jetta's seventh generation (2018–2023).
Volkswagen updated the Jetta for 2022, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2022 (not on a 2020)
Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volkswagen Jetta, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
