What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

The biggest complaint groups are the engine, the electrical system and the fuel and propulsion system. See the problems section above for what owners describe.

Has the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta been recalled?

Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year. The recalls section on this page has the details.

Are there air bag problems with the 2017 Jetta?

Owners filed 21 complaints naming the air bags. They describe bags deploying without a crash, a warning light that stayed on, and bags that did not deploy in a collision.

How is the gas mileage of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2017 Jetta a reliable car?

It has 160 complaints on file. Compare that with other years in the by-year section of this page, and check the problems above before you buy.

2017 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 160 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 35 complaints^[2].

160owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[3]

27–33MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across many parts of the car, and these groups come up the most.

Engine. 35 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the car losing power while driving, warning lights flashing, stalling, and in the stories we read, a costly engine swap after a loud noise on the highway.
Electrical System. 33 complaints^[6]. Owners describe stalling, dash lights coming on all at once, a fuel gauge that read empty on a half tank, and a radio and headlights that act up.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 30 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a gas smell coming through the vents, the car slowing or stalling, a fuel leak under the car, and trip readings that looked wrong.
Unknown Or Other. 25 complaints^[8].
Air Bags. 21 complaints^[9]. Owners describe air bags going off with no crash, a warning light staying on, and bags that stayed shut in a collision.
Power Train. 15 complaints^[10].
Brakes. 15 complaints^[11].
Steering. 14 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2017 Jetta is necessarily included.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail (20V648), October 2020. About 218,192 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire.^[13]
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module (19V615), August 2019. About 679,027 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Equipment › Other › Labels (17V352), May 2017. About 2 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Equipment › Other › Labels (17V136), March 2017. About 797 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Equipment › Other › Labels (17V137), March 2017. About 4,875 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine (17V070), February 2017. About 2 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	28 / 38 / 32	$2,100
Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	28 / 40 / 33	$2,050
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	24 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	23 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Jetta, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[22]	25 / 35 / 29	$2,300

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD^[5]	5	4	5	4	11.1%
4 DR FWD^[23]	5	4	5	4	11.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2017 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.4L 4-cylinder^[24]	150 hp
2017 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.8L 4-cylinder^[25]	170 hp
2017 Volkswagen Jetta with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[26]	210 hp

How 2017 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Jetta model year. The 2017 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	220	4
1996	31	1
1997	54	1
1998	192	2
1999	349	6
2000	439	4
2001	668	6
2002	704	5
2003	458	2
2004	233	2
2005	248	4
2006	580	4
2007	201	4
2008	190	4
2009	905	6
2010	875	5
2011	640	8
2012	527	6
2013	633	7
2014	441	7
2015	197	8
2016	164	4
2017	160	6
2018	31	2
2019	549	11
2020	54	6
2021	69	4
2022	43	1
2023	43	0
2024	46	0
2025	30	2
2026	6	1

NHTSA's counts for the Jetta show 160 complaints and 6 recalls for 2017^[3]. Among the 33 model years listed, 11 have fewer complaints than 2017 and 21 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2009 (905)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2017 Jetta?

The 2017 Jetta has 160 complaints on file with NHTSA^[1]. Engine, electrical and fuel complaints lead the list^[2]^[6]^[7]. Air bag complaints name the most crashes of any group^[9]. The year also has 6 recalls^[3]. Complaints are owner reports and are not checked one by one, so use them as questions to ask before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?: The biggest complaint groups are the engine^[2], the electrical system^[6] and the fuel and propulsion system^[7]. See the problems section above for what owners describe.
Has the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta been recalled?: Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year^[3]. The recalls section on this page has the details.
Are there air bag problems with the 2017 Jetta?: Owners filed 21 complaints naming the air bags^[9]. They describe bags deploying without a crash, a warning light that stayed on, and bags that did not deploy in a collision.
How is the gas mileage of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2017 Jetta a reliable car?: It has 160 complaints on file^[1]. Compare that with other years in the by-year section of this page, and check the problems above before you buy.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Volkswagen Jetta

2012 527 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 633 complaints, 7 recalls
2014 441 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 197 complaints, 8 recalls
2017 this page
2019 549 complaints, 11 recalls

Compare all model years of the Volkswagen Jetta

Other Volkswagen models from 2017

2017 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 301 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 Volkswagen Passat 110 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 76 complaints, 4 recalls

All Volkswagen models

Similar cars from 2017: compact cars

2017 Toyota Yaris 31 complaints, 3 recalls
2017 Audi A3 71 complaints, 5 recalls
2017 Audi A4 87 complaints, 6 recalls
2017 Chevrolet Cruze 201 complaints, 2 recalls
2017 Ford Fiesta 74 complaints, 0 recalls
2017 Ford Focus 907 complaints, 10 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 160 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta (18 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 9 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
35 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Volkswagen Jetta model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 40 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
33 complaints name the electrical system component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,054). NHTSA vehicle records
30 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 61,000). NHTSA vehicle records
25 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,500). NHTSA vehicle records
21 complaints name the air bags component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,500). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,750). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 24,407). NHTSA vehicle records
14 complaints name the steering component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 23,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 20V648, filed October 21, 2020: Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V615, filed August 22, 2019: Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V352, filed May 31, 2017: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V136, filed March 2, 2017: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V137, filed March 2, 2017: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V070, filed February 3, 2017: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 38 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 33 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 33 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2017 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.4L 4-cylinder: rated 150 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2017 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 170 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2017 Volkswagen Jetta with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 210 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2017 Volkswagen Jetta: problems, recalls and fuel economy