repaired · 2018 Q2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Risk. A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
2010 Volkswagen JettaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 852 owner complaints about the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-913 the manufacturer reports only 43% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 8, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta has problems
852 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
233Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
166Fuel system, diesel2 crash/fire/injury
122Fuel/propulsion system3 crash/fire/injury
117Engine2 crash/fire/injury
111Power train4 crash/fire/injury
71Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
43Service brakes
31Air bags
31Fuel system, gasoline
20720 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 233 | 6 |
| Fuel system, diesel | 166 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 122 | 3 |
| Engine | 117 | 2 |
| Power train | 111 | 4 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 71 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 43 | 2 |
| Air bags | 31 | 12 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 31 | 0 |
| 20 other systems | 207 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2010 Volkswagen Jetta recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Fuel system, diesel
Risk. DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE.
no report yet
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 202 electrical system complaints. 80% were reported before 100,000 miles.
25under 30k miles162under 100k miles40100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
28 owners mentioned a cost$790median
Middle half: $600 – $925
Fuel system, diesel
18 owners mentioned a cost$8,250median
Middle half: $2,800 – $9,735
Engine
15 owners mentioned a cost$2,300median
Middle half: $1,044 – $4,500
Fuel/propulsion system
15 owners mentioned a cost$6,100median
Middle half: $3,800 – $8,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other Jetta year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Jetta median. How we score
0000113141819282231301711722031541923494396687024562312485802011888898526075005183881941621603255354714342463461
'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2010 Volkswagen Jetta safety ratings
2010 Volkswagen Jetta 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, and the recalls they led to.
- High-Pressure Fuel Pump FailureNo recall
- Clockspring failureNo recall
- High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (HPFP)No recall
- Diesel Fuel Injector Line LeakageLed to recall 11V-490
In owners' words
What Jetta owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving or parked, the door locks, gas cap sensor, and tailgate were not working as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who…
1) IGNITION SWITCH - yes 2) car wont turn off, key is stuck and wont allow to be turned off. this is dangerous for car to be left on. 3) yes - common problem with VW 4) yes by mechanic 5) no warnings, typically ignition needs jiggling to start and turn off ignition but this is the first time it has…
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated he was unable to start the vehicle temporarily. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to start the vehicle within 30 minutes and drove to his destination. The contact stated that he had experienced the…
Own a 2010 Jetta?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.