Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Loose Transmission Ground Wire May Cause Fire
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
- Consequence
- An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97TC. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 13, 2026.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (6)
6 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 50% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 33.3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 33.3% |
| Engine | 1 | 16.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Steering | 1 | 16.7% |
How 2026 compares with other Jetta years
Best and worst Jetta years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 159 | 6 |
| 2018 | 31 | 2 |
| 2019 | 549 | 11 |
| 2020 | 53 | 6 |
| 2021 | 69 | 4 |
| 2022 | 43 | 1 |
| 2023 | 43 | 0 |
| 2024 | 44 | 0 |
| 2025 | 29 | 2 |
| 2026 | 6 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2026 Volkswagen Jetta 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 34 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,950
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 265 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 34 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 40 / 34 | $1,950 | 265 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 40 / 33 | $2,050 | 271 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2026 Jetta for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2026 Volkswagen Jetta FAQ
How many recalls does the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 26V138000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2026 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (3), Forward collision avoidance (2), Unknown or other (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta get?
EPA rates the 1.5 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 29 city, 40 highway and 34 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta get?
NHTSA rated the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (13% rollover risk).
How does the 2026 Jetta compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Volkswagen Jetta model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (31) and the 2019 the most (549). The 2026 drew 6. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.