Last updated: 2026-04-20

RELIABILITY SCORE: 88/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Volkswagen Jetta Reliability Report

Name: 2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Brand: Volkswagen

The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta scores 88/100 ("Excellent") with a complaint rate below the segment average. Data shows a dependable ownership experience across 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

$609

Annual Fuel Cost

$1,750–$1,800

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Strong reliability record — a solid choice for buyers.

Should You Buy the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?

The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta earns an Excellent 88/100 reliability score.

Across 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints, the ownership picture is dependable.

A solid choice for buyers prioritizing dependability, new or used.

See also the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (10%)
+No recalls issued
+Low complaint frequency

Cons

−Above-average repair costs for its class

Compare 2026 Volkswagen Jetta With

2026 Mazda 3

Reliability: 84/100

Excellent

2026 Subaru Impreza

Reliability: 81/100

Excellent

2026 BMW 2-Series

Reliability: 70/100

Good

2026 Volkswagen Golf

Reliability: 84/100

Excellent

2026 Acura Integra

Reliability: 76/100

Good

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Volkswagen Jetta? Check its history first

Every 2026 Volkswagen Jetta has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Volkswagen Jetta NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 13.0%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Volkswagen JettaRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$609

vs $526 avg for compact cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.3

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

10%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Jetta

$609

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Volkswagen Jetta Resale Value

The Volkswagen Jetta is estimated to retain about 67.3% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Volkswagen Jetta model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 67.3%
Depreciation: 32.7%
Listings Analyzed: 720

Listings observed in June 2026. Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.

Explore Volkswagen Jetta depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

33–34 MPG

Running cost: $2,350–$2,400/yr

Fuel + repair

29 city / 40 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Jetta 1.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	29	40	34	$1,750
Jetta Sport/SE/SEL 1.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	29	40	33	$1,800

Best & Worst Volkswagen Jetta Years

Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.

Best Volkswagen Jetta Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

The best Volkswagen Jetta year is 2026 with a reliability score of 88/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2024 (82/100) and 2025 (81/100).

Top Pick

Excellent

2026

(Current Model)

0Recalls

0Complaints

Excellent

2024

0Recalls

26Complaints

Excellent

2025

0Recalls

11Complaints

Volkswagen Jetta Years to Avoid

The worst Volkswagen Jetta year is 2019 with a score of 58/100, primarily due to power train (157) issues.

Mixed

2019

11Recalls

519Complaints

See full Volkswagen Jetta years-to-avoid analysis

Volkswagen Jetta Reliability Score Trend

Volkswagen Jetta reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 82/100 compared to 72/100 for older years.

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Volkswagen Jetta reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	79/100	Good
2019	58/100	Mixed
2020	75/100	Good
2021	74/100	Good
2022	77/100	Good
2023	81/100	Excellent
2024	82/100	Excellent
2025	81/100	Excellent
2026	88/100	Excellent

Volkswagen Jetta Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	88/100	+7	Excellent	0	0
2025	81/100	-1	Excellent	0	11
2024	82/100	+1	Excellent	0	26
2023	81/100	+4	Excellent	0	34
2022	77/100	+3	Good	1	33
2021	74/100	-1	Good	4	62
2020	75/100	+17	Good	6	48
2019	58/100	-21	Mixed	11	519
2018	79/100	—	Good	3	27

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

Yes, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is considered highly reliable with a score of 88/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and a complaint rate below the segment average, placing it among the more dependable vehicles in its class.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta. This may reflect limited time-on-road or reporting volume for this model year.

How many recalls does the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta have?

The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta has no recalls on record, which is a positive indicator.

Is the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta expensive to maintain?

The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is expected to have below-average maintenance costs at $609/year, which is $83 more than the compact cars average of $526. Its high reliability score of 88/100 and complaint rate below the segment average suggest that unexpected repairs are uncommon.

Don’t buy a 2026 Volkswagen Jetta without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Look Up a VIN →

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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