YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 31 airbag complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of all complaints that year, tied to 6 crashes and 6 injuries. A related steering-wheel clock spring recall (15V483000) also covers this model year.

Airbags complaints
31
6% of 516
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
45,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in low-speed and moderate-speed crashes, including rear-end and T-bone impacts.
  • Side-curtain or side-impact airbags deploy on one side but not the other, or deploy then deflate immediately.
  • Passenger seat occupant sensor intermittently fails to detect a passenger, deactivating that side's airbags.
  • Airbag warning light illuminates randomly with a message that the airbag system has been turned off.
  • Owners report passenger-side airbag sensor failures outside of any collision, unrelated to accident damage.

When 2013 Volkswagen Jetta airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 3, 2014, latest Aug 9, 2026.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2014Apr 2016Nov 2017Dec 2020Apr 2022Jan 2023Aug 2026
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2014 to Aug 2026; peak Feb 2018 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

  1. NHTSA 15V483000Aug 4, 2015Airbags415,825 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

    Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Airbags complaints by Jetta model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200526 (10%)
  2. 200665 (11%)
  3. 200735 (17%)
  4. 200820 (11%)
  5. 200935 (4%)
  6. 201031 (4%)
  7. 201137 (6%)
  8. 201234 (7%)
  9. 201331 (6%)
  10. 201437 (10%)
  11. 201517 (9%)
  12. 20167 (4%)
  13. 201721 (13%)
  14. 20186 (19%)
  15. 201916 (3%)
  16. 20202 (4%)
  17. 20215 (7%)
  18. 20221 (2%)
  19. 20231 (2%)
  20. 20242 (5%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA lists 31 airbag complaints for the 2013 Jetta, which is 6% of the 516 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes. Recall campaign 15V483000, reported in August 2015, covers the 2013 Jetta among other Volkswagen Group vehicles for an airbag-related issue involving the steering wheel clock spring; the remedy is a dealer-installed protective cover.
Have airbag problems led to injuries or crashes on the 2013 Jetta?
NHTSA data tied to airbag complaints for the 2013 Jetta shows 6 crashes and 6 injuries, with no fires reported.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2013 Jetta?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2013 Jetta is 45,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Jetta have more airbag complaints than other Jetta model years?
The 2013 Jetta's 31 airbag complaints and 6% share are similar to the 2010-2012 model years, but lower in share than 2014, 2017, and 2018, which reported higher percentages of airbag complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.