YearToAvoid

2015 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 Jetta years

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 47, rated "Good" relative to other Jetta years. It has 194 complaints, 7 recalls, and the top problem area is Electrical System at 27% of complaints.

Complaints
194
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
8 / 1
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
25 city / 35 hwy

Top 2015 Volkswagen Jetta problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System53 (27%)
  2. Engine48 (25%)
  3. Other35 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain23 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (11%)
  6. Brakes20 (10%)
  7. Fuel System20 (10%)
  8. Airbags17 (9%)
  9. Steering15 (8%)
  10. Structure & Body13 (7%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine suddenly revving with brakes failing to stop the vehicle, leading to a crash.
  • Multiple reports describe front and side airbags failing to deploy in moderate to severe collisions.
  • One owner reported a fire that started at the engine while the vehicle was parked and stationary for hours.
  • Owners describe the brake pedal sticking at low speed, which then caused an accident and unexpected airbag deployment.
  • New tires developed sidewall bubbles and went flat within days of purchase.
  • Some owners report the engine jerking and stalling at low speed with the check engine light illuminating.
2015 Volkswagen Jetta complaints: complaints filed per quarter192015 Q12016 Q42018 Q22019 Q42021 Q22022 Q42024 Q42026 Q3
276 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (19).

2015 Volkswagen Jetta recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V679000Sep 25, 2019Other113 vehicles

    Unknown or other

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

    Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

  2. NHTSA 19V615000Aug 22, 2019Electrical System679,027 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

    Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

  3. NHTSA 15V705000Oct 26, 2015Engine91,867 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

    Risk: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

See all 7 recalls for the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta →

2015 Volkswagen Jetta fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Jetta years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Caution73516426.5
2014Caution67386428.5
2015Good47194728.5
2016Caution60161429
2017Caution53159629

All Volkswagen Jetta years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta a good year?
Relative to other Jetta model years, 2015 is rated "Good" with a complaint index of 47, ranking 9th worst out of 16 years tracked.
What is the top problem area for the 2015 Jetta?
NHTSA complaints show the Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 27% of complaints, followed by Engine at 25%.
Does the 2015 Jetta have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2015 Jetta, covering areas including electrical system, engine, airbags, fuel system, and structure & body.
How does the 2015 Jetta compare to other years?
The 2015 Jetta has a lower complaint index (47) than years like 2010 (93), 2011 (87), and 2019 (100), which are rated "Avoid."
What is the median mileage at failure for 2015 Jetta complaints?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 42,000 miles overall, with the Brakes category showing a lower median of 23,500 miles.

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.