YearToAvoid

2018 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#21 most-complained of 21 Jetta years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Volkswagen Jetta has 31 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #21 highest of 21 Jetta model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is fuel system (8 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
31
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
26 city / 35.5 hwy

Top 2018 Volkswagen Jetta problems

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

  1. Other9 (29%)
  2. Fuel System8 (26%)
  3. Airbags6 (19%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (16%)
  5. Electrical System3 (10%)
  6. Engine2 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
  8. Brakes1 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (3%)
2018 Volkswagen Jetta complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2019Jul 2020Jul 2022Sep 2023Jul 2024Apr 2025Feb 2026
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2019 to Jul 2026; peak Aug 2024 (3).

2018 Volkswagen Jetta recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V648000Oct 21, 2020Fuel System218,192 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.

  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.

2018 Volkswagen Jetta fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
35.5 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,175
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.

2018 compared with other Jetta years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution60161429
2017Caution55159629
2018Best031230
2019Avoid9054811 !31
2020Best1552631

All Volkswagen Jetta years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta ranks #21 of 21 among Jetta model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 31 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most reported problem areas are fuel system (8 complaints), airbags (6 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 40,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta, most recently reported 2020, covering fuel system and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta?
EPA rates the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta at 30 MPG combined (26 city / 35.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,175. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.