Volkswagen Jetta
Registered from 1990 to 2023.
About this model
The Volkswagen Jetta is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill a sedan niche slightly above the Golf hatchback, it has been marketed over seven generations, variously as the Atlantic, Vento, Bora, City Jetta, Jetta City, GLI, Jetta, Clasico, and Sagitar.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Jetta, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2007 2.0 diesel. 410 of 1,471 tests failed, 28%.
Better than 39% of 2007 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 935 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 50% | 203 |
| Body and structure | 34% | 140 |
| Lights and electrics | 33% | 134 |
| Brakes | 31% | 129 |
| Tyres and wheels | 24% | 97 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 14% | 58 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 50% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Brakes — 31% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Tyres and wheels — 24% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Exhaust and emissions — 14% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 33% of its failures
- Body and structure — 34% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
When it starts failing
At 200k+ miles this one fails 35% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60–80k miles | 23% | 24% | 77 | |
| 80–100k miles | 24% | 27% | 102 | |
| 100–120k miles | 24% | 29% | 256 | |
| 120–140k miles | 25% | 30% | 285 | |
| 140–160k miles | 32% | 30% | 317 | |
| 160–180k miles | 29% | 30% | 194 | |
| 180–200k miles | 32% | 30% | 93 | |
| 200k+ miles | 35% | 29% | 108 |
1,432 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 120k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.4 petrol · 125 hp · 1350 kg · 2648 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 2.0 diesel · 109 hp · 1403 kg · 2648 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2.0 diesel · 119 hp · 1424 kg · 2648 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 diesel · 123 hp · 1435 kg · 2648 mm wheelbase · 4.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.6 diesel · 103 hp · 1410 kg · 2633 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.6 diesel · 103 hp · 1398 kg · 2633 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.6 diesel · 103 hp · 1401 kg · 2633 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.6 diesel · 103 hp · 1403 kg · 2582 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 1.4 petrol · 1406 kg · 2582 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/0909/17
The earth connection of the ABS/ESP system may be interrupted as a result of thermomechanical overload. This would lead to the failure of the ABS/ESP system and the risk of an accident.
Recall of the product from end users