Is the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta a bad year?
201 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Jetta years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta are in line with other Jetta years.
6th quietest of 20 Jetta years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Jetta owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 45 (22%) | 52k–98k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 35 (17%) | 36k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 33 (16%) | 30k–82k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 25 (12%) | 56k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 11 (5%) | 50k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (4%) | 46k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (4%) | 51k–119k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Latches and locks | 8 (4%) | 60k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (3%) | 12k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 6 (3%) | 21k–122k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 11 (5%) | 82k–120k miles · ahead | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 44 (22%) | 17k–29k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Equipment | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 201 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jan 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission slips extremely badly even though it doesnt even have 90k miles almost makes it impossible to drive in city and is dangerous when needing to speed up and slow down.
Started experiencing hard shifting in the lower gears (1-3) as described in the extended warranty for the transmission valve body.
My transmission jerks / jolts significantly while my car is coming to a stop. This occurs pretty regularly, usually once on my way to work every morning when I pull up to a stop light after driving for approx.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 78,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta: 6
The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart. If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The Jetta, Jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. If chafing occurs, there is the potential for a fuel leak to develop. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fastening screw contact surfaces on the driveshaft cover plate may not have been manufactured to factory specifications. Some screws may not have been torqued properly during assembly and could loosen over time, causing a knocking sound when the vehicle is in motion. If the vehicle is moving when this happens, the detached driveshaft could cause damage the gearbox housing.
Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Noncompliance can inhibit proper headlamp aim adjustment for roadway illumination, improperly aimed headlamps could cause reduced road visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Volkswagen: 375
Repair instructions Volkswagen sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Recommended fuel additive to avoid engine misfires
Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
Gasoline Engine Misfire Diagnosis document
Reminder to follow the correct
Neighbouring years
2006 Jetta: 579 complaints, consider selling · 2008 Jetta: 188 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Volkswagen Jetta year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Jetta years side by side
Other Volkswagen models: Volkswagen Atlas · Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport · Volkswagen Beetle · Volkswagen CC · Volkswagen Eos · Volkswagen GTI · Volkswagen Golf · Volkswagen Golf SportWagen · Volkswagen ID.4 · Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen · Volkswagen Passat · Volkswagen Rabbit · Volkswagen Routan · Volkswagen Taos · Volkswagen Tiguan · Volkswagen Touareg. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta a bad year?
201 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Jetta years. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (45), air bags (35), transmission and drivetrain (33), engine (25), body structure (11).
How many recalls does the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 20E064000), Other (NHTSA 19V-679), Engine (NHTSA 14E007000), Fuel system (NHTSA 10V-621) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.