VolkswagenJetta2023Overview/volkswagen/jetta/2023/base/

2023 Volkswagen Jetta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Jetta.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta pairs an automatic (S8) transmission with EPA ratings of 31/41/35 mpg, while posting just 41 owner complaints and zero recalls, with service brakes marking the top concern. Set within the model’s 1990–2026 complaint history—a span that reaches a high of 903 in 2009 and a low of 3 in 2026—the 2023 model sits well below that peak. That placement points to a comparatively calm reliability record for this model year.

Model year20262025202420232022202120202019

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque89.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/41/35 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04E115561T. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire size205/55R17 91HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04E115561T alt 06L115562B
Engine air filter5QM129620B alt 5Q0129620B
Spark plug05E905602C alt 05E905626
Battery1S0915105A
Serpentine belt04E145933AL alt 06K903137A
Cabin air filter5Q0819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length185.8 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight2976 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 41 / 35 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume94 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Jetta of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.4–7.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2023 GLI Autobahn Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2023GLI Autobahn Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.40 sec14.70 sec228 hpFWD
2023Sport Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.50 sec158 hpFWD
2022GLI Autobahn Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.10 sec14.60 sec228 hpFWD
2022SEL Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-47.10 sec15.50 sec158 hpFWD
2022SEL (Premium) Sedan 1.5L Turbo I-47.60 sec15.90 sec158 hpFWD
2021GLI Autobahn (Black Pack) Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.10 sec14.60 sec228 hpFWD
2021SEL Premium Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-47.70 sec16.00 sec147 hpFWD
2025GLI Autobahn Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.00 sec14.50 sec228 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 89.0 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89.0 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi; coolant every 20,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 20,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta marks a clear inflection point in the seventh-generation’s federal safety record. Complaints dropped to 41—identical to 2022 and only slightly above the 36 recorded in 2024—while recalls fell to zero for the first time since 2021, signaling a stabilization of production quality after the mid-cycle refresh. The trend mirrors the 2018-2021 arc, where complaint volumes also hovered in the low 30-66 range, yet the 2023 model stands out for having no open investigations or recall campaigns, a rarity in the Jetta’s history. Top complaint areas—service brakes (8) and engine (7)—align with long-standing generation concerns, though the data doesn’t specify root causes. With crash-related complaints limited to one and no fire incidents reported, the 2023 Jetta emerges as a statistically safer bet within this generation, making it a prudent used purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
325
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
41
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 41 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes8
Engine7
Unknown Or Other4
Forward Collision Avoidance3
Electrical System3
Unknown Or Other,Lane Departure1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1
Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 325 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
V0125042078297_52026-06-24EngineUpdate programming for Evap Emission Control System
TT 10-18-02_22026-06-18EngineLubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 13-20-01_32026-06-18EngineInstruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
Customer email_91UB2026-06-15Unknown Or OtherYour vehicle is currently eligible for the 91UB software update designed to:
Dealer 91UB2026-06-15Unknown Or OtherThis OTA update addresses a potential issue with special characters being broadcast over…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Jetta. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Jetta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Jetta get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 41 highway / 35 combined mpg.