Used car safety, rank #140 of 181
Volkswagen Jetta Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 Volkswagen Jetta, a midsize car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2019-20 Volkswagen Jetta has an IIHS driver death rate of 47 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize cars average of 58.1, which is 19% below the class average. That places it #140 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 29.0/100.
What the Volkswagen Jetta death rate means
At 47 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Volkswagen Jetta beats the midsize cars average of 58.1 by 19%. The 95% confidence interval is 24 to 69, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 45 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Volkswagen Jetta. It is no higher than the Volkswagen Jetta's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest midsize cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Volkswagen Jetta highlighted. It ranks 5 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota Camry hybrid at a death rate of 19.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry hybrid | 2018-20 | 19 (0 to 38) | 58.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Fusion hybrid | 2019-20 | 25 (0 to 56) | 50.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Accord hybrid | 2018-20 | 45 (1 to 90) | 30.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Accord | 2018-20 | 46 (34 to 57) | 29.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Jetta (this page) | 2019-20 | 47 (24 to 69) | 29.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry | 2018-20 | 48 (38 to 59) | 28.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Fusion | 2019-20 | 67 (30 to 104) | 16.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Optima | 2019-20 | 80 (45 to 115) | 14.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2017-20 | 91 (73 to 108) | 13.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize cars: 58.1 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Volkswagen Jetta
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Volkswagen Jetta we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Volkswagen Jetta | No award | 76.2 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 29.0 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Volkswagen Jetta
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
6 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering fuel system, gasoline, electrical system, tires, air bags, seats, service brakes, hydraulic.
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Fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final
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Electrical system: ignition, switch
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge.
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Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge.
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Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk: Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge.
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Seats
Risk: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen
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Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, disc, caliper
Risk: If a brake caliper bolt comes loose, it may affect the vehicle's brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace all four front brake caliper bolts, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Volkswagen Jetta: Common Questions
Is the Volkswagen Jetta a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 47 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 Volkswagen Jetta, 19% below the class average (58.1 for midsize cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 29.0 out of 100 and rank #140 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Volkswagen Jetta driver death rate?
47 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 24 to 69. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Volkswagen Jetta died at a rate of 45 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the Volkswagen Jetta compare with other midsize cars?
The midsize cars class averages 58.1 driver deaths per million; the Volkswagen Jetta sits at 47. Among the 9 midsize cars compared above it ranks 5 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota Camry hybrid with a death rate of 19.