Shopping around for used VW. Any common issues I should know?

Hey all,

I've been living carless since 2010, and have finally worked myself into the position where it might make sense to own one again. I live in the Denver metro area, and will be shopping around soon for a basic commuter. I'm looking for (in order of importance) low maintenance, decent mileage, and ample storage space. Budget is still an issue, and I prefer to buy vehicles outright. I'm looking to spend no more than $10,000.

Mileage is easy enough to research, and it looks like the early 2010s Jetta has that in spades. I'm not that good at researching common mechanical issues, so I don't know if there's an actual tradeoff there. If there are any other models that make sense, I would love to hear about them.

Is there anything else you need to know about my living situation before you have a recommendation? I'm an open book.