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2004 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Jetta years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

191 reports with mileage · 40 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports20 fire reports13 injury reports

Engine complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

Unknown, very complex. Multiple issues. Have been addressed as well as parts been replaced however other issues arised that are definitely safety concerns between electrical issues engine motor etc

NHTSA ODI #11617038

141,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STAGED AT MY HOME IT'S STILL DRIVABLE BUT I DON'T KNOW GOR HOW LONG! I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALER IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION I CAUGHT THE ISSUE FAST AND TOOK IT TO A MULTISTATE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO …

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MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STAGED AT MY HOME IT'S STILL DRIVABLE BUT I DON'T KNOW GOR HOW LONG! I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALER IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION I CAUGHT THE ISSUE FAST AND TOOK IT TO A MULTISTATE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I ALREADY SPENT ON FIXING UP THIS CAR I AM EXTREMELY UPSET, I CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A INSANE AMOUNT EVERYTHING WITH THE CAR BESIDES THAT IS PERFECT THOUGH.

NHTSA ODI #11190213

168,000 miles · Oct 15, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE UNDER MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS STALLED OUT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, LOCATIONS, AND DRIVING STYLES/ROADS AT OR UNDER A QUARTER OF A TANK

NHTSA ODI #11140488

115,000 miles · Mar 5, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD EARLY IN MORNING APPROX 2 MILES FROM HOUSE I JUST LEFT FROM MY 2004 JETTA SHUTS DOWN TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER I PULLED CAR OVER IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT I SMELLED SMOKE AND COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM FIRE WALL I RAISED HOOD AND PULLED BATTERY CABLE OFF I COULD SEE SMPOKE FILLING INSIDE OF MY CAR WALKED AR…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD EARLY IN MORNING APPROX 2 MILES FROM HOUSE I JUST LEFT FROM MY 2004 JETTA SHUTS DOWN TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER I PULLED CAR OVER IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT I SMELLED SMOKE AND COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM FIRE WALL I RAISED HOOD AND PULLED BATTERY CABLE OFF I COULD SEE SMPOKE FILLING INSIDE OF MY CAR WALKED AROUND TO DRIVER DOOR TO GET MY PHONE AND I SEEN FUSE BOX ON FIRE.ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED TO HELP ME AND HE APPROACHED MY CAR AND THEN CALLED POLICE ,FULL FLAMES WERE COMING FROM MY CAR WITHIN 5 MIN SO I STOOD BACK AND WATCHED MY CAR BURN .FIRE DEPT SHOWED UP AND PUT FIRE OUT MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. IVE HAD ISSUES WITH ALTERNATOR,FUEL PUMP,AIR BAG LIGHT, HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM EVEN ON BRIGHT.NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I GOT IT. 115.000 MILES ONLY ON THIS CAR .SO MANY ISUES I CAN SEE WHY ITS LOW MILAGE

NHTSA ODI #11076395

156,000 miles · Apr 11, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, BACK FIRED, AND IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT UNDER THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, BACK FIRED, AND IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT UNDER THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ODI #10854705

70,000 miles · Mar 4, 2016
Engine

VW IGNITION COILS ARE FAILED, CAUSING THE SPARK PLUG NOT TO FIRE AND CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE ABOUT 4 HOURS AND FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE ONE DAY AND WHILE AT THE BANK WITH MY BOYS IN THE BACK THE CAR SHUT OFF. I NEEDED TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE CAR INTO THE…

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VW IGNITION COILS ARE FAILED, CAUSING THE SPARK PLUG NOT TO FIRE AND CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE ABOUT 4 HOURS AND FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE ONE DAY AND WHILE AT THE BANK WITH MY BOYS IN THE BACK THE CAR SHUT OFF. I NEEDED TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.

NHTSA ODI #10839806

100,000 miles · Aug 8, 2015
EngineService Brakes

I PURCHASED MY CAR BACK IN OCTOBER 2013. WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE REPLACED THE ABS SYSTEM. THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHEN I BOUGHT IT. A FEW MONTHS LATER, OUT OF THE BLUE IN ABOUT APRIL 2014, I WAS TURNING MY CAR ON AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON MOMENTARILY AFTER TURNI…

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I PURCHASED MY CAR BACK IN OCTOBER 2013. WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE REPLACED THE ABS SYSTEM. THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHEN I BOUGHT IT. A FEW MONTHS LATER, OUT OF THE BLUE IN ABOUT APRIL 2014, I WAS TURNING MY CAR ON AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON MOMENTARILY AFTER TURNING MY ENGINE ON AS I WAS STILL IN PARK. MY CAR HAD CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND SHORTLY CAME BACK A WEEK LATER. EVER SINCE, IT HAS BEEN ON. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. LUCKILY THE LIGHTS ALL WENT OFF FOR A FEW DAYS AROUND MY INSPECTION TIME FOR THE 2014 YEAR AND MY CAR PASSED. NOT EVEN THREE DAYS LATER THEY ALL CAME BACK ON. THIS TIME OCTOBER 2015 INSPECTION IS COMING UP AND MY LIGHTS ARE ALL ON. SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, I CANNOT PASS INSPECTION. THE CODE READER SAYS IT IS A MISCOMMUNICATION ERROR, OR A U0121 ERROR. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF INVESTIGATION AND CLEANING UP THE MODULE AND THE CONTACTS, CLEARED THE CODES, AND MY PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

NHTSA ODI #10747218

80,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, THE EPC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, THE EPC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATING, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638712

119,000 miles · Apr 21, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

VW CORP REJECTED CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT THE FLEX PIPE WAS LEAKING/LOUD AND WAS OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY (VW EXTENDED THE PART WARRANTY TO 10YRS OR 120K MILES) OUR CAR HAD 120,110 MILES. THERE WAS NO LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ID REPAIRS NEAR WHERE I WAS WORKING. THE PART DID FAILED BEFORE THE 120K M…

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VW CORP REJECTED CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT THE FLEX PIPE WAS LEAKING/LOUD AND WAS OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY (VW EXTENDED THE PART WARRANTY TO 10YRS OR 120K MILES) OUR CAR HAD 120,110 MILES. THERE WAS NO LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ID REPAIRS NEAR WHERE I WAS WORKING. THE PART DID FAILED BEFORE THE 120K MILES; AND HAS BEEN LEAKING OR DAMAGED FOR SOMETIME. SINCE IT WARMED UP AND I HAD THE WINDOWS DOWN I WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE LEAK. THIS PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY PREVIOUSLY AND WAS A RECALL ITEM ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IS THERE A "RANGE" ON MILEAGE THAT THE VW IS REQUIRED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR TRAVEL TO NEAREST VW DEALER LOCATION FOR REPAIRS OR WRITTEN WITHIN THE CURRENT EMISSIONS WARRANTY LAW?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583941

26,000 miles · Apr 23, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion System

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2004 JETTA WITH 2.0 ENGINE WITH 98K AS OF APR 2013. WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR CLUES FROM VW DEALER OR AUTO SHOP, THE CAR WOULD NOT START; CAR WOULD TURN OVER THE ENGINE BUT NO FUEL PRESSURE. DEPENDING ON SEASON (WINTER) AND LOCATION (MIDDLE OF NO WHERE) THIS CAN CAUSE A HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND PA…

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WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2004 JETTA WITH 2.0 ENGINE WITH 98K AS OF APR 2013. WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR CLUES FROM VW DEALER OR AUTO SHOP, THE CAR WOULD NOT START; CAR WOULD TURN OVER THE ENGINE BUT NO FUEL PRESSURE. DEPENDING ON SEASON (WINTER) AND LOCATION (MIDDLE OF NO WHERE) THIS CAN CAUSE A HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE CAR WOULD START AFTER LEAVING IT ALONE FOR 2-3 HRS AND TRY RESTARTING. THE WARNING SEEMS TO BE WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHICH MEANS THE SWITCH IS ACTING UP; THE FUEL SYSTEM IS AT A LOW PRESSURE WILL CAUSE A NO START. UNDER VW NEW CAR AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS CAN NOT DUPLICATE; MANY ON-LINE OWNERS HAS HAVE POINTED THE FINGER AT A DOOR LATCH/PRIMING CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL PUMP PRIME WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR IS OPENED. GOOD PICS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD FAILED/CRACKED SOLDER JOINT. THIS DOOR LATCH PRIMING IS USED ON MANY VW GROUP CARS; WE OWN A CAYENNE AND I CAN HEAR THE PRIMING. PLEASE CONSIDER A RECALL OF THIS VW PART OR TELLING VW TO STOP PLACING THE FUEL PUMP PRIMING CIRCUIT IN THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH. THE IGNITION KEY SEEM TO BE WHAT OTHER CAR MAKERS USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509326

Official recalls

2

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V586000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Dec 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.