NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
231 reports22,000 miles · Aug 31, 2007
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT LIFT BACK UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE CLUTCH. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT LIFT BACK UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE CLUTCH. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000.
NHTSA ODI #10201592
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2007
Tires
THE COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE TIRES OF THE JETTA VW THAT WE PURCHASED IN 2004/2005 MODEL. THE TIRE THAT FALLS UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE AT THE TOP CONTINUES TO LOOSE WEIGHT CONSIDERABLY COMPARED TO THE OTHER TIRES. IT IS NOT THAT SPECIFIC TIRE, BECAUSE I HAVE ROTATED ALL FOUR TIRES AND IT HAPPENS TO ALL TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENI…
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THE COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE TIRES OF THE JETTA VW THAT WE PURCHASED IN 2004/2005 MODEL. THE TIRE THAT FALLS UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE AT THE TOP CONTINUES TO LOOSE WEIGHT CONSIDERABLY COMPARED TO THE OTHER TIRES. IT IS NOT THAT SPECIFIC TIRE, BECAUSE I HAVE ROTATED ALL FOUR TIRES AND IT HAPPENS TO ALL TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW. I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10200803
21,517 miles · Jul 19, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21,517. THE CONSUMER LISTED NAMES OF POSSIBLE REPAIR SHOPS. UPDATED 08/07/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10196879
54,000 miles · Jun 26, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND COOLANT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS ENGINE OIL SL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND COOLANT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.
NHTSA ODI #10194266
19,000 miles · May 28, 2007
Electrical System
FUSES TO THE HEADLIGHTS MELTED TO THE FUSE PANEL,CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10191854
23,000 miles · May 23, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE ENGINE WILL HAVE LOSS OF POWER AND HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. *MC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10193184
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2007
Structure
COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS METAL PROTECTOR STRIP (MOLDING) ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BECAME UNGLUED. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE STRIP SCRAPED THE FRONT DOOR, DAMAGING PAINT ON FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, AND THE STRIP BECAME BENT. THE METAL STRIP ON THE OTHER REAR DOOR ALSO BECAME UNGLUED, BUT FORTUNAT…
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COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS METAL PROTECTOR STRIP (MOLDING) ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BECAME UNGLUED. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE STRIP SCRAPED THE FRONT DOOR, DAMAGING PAINT ON FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, AND THE STRIP BECAME BENT. THE METAL STRIP ON THE OTHER REAR DOOR ALSO BECAME UNGLUED, BUT FORTUNATELY IT OCCURRED AT THE REAR END, THEREFORE HAS NOT SCRAPED THE FRONT DOOR. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, CLAIMING THAT THE STRIP BECAME UNGLUED DUE TO "OUTSIDE INFLUENCES, SUCH AS WASHING THE CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190796
30,000 miles · May 7, 2007
Power Train
MY GIRLFRIEND PURCHASED A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T IN 2005, NEW OVERSTOCKS FROM THE LOT. SHE JUST HIT 30000 MILES ,AND THE CLUTCH WENT OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO FIND THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON DRIVER'S ERROR . THE DEALER WANTED $1900.00…
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MY GIRLFRIEND PURCHASED A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T IN 2005, NEW OVERSTOCKS FROM THE LOT. SHE JUST HIT 30000 MILES ,AND THE CLUTCH WENT OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO FIND THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON DRIVER'S ERROR . THE DEALER WANTED $1900.00 FOR REPAIRS ON A JOB THAT CAN BE DONE FOR SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THROUGH AN ALTERNATIVE AUTO SHOP. WHEN WE CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE LIMITED RESTRICTION WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ITEM WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR, AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ONLY BY A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO KEEP HER EXTENDED WARRANTY VALID. AFTER HEARING THIS ABSURD POLICY I DECIDED TO CHECK AROUND TO SEE IF ANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGEN CLUTCH RELIABILITY TO FIND THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE CLUTCH ISSUE AS A FAULTY PART THEY FOUND IT TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL TO BLAME THE MECHANICAL FAILURE ON USER ERROR. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DISTURBING TO ME AFTER READING SEVERAL VOLKSWAGEN OWNER REVIEWS THAT STATED THE FAULTY CLUTCH LEFT THEM STRANDED WHILE TRAVELING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS IT WAS MY STRONG BELIEF THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS VEHICLES WITH IMPENDING KNOWN MECHANICAL ERRORS ON THE ROAD, BUT THEY CHOOSE TO NEGLECT THE ISSUE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190093
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2007
StructureInjury
I OWN A 2004 VW JETTA GLS. MY MOM OPENED THE DOOR TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE CORNER OF THE DOOR HIT HER IN THE CHEEKBONE, JUST BELOW HER EYE. IT BRUISED & SWELLED IMMEDIATELY, AND HAS STAYED THAT WAY FOR ALMOST A WEEK NOW. SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR TO GET HER EYE CHECKED JUST IN CASE, AND HE FOUND A PAINT CHIP IN HER E…
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I OWN A 2004 VW JETTA GLS. MY MOM OPENED THE DOOR TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE CORNER OF THE DOOR HIT HER IN THE CHEEKBONE, JUST BELOW HER EYE. IT BRUISED & SWELLED IMMEDIATELY, AND HAS STAYED THAT WAY FOR ALMOST A WEEK NOW. SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR TO GET HER EYE CHECKED JUST IN CASE, AND HE FOUND A PAINT CHIP IN HER EYE! VW SHOULD EITHER ROUND THE EDGES OF THE DOOR, OR PUT RUBBER STRIPS ON IT, LIKE LEXUS AND HONDA DO. I HAVE ALSO HIT MYSELF WITH THE DOOR TWICE, BUT DID NOT GET BRUISES. MAYBE WE ARE UNCOORDINATED OR ACCIDENT PRONE, BUT WE ARE ALSO 5FT 1 IN, WHICH MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LOCATION OF THE INJURY. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10189473
70,000 miles · May 1, 2007
Fuel System, Diesel
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT SMELLED DIESEL FUEL INSIDE THE CAB AND FOUND DIESEL FUEL LEAKING UNDER THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, RECALL #04V586000 WAS RELATED TO THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 70,000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10189387