IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
380–25K
2925–50K
4450–75K
3075–100K
35100–150K
15150K+
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
What owners actually said
231 reportsWE HAVE A 2004 VW JETTA, BUT THIS CONCERN IS WITH MOST 7 YEAR OLD AND OLDER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION IS INFERIOR TO VEHICLES EARLIER IN THE 1900S ' NEVER WITH CARS I HAVE OWNED FROM 1954 UNTIL THE LAST FEW HAVE I SEE HEADLIGHTS FOG- TURN OPAQUE OR YELLOW. THE PLASTIC USED IS INFERIOR TO THE GLASS USED ON OLDER VEHI…
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WE HAVE A 2004 VW JETTA, BUT THIS CONCERN IS WITH MOST 7 YEAR OLD AND OLDER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION IS INFERIOR TO VEHICLES EARLIER IN THE 1900S ' NEVER WITH CARS I HAVE OWNED FROM 1954 UNTIL THE LAST FEW HAVE I SEE HEADLIGHTS FOG- TURN OPAQUE OR YELLOW. THE PLASTIC USED IS INFERIOR TO THE GLASS USED ON OLDER VEHICLES AND AS SUCH IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL DRIVERS. SINCE IT IS THE USE OF AN INFERIOR MATERIAL IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BECOME SAFETY RECALLS BY THE MANUFACTURER RATHER THEN A BAND-AID BUFF OUT KIT THAT THE VEHICLE OWNER, MUST BEAR THE EXPENSE, AND TRY TO USE OR HAVE A REPAIR SHOP DO AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. HEADLIGHT SURFACES SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF A VEHICLES, BARRING DAMAGE IN ACCIDENTS THEY SHOULD PERFORM SAFELY THROUGHOUT A ONE'S OWNERSHIP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING BELT W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TENSIONER AND ENGINE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.
MY 2004 VW JETTA 1.8 TURBO WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY CAT HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES IN IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BATTERY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NUMEROUS VACUUM LEAKS ECT...BUT A TRANSMISSION???? VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS IS WA…
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MY 2004 VW JETTA 1.8 TURBO WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY CAT HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES IN IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BATTERY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NUMEROUS VACUUM LEAKS ECT...BUT A TRANSMISSION???? VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS IS WAY TO COMMON!! PLEASE HELP! *TR
DOOR AJAR NOT WORKING, ALONG WITH INTERIOR LIGHT ON DRIVERS DOOR, & CABIN INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT COMING ON WHEN DOOR OPENS. REPLACED DRIVERS DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR VIA DEALER FIXES PROBLEM. A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR A $17 MICROSWITCH (APPROX) PART ON THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR THAT FAILS VERY OFTEN. MANY VW OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT THERE WERE NO CODES PRODUCED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT THERE WERE NO CODES PRODUCED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS TOO MUCH VOLTAGE GOING TO THE BAG AND AS SUCH DEACTIVATED ALL THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT IN OUR 2004 VW JETTA TDI BECAME EXTREMELY HOT NEAR THE DRIVER'S RIGHT THIGH AND THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, HAD A MINOR SURFACE BURN AS A RESULT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WEARING JEANS, WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM BEING WORSE. *TR
NOTICED DRIVERS HEATED SEAT WAS VERY HOT ON LEFT THIGH. YESTERDAY I SMELLED SMOKE, AND PUT MY HAND UNDER MY LEG. BURNED HAND. TURNED OFF HEATED SEAT AND PULLED OVER. NOTICED A BURN ON FABRIC. *TR
HEATED SEAT BURNED. ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND EXTREME HOT SPOT ON UPPER RIGHT THIGH. *TR
Official recalls
207V063000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.