IllustrationHeated seat set on fire! Burned me pretty bad
2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta Wagon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsTHE TIRES EXPLOTED UNDER 23PSI OR LESS. THE IGNITERS WENT OFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. I LOST THE EXTERNAL FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS NOT EVEN MOLESTED BY ANY MEANS. THE RIMS WERE DAMAGED IN A WAY THAT ONE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NJTURNPIKE, SENSORS ON THE BATTERY BURNED AND I LOS…
Read full complaint
THE TIRES EXPLOTED UNDER 23PSI OR LESS. THE IGNITERS WENT OFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. I LOST THE EXTERNAL FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS NOT EVEN MOLESTED BY ANY MEANS. THE RIMS WERE DAMAGED IN A WAY THAT ONE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NJTURNPIKE, SENSORS ON THE BATTERY BURNED AND I LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE SERPENTINE BELT MELTED AND WAS REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, I LOST POWER ON THE ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE TURNPIKE AGAIN WHILE TESTING THE MECHANICS JOB. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND I CONTINUED TESTING THE CAR. ON 295 I LOST POWER ON THE ENGINE AGAIN. I LEFT THE CAR THERE AND I WENT TO HONK KONG. WHEN I CAME BACK, A RELATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE DOT TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO BE FIEXED. IT COST HIM 1000 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIMED TO CHANGED THE AC COMPRESSOR WHICH I HAD PREVIOUSLY FIXEX THE SUMMER BEFORE. THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR WAS MISSING. I REPORTED THAT TO THE INSURANCE BECAUSE I SUSPECTED FRAUD. TO THIS POINT THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. PLEASE CONTACT MY LAWYER SINCE I HAVE SURRENDER LEGALITIES TO HIM BECAUSE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. I HAD BEEN ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES AND I SUSPECT THE UNION AND THE DOT. H. APARICIO. 0522.**
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.