Illustration2003 JETTA GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THIS IS CAUSED BY A PLASTIC SUBMITTER THAT CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFT AND BRAKES. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE 2002 MODEL BUT NOT 2003. *JB THE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS PAID BILLS PAID THAT WERE ACCIDENTALLY PLACED IN AN ENVELOPE. UPDATED 07/11/06. *JB
2003 Volkswagen Jetta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Jetta years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
790–25K
9225–50K
7650–75K
4875–100K
46100–150K
33150K+
374 reports with mileage · 81 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.
- Seats. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports70 fire reports76 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
27 reportsJETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (ON OUR INVOICE IT IS PART NO. 1JO-945-511-E") ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT COMMONWEALTH VW, THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED AS DEFECTIVE IN OTHER VW'S, BUT NOT THE JETTA. WHEN IT FAILS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER, M. B., THE REGISTERED OWN…
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JETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (ON OUR INVOICE IT IS PART NO. 1JO-945-511-E") ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT COMMONWEALTH VW, THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED AS DEFECTIVE IN OTHER VW'S, BUT NOT THE JETTA. WHEN IT FAILS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER, M. B., THE REGISTERED OWNER, AND I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA THAT SHE IS DRIVING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE TO AND FROM OUR HOME IN VILLA PARK, CA. TO SCHOOL IN RIVERSIDE, CA. (ABOUT 60 MILES ROUND TRIP) DAILY, AND AT NIGHT! THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED FROM ALL VEHICLES. *NM
VW CLAIMS THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTING SWITCH ISN'T A RECALL ITEM OR PROBLEM BUT NOT ONLY AM I HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ONE FOR ME CAR BUT THE OTHER VW OWNERS HERE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. *NM
PURCHASED NEW 2003 JETTA MAY 2003. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD TO TOW THE CAR TWICE AND REPAIR SAME PART 4 TIMES. IT IS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT BREAKS WHICH MEANS THE CAR CAN NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK. CAN NOT BE MOVED UNLESS IT IS TOWED OR GET IT IN WHEN YOU FIRST SEE IT IS GOING OUT YET AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED JAN 28, …
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PURCHASED NEW 2003 JETTA MAY 2003. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD TO TOW THE CAR TWICE AND REPAIR SAME PART 4 TIMES. IT IS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT BREAKS WHICH MEANS THE CAR CAN NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK. CAN NOT BE MOVED UNLESS IT IS TOWED OR GET IT IN WHEN YOU FIRST SEE IT IS GOING OUT YET AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED JAN 28, 2004, AUG 2, 2004, MAY 31, 2005, AND OCT 14, 2005. TWICE IT WAS SERVICED AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN SAN LUIS OBISPO AND TWICE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. *NM
I GOT MY 2003 VW JETTA IN FEBRUARY OF '03. NOW NOT EVEN A YEAR AND A HALF LATER I HAVE HUGE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY WINDOWS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. FINALLY THE WORST WAS THAT I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY, IT IS STEEP BUT THE SAME PLACE I HAVE PARKED DOZ…
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I GOT MY 2003 VW JETTA IN FEBRUARY OF '03. NOW NOT EVEN A YEAR AND A HALF LATER I HAVE HUGE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY WINDOWS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. FINALLY THE WORST WAS THAT I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY, IT IS STEEP BUT THE SAME PLACE I HAVE PARKED DOZENS OF TIMES, WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LET GO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE WAY EVENTUALLY CRASHING INTO TREES. I READ ON OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THERE WAS ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAD SIMILAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WELL I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND THEY SAID THAT INDEED THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AS A RESULT OF A FAILING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. TURNS OUT THEY HAD FAILED TO INFORM ME. I WONDER WHAT OTHER RECALLS THEY HAVE FAILED TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT. *JB
I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA. I BOUGHT IT ON 09/02. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS. FIRST IT WAS MY ELECTRICAL. BY BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE KEY LESS REMOTE DID NOT WORK I COULD NOT LOCK MY CAR AND NON OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. I TOOK THIS PROBLEM TO VW AND THE SAID THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE AN APPONTMEN…
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I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA. I BOUGHT IT ON 09/02. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS. FIRST IT WAS MY ELECTRICAL. BY BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE KEY LESS REMOTE DID NOT WORK I COULD NOT LOCK MY CAR AND NON OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. I TOOK THIS PROBLEM TO VW AND THE SAID THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE AN APPONTMENT BEFORE THEY WOULD HELP ME. SO I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE MY APPT. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED HOWEVER OCCASIONALY THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL STAY STUCK ON. THIS WAS ALSO NOTED TO VW. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A RATTLE IN MY CLUTCH. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY CAR ON A TEST DRIVE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (?). SO I DID AND SHE STATED SHE DID NOT HERE ANYTHING AND I TOLD HERE THAT WHEN I TAKE THE CLUTCH OUT IT DOES RATTLES VERY LOUD BUT WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH IN THE RATTLE STOPS. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED SINCE SHE DID NOT HERE THIS SHE COULD NOT LET THE ACTUAL TECH LOOK AT IT. I DEMANDED THE TECH TO LOOK AT IT. FINALLY THE TECH AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME I HAD A RATTLE IN MY CLUTCH DUE TO MY BALD TIRES.???? SINCE I DID NEED NEW TIRES, I REPLACED ALL 4. MY CLUTCH STILL RATTLED. (SHOCKER) I THEN DECIDED TO TAKE MY VW TO ANOTHER VW SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RATTLE WAS A LOOSE HEAT PLATE. VW DEALER STATED THIS WAS FIXED. THE NEXT DAY THIS RATTLE WAS STILL THERE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN FOR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES FOR THIS RATTLE. I HAVE DECIDED ON GETTING A NEW NON-VW CAR. NOT ONLY HAS THE CAR DISSAPPOINTED ME BUT THE SERVCIE POEPLE HAVE TREATED ME AND MY HUSBAND LIKE IGNORANT CONSUMERS. ON EACH OF THESE VISITS TO THE VW DEALER THEY HAVE AHD TO KEEP MY CAR FOR NUMEROUS DAYS, AND NEVER WAS I ABLE TO RECEIVE A RENTAL, WHICH RESULTED IN ME MISSING WORK AND COSTING ME MORE MONEY.*MB*
MY BRAKE LIGHT SWICH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY 2003 JETTA TDI VW. FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH CAUSES BRAKE LIGHT'S TO EITHER STAY ON CONSISTENTLY OR NOT TURN ON AT ALL. LOSS OF TURBO IN VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO BATTERY SHUT DOWN.*AK
Official recalls
218V406000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jun 13, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and EuroVan Chassis vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X3.
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.
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
4DP05004 · Engine Stalling
Opened Aug 11, 2005 · Closed Dec 8, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition:module
BY LETTER RECEIVED ON JUNE 24, 2005, MR. RONALD M. STRICKLAND OF RALEIGH, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF AND PASSAT SEDANS.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON HIS 2002 VW JETTA SEDAN.AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING, THE PETITIONER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORTS WHEN HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED ON THE SHOULDER HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT REDUCED POWER.VW ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (CSC) ON JANUARY 31, 2003 TO INSTRUCT THEIR DEALERSHIPS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS AND TO REPLACE THEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.CONSUMERS WERE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS VIA OWNER LETTERS MAILED OUT ON JUNE 6, 2003.WHILE VW INITIALLY INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIPS TO ONLY REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL PACKS, A REVISED CSC WAS ISSUED TO DEALERSHIPS IN DECEMBER 2003 AND JANUARY 2004, INSTRUCTING DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PACKS REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE.A REMINDER TO THE DEALERSHIPS WAS SENT BY VW ON APRIL OF 2004.ALTHOUGH THE CONCERNS OF THE PETITIONER COULD THEORETICALLY CREATE A SAFETY PROBLEM, THE RISK IS VERY SMALL, DUE TO THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING ON EITHER 3, 5, OR 7 CYLINDERS.THERE ARE NO REPORTED CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ONCE DRIVERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (LOSS OF POWER DUE TO ONE OF THE IGNITION COIL PACKS MALFUNCTIONING), DRIVERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY AND COMPENSATORY MEASURES AND STILL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, FOUR FIRES WERE REPORTED TO ODI.THESE WERE IGNITION COIL BURNOUTS WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND WERE LOCALIZED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DURING THE LAST 24 MONTHS THE NUMBER OF STALL AND DRIVABILITY COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO ODI HAS GREATLY DIMINISHED FROM A PEAK OF 195 IN JANUARY OF 2003 TO ONLY 3 IN AUGUST OF 2005.THIS COINCIDES WITH THE CSC RELEASED BY VW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE04081 · Inadvertent SIDE-AIRBAG Deployment
Opened Dec 16, 2004 · Closed Apr 1, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE MINOR IN NATURE AND CONSIST OF ABRASIONS, BRUISES, EAR RINGING AND HEADACHES.THERE WAS NO ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASH AS A RESULT OF SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.ODI ALSO OBTAINED COUNTS OF ALLEGED INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS FROM PEER MANUFACTURERS.THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT UNIQUE IN BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR NON-SUBJECT INDIVIDUAL MODEL VEHICLES VARIES WIDELY.THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS COMPARABLE TO THREE PEER MODELS, EACH WITH COMPACT CHASSIS/WHEELBASES.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY COMPONENT FAILURE OR MANUFACTURING TREND THAT MAY RELATE TO A COMPONENT OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
EA04010 · Driver Side Front Seat Overheats
Opened Mar 30, 2004 · Closed Oct 21, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
THIS INVESTIGATION CONCERNS THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER INSTALLED IN SOME MY 2002-2003 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA VEHICLES.CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT THE SEAT HEATER MAY OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN BURN DAMAGE TO THE SEAT COVER AND TO THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING AND/OR SKIN.THIS EA ADDRESSES WHETHER SUCH FAILURES MAY POSE A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.ODI CONCLUDES THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT HEATER MAY FAIL OR MALFUNCTION DUE TO NORMAL VEHICLE USE, (I.E., DRIVER INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE).THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT SUCH FAILURES DO NOT POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR FIRE.ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND.THEREFORE, THIS EA HAS BEEN CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT PROVIDES FURTHER DETAIL CONCERNING THIS EA.
PE03052 · Driver Seat Overheats/burns
Opened Nov 19, 2003 · Closed Mar 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS.INFORMATION RECEIVED DURING PE03-052 DISCLOSED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF MALFUNCTIONING/OVERHEATING OF THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS MAY OCCUR DURING THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE WINTER SEASON.THIS MATTER IS ALSO CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY TRANSPORT CANADA.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-010)IN ORDER TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THESE OCCURRENCES AND THEIR SAFETY IMPLICATIONS.