IllustrationCOMPLETE AND SUDDEN FAILURE OF CLUTCH, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC.*AK
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
Power Train complaints
54 reportsMY 2003 VW JETTA CONSTANTLY GETS STUCK IN PARK LONGEST TIME HAS BEEN 45 MINUTES MY CAR HAS BEEN INTO SERVICE 3 TIMES AND IS STILL ROUGH COMING OUT OF PARK ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS NEVER WORKED I ONLY HAVE 6000 MILES. *JB
INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO ANY GEAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *MR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION, KEYLESS KEY BATTERY DOES NOT WORK, EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LOST OF POWER, JACK FELL WHILE CAR WAS ON IT, AND PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK.*MR WHEN THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FLAT DUE TO …
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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION, KEYLESS KEY BATTERY DOES NOT WORK, EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LOST OF POWER, JACK FELL WHILE CAR WAS ON IT, AND PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK.*MR WHEN THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FLAT DUE TO THE TIRES BEING OVERINFLATED. *JB
I'M ON 3RD TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 JETTA TDI WAGON IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. ORIGINAL PLUS TWO FAILURES REPLACED. *LA
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 JETTA TDI (29,000 MILES), THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING WHIPLASH AND ALMOST A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT TO THE CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE IN …
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 JETTA TDI (29,000 MILES), THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING WHIPLASH AND ALMOST A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT TO THE CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE IN MY EYES. I AM ONLY SEEM TO BE SORE, THANKFULLY THIS WASN'T MORE SERIOUS. I HAVE ATTACHED MY SEARCH RESULTS BELOW. HTTP://WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM/CGI-BIN/UBBCGI/SEARCH.CGI?ACTION=SIMPLESEARCH&SEARCHIN=ALL&FORUMCHOICE=ALL&SEARCHTERMS=VW+TRANSMISSION&BOOLEANAND=YES&SEARCHDATE=ALL&SEARCHUSER=&EXACTNAME=NO&FILE=TEMP-2452984-214219-93B9.CGI&TOTAL=69&STARTAT=A: *LA
PROBLEMS WITH REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER AND TRANSMISSION.*MR REAR DEFOGGER DIDN'T TURN OFF. CONSUMER FEARED IT WOULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD. TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND WOULDN'T MOVE TO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH WAS INSTALLED. ON THE DAY OF PURC…
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PROBLEMS WITH REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER AND TRANSMISSION.*MR REAR DEFOGGER DIDN'T TURN OFF. CONSUMER FEARED IT WOULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD. TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND WOULDN'T MOVE TO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH WAS INSTALLED. ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE SALESMAN STATED HE WASN'T USE TO A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND IGNORED IT. *PH
ON DECEMBER 14TH OF 2002 I PURCHASED A 2003 VW JETTA FROM SMITH VW ON KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY DELAWARE. ALTHOUGH THEY HANDLED ALL MY TRANSACTIONS AND VEHICLE DELIVERY POORLY, I CHOSE TO OVERLOOK IN THINKING I WILL NOT BE DEALING WITH THEM AGAIN. *AK SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR: IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDEN…
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ON DECEMBER 14TH OF 2002 I PURCHASED A 2003 VW JETTA FROM SMITH VW ON KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY DELAWARE. ALTHOUGH THEY HANDLED ALL MY TRANSACTIONS AND VEHICLE DELIVERY POORLY, I CHOSE TO OVERLOOK IN THINKING I WILL NOT BE DEALING WITH THEM AGAIN. *AK SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR: IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS I HAD A FLAT TIRE. IN ONE CASE THE JACK FELL OVER WHILE THE CAR WAS ON IT DUE TO HIGH WIND. THESE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE IN THE WINTER WHEN WE HAD HEAVY SNOW. LATER I DISCOVERED THAT MY TIRES WERE OVERINFLATED. I DID NOT TOUCH THEM SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND HAVE BEEN FOR AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH PRIOR AT VW. I STOPPED GOING TO SMITH VW AND STARTED USING GARNET VW AFTER THIS. ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 6TH AT 9:30PM I GOT INTO MY CAR AND I COULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF PARK. THIS WAS A SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE SOME FRICK WAS STANDING AT MY WINDOW ASKING ME FOR MONEY. HE FINALLY LEFT, BUT I WAS STRANDED WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. ROADSIDE WILL TOW YOUR CAR, BUT THEY DO NOT DRIVE YOU HOME. IN MID AUGUST MY KEYLESS KEY BATTERY DID NOT WORK. I WAS IN VA AT THE TIME. ON AUGUST 25TH DURING RUSH HOUR MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS IN VEHICLE POWER. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN AREA THAT I COULD PULL OVER. VW FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON SEPTEMBER 8TH DURING RUSH HOUR AGAIN MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER. THIS TIME VW REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. AT THIS TIME I ALSO FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO VW CORPORATION AND ALSO SPOKE TO GM AT GARNET VW. ON NOVEMBER 22ND I TOOK MY CAR IN BECAUSE OF HESITATION WHILE INCREASING SPEED FROM 20 MPH TO 40 MPH. A VW TECHNICIAN TOOK A RIDE WITH ME AND AGREED OF THE PROBLEM. I AM SCHEDULE FOR SERVICE IN DECEMBER. THIS IS DELAYED MAINLY DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE, BUT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE MY LAST VISIT. I WILL BE SENDING YOU A FOLLOW UP NOTE WITH MORE INFORMATION LATER THIS WEEK.
WHILE PROCEEDING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE FROM DRIVESHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE TRANSMISSION, DRIVESHAFT, AND THE CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE…
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WHILE PROCEEDING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE FROM DRIVESHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE TRANSMISSION, DRIVESHAFT, AND THE CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE FRONT BRAKES, WHERE THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. (THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN) *SCC *JB
MY VEHICLE OFTEN WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND IT WILL SHIFT INTO THE OTHER GEARS, BUT OFTEN UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *LA
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.