IllustrationHEADLIGHTS DIMMING- TO POINT WHERE YOU CAN NOT TELL THEY ARE ON. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DESPITE ALL DIAGNOSTICS STATING ALL IS OK WITH CAR. PERIODICALLY FAILS TO START-DESPITE DIAGNOSTICS THAT STATE STARTER, BATTERY, DRAIN ALTENATOR ALL GOOD AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CAR JUMPS EASILY WITH "BOOST". *TR
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →231Owner complaints
Model-year median: 68
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2004 Volkswagen Jetta
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 231 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 37 reports
- Electrical System: 36 reports
- Power Train: 35 reports
- Seats: 22 reports
- Air Bags: 21 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
3 reportsAFTER SERVICE BY VW FOR WINDOW GLASS CLIP RECALL THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. NO TRACTION CONTROL FOR THE VECHICLE. *TR
2004 JETTA TDI 4 DOOR SEDAN, IT'S A TURBO DIESEL. THE STALK HAVE TO GOES TO HIGH BEAM IN ORDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO WORK. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, IT HAVE BEEN WITH THIS CAR FOR MANY YEARS BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO FIX THIS AND IT'S COST LOST OF MONEY TO REPLACE. WHEN CLICK ON THE TURN SIGNAL THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN OFF,…
Read full complaint
2004 JETTA TDI 4 DOOR SEDAN, IT'S A TURBO DIESEL. THE STALK HAVE TO GOES TO HIGH BEAM IN ORDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO WORK. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, IT HAVE BEEN WITH THIS CAR FOR MANY YEARS BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO FIX THIS AND IT'S COST LOST OF MONEY TO REPLACE. WHEN CLICK ON THE TURN SIGNAL THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN OFF, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY. I BELIEVE THIS PARTS OF THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED, IT'S DANGEROUS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *TR
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.