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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

9 reports
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122,000 miles · Jan 29, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING MY VW JETTA 2004 TDI ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS USING MY HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO YIELD TO INCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF A SADDEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, I HAD TO STOP IT WAS VERY DARK AND DANGEROUS ROAD, I MOVED AND WIGGLE THE LEVER TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE IT COME ON AGAIN, EVENTUALLY IT DID, IT DID THAT ABOUT…

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I WAS DRIVING MY VW JETTA 2004 TDI ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS USING MY HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO YIELD TO INCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF A SADDEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, I HAD TO STOP IT WAS VERY DARK AND DANGEROUS ROAD, I MOVED AND WIGGLE THE LEVER TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE IT COME ON AGAIN, EVENTUALLY IT DID, IT DID THAT ABOUT 4 TIMES,EVERY TIME IT SCARED THE ... OUT OF ME COULD NOT SEE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL HIGH BEAM LOW BEAM AND CRUSE CONTROL LEVER, ITS ALL IN ONE LEVER. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF SOMEONE ELSE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10823126

122,642 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS 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

NHTSA ODI #10490419

72,790 miles · May 9, 2011
Exterior Lighting

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 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

NHTSA ODI #10399504

75,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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,…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10340339

60,000 miles · May 6, 2010
Exterior Lighting

MY CAR'S SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS PERIODICALLY LEADING TO THE SIGNAL LIGHT BECOMING STUCK IN A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN POSITION BLINKING AT A FAST SPEED. THIS IS OCCURRING ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. AS A CONSEQUENCE I HAVE TO MAKE UNSAFE LANE CHANGES (EG. WHEN CHANGING INTO R LANE THE SIGNAL LIGHT BE STUCK IN T…

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MY CAR'S SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS PERIODICALLY LEADING TO THE SIGNAL LIGHT BECOMING STUCK IN A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN POSITION BLINKING AT A FAST SPEED. THIS IS OCCURRING ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. AS A CONSEQUENCE I HAVE TO MAKE UNSAFE LANE CHANGES (EG. WHEN CHANGING INTO R LANE THE SIGNAL LIGHT BE STUCK IN THE LEFT HAND BLINKING SEQUENCES FROM THE PREVIOUS LEFT TURN). TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE SIGNAL LIGHT ARM HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329213

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2009
Exterior Lighting

REAR LIGHTS GO OUT- TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC... HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES. WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE FOLLOWING ME THAT THEY TEND TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THEN JUST OFF. ALSO WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICER IN SEPT. BOUGHT THIS USED @ VW DEALERSHIP IN JUNE, IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 52,000 AT THAT TIME. …

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REAR LIGHTS GO OUT- TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC... HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES. WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE FOLLOWING ME THAT THEY TEND TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THEN JUST OFF. ALSO WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICER IN SEPT. BOUGHT THIS USED @ VW DEALERSHIP IN JUNE, IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 52,000 AT THAT TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266028

52,000 miles · Aug 6, 2008
Exterior LightingCrash

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON TDI. THE ORIGINAL OWNER SOLD THE CAR TO ME AND COMPLAINED OF POOR LIGHTING. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THERE IS NO PERIPHERAL LIGHTING AND THE LIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE AND HAVE DARK SPOTS. I HIT A BEAR 6 WKS. AGO AN…

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I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON TDI. THE ORIGINAL OWNER SOLD THE CAR TO ME AND COMPLAINED OF POOR LIGHTING. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THERE IS NO PERIPHERAL LIGHTING AND THE LIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE AND HAVE DARK SPOTS. I HIT A BEAR 6 WKS. AGO AND DIRECTLY BLAME THE LIGHTS FOR AN IMPAIRED ABILITY TO REACT. THE PLASTIC LENS ARE ALSO A PROBLEM AS THEY YELLOW AND SCRATCH OVER TIME DIMINISHING VISIBILITY BY APPROX 50%. A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT OCCUR WITH GLASS LENS AND IS PARTICULARLY BAD IN PLACES LIKE COLORADO WHERE MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE IS APPLIED TO THE ROADS IN WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237267

41,075 miles · Oct 5, 2006
Exterior LightingVisibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V183000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V183000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GLASS STUCK WITHIN THE WINDOW RETAINER, AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE WINDOW GLASS NEEDED RETAINER CLIPS INSTALLED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #10170026

8,000 miles · Feb 1, 2006
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHT KEPT ON GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149180

Official recalls

2

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.