IllustrationCAR JERKS DURING A COLD START. JERKS HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR.*AK
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 →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
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
Power Train complaints
35 reportsI BOUGHT A 2004 VW JETTA GLS ON MARCH 15, 2004 AND IT HAS NOW BEEN TO THE SHOP, OH, ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES! THE FIRST TIME, THE CLUTCH WAS CHATTERING - SO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLUTCH KIT, THEN THE CLUTCH CABLE HAD TO BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHIFTING RIGHT, THEN THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, NOW THE BRAK…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT A 2004 VW JETTA GLS ON MARCH 15, 2004 AND IT HAS NOW BEEN TO THE SHOP, OH, ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES! THE FIRST TIME, THE CLUTCH WAS CHATTERING - SO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLUTCH KIT, THEN THE CLUTCH CABLE HAD TO BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHIFTING RIGHT, THEN THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, NOW THE BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A POPPING SOUND EVERYTIME I PRESS AND DEPRESS IT... THEN TO TOP IT ALL OFF - - I WENT TO GOTO WORK THE OTHER DAY, AND IT WOULDN'T START!!! - FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AFTER THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY (BUT, BATTERY WASN'T DEAD), AND TWO DAYS LATER, IT BARELY STARTS AND IS RELEASING A HORRIBLE SMELL - THE INSIDE SMELLED LIKE ROTTEN EGGS.. IF THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE EMISSIONS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO! I REALLY THING VW SHOULD REPLACE MY CAR WITH A NEW ONE AND COVER IT FOR LIFE!*AK
WHEN SHIFTING GEARS TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO BE LOCKED IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY VW OF AMERICA $6500 UNDER WARRANTY. INJURY RESULTED FROM INCIDENT
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD/BACKWARDS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.