← New search

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
141,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STAGED AT MY HOME IT'S STILL DRIVABLE BUT I DON'T KNOW GOR HOW LONG! I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALER IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION I CAUGHT THE ISSUE FAST AND TOOK IT TO A MULTISTATE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO …

Read full complaint

MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STAGED AT MY HOME IT'S STILL DRIVABLE BUT I DON'T KNOW GOR HOW LONG! I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALER IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION I CAUGHT THE ISSUE FAST AND TOOK IT TO A MULTISTATE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I ALREADY SPENT ON FIXING UP THIS CAR I AM EXTREMELY UPSET, I CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A INSANE AMOUNT EVERYTHING WITH THE CAR BESIDES THAT IS PERFECT THOUGH.

NHTSA ODI #11190213

48,800 miles · Jul 18, 2016
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE MILEAGE, AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK AT ALL. MILEAGE WHEN OCCURRED 48,800. EVERY SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW FAST I AM GOING, OR HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY CAR WITHOUT TRACKING THEM MYSELF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE VW'S AND AUDI'S …

Read full complaint

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE MILEAGE, AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK AT ALL. MILEAGE WHEN OCCURRED 48,800. EVERY SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW FAST I AM GOING, OR HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY CAR WITHOUT TRACKING THEM MYSELF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE VW'S AND AUDI'S WITH NO APPARENT SOLUTION. I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND STILL AM WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER.

NHTSA ODI #10885722

73,519 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, OVER 2 1/2 YEARS, WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO FREEWAY STEERING, BRAKES, POWER WENT OUT. IN FIRST INSTANCE, ACCELERATION OCCURRED. VIRTUALLY LOST CONTROL OF CAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE SYSTEM "KICKED IN" AGAIN. REPORTED TO DUBLIN VW (CA) 3 INCIDENTS. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. REFERRED TO VW OF AMERICA WHO …

Read full complaint

ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, OVER 2 1/2 YEARS, WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO FREEWAY STEERING, BRAKES, POWER WENT OUT. IN FIRST INSTANCE, ACCELERATION OCCURRED. VIRTUALLY LOST CONTROL OF CAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE SYSTEM "KICKED IN" AGAIN. REPORTED TO DUBLIN VW (CA) 3 INCIDENTS. UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. REFERRED TO VW OF AMERICA WHO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED - NOTHING WRONG. WHILE IN DEALERSHIP, SPOKE TO ANOTHER OWNER WHO EXPERIENCED SAME. OTHER OWNER WAS ALSO TOLD BY VW THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. SOLD CAR TO OAKLAND VW IN 2013. ADVISED THEM THAT DUBLIN VW HAD COMPLETE SERVICE RECORDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505417

60,000 miles · Jul 7, 2011
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

BOUGHT NEW IN 2004. STARTING AT 60K MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME-ON SAYING MISS FIRE ON #1 CYL WHEN ITS WET OUTSIDE; RAINING OR SNOW. SPARK PLUG AND WIRE REPLACED REGULARLY AND CHECKED WITHIN SPECS. THE ACCELERATION STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND FLAT SPOT IN THE ACCELERATION CAN BE DANGEROUS IN DRIVING CONDITIONS. 86…

Read full complaint

BOUGHT NEW IN 2004. STARTING AT 60K MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME-ON SAYING MISS FIRE ON #1 CYL WHEN ITS WET OUTSIDE; RAINING OR SNOW. SPARK PLUG AND WIRE REPLACED REGULARLY AND CHECKED WITHIN SPECS. THE ACCELERATION STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND FLAT SPOT IN THE ACCELERATION CAN BE DANGEROUS IN DRIVING CONDITIONS. 86K THE ORIGINAL VW COIL WAS REPLACED; #1 TERMINAL WAS CORRODED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410882

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,…

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

NHTSA ODI #10340339

21,517 miles · Jul 19, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MIL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21,517. THE CONSUMER LISTED NAMES OF POSSIBLE REPAIR SHOPS. UPDATED 08/07/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10196879

830 miles · Jun 14, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ACCELERATOR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10076176

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.