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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

What owners actually said

231 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2006
Fuel System, Diesel

2004 JETTA DIESEL - FUEL PUMP/GASKET LEAKING -FALLS W/IN VIN RECALL #'S. FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. DEALER/MANUFACTURE STATES RECALL NOT FOR MY VIN#. HAS THE VERY PROBLEM THE RECALL FOR FUEL PUMP/GASKET LEAKING THERE FOR REPLACEMENT DESCRIBES. DEALER STATES NEED TO REPLACE PUMP/GASKET. RECALL STATES REPLACEMENT OF PUMP/GASKET. VW OF…

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2004 JETTA DIESEL - FUEL PUMP/GASKET LEAKING -FALLS W/IN VIN RECALL #'S. FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. DEALER/MANUFACTURE STATES RECALL NOT FOR MY VIN#. HAS THE VERY PROBLEM THE RECALL FOR FUEL PUMP/GASKET LEAKING THERE FOR REPLACEMENT DESCRIBES. DEALER STATES NEED TO REPLACE PUMP/GASKET. RECALL STATES REPLACEMENT OF PUMP/GASKET. VW OF AMERICA CAN NOT TELL ME THE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL, JUST THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN.

NHTSA ODI #10174666

138,000 miles · Nov 20, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR BEGAN MAKING LOUD POPPING NOISE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER THREE DAYS OF EVALUATION, THE DEALER HAD TO CONTACT VW TECHNICIAN FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VW TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE CAMSHAFT AS THEY HAVE BEEN NOTICING PROBLEMS IN THE FIELD IN VEHICLES WITH 80,000 - 150,000 MILES. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS …

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CAR BEGAN MAKING LOUD POPPING NOISE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER THREE DAYS OF EVALUATION, THE DEALER HAD TO CONTACT VW TECHNICIAN FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VW TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE CAMSHAFT AS THEY HAVE BEEN NOTICING PROBLEMS IN THE FIELD IN VEHICLES WITH 80,000 - 150,000 MILES. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE METAL BEING TOO THIN AND WEARING TOO QUICKLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173890

62,600 miles · Oct 18, 2006
Power Train

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. WAS RUNNING FINE AND I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE. DURING A ROUTINE STOP AT A STOP SIGN I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH, A LARGE CLUNKING NOISE OCCURRED AND THE CLUTCH PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. VEHICLE HAD 62,000 MILES ON IT, THUS MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED…

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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. WAS RUNNING FINE AND I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE. DURING A ROUTINE STOP AT A STOP SIGN I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH, A LARGE CLUNKING NOISE OCCURRED AND THE CLUTCH PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. VEHICLE HAD 62,000 MILES ON IT, THUS MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED. EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY (OBTAINED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW) COVERED TOWING AND INITIALLY INVESTIGATION UNTIL THEY DISCOVERED THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE CLUTCH -- A 'WEARABLE' ITEM. APPARENTLY THE CLUTCH PLATE HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE TRANSMISSION, UNSEEABLE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES WITH A VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER AND THEY NEVER INSPECTED THE CLUTCH, NOR IS DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH OR THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COVERED IN EITHER THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IF IT IS A 'WEARABLE' ITEM IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE STANDARD SERVICE PROGRAM (WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE FOR VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES) OR IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171244

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2006
Air BagsCrashFire

I WAS TRAVELING 0 MPH AND WAS HIT HEAD ON AT 60 MPH. I WAS DRIVING A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169819

34,140 miles · Sep 28, 2006
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT THEN MY RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND WOULD NOT START ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE WITHOUT GETTING HIT AND NOTIFIED POLICE. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, I THOUGHT I WAS SHOT AT. …

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT THEN MY RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND WOULD NOT START ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE WITHOUT GETTING HIT AND NOTIFIED POLICE. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, I THOUGHT I WAS SHOT AT. OTHER THAN A FLAT TIRE AND A SCRATCH ON MY RIM, THERE WAS NO UNDERCARRIAGE OR BODY DAMAGE. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER IN PLEASANTVILLE, NY THINKING IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SINCE IT IS A 2004 VW JETTA WITH APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES. THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEM. AFTER 2 1/2 WEEKS AT THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT VW WAS NOT AT FAULT AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY FOUND CRASH DATA WHICH OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO FIND SINCE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THE SENSORS INSTEAD. THE REGIONAL COORDINATOR OF VW AMERICA CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT SINCE NOBODY WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I GUESS WE SHOULD ALL HAVE CRASH TEST DUMMIES SITTING IN OUR PASSENGER SEAT SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO US. THE AMOUNT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $4,000 TO FIX. RIGHT NOW I HAVE IT AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED AND WILL SAVE THE PARTS. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FLAT AND I REALLY THINK I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY VW. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY NEED TO RECALL THE CARS. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET (VWVORTEX.COM), THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN MY SIMILAR SITUATION - SOME GETTING REIMBURSED AND OTHERS NOT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169544

32,000 miles · Sep 3, 2006
Power Train

MY 2004 JETTA HAD TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL, PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH REPLACED AT 32,000 MILES. VW WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS AS THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO STATED THAT I MUST BE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE FREEWAY WITH THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUA…

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MY 2004 JETTA HAD TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL, PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH REPLACED AT 32,000 MILES. VW WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS AS THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO STATED THAT I MUST BE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE FREEWAY WITH THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THE WAY VW STATES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH GO OUT ON ME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167283

30,000 miles · Aug 17, 2006
Air Bags

NO IMPACT, NO POT HOLES, NO SPEED BUMPS - DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD THE PASSENGER SIDE (ROOF & SEAT) AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE, DRIVER ONLY W/SEAT BELT - NO DRIVER SIDE OR FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VW DEALER FOUND NO DAMAGE; VW REGIONAL CLAIMS BLACK BOX SAYS "SIGNIFICANT IMPACT" THUS NO DEFECT, REPORT IT …

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NO IMPACT, NO POT HOLES, NO SPEED BUMPS - DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD THE PASSENGER SIDE (ROOF & SEAT) AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE, DRIVER ONLY W/SEAT BELT - NO DRIVER SIDE OR FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VW DEALER FOUND NO DAMAGE; VW REGIONAL CLAIMS BLACK BOX SAYS "SIGNIFICANT IMPACT" THUS NO DEFECT, REPORT IT TO INSURANCE CO. . INSURANCE CO FINDS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, DENIES CLAIM. VW SAYS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO PASSENGER NOT WEARING SEAT BELT (NO PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE); ALSO SAID NOT MANUFACTURED TO WITHSTAND POT HOLES OR SPEED BUMPS. INSURANCE CO SAYS AIRBAGS DEPLOY ONLY W/SEAT BELT FASTENED. EITHER WAY, THIS IS A DEFECT - AIR BAGS DEPLOYED W/NO ACCIDENT, NO PASSENGER; IF THERE WAS AN IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. NOBODY WILL PAY FOR THE DAMAGE THE AIRBAGS CREATED. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS - AIR BAGS DEPLOY IN VW JETTA'S WHILE DRIVING ON A ROADWAY, NO IMPACT, NO POT HOLES, NO SPEED BUMPS ... VW HAS A PROBLEM - THIS SHOULD BE A RE-CALL - MAKE THEM FIX IT! THANKS *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165707

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2006
Equipment

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO STARTING ONE YEAR AGO. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE CD WOULD NOT EJECT AND THE RADIO WOULD NOT PLAY EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE TUNED AND ADJUSTED. THE CD EJECTED TWO OF THE THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING FAST OVER A LARGE BUMP. THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE RADIO THREE TIMES BEFORE IT EJECTED…

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THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO STARTING ONE YEAR AGO. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE CD WOULD NOT EJECT AND THE RADIO WOULD NOT PLAY EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE TUNED AND ADJUSTED. THE CD EJECTED TWO OF THE THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING FAST OVER A LARGE BUMP. THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE RADIO THREE TIMES BEFORE IT EJECTED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION THE RADIO TURNED ON WITHOUT SOUND AND THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT TAKE THE CD. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES, THE STEREO ACCEPTED THE CD AND IT PLAYED. TODAY THE CD I PUT IN WAS BEING READ BUT NO SOUND WAS PRESENT. WHEN SWITCHING TO RADIO, WITH THE CD IN, NO SOUND WAS PRESENT FOR THE RADIO. ONLY AFTER THE CD WAS REMOVED AND THE STEREO WAS TURNED OFF THEN ON DID IT HAVE SOUND. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE STEREO THEY NEED TO SEE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I CAN'T JUST STOP IN WHEN IT IS OCCURRING BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE APPOINTMENTS. BY THE TIME I HAVE THE APPOINTMENT, THE STEREO IS WORKING AND IN THEIR EYES IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165583

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2006
Service Brakes, Electric

THERE IS A FAILURE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO BREAK EVEN THOUGH FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LOOSE SPEED AND I AM UNABLE TO MAKE THE CAR ACCELERATE UNTIL THE CAR IS PLACED IN A LOWER GEAR. VERY HAZARDOUS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND …

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THERE IS A FAILURE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO BREAK EVEN THOUGH FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LOOSE SPEED AND I AM UNABLE TO MAKE THE CAR ACCELERATE UNTIL THE CAR IS PLACED IN A LOWER GEAR. VERY HAZARDOUS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT WAITED TO MAKE NHTSA AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163426

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.