IllustrationVEHICLE STALLED WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT A CONSTANT SPEED. ALSO, SUN ROOF CLOSED HALF WAY. *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
What owners actually said
231 reportsPROBLEMS REGARDING 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *MR THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE SWERVING TO THE LEFT. PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE SWERVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOW WHINING SOUND, LUNGING BACKWARDS WHEN IN REVERSE AND FORWARD WHEN IN THE FORWARD POSITION WHICH WOULD OCCUR WHEN…
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PROBLEMS REGARDING 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *MR THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE SWERVING TO THE LEFT. PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE SWERVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOW WHINING SOUND, LUNGING BACKWARDS WHEN IN REVERSE AND FORWARD WHEN IN THE FORWARD POSITION WHICH WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND WHILE RELEASING THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE WHINING WAS DUE TO A BAD FUEL PUMP. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE LUNGING. THE WHINING AND THE LUNGING PROBLEM RETURNED. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD A THIRD FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OTHER JETTAS AND THE BEETLE, WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD WHAT TO DO WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FIRST STARTED THE PROBLEM WAS SOMEWHAT ALLEVIATED.*JB
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
GAS GAUGE FAILURE SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. *AK
WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ACCELERATOR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. IT INDICATED GAS TANK WAS FULL WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. CONSUMER RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND WAS REAR ENDED AT AN INTERSECTION.*AK
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD GLASS. GLASS IN 2004 JETTA WINSHIELD BATCH APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVELY ANNEALED AND TEMPERED CAUSING GLASS TO FRACTURE FROM TEMPERATURE CHANGES. MY WINSHIELD CRACKED WHEN SITTING IN HOT SUNLIGHTTHE AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON AND THE AC VENT DIRECTS COLD AIR TO THE HOT WINDSHIELD. VENT OR GLASS BAD.*AK
PARKED CAR ON RELATIVELY FLAT DRIVEWAY (MAYBE 3 DEGREE GRADE). DID NOT PUT CAR IN GEAR BUT DID ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER, CAR WAS SEEN ROLLING DOWN/ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY AND OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IT CAME TO REST AGAINST A TREE AND INCURRED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE BODY.
ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER FAILED RESULTING IN VERY HARD TO START OR NO START CONDITIONS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 2 WEEKS WAITING ON PARTS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 1600 MILES ON IT. WAS SUGGESTED TO BY THE DEALER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE WAITING FOR PARTS.*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.