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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
70,000 miles · Jun 3, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING RUNNING THERE WAS FOAM COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS, HITTING THE FACE AND EYES AND CAUSING A NEAR MISS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE WORSENED AND FOAM GETS ALL OVER YOUR CLOTHES AND IN YOUR CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GONE SO FAR THAT THE AIR BLEND IS AFFECTED. THE AIRFLOW COMES FROM AL…

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WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING RUNNING THERE WAS FOAM COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS, HITTING THE FACE AND EYES AND CAUSING A NEAR MISS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE WORSENED AND FOAM GETS ALL OVER YOUR CLOTHES AND IN YOUR CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GONE SO FAR THAT THE AIR BLEND IS AFFECTED. THE AIRFLOW COMES FROM ALL VENTS REGARDLESS OF WHAT SECTION YOU HAVE SELECTED. CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS NO DANGER AND NO REASON FOR A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595832

146,180 miles · Apr 21, 2014
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT LATCH BROKEN. TRIED TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT AND A PART IN SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM BROKE OFF INSIDE. SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584097

119,000 miles · Apr 21, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

VW CORP REJECTED CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT THE FLEX PIPE WAS LEAKING/LOUD AND WAS OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY (VW EXTENDED THE PART WARRANTY TO 10YRS OR 120K MILES) OUR CAR HAD 120,110 MILES. THERE WAS NO LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ID REPAIRS NEAR WHERE I WAS WORKING. THE PART DID FAILED BEFORE THE 120K M…

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VW CORP REJECTED CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT THE FLEX PIPE WAS LEAKING/LOUD AND WAS OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY (VW EXTENDED THE PART WARRANTY TO 10YRS OR 120K MILES) OUR CAR HAD 120,110 MILES. THERE WAS NO LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ID REPAIRS NEAR WHERE I WAS WORKING. THE PART DID FAILED BEFORE THE 120K MILES; AND HAS BEEN LEAKING OR DAMAGED FOR SOMETIME. SINCE IT WARMED UP AND I HAD THE WINDOWS DOWN I WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE LEAK. THIS PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY PREVIOUSLY AND WAS A RECALL ITEM ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IS THERE A "RANGE" ON MILEAGE THAT THE VW IS REQUIRED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR TRAVEL TO NEAREST VW DEALER LOCATION FOR REPAIRS OR WRITTEN WITHIN THE CURRENT EMISSIONS WARRANTY LAW?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583941

70,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

I DRIVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND IN 2008 IT BEGAN SMELLING OF CRAYONS. THE SMELL HAS SLOWLY PROGRESSED OVER THE YEARS TO THE POINT OF NAUSEATING ME AND MY FELLOW PASSENGERS. THIS MORNING ON MY DRIVE TO WORK THE SMELL WAS SO POTENT THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER TWICE TO THROW UP. WHEN OTHER PASSENGERS ENTER MY CAR, THEY EXPERIENCE H…

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I DRIVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND IN 2008 IT BEGAN SMELLING OF CRAYONS. THE SMELL HAS SLOWLY PROGRESSED OVER THE YEARS TO THE POINT OF NAUSEATING ME AND MY FELLOW PASSENGERS. THIS MORNING ON MY DRIVE TO WORK THE SMELL WAS SO POTENT THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER TWICE TO THROW UP. WHEN OTHER PASSENGERS ENTER MY CAR, THEY EXPERIENCE HEAD ACHES, EXTREME ALLERGY SYMPTOMS, AND SICK TO THE STOMACH FEELINGS. I'VE REACHED OUT MULTIPLE TIMES TO VOLKSWAGEN THROUGH BOTH DEALER AND CORPORATE MEDIA. DEALERSHIPS SAY THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS SMELL (CAUSED BY AN OUTGASSING OF SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL). VOLKSWAGEN DENIES CLAIMS OF THIS BEING AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IF YOU TYPE "MY JETTA SMELLS LIKE" INTO ANY SEARCH ENGINE IT IMMEDIATELY POPULATES WITH "CRAYONS". I AM FRUSTRATED THAT MY CAR PHYSICALLY MAKES ME SICK AND THE MANUFACTURER REMAINS PURPOSEFULLY OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT COULD ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A DESIGN FLAW. I'M POSTING THIS CLAIM AS A PUBLIC RECORD TO A DESIGN FLAW IN OLDER MODELS OF VWS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577893

130,000 miles · Feb 16, 2014
SeatsFire

THE CAR RAN INTO A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE ENGINE STALL. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR THE CAR IT STARTED WITH SEVERE HESITATION IN ENGINE. TRIED STEPPING ON GAS TO KEEP ENGINE GOING THE EXHAUST GOT REAL LOUD AND THE SMOKE STARTED FILLING UP THE CABIN. STEPPED OUT OF CAR TO FIND THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES C…

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THE CAR RAN INTO A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE ENGINE STALL. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR THE CAR IT STARTED WITH SEVERE HESITATION IN ENGINE. TRIED STEPPING ON GAS TO KEEP ENGINE GOING THE EXHAUST GOT REAL LOUD AND THE SMOKE STARTED FILLING UP THE CABIN. STEPPED OUT OF CAR TO FIND THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES CAN BE SEEN ON UNDER SIDE OF THE CAR, IN THE MIDDLE SECTION RIGHT UNDER THE ARMREST AREA BETWEEN THE TWO SEATS. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE UNHARMED. I THINK THATS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWED THE HEAT FROM EXHAUST TO PENETRATE INSIDE THE CABIN WHERE IT REACHED THE FLOOR CARPER THAT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564592

121,000 miles · Feb 14, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564347

199,000 miles · Feb 7, 2014
Seats

SETTING: -4F, 5:45AM DRIVING TO WORK, SEAT HEATER ON. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD NOTICED A PARTICULARLY HAT SPOT ON MY LOWER RIGHT BACK WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS SET TO 5, ON THE 1-5 DIAL. I TURNED DOWN MY SEAT HEATER DURING THE DRIVE TO 1, WHEN I GOT TO WORK IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEANED FORWARD I GOT THE INTENSE SMELL OF BUR…

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SETTING: -4F, 5:45AM DRIVING TO WORK, SEAT HEATER ON. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD NOTICED A PARTICULARLY HAT SPOT ON MY LOWER RIGHT BACK WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS SET TO 5, ON THE 1-5 DIAL. I TURNED DOWN MY SEAT HEATER DURING THE DRIVE TO 1, WHEN I GOT TO WORK IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEANED FORWARD I GOT THE INTENSE SMELL OF BURNING. I TURNED AROUND TO FIND A 5-6 INCH LONG SECTION ON THE LOWER RIGHT THAN SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD BURNED AND CHARRED. IT HAD BEEN GETTING PARTICULARLY HOW RECENTLY IN THAT LOCATION, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I NOTICED THE BURNING OF THE SEAT CUSHION. DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563332

110,000 miles · Dec 1, 2013
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED MY BATTERY FUSE BOX AND MELTED IT. THE VEHICLE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON SO I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND INSPECTED THE BATTERY, NOTICING THE DAMAGE (MELTED PLASTIC, SMOKE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554293

100,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

A LITTLE UNDER 3 YEARS AGO (OCT. 2010) I STARTED NOTICING A FAINT GAS SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR. OVER A 2 WEEK PERIOD THE SMELL GRADUALLY GOT STRONGER AND MY MPG SLOWLY DECREASED. AFTER TAKING MY CAR INTO A SHOP IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK NEAR THE FUEL PUMP GASKET AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW 2 WEEKS A…

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A LITTLE UNDER 3 YEARS AGO (OCT. 2010) I STARTED NOTICING A FAINT GAS SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR. OVER A 2 WEEK PERIOD THE SMELL GRADUALLY GOT STRONGER AND MY MPG SLOWLY DECREASED. AFTER TAKING MY CAR INTO A SHOP IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK NEAR THE FUEL PUMP GASKET AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW 2 WEEKS AGO (MAY 2013) THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS STARTED UP AGAIN AND AFTER TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME THE EXACT SAME THING. THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK NEAR THE GASKET ON MY FUEL PUMP AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW TO CAUSE ME TO REPLACE 2 FUEL PUMPS IN A 3 YEAR SPAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522615

145,000 miles · Jun 3, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, HE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V586000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, HE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V586000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,177.

NHTSA ODI #10514861

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.