2003 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Complaints

Airbag delopy

NHTSA ID

11764944

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

Since New we noticed transmission malfunctioning, transmission would jerk on the upshifts and downshifting also, then it would take longer than normal to go into gears Im the original owner, I parked it for 11 years waiting for a recall letter, I heard the beatle had gotten a recall on this failure,, the Jetta had the same motor and transmission the triptronic, I should get one also it only has 89164 miles, I’m waiting for a letter please respond thank you.

NHTSA ID

11518564

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

My jetta stalls without warning when the gas gauge is at a quarter of a tank or less. No engine check light or any other any other device comes on to warn me it is going to stall. My speed does not matter. It happens at freeway speeds or around town. It does not occur if the gas gauge shows more than 1/4 of a tank of fuel. I do not know if it is an electrical problem, a fuel propulsion problem or an engine problem. From reading volkswagon forums, this is a very common problem with volkswagons of different years, including the new Tiguans. I'm sure there have been many fatalities as a result of this defect. I am surprised volkswagon has not been forced to repair this dangerous, life threatening problem before now! Maybe, a class action law suit involving products liability, merchantability, and fitness for a particular use would benefit not only owners, but the general public at large. I believe it is your duty to protect the general public from manufactures who place dangerous, defective products in the stream of commerce. Your action is required, and demanded. The first time ocurred right after I purchased the car in 2019. It has stalled many times since then, before I realized I needed to keep the fuel tank at least 1/2 full at all times. Keeping it 1/2 full at all times greatly deminishes the range of travel before I have to refill. It is inconvenient and expensive since fuel has to be purchased at places other the most economical place I usually purchase my gasoline. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11450712

Incident

Jul 28, 2019

RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS BLOCKED INSIDE DOOR

NHTSA ID

11376725

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

NO TRANSMISSION FILTER .SO THERE IT IS MR VAR NO EONT GO IN ANY GEAR.I WENT TO CHONGE FILTER AND AFTER DAYS OF RESEARCH FOUND OUT THEY CAME W NO FILHER AND THAT MY FRIEND. CAN NOT BE JUSTIFIED. EVERY ONE HAS THESE PROBLEMS WHK OWNS ONE

NHTSA ID

11352036

Incident

Jun 6, 2002

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DICK HANNAH DEALERSHIPS 10808 NE COXLEY DR, VANCOUVER, WA 98662 (360) 605-1726 WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V063000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11308305

Incident

Jan 21, 2020

Mileage

170,000 mi

I CLOSED MY TRUNK ONE DAY AND NOW IT WILL NOT OPEN WITH FOB OR INSIDE DOOR LATCH OR THE KEY.

NHTSA ID

11289380

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

193,958 mi

THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR WHILE IDLING WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE IS AROUND OR UNDER 1/4 OF A TANK. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS AND PEOPLE ARE DUMPING A LOT OF MONEY ONTO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND THERE IS NO ANSWER. STALLING ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT A MEDIAN OR PULL-OFF IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT BUT DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11161955

Incident

Dec 15, 2018

Mileage

166,000 mi

DRIVING HELLO ALL STATE ROUTE AFTER DARK AT 55 MI./H THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND THEN CAME BACK ON IN A SHORT MATTER OF SECONDS. HAD THE ROAD NOT BEEN STRAIGHT AT THAT SECTION I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY COLLIDED WITH TREES OR GUARDRAILS. THE 1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 2012-08-01. I HAD THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN EXPERT GARAGE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS STOCK. THE NEXT TIME THAT OCCURRED WAS JULY 2018. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD I HAVE NOT SOUGHT ANY REPAIRS YET.

NHTSA ID

11123561

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER TO THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,072.

NHTSA ID

11099851

Incident

Mar 20, 2018

Mileage

184,072 mi

WHEN THE SEAT HEATER IS TURNED ON, THE SEAT CATCHES ON FIRE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE THAT IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE SEAT, THE HOLES WERE CAUSED BY THE SEAT HEATER.

NHTSA ID

11058251

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT WHILE IN USE. IT NO LONGER REGULATES. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING. SMELLED LIKE A FIRE!

NHTSA ID

11019166

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY CAR GOT HACKED MY CHARLIE MILLER AND CHRIS VALASEK WAS SEEN OVER AT MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE ON 4/29/2017 AND MY EX BOSS CHRIS STUTZ JR IS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE BREAK IN OF MY HOUSE AND CARS EDWARDSVILLE POLICE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE FRIEND OF THEM I HOPE I DON'T GET KILLED OVER THESE HACKS BUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

NHTSA ID

11014091

Incident

Aug 3, 2017

Mileage

220,185 mi

THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY MELTED DUE TO OVERHEATING FROM THE ALTERNATOR CABLE. NO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL LOAD HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE BATTERY. JUST NORMAL USE OF THE CAR CAUSES THIS TO MELT.

NHTSA ID

11010108

Incident

Jun 28, 2017

Mileage

151,000 mi

WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE HEATED SEAT OPTION TURNED TO A 5 (HIGH), WHILE THE CAR WAS WARMING UP, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT STARTED TO BURN THROUGH THE CLOTH COVER DIRECTLY WHERE MY METAL JACKET ZIPPER WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CLOTH SEAT SURFACE. I IMMEDIATELY POURED WATER ON THE SEAT TO ENSURE A FIRE DIDN'T START. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SEAT HEATERS SINCE THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11002776

Incident

Jan 15, 2017

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTS ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR WAS ALSO BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE AMB AUTO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO FAILED AND THE TURBO AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

11001512

Incident

May 30, 2017

Mileage

212,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER IGNITED BURNING THROUGH SEAT TRIM AND BURNING DRIVER WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED IN A SEAT THAT THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD REPLACED UNDER THE INITIAL RECALL (HOWEVER DATE ON SEAT IS 11/25/2002 BEFORE CAR WAS DELIVERED IN 4/2003 - SO DEALER NEVER ACTUALLY REPLACED IT . SEAT RETAINED AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

10993189

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

THIS IS IN REGARD TO TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77,000 MILES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY PAID OFF AND 17K MILES AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WHILE I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND GIVE A BIG JOLT WHEN GOING INTO 3RD AND 4TH WHILE STILL COLD, ONLY AFTER ENGINE WOULD HEAT UP WITHOUT ANY STOPS WOULD IT PERFORM SUB PAR. PREVIOUS TO THIS I HAD HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. DEALER QUOTED $5600 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION AND INDEPENDENT SHOP $2500. I WAS INFORMED I HAD A WORN CLUTCH AND IN 2008 I REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTINUED HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE ON APRIL 12 OF 2012 I SENT IT THE JUNKYARD. I WILL FOLLOW UP AND SEND MORE HARD COPIES DOCUMENTS TO NHTSA AS I HAVE MY ENTIRE SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2003 - 2012 TO SUBMIT. THERE ARE 100'S OF OTHER AMERICAN CAR OWNERS WITH TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUES AND ITS APPARENT THAT IT IS FAULTY MANUFACTURING.I'M ATTACHING SEVERAL PDF DOCUMENTS WITH ARTICLES AND OTHER SIMILAR COSTUMER COMPLAINTS. I HAVE ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS AND WILL SUBMIT HARD COPIES SEPARATELY HOWEVER WANTED TO GET THE COMPLAINT STARTED HERE. THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE WAS NEVER INCLUDED BUT ITS OBVIOUS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING LONGER THEN PREVIOUS RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944086

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

Mileage

77,000 mi

IAM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY JETTA IN THE GARAGE. I MOVED 3 AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND MY CAR IS NO LONGER GARAGED. MY HEADLINE IS STARTING TO DETACH FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND THE LEATHER THROUGHOUT MY CAR IS CRACKING. I NOTICED THERE WAS A CLASSSS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE SUNROOF DRAIN GETTING CLOGGED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WHO CAN I CONTACT TO SEE IF I QUALIFY FOR THIS ACTION. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL I DID TAKE MY JETTA TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE, IS THIS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS GARAGED AND NOW ITS OUTSIDE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMETS, WHICH HAS CAUSED THIS DAMAGE? THANK YOU,

NHTSA ID

10938362

Incident

Mar 17, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WAS SMELL ENTERED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CABIN FILTER WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10899719

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

30,000 mi

TRANSMISSION STRAINED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WATER PUMP WENT OUT CAUSE CAR TO RUN HOT.. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT BLOWER HEAD GASKET.... AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF

NHTSA ID

10888440

Incident

Feb 17, 2016

Mileage

110,678 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" BURNED FUSE BOX CAUSED ALTERNATOR TO GO BAD.

NHTSA ID

10887559

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

260,000 mi

THE RIGHT AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BEGAN TO GET EXCESSIVELY WARM SO I DISCONTINUED USE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT AT USE RESULTED IN THE HEATING COIL BURNING THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY. PICTURES ATTACHED. I HAVE DISCONTINUED USE AND LEARNED THERE IS AN EXPIRED RECALL FOR THIS AS A KNOW ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10884773

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

HAVING WORKED IN VW DEALERSHIPS MY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING AT ONLY 130,000 MILES ON IT WHICH HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND COMPLAINT BY MANY. WHEN IT ACTS UP IT WON'T UPSHIFT OR WILL DROP DOWN INTO LOW GEAR AND ONE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT BEING REAR ENDED WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS.

NHTSA ID

10860401

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

132,306 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE ENGINE IS COLD, BELOW 190F, IT WILL NOT ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR, ALL OTHER GEARS WILL OPERATE. AFTER THE ENGINE REACHES 190F, THE REVERSE GEAR WILL ENGAGE. THIS CAR HAS A SEALED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SO NO OWNER MAINTENANCE IS POSSIBLE AND FLUID LEVELS CAN NOT BE VERIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10851306

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi