Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Owners filed 233 complaints about the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA between Mar 2004 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (37).

Complaints
233
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
20
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling37
  2. Electrical system36
  3. Power train35
  4. Seats22
  5. Air bags21
  6. Fuel system, diesel13
  7. Engine11
  8. Fuel/propulsion system10
  9. Fuel system, gasoline10
  10. Visibility10
  11. Exterior lighting9
  12. Equipment9
  13. Structure8
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200418
200529
200626
200728
200820
200914
201017
201114
201211
20137
201412
20157
201611
20175
20187
20192
20202
20210
20220
20230
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

37 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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 MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS. ON MY DRIVE TO WORK THE SMELL IS SO POTENT THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO UST THE A/C AS IT HAS THE SMELL STUCK IN IT AND WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE UP THE SMELL IS VERY BAD. IF YOU EVEN SIT IN THE CAR FOR A MINUTE WHEN YOU EXIT YOUR CLOTHES AND HAIR AND SKIN SMELL LIKE CRAYONS. WHEN THE CAR GETS HOT FROM SITTING IN THE SUN THE SMELL IS VERY VERY STRONG. WHEN OTHER PASSENGERS ENTER MY CAR, THEY EXPERIENCE HEAD ACHES, EXTREME ALLERGY SYMPTOMS, AND SICK TO THE STOMACH FEELINGS. I'VE REACHED OUT TO VOLKSWAGEN THROUGH BOTH DEALER AND THE VW OF AMERICA WEBSITE. 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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10608275

Electrical system

36 reports6 fires
“The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed while it was raining, the windshield wipers were activated; however, the wipers failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the wipers failed to operate. In addition, the contact stated the brake lights failed to function as intended. The contact was informed that the brake lights failed to activate while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the front driver's side window was closed; however, the driver's front side window was independently lowered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an electrical system failure. The contact stated that the battery, the alternator, the fuses, and the windshield wiper motor were all replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure became a persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2025Electrical systemODI 11684740

Power train

35 reports
“VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SOMEWHAT FREQUENT ROUGH OR HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS, AND REVERSE GEAR HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING MOST OF THE TIME - WILL NOT ENGAGE REVERSE, BUT INSTEAD ACTS AS IF CAR IS IN NEUTRAL (MAKES A SLIGHT ELECTRONIC SOUND WHEN SHIFTED). RENDERS CAR HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DRIVE IN REVERSE. CAR HAS ONLY 83,000 MILES, AND THIS IS CONSIDERED A "SEALED" TRANSMISSION BY VOLKSWAGEN; ONLY MAINTENANCE REQUIRED TO THIS POINT IS CHECKING FOR LEAKS (PER MULTIPLE DEALERS AND OWNER'S MANUAL). VERY SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED IN MANY OTHER AUTOMATICS W/ THE TIPTRONIC FEATURE IN VOLKSWAGEN (SEE NEW BEETLES OF SIMILAR MODEL YEARS, WHERE VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE VALVE BODY). HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS VW-COMPETENT TECHS THAT THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT IS THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, AND THAT VW AUTOMATICS ARE WIDELY KNOWN FOR HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2012Power trainODI 10444540

Seats

22 reports12 fires
“I TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER AND IT CAUGHT FIRE BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNING ME. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IN THE CITY. I PORED WATER ALL OVER ME AND THE SEAT AND TURNED THE HEATER OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2018SeatsFire reportedODI 11081853

Air bags

21 reports9 crashes1 fire
“OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS IT HAS BEEN RAINING HEAVILY & ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE THIS TIME IS WHAT WORSE. MY CAR IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE & ITS COMING ON THE INSIDE. MY CARPETS ARE CONSTANTLY WET, MY AIRBAGS ALONGSIDE WINDSHIELD LEAK, AND THE HANDLE WHERE YOU OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR IS LITERALLY A STREAM OF WATER ENTERING THE CAR DURING HEAVY RAINFALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE. I WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SO I WENT AND GOT IT CHECKED. THE CODE CAME UP AS U0155 - WHICH REFERS TO (LOST COMMUNICATION WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) CONTROL MODULE) MEANING MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THIS LEAKING ! I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING (NEVER FOR THIS PROBLEM) AND THEY NEVER ONCE TOLD ME ANYTHING ABOUT CLEANING THE SUNROOF DRAINS EVERY TWO YEARS AS MAINTENANCE, IT IS VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE THAT MY SUNROOF IS MESSED UP BECAUSE WHEN I PURCHASED IT THE LINING ON THE CAR AROUND THE SUNROOF IS DROOPING AND I CANNOT OPEN THE SUNROOF BECAUSE OF THIS. I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE I DON'T USE A SUNROOF BUT HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2016Electrical system, Air bags, Visibility/wiperODI 10836971

Fuel system, diesel

13 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TANDEM PUMP BECAME INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 10/9/15 *LN THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL. HOWEVER, HIS PRODUCTION YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2015Fuel system, dieselODI 10759094
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.