Major Problems with 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Derived from Complaints & Recalls
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Worst 3 complaints of 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
2003 Volkswagen Jetta
SIDE/WINDOW
Victims: 5
Mileage: 57000 miles
2003 Volkswagen Jetta
SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Victims: 2
Mileage: 28000 miles
2003 Volkswagen Jetta
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
Victims: 2
Mileage: 28000 miles
Browse 2003 Volkswagen Jetta complaints by category
Problems with SEAT HEATER/COOLER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SIDE/WINDOW are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Volkswagen Jetta owners.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
| SEAT HEATER/COOLER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS driver's side heated seat became extremely hot burning the leather and burning through the consumers pants slightly burning consumer's leg. |
69
~ 34325 miles |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM my wife's 2002 volkswagen jetta has a bad ignition coil. both volkswagen corporation and our local vw dealer speedcraft in... |
63
~ 93700 miles |
| SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS i was backing out of my parking spot and my driver side tire hit the curb. there was a scratch... |
45
~ 39850 miles |
| SEATS i was driving my 2003 vw jetta under normal road conditions. i stopped at a red light in an intersection... |
34
~ 95429 miles |
| AIR BAGS while driving the air bags deployed without any impact. *jb... |
22
~ 57476 miles |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the oil pump quit causing the oil pressure lamp to come on. the vehicle is still under warranty but since... |
21
~ 68488 miles |
| SWITCH > BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING my brake light swich has been replaced 3 times on my 2003 jetta tdi vw. failure of this switch causes... |
20
~ 92937 miles |
| ENGINE the car was parked for two days without being driven. while it was parked neighbors ran over to report it... |
15
~ 112780 miles |
| IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ignition coil packs are faulty on 2002 vw jetta's with 1.8t engines. there are four of these parts on each... |
14
~ 27573 miles |
| POWER TRAIN my 2003 vw jetta constantly gets stuck in park longest time has been 45 minutes my car has been into... |
13
~ 82611 miles |
| AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN while applying the vehicle in gear the reverse gear will stick and will not go back into the park intermittently. |
13
~ 36970 miles |
| FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving at 45 mph the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and none of the front air bags |
12
~ 16772 miles |
| CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN complete and sudden failure of clutch resulting in total loss of power in rush hour traffic.*ak... |
12
~ 27917 miles |
| POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY i got my 2003 vw jetta in february of '03. now not even a year and a half later i... |
10
~ 33648 miles |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER vehicle experienced hesitation keyless key battery does not work epc light illuminated due to lost of power jack fell while... |
9
~ 72166 miles |
| MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN my vehicle often will not shift into reverse. i have a manual transmission and it will shift into the other |
8
~ 13280 miles |
| ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while braking 55 mph vehicle jerked causing extended stopping distance. dealership was notified but did not resolve the problem. *ak... |
6
~ 13909 miles |
| ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my 2003 jetta tdi was parked in front of my apartment building for approximately 40 minutes. when i went back... |
6
~ 35296 miles |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving in heavy ma traffic the front breaks of my 2003 jetta tdi locked up. i had to pull... |
6
~ 33983 miles |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM car stalls at highway speeds when at quarter tank or less. parts replaced still occurs. there is no known fix... |
5
~ 149173 miles |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES intermittent malfunction of rear door locks. can't open. reporter to dealer while under warranty. dealer could not remedy. after warranty... |
5
~ 76800 miles |
| COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING problems with air conditioner on 2003 volkswagen jetta. *mr the air intake duct leaked which caused white smoke to emit... |
5
~ 52610 miles |
| STRUCTURE rattles throughout the interior such as the speakers dash board and area where the emergency flashers and center air vents... |
5
~ 13800 miles |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING i have owned a volkswagen jetta (turbo - 2003) and have had one horrible problem after another. without fail i... |
5
~ 91837 miles |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL when activating cruise control vehicle will stay on cruise control and not turn off. contacted dealer. *ak *yh... |
4
~ 49506 miles |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i started experiencing a hot spot in the driver's heated seat in the fall of 2012. i have to put... |
3
~ 57583 miles |
| SUSPENSION i have had 27 things break or fail on my 03vw jetta 1.8t. i bought the car used in 01/06... |
3
~ 117000 miles |
| GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY 2003 vw jetta. brake light switch is broken causing the vehicle to be undriveable. also the driver side windows keeps |
3
~ 56202 miles |
| INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had problems crossing the united states border from canada due to a required certificate... |
3
~ 73033 miles |
| RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT out of no where my radio on my 2003 volkswagen jetta wagon stopped working. all i got was static on... |
3
~ 70733 miles |
| FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM my situation is very similar to odi id number : 10136903. i have a 2003 jetta. i was driving about... |
3
~ 80000 miles |
| SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY on feb. 14 2006 i was driving 65 mph on freeway experienced loud explosion-type noise - after coming to reality... |
3
~ 100333 miles |
| INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM all dashboard lights illuminated and then the car died within sixty seconds. we were able to re-start the car after... |
3
~ 32331 miles |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL check engine light illuminated and there was no power to the vehicle. at highway speeds there was a severe vibration... |
3
~ 29667 miles |
| SIDEWALL > TIRES i have a 2003 volkswagen jetta gls 1.8t sport equipped with goodyear rsa tires size 245/45 r17 h91. the tires... |
3
|
| MODULE > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle quits running after being driven on the highway for a period of time when coming to a complete stop |
3
~ 28028 miles |
| TURBO/SUPERCHARGER > GASOLINE > ENGINE vehicle being driven on a highway and motor "blew up". towed to dealership and told that it was faulty turbo... |
3
~ 72100 miles |
| RIM > WHEELS consumer states that when jacking up vehicle the alloy rims would get stuck to the rotor causing the consumer to |
3
~ 25000 miles |
| CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL june 24th while i was driving my four month old 2003 jetta tdi on the the highway at a 70mph... |
3
~ 3333 miles |
| VISIBILITY there is significant distortion through the windshield. *tr... |
3
~ 100333 miles |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING i own a 2003 vw jetta. i bought it on 09/02. since then i have had a variety of problems.... |
3
~ 45333 miles |
| CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM numerous times that the engine light has come on my 2003 jetta. first visit was 9/12/02. the others were: 2/21/03... |
3
~ 77800 miles |
| SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph the brake pedal... |
2
~ 103000 miles |
| BODY > STRUCTURE the clamps on the front driver's side window of my 2003 vw jetta detached leaving the window stuck closed. *tr... |
2
~ 49767 miles |
| COIL SPRINGS > SPRINGS > FRONT while pulling to a stop at the end of my street i heard a loud bang. after getting out and... |
2
~ 48022 miles |
| ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dt: the consumer was driving on the highway when the abs light and the air bag light came on. she... |
2
~ 47500 miles |
| FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING a/c fan siezed causing enough heat to start a fire. the shroud upper radiator modlings a/c hose hood insulation and |
2
~ 53000 miles |
| SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS i was driving my 2003 vw jetta under normal road conditions. i stopped at a red light in an intersection... |
2
~ 41826 miles |
| DIESEL > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING check engine light illuminated and there was no power to the vehicle. at highway speeds there was a severe vibration... |
2
~ 42000 miles |
| AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT problems with air conditioner on 2003 volkswagen jetta. *mr the air intake duct leaked which caused white smoke to emit... |
2
~ 28000 miles |
| PARKING BRAKE the consumer parked the vehicle on a 2 point grade set the parking brake and proceeded into his house. approximately... |
2
~ 15000 miles |
| ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT > MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT while using the lifting jack supplied with the automobile to lift the vehicle to change a tire the jack collapsed.... |
2
~ 10100 miles |
| 12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM my brake light swich has been replaced 3 times on my 2003 jetta tdi vw. failure of this switch causes... |
2
~ 81500 miles |
| REAR WINDOW > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY problems with rear window defogger and transmission.*mr rear defogger didn't turn off. consumer feared it would cause an electrical hazard.... |
2
~ 10022 miles |
| CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN on december 14th of 2002 i purchased a 2003 vw jetta from smith vw on kirkwood highway delaware. although they... |
2
~ 24034 miles |
| ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT i bought my car at the end of november. drove it off the lot with 9 miles on the... |
2
~ 49550 miles |
| ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS okay i have had my 03 jetta for one month and two days (i received it on june 29th). it... |
2
~ 1100 miles |
| EQUIPMENT i have owned a volkswagen jetta (turbo - 2003) and have had one horrible problem after another. without fail i... |
2
~ 90000 miles |
| DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE vehicle description - 2003 volkswagen jetta gli. vr6 with 6 speed manual transmission. vin 3 v w v h 6... |
2
~ 15020 miles |
| HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS > DOOR > BODY consumer stated driver's side door panel had a release button that released the gas flap door. this button kept falling |
2
~ 15000 miles |
| STEERING the jetta is defective in the car will start but needs to be engaged in ignition and the sit for... |
1
~ 150489 miles |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL the jetta is defective in the car will start but needs to be engaged in ignition and the sit for... |
1
~ 150489 miles |
| WHEELS i have had 27 things break or fail on my 03vw jetta 1.8t. i bought the car used in 01/06... |
1
~ 84000 miles |
| LOCK > TRUNK LID > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new jetta. while driving in windy conditions the hinge on the trunk fractured and... |
1
~ 70000 miles |
| FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. while driving 65 mph the vehicle shut off. the contact was able to... |
1
~ 46000 miles |
| EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING purchased a used 03 vw tdi on 04/05 had the warranty transferred and registered to me at vw. brief random... |
1
~ 47715 miles |
| HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING the front headlight lenses have oxidized/deteriorated and has diffused the light to the point it is unsafe to drive at... |
1
|
| RETRACTOR > FRONT > SEAT BELTS tl*- the contact owns a 2003 jetta jls. while driving at 60 mph the contact's vehicle was cut off by... |
1
~ 35000 miles |
| STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE our jetta was rear-ended at a red light and the gas tank exploded causing the car to become a fireball. |
1
~ 25000 miles |
| FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE while driving a 2003 volkswagen jetta with approx 66 000 miles the motor mount bolts broke off and the engine... |
1
~ 66000 miles |
| WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION bought a volkswagen jetta gls in 2003. several things have had to be replaced. for example the glove box cover... |
1
~ 74000 miles |
| CONTROL UNIT/MODULE > ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC my situation is very similar to odi id number : 10136903. i have a 2003 jetta. i was driving about... |
1
~ 65000 miles |
| WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i have a 2003 volkswagen jetta tdi gls. i should note that this vehicle has been faithfully serviced by the... |
1
~ 108841 miles |
| FLOOR SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION dt*: the contact stated the vehicle would not come out of park when started. the dealership replaced the brake light |
1
~ 43000 miles |
| MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC to whom it may concern: my name is [xxx]. i own a 2003 volkswagen jetta tdi that i purchased new... |
1
~ 56773 miles |
| FRONT > SEAT BELTS i was driving my 2003 vw jetta under normal road conditions. i stopped at a red light in an intersection... |
1
~ 30150 miles |
| GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM car stared putting out alot of blue smoke from tail pipe on start up and gas milage was dropping 5-6... |
1
~ 47300 miles |
| TREAD/BELT > TIRES my tire went flat while driving when i realized what had had happened and found a safe place to pull... |
1
|
| COLUMN SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION dt*: the contact stated while driving at 35 mph on normal road condition problems were notice with the traction button... |
1
~ 33969 miles |
| FRONT UNDERHOOD > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while i was driving on the freeway suddenly a fire started for no reason from under the passenger glove compartment... |
1
~ 20000 miles |
| TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE while driving consumer smelled gasoline odor coming from the vents. gasoline was leaking from underneath the vehicle. consumer drove vehicle... |
1
|
| TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL vehicle had sending unit replaced with a different design unit to address cold weather operating condition. mfg r has tsb |
1
~ 14200 miles |
| AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN dear sir/madam i bought volkswagen jetta 2003 wolfsburg edition on 08/30/03 at around 3.30 pm from classic volkswagen dealer whose... |
1
~ 686 miles |
| DRIVESHAFT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN while proceeding to enter the highway the driver heard a loud bang. the vehicle started to lose power. took vehicle... |
1
~ 1900 miles |
| HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > HYDRAULIC > POWER ASSIST i recently bought a brand new 2003 vw jetta tdi at the end of november. on the day of the... |
1
~ 10900 miles |
| COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY > MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN on four separate occasions my car's manual transmission shifted out of gear . the first incident occurred july 7 2003... |
1
~ 1700 miles |
| HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > VACUUM > POWER ASSIST june 24th while i was driving my four month old 2003 jetta tdi on the the highway at a 70mph... |
1
~ 10000 miles |
| GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10 000 miles mil (malfunction indicator lamp) came on solid. after i was told that if the light was solid... |
1
~ 10198 miles |
| BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING i own a 2003 vw jetta. i bought it on 09/02. since then i have had a variety of problems.... |
1
|
| FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER gas gauge inaccurate despite multiple attempted corrections (fuel sending unit x2 instrument cluster gas tank all replaced with no improvement). |
1
~ 5000 miles |
| CONTROL MODULE > ANTI-THEFT > IGNITION failure of door wiring harness. does not allow me to drive the car - the engin will not engage due... |
1
~ 65000 miles |
| ANTI-THEFT DEVICES > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT failure of door wiring harness. does not allow me to drive the car - the engin will not engage due... |
1
~ 65000 miles |
| HUB > WHEELS i have owned a volkswagen jetta (turbo - 2003) and have had one horrible problem after another. without fail i... |
1
~ 5000 miles |
| LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES vehicle description - 2003 volkswagen jetta gli. vr6 with 6 speed manual transmission. vin 3 v w v h 6... |
1
~ 40 miles |
| TIRES vehicle experienced hesitation keyless key battery does not work epc light illuminated due to lost of power jack fell while... |
1
~ 8067 miles |
| SWITCH/WIRING > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY while driving under rainy conditions consumer states the vehicle wipers may stop for 15 seconds then they'll start back up... |
1
|
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