2004 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Jetta years
- About as many complaints as other years 15th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. That ranks 15th out of 32 Jetta model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (37 complaints, 16%), typically at around 60,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 20 fires, 15 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 231owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 37 | 16% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 36 | 16% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 35 | 15% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 22 | 10% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 9% | 43,180 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 13 | 6% | 73,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 11 | 5% | 116,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 4% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 10 | 4% | 69,086 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 4% | 66,395 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 4% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 3% | 14,575 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | 82,400 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 7 | 3% | 86,968 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 3% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 3% | 53,700 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 3% | 60,685 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 2% | 80,150 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 2% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 2% | 113,508 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% | 72,188 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 108,300 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 2,400 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 91,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, diesel
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the diesel pump. The recall began on february 8, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Unknown, very complex. Multiple issues. Have been addressed as well as parts been replaced however other issues arised that are definitely safety concerns between electrical issues engine motor etc
A4 VW BEW TDI BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE updated part# 1J0 612 041 FD VW part numbers 1J0 612 041 N and 1J0 612 041 FD. These hose are known for cracking at the plastic tube causing low vacuum; poor / inconsistant braking performance. This could lead to crashes, injuries, and loss of life. These…
My car is currently staged at my home it's still drivable but i don't know gor how long! I recently bought this car from a dealer in california about 3 months ago, now all of a sudden i'm having issues with my transmission i caught the issue fast and took it to a multistate transmission shop and…
Loose steering chance of loss of control due to incorrect tie rod end from kit specific to vehicle. Resulting in ruined tires and alignment. Https://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/volkswagen/jetta/replacement/control_arm_kit/2004/tdi/4_cyl_1-dot-9l/repv281502.html . The kit i believe has a tie rod…
Other Volkswagen Jetta years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 Jetta | 30 | 2 |
| 2024 Jetta | 45 | 0 |
| 2023 Jetta | 43 | 0 |
| 2022 Jetta | 43 | 1 |
| 2021 Jetta | 69 | 4 |
| 2020 Jetta | 54 | 6 |
| 2019 Jetta | 549 | 11 |
| 2018 Jetta | 31 | 2 |
| 2017 Jetta | 160 | 6 |
| 2016 Jetta | 161 | 4 |
| 2015 Jetta | 194 | 7 |
| 2014 Jetta | 387 | 4 |
| 2013 Jetta | 517 | 4 |
| 2012 Jetta | 500 | 5 |
| 2011 Jetta | 607 | 7 |
| 2010 Jetta | 852 | 4 |
| 2009 Jetta | 889 | 6 |
| 2008 Jetta | 188 | 4 |
| 2007 Jetta | 201 | 4 |
| 2006 Jetta | 580 | 4 |
| 2005 Jetta | 248 | 4 |
| 2004 | 231 | 2 |
| 2003 Jetta | 456 | 2 |
| 2002 Jetta | 702 | 5 |
| 2001 Jetta | 668 | 6 |
| 2000 Jetta | 439 | 4 |
| 1999 Jetta | 349 | 6 |
| 1998 Jetta | 192 | 2 |
| 1997 Jetta | 54 | 1 |
| 1996 Jetta | 31 | 1 |
| 1995 Jetta | 220 | 4 |
See all Volkswagen Jetta problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 37 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Jetta model years, the 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.