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2004 Volkswagen Jetta Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the engine (21% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is 14th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2004 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Engine
48 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine, cooling system.
Vwoa had a recall campaign for the EGR cooler system on 2004 and 2005 vw tdi's. Subsequent to the recall campaign, the lower EGR flex pipe is known to crack on numerous vehicles in which the recall campaign was performed. When the EGR pipe cracks, diesel exhaust is sucked into the cabin when the heater fan is operated…
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…
Fuel system
37 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 85,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, fuel injection system.
Noise started, a high-pitched whining. Took my car to my mechanic and it is the same darned thing it was in february, 2008! The fuel pump. He tells me he changes them out on vw's all the time. The part is a vw dealer part only and it's defective, just like the 2003 vw passat pumps were!
Fuel pump leak. The fuel pump was found to be leaking by the dealership. The dealership could not explain where the leak was coming from other then saying 'the fuel pump', they could not say if the pump part was covered under the previous recall in 2005, they could not say if the pump was replaced under that recall or…
Electrical
36 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition.
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the entire electrical system including the lighting and instrument panel failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic. The private mechanic confirmed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The…
The battery fuse box melted due to corrosion on the terminal of the alternator wire, this is a very common problem with this car and cars of similar make (audi a4, tt etc.) and can lead to fires.
Transmission
35 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: clutch assembly, automatic transmission, manual transmission.
Transmission locked up while driving in excess of 40 MPH. Transmission was found to be locked in reverse and had to be replaced by vw of america $6500 under warranty. Injury resulted from incident
This is the second time we have had issues with our 2004 vw Jetta wagon. Both times the car has suddenly, with no warning, had a clutch failure. The first time this happened was with 16,000 miles, now a 2nd occurence with just 29,000 miles. Vw tries to pass blame as driver error, but since I drive tractor/trailers for…
Seats
22 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
Last year I was driving home from school one night it was cold out so I turned on my heated seat. My seat started to get very hot in an isolated area so I turned it remembering the recall I received in the mail. The recall stated that the heating element in the seat could be faulty and the seat could catch fire. I…
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.
Air bags
21 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
: the contact stated while traveling 35 MPH, the driver side curtain airbag and the rear left passenger side curtain air bag deployed without warning, pushing the contact to the right side of the vehicle, and damaging the seat belt. A police report and photos were taken of the vehicle. The contact sustained a welt on…
- the contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta gls. The contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle while traveling 45 MPH. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileage were 38,000. The contaact sustained minor injuries, and did not remember if he was belted. A police report was…
Brakes
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist.
While making a left turn into the parking lot, I braked but the vehicle didn't slow down, and I hit a concrete pole. The only thing I heard was drumming noise and was not able to brake hard, because it kind of locked.
I recently purchased a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta gli with 9200 miles. Approximately one week after owning the vehicle, a clunking sound was coming from the rear of the car. The clunking noise has increased in sound level and sensitivity to road surfaces since then. I took the vehicle in to be serviced by fletcher jones…
Visibility and wipers
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly, power window devices and controls, glass, side/rear.
On december 17, 2007, I opened the hatch of my 2004 Volkswagen Jetta tdi and the window shattered. My wife and I first heard a pop sound and then the window exploded over our heads. It was a cold, dry morning in ne ohio (around 25 degrees).
The right rear hinge on the trunk of my 2004 Jetta cracked on a joint. This caused the trunk to close in an imbalanced way. I recently closed my trunk and the leading edge of the trunk lid made contact with the back light (rear windshield) glass and shattered the glass completely. The glass fell into the car creating…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Volkswagen Jetta recalls
Lights: switch
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.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Fuel system: fuel system, diesel
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (48 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); fuel system (37 complaints, typically around 85,500 miles); electrical (36 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 20, 2007 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Volkswagen Jetta?
- It is 14th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints, with 231 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.