NHTSA lists 457 complaints for the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta, 25 of them mention a crash and 70 mention a fire. 76 complaints mention an injury, with 85 injuries and 1 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN JETTA.
At a glance
Complaints
457
With crash
25
With fire
70
With injury (complaints)
76
Injuries
85
Deaths
1
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
1,002,000
Investigations
4
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
233
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
SEATS
100
21.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
98
21.4%
AIR BAGS
77
16.8%
POWER TRAIN
54
11.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
45
9.8%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
28
6.1%
VISIBILITY
21
4.6%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
18
3.9%
ENGINE
16
3.5%
EQUIPMENT
12
2.6%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
SEATS
FRONT ASSEMBLY
69
AIR BAGS
SIDE/WINDOW
45
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS
21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION
17
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
17
AIR BAGS
FRONTAL
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
12
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
12
VISIBILITY
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
10
POWER TRAIN
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
9
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and EuroVan Chassis vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X3.
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. (excerpt)
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. (excerpt)
Remedy: 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 (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
4 investigations; 0 open.
DP05004
Opened: 2005-08-11. Closed: 2005-12-08.
ENGINE STALLING
BY LETTER RECEIVED ON JUNE 24, 2005, MR. RONALD M. STRICKLAND OF RALEIGH, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF AND PASSAT SEDANS.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON HIS 2002 VW
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE04081
Opened: 2004-12-16. Closed: 2005-04-01.
INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEG
Systems: AIR BAGS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
EA04010
Opened: 2004-03-30. Closed: 2004-10-21.
DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT OVERHEATS
THIS INVESTIGATION CONCERNS THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER INSTALLED IN SOME MY 2002-2003 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA VEHICLES.CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT THE SEAT HEATER MAY OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN BURN DAMAGE TO THE SEAT COVER AND TO THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING AND/OR SKIN.THIS EA ADDRESSES WHETHER SUCH FAILURES MAY POSE A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.ODI CONCLUDES THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT HEATER MAY FAIL OR MALFUNCTIO
Systems: SEATS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE03052
Opened: 2003-11-19. Closed: 2004-03-30.
DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATS/BURNS
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS.INFORMATION RECEIVED DURING PE03-052 DISCLOSED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF MALFUNCTIONING/OVERHEATING OF THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS MAY OCCUR DURING THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE WINTER SEASON.THIS MATTER IS ALSO CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY TRANSPORT
Systems: SEATS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
233 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EQUIPMENT
82
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
48
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
41
STRUCTURE
22
VISIBILITY
21
ENGINE
13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
10241177
Date: 2023-08-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
10237427
Date: 2023-05-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
10235138
Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
10228180
Date: 2022-12-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Update model year applicability to include 2023.
10228178
Date: 2022-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
10204722
Date: 2021-12-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.
10175799
Date: 2020-05-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1A
10174476
Date: 2020-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
10167177
Date: 2019-10-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
10166778
Date: 2019-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Parts are currently blocked from sale at this time.
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.