2003 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Seats is the leading concern among 463 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 25 involved a crash and 71 involved a fire. 85 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJun 13, 2018
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 18V406000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 7, 2014
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Campaign 14E007000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderMar 29, 2007
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
Campaign 07E023000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 07V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
28 reports, newest first. Show all
Parking brake, Exterior lighting, Visibility, Jul 22, 2004, crash
I GOT MY 2003 VW JETTA IN FEBRUARY OF '03. NOW NOT EVEN A YEAR AND A HALF LATER I HAVE HUGE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY WINDOWS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. FINALLY THE WORST WAS THAT I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY, IT IS STEEP BUT THE SAME PLACE I HAVE PARKED DOZENS OF TIMES, WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LET GO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE WAY EVENTUALLY CRASHING INTO TREES. I READ ON OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THERE WAS ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAD SIMILAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WELL I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND THEY SAID THAT INDEED THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AS A RESULT OF A FAILING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. TURNS OUT THEY HAD FAILED TO INFORM ME. I WONDER WHAT OTHER RECALLS THEY HAVE FAILED TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT. *JB
Power train, Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, May 11, 2004
I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA. I BOUGHT IT ON 09/02. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS. FIRST IT WAS MY ELECTRICAL. BY BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE KEY LESS REMOTE DID NOT WORK I COULD NOT LOCK MY CAR AND NON OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. I TOOK THIS PROBLEM TO VW AND THE SAID THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE AN APPONTMENT BEFORE THEY WOULD HELP ME. SO I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE MY APPT. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED HOWEVER OCCASIONALY THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL STAY STUCK ON. THIS WAS ALSO NOTED TO VW. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A RATTLE IN MY CLUTCH. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY CAR ON A TEST DRIVE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (?). SO I DID AND SHE STATED SHE DID NOT HERE ANYTHING AND I TOLD HERE THAT WHEN I TAKE THE CLUTCH OUT IT DOES RATTLES VERY LOUD BUT WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH IN THE RATTLE STOPS. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED SINCE SHE DID NOT HERE THIS SHE COULD NOT LET THE ACTUAL TECH LOOK AT IT. I DEMANDED THE TECH TO LOOK AT IT. FINALLY THE TECH AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME I HAD A RATTLE IN MY CLUTCH DUE TO MY BALD TIRES.???? SINCE I DID NEED NEW TIRES, I REPLACED ALL 4. MY CLUTCH STILL RATTLED. (SHOCKER) I THEN DECIDED TO TAKE MY VW TO ANOTHER VW SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RATTLE WAS A LOOSE HEAT PLATE. VW DEALER STATED THIS WAS FIXED. THE NEXT DAY THIS RATTLE WAS STILL THERE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN FOR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES FOR THIS RATTLE. I HAVE DECIDED ON GETTING A NEW NON-VW CAR. NOT ONLY HAS THE CAR DISSAPPOINTED ME BUT THE SERVCIE POEPLE HAVE TREATED ME AND MY HUSBAND LIKE IGNORANT CONSUMERS. ON EACH OF THESE VISITS TO THE VW DEALER THEY HAVE AHD TO KEEP MY CAR FOR NUMEROUS DAYS, AND NEVER WAS I ABLE TO RECEIVE A RENTAL, WHICH RESULTED IN ME MISSING WORK AND COSTING ME MORE MONEY.*MB*
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 9, 2003
MY BRAKE LIGHT SWICH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY 2003 JETTA TDI VW. FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH CAUSES BRAKE LIGHT'S TO EITHER STAY ON CONSISTENTLY OR NOT TURN ON AT ALL. LOSS OF TURBO IN VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO BATTERY SHUT DOWN.*AK