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: seats
102 reports, newest first. Show all
Seats, Nov 10, 2010
DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATING, BURNT MULTIPLE HOLES IN SEAT AS WELL AS BURNT LEG. SETTING WAS PLACED ON 2 OF 5 WHEN SEAT WAS BURNT.
Seats, Oct 13, 2010, fire
MY CAR DRIVER SEAT IS BURNED WITH SOME SMOKE BECAUSE OF FAULTY SEAT HEATER. *TR
Seats, Oct 7, 2010
OVERHEATED DRIVER SEAT, WHICH BURNED HOLE THROUGH DRIVER'S SEAT AND LEFT A 2" BURN MARK ON SWEATER THAT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THAT AREA OF THE SEAT. THIS IS A 2003 VW JETTA TDI (TURBO DIESEL). *TR
Seats, Apr 5, 2010, crash
2003 JETTA SEAT FAILS IN REAR END ACCIDENT. *TR
Seats, Equipment, Jan 26, 2010, fire
RECALL FOR 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA- SEAT HEATER DEFECT CAUSING SEATS TO GET TOO HOT EVEN CAUSING FIRE IN SOME INSTANCES. BROUGHT MY JETTA TO RIVERSIDE VOLKSWAGEN IN RIVERSIDE, CA. INSPECTION AND REPAIRS MADE IN 2006. YESTERDAY, 1/25/2010, DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER STARTED TO BURN A HOLE IN SEAT. DID NOT BURN ALL THE WAY THROUGH AS I TURNED THE HEATER OFF BEFORE HAND. FELT SOMETHING THAT RESEMBLED A BEE STING BEFORE REALIZING THAT IT WAS THE SEAT HEATER THAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. BURNING SMELL DETECTED. CALLED VW RIVERSIDE, SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BE A COVERED FIX BASED ON RECALL INFO. COMPLAINT OF FAILED INITIAL REPAIR. *TR
Air bags, Seats, May 7, 2009, crash
I WAS IN A REAR END INCIDENT IN WHICH MY 2003VW JETTA WAS STRUCK ALMOST DEAD-ON IN THE REAR BY A 2009 BMW SEDAN. BOTH MY WIFE, SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND I, DRIVING, WERE WEARING THREE POINT SEAT BELTS. THE AIRBAGS IN OUR VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WERE RECLINED ALMOST COMPLETELY AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, TO THE POINT THAT ANY REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WE MIGHT HAVE HAD IN THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN PINNED BY THE RECLINED FRONT SEATS. *TR UPDATED 05/20/09 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 05/27/09.*JB
Seats, Jan 25, 2009, fire
THE HEATED SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR 2003 VW JETTA TDI GOT VERY HOT ON MY RIGHT LEG, I REACHED DOWN TO FEEL THE SEAT AND IT BURNT MY HAND. WE TURNED ON THE LIGHTS AND THE SEAT HAD A BURNED HOLE WITH SMOKE COMING OUT OF IT. HAD I BEEN WEARING MY COAT IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE I FELT THE INTENSE HEAT. *TR
Seats, Nov 2, 2008, fire
I USE MY HEATED SEATS ALMOST DAILY IN THE WINTER MONTHS. I USED IT THIS MORNING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AS I DROVE FROM HOME TO THE GYM, THEN ANOTHER 10 MINUTES AS I DROVE FROM THE GYM TO THE STORE. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER THE STORE, IT WAS STILL ON THE SAME SETTING (5), I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 50 YARDS IN THE PARKING LOT, WHEN I FELT A SHARP PAIN IN MY LEFT UPPER LEG/BUTT. I MOVED SLIGHTLY, THEN BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I FELT AROUND WITH MY HAND AND FELT THE "HOT" WIRE AND THE HOLE IN MY SEAT. IT TOOK ME A MOMENT TO REALIZE WHAT IT WAS, AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY TURNED DOWN THE HEATED SEAT TO OFF, THEREBY PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE AND PAIN. LUCKILY THERE WAS LIMITED DAMAGE TO MY CLOTHING AND I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OR NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PAIN SO QUICKLY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING INJURY. *TR
Electrical system, Seats, May 7, 2008
I TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER TO 5 (HIGHEST SETTING) ON MY 2003 VW JETTA TDI WHEN LEAVING MY HOUSE AT 7 AM. I USED THIS REGULARLY TO WARM THE SEAT FOR A FEW MINUTES ON COLD MORNINGS, THEN WOULD TURN IT OFF (LOWER SETTINGS NEVER PRODUCED NOTICEABLE HEAT). WITHIN ONE MINUTE I FELT A BURNING/ELECTRICAL SENSATION IN MY UPPER LEFT THIGH. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD AND THE PAIN MADE ME JUMP IN MY SEAT AND NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER (HAVING HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER). THE LEATHER SEAT HAD A BLISTER ABOUT THE SIZE OF A CIGARETTE BURN BUT HAD NOT BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH. WHILE I STOPPED THE HEATER BEFORE IT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT (AND MY PANTS), THE REAL DANGER WAS IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT FROM THE BURN/SHOCK THAT CAUSED ME TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SEAT HEATER IS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM READING SIMILAR POSTS HERE AND ELSEWHERE IS THAT THE WIRING IS NOW BROKEN IN THE SEAT (AND MANY HAVE HAD IT BREAK IN THE SAME SPOT). IF I HAD NOT GUESSED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM QUICKLY, OR IF SOMEONE WERE TO UNKNOWINGLY USE THE HEAT SETTER IN THE FUTURE, IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, PERSONAL INJURY, AND CAR FIRE. SIMILARLY, THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK FOR OTHER DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REACT TOO LATE. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA URGE VW OF AMERICA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM (MANY REPORTS HERE AND ELSEWHERE, SUCH AS TDICLUB.COM AND VWVORTEX.COM). VW HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE U.S. THEY ALSO HAVE A VOLUNTARY REPAIR FOR PASSATS OF SIMILAR YEARS, BUT NOT JETTAS OR GOLFS. THANK YOU. *TR
Seats, Mar 30, 2008, fire
THE HEATED SEATS IM MY 2003 VW JETTA STARTED TO CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Seats, Feb 26, 2008
DRIVERS SIDE HEAT SEATER FAILED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. IT GOT HOTTER THAN NORMAL WHEN ON SETTING #3, I TURNED IT OFF, AND FROM THAT POINT ON IT DIDN'T WORK. TWO DAYS AGO, I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER REPLACED AT THE KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY VW DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT WHILE ONLY ON SETTING #2. IT WAS SO HOT, THAT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND COULD NOT SIT DOWN WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME PAIN TO MY BUTTOCKS. I REACHED DOWN WITH MY HAND TO CONFIRM THE HEAT AND ALSO BURNED MY HAND. NOTE THAT I WAS ONLY RUNNING THE SEAT HEATER ON LEVEL 2 OF 5 FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT, THERE IS NOW A HARDENED PLASTIC FEELING AREA WHERE THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT WAS THE HOTTEST. HAD I NOT IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEATER, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FLAMES. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND I WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY SIT IN THE SEAT, AN ACCIDENT COULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE OCCURRED ON THE SPOT. I IMMEDIATELY SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THE HEATER BUT NOT THE SEAT. THEY SAY THE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT IS NOT EXTREME ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE THING. HOWEVER, I FEEL IT IS THEIR OBLIGATION TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THEIR INSTALLATION OF A FACTORY ITEM THAT HAS ALREADY FAILED ONCE. *TR
Seats, Feb 22, 2008
HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAT SEATER ON. FELT A SHOCKING SENSATION AND SMELLED SMOKE. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF HEAT SEATER AND EXITED CAR. THERE IS A HOLE BURNED IN THE SEAT AND IT TOOK OVER 5 MINUTES FOR IT TO STOP SMOKING. *TR
Seats, Nov 17, 2007
1. 2003 JETTA WAGON PASSENGER HEATED SEAT GOT EXTREMLY HOT AND THEN QUIT WORKING. *TR
Seats, Aug 9, 2007, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEATING SWITCH FOR THE SEATS IN HER DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW SWITCH, BUT THE SWITCH FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE SWITCH BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED BLISTERS, A SCAR, AND MINOR BURNS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Seats, Mar 4, 2007, fire
DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER ELEMENT IN 2003 JETTA CAUGHT FIRE BURNING HOLE IN LEATHER SEAT AND BURNING DRIVER. *JB
Seats, Jan 29, 2007, fire
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STATION WAGON, CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE SEAT HEATER WAS OPERATING. THE SEAT SUSTAINED A HOLE THE DIAMETER OF A PENCIL. THE SEAT BURNED PASSENGER BUTTOCKS, BUT DIDN'T CATCH HIS CLOTHING ON FIRE. *AK
Seats, Jan 4, 2007
SINCE I HAVE HAD MY JETTA THE SEAT WARMERS HAVE BEEN HOT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THAT IS HOW THEY WORK. SINCE THEN MY SEAT WARMER HAS BURNED A HOLE IN THE CLOTH SEAT AND HAS BURNED ME. IT ALSO CREATES SPARKS WHEN TURNED ON. *JB
Seats, Dec 8, 2006
DRIVER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER ON A COLD EVENING AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT HEATER BEGINS TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE WITH THREE MINUTES. THE DRIVER ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID BEING BURNED BY THE SEAT. THE DRIVERS NO LONGER USE THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, AT A LOSS OF $300. *NM
Seats, May 5, 2006, fire
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SMELLED AND COULD SEE SMOKE AND REALIZED DRIVERS SEAT WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND PUT OUT FIRE ON SEAT. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DID NOTHING - TOLD OWNER THEY HAD NOTHING TO SAY. DEALER REPLACED SEAT. *JB
Seats, Feb 20, 2006
THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 4DR SEDAN BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THROUGH MY WIFE'S JACKET. *NM
Seats, Feb 11, 2006
I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON WITH LEATHER, HEATED SEATS. I JUST NOTICED A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT IS CLEARLY BURNT THROUGH FROM UNDERNEATH. I CALLED MY VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. *JB I AM UNABLE TO TELL WHAT LED TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART ASIDE FROM USING THE SEAT HEATERS ON COLD MORNINGS. THE HOLE BURNED IN THE SEAT IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT BURNED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THIS POSES A TREMENDOUS SAFETY RISK. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS AS OF YET. *JB
Seats, Jan 4, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING. ALTHOUGH A SMALL HOLE FORMED IN THE SEAT CUSHION THERE WAS NOT VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF A FIRE OTHER THAN SMOKE. *AK
Seats, Dec 27, 2005
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 10/31/02. I PURCHASED IT NEW. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY TEENAGERS TO DRIVE AS THEY BEGIN SINCE IT IS A SAFE CAR. LAST WEEKEND, (12/17/05) I WAS PERSONALLY DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE SEAT WARMER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GOT SO HOT THAT IT ACTUALLY BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT, AND THE CAR SMELLED TERRIBLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER. I THINK THAT HAVING TO FEAR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY CAR IS OUTRAGEOUS. *NM
Seats, Dec 15, 2005, fire
I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA 1.8T WITH FRONT HEATED SEATS. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SEATS HEATER 2 DAYS AGO ON 12/13/2005 AFTER THE HEATER WAS ON FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES. BURNING A SMALL HOLE TROUGH THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY LEFT SIDE (BUTTOCK) I HAVE COME TO FIND SINCE THIS HAPPENED, MY NHTSA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING 2002, 2003 VW JETTAS FOR SEAT FIRES WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. WHY, AS THE ORIGINAL REGISTER OWNER OF THIS MODEL WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE INSIDE MY CAR, WHILE ME, MY WIFE AND MY 5 YEAR GIRL ARE IN IT! THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABOVE IS THAT IT WAS NOT A POSSIBILITY, IT JUST WAS A MATTER OF TIME AND IN MY CASE, THE TIME WAS DECEMBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 7PM AT NIGHT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST 3,000 MILES, WITH WATER PUMPS AND DOOR LATCHES, FIRMWARE UPDATES, VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER STARTS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RANGING FROM ENTIRELY IMMOBILIZING AND STRANDING ME TO THE CAR PARTIALLY BEING IMMOBILIZED THE VW JETTA TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER ISSUES WHICH INCLUDE THE CARS SHIFTER BEING ABLE TO BE MOVED WHEN THE KEY IS NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION TO A POSITION IN THE SHIFTER SELECTOR BECAUSE A CABLE WAS NEVER CONNECTED TO PREVENT THAT, THAT SHOULD ALSO BE A NHTSA SAFETY ISSUE TOO ON THIS CAR. BUT FIRST I WANT YOU FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CONTACT THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS BEFORE REAL TRAGEDY HAPPENS IF THAT ALL READY HAS NOT HAPPENED. I HAVE JUST TALKED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE AT VW AMERICA, THEY HAVE NOT WARNED THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS, WHO WILL. AGAIN SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED I SEE MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. PLEASE NOTIFY THE OWNERS FIRST, THEN CONTACT ME SECOND. PLEASE! *NM
Seats, Nov 14, 2005, fire
THE SEAT ON MY 2003 VW JETTA CAUGHT FIRE TODAY. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A NICKEL-SIZE BURN IN MY SEAT AND MY PANTS. *JB