2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
552 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 69 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 65 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 45 |
| SEATS | 34 |
| AIR BAGS | 22 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 21 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 20 |
| ENGINE | 16 |
| POWER TRAIN | 15 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 12 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 12 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 10 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 |
Recalls (4)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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 FAI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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/s
Recent Complaints
THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT WHILE IN USE. IT NO LONGER REGULATES. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING. SMELLED LIKE A FIRE!
Mileage: 160,000
WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE HEATED SEAT OPTION TURNED TO A 5 (HIGH), WHILE THE CAR WAS WARMING UP, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT STARTED TO BURN THROUGH THE CLOTH COVER DIRECTLY WHERE MY METAL JACKET ZIPPER WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CLOTH SEAT SURFACE. I IMMEDIATELY POURED WATER ON THE SEAT TO ENSURE A FIRE DIDN'T START. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SEAT HEATERS SINCE THIS INCIDENT.
Mileage: 162,000
WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE HEATED SEAT OPTION TURNED TO A 5 (HIGH), WHILE THE CAR WAS WARMING UP, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT STARTED TO BURN THROUGH THE CLOTH COVER DIRECTLY WHERE MY METAL JACKET ZIPPER WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CLOTH SEAT SURFACE. I IMMEDIATELY POURED WATER ON THE SEAT TO ENSURE A FIRE DIDN'T START. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SEAT HEATERS SINCE THIS INCIDENT.
Mileage: 162,000
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER IGNITED BURNING THROUGH SEAT TRIM AND BURNING DRIVER WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED IN A SEAT THAT THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD REPLACED UNDER THE INITIAL RECALL (HOWEVER DATE ON SEAT IS 11/25/2002 BEFORE CAR WAS DELIVERED IN 4/2003 - SO DEALER NEVER ACTUALLY REPLACED IT . SEAT RETAINED AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
Mileage: 170,000
DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER GETS VERY GOT. ON MARCH 4, 2016 AT 7:30AM NOTICED A BURNT SMELL AS I PARKED MY CAR (I HAD DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINS). WHEN I RETURNED AT 12PM FOR LUNCH, I NOTICED 2 BURNT AREAS OF MY LEATHER SEAT. MARCH 5TH, TRIED TO USE HEATER AGAIN BUT WITHIN 10 MINS IT GOT TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND BURNT SMELL, REALLY BAD. I SHUT IT OFF. I CAN'T USE THIS NOW. VERY DISAPPOINTED.
Mileage: 15
SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM SHORTED SEAT HEATER AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH PASSANGER SEAT COVER.
Mileage: 277,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD THAT ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE BATTERY FUSE BOX WHERE HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE OVERHEATED WIRES AND OVERWHELMING SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND THE SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE BATTERY FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWA
Mileage: 96,000
THE ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE CAR ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FUSE PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, THE HARNESS, AND THE FUSE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,
Mileage: 43,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VW JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE AND STALLED. THE AIR BAGS ALSO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ UPDATED 7/27/2015 *JS
Mileage: 130,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED FOUR OTHER VEHICLES TO CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHIC
Mileage: 36,000
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE PASSENGER SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A BURNING SENSATION COMING FROM THE SEATED AREA OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING A BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT AND CAUSING A MINOR BURN TO THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SMALL FLAMED TO THE PASSENGERS RIGHT PANT LEG
Mileage: 125,000
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE PASSENGER SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A BURNING SENSATION COMING FROM THE SEATED AREA OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING A BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT AND CAUSING A MINOR BURN TO THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SMALL FLAMED TO THE PASSENGERS RIGHT PANT LEG
Mileage: 125,000
THE ALTERNATOR CABLE GOT SO HOT IT STARTED A SMALL FIRE IN THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF MY BATTERY. COMPLETELY MELTED/BURNT THE FUSE BOX. I SEE THERE IS A GOOD PATTERN OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THESE JETTA AND BEETLES. *TR
Mileage: 138,000
THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN. WHILE IT WAS PARKED, NEIGHBORS RAN OVER TO REPORT IT WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WE SAW THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, BUT FIRE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY GROUND AND SAID THE WIRES GOING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD SET ON FIRE. ALL OF THIS WAS SPONTANEOUS. ENGINE WAS NOT ON. *TR
Mileage: 145,000
THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN. WHILE IT WAS PARKED, NEIGHBORS RAN OVER TO REPORT IT WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WE SAW THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, BUT FIRE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY GROUND AND SAID THE WIRES GOING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD SET ON FIRE. ALL OF THIS WAS SPONTANEOUS. ENGINE WAS NOT ON. *TR
Mileage: 145,000
BOTH FRONT SEATS, THE BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE BOLSTER BURNED. THE HEATED FRONT SEATS WILL OVER HEAT, THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE CONFINED TO THE RIGHT BOLSTER ON THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE SEAT. THE HEATING ELEMENTS GET HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL. BEING THE SIDE OF THE SEAT I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY LEG AWAY AND POWER OFF THE HEATED SEAT. IF LEFT ON THE SEATS WILL START TO SMOKE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVEN'T TRIED , BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE SEAT COULD CATCH ON FIRE IF LEFT O
Mileage: 153,000
BOTH FRONT SEATS, THE BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE BOLSTER BURNED. THE HEATED FRONT SEATS WILL OVER HEAT, THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE CONFINED TO THE RIGHT BOLSTER ON THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE SEAT. THE HEATING ELEMENTS GET HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL. BEING THE SIDE OF THE SEAT I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY LEG AWAY AND POWER OFF THE HEATED SEAT. IF LEFT ON THE SEATS WILL START TO SMOKE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVEN'T TRIED , BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE SEAT COULD CATCH ON FIRE IF LEFT O
Mileage: 153,000
AFTER NOTICING FOR WEEKS THAT MY HEATED SEATS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN TURNED TO 5 (PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL), MY LEG BEGAN BURNING WHILE DRIVING. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND LOOKED DOWN TO SEE THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY SEAT AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF IT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT OFF AND HAVEN'T TURNED IT ON SINCE. WHEN I CONTACTED VW, THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE HEATED SEAT RECALL AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF DIAGNOSING THE PRO
BACK IN 2007 RECALL FOR HEATED SEATS IN VOLKSWAGEN'S. ISSUED RECALL FIXED BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEATS AS NEW ONES WERE ORDERED AND SHIPPED IN FROM OVERSEAS, DUE TO BOTH CATCHING FIRE AND BURNING HOLES IN SEATS ONE SEAT BEING THE DRIVERS BURNT A HOLE IN MY JEANS AND BURNED MYSELF. AS OF 3/5/12 DRIVERS SIDE SEAT IS GETTING SO HOT IT HAS BURNT THE MATERIAL ON THE SEAT AGAIN AS IT STARTED SMOKING. QUICKLY TURNED IT OFF. PROBLEM THOUGHT WAS FIXED AS RECALL IN 2007, NOT FIXED APPARENTLY.
Mileage: 112,000