Model year record

2003 Volkswagen Jetta

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 554 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V406000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected: 2,564
Reported to NHTSA: 2018-06-13
Owners notified: 2019-05-02

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V063000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 1,002,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-02-20
Owners notified: 2007-04-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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 REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler	69	39,900 mi
Electrical system	65	90,000 mi
Air bags: side/window	45	39,500 mi
Seats	34	90,000 mi
Air bags	23	60,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	21	67,500 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	20	63,180 mi
Engine	16	90,000 mi
Power train	15	89,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	14	8,800 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	13	36,022 mi
Air bags: frontal	12	22,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	12	25,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	10	43,733 mi
Unknown or other	9	30,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	8	1,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	6	47,000 mi
Exterior lighting	6	84,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	159,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	6	10,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	6	3,419 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	5	58,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	5	64,000 mi
Structure	5	1,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	36,022 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	3	49,100 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module	3	33,969 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	3	79,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	3	28,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger	3	71,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	3	74,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel	3	89,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	45,000 mi
Interior lighting	3	52,000 mi
Suspension	3	84,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	3	16,023 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	3	10,000 mi
Visibility	3	85,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	3	59,018 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	3	121,000 mi
Wheels: rim	3	35,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	2	30,150 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	2	53,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	2	43,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	2	45,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel	2	84,000 mi
Equipment	2	5,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	2	56,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	2	61,200 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	2	10,000 mi
Parking brake	2	10,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	2	8,067 mi
Service brakes	2	36,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	2	300 mi
Structure: body	2	43,733 mi
Structure: body: door	2	40 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments	2	30,000 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs	2	17,643 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window	2	43 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	108,841 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	20,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	150,489 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	10,198 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	47,715 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	1	47,300 mi
Equipment: electrical	1	10,900 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	—
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	—
Fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly	1	14,200 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	46,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	25,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	1	—
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system	1	5,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	40 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock	1	70,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	33,969 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift	1	43,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly	1	686 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	1	1,900 mi
Power train: manual transmission: column shift assembly	1	1,700 mi
Seat belts: front	1	30,150 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	1	35,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	65,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	56,773 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	10,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	10,000 mi
Steering	1	150,489 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	66,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	74,000 mi
Tires	1	8,067 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	24,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring	1	—
Wheels	1	84,000 mi
Wheels: hub	1	5,000 mi

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.